Greek life - General questions and Penn State Univeristy park

[kim90]

Hi!

I'm an undergraduate student from Germany and it is pretty likely that I'll transfer to Penn State in Spring 2014.
During my abroad time in the US I become friends with many sorority and fraternity members. I would love to join a sorority when I'll be a penn state student, but I have so many questions and I would be so happy if anyone can answer them to me. Of course, I have used google and the search-function, but not all of my question are answered.

First, since I'm from Germany and we have to do one more year to graduate from High school and also because I have a gap-year, I'm pretty old for joining a sorority. In two days I'll turn 23 ... Depending on how many credits penn state will transfer, I'll be a junior.
Do you think I'll have a chance to get a bid or is it worthless to try? And does it change anything that I'm an international student? Of course, I read trough the official website, and of course it says that it is possible, but I really want some "real-life" opinions.

Second, I know that the formal recruitment is in fall, since I'll transfer in spring, I'll not be able to apply, but I think I should apply as early as possible in regard to my age and student-status. Can someone tell me which sororities do normally informal-recruitments?
I'm aware that I should not concentrate on one sorority, but since most of my american friends are Pi Beta Phi's I'm really interested in this one and I'm also impressed about their philanthropic. Does anyone know for especially this sorority how good or bad my chances are to get a bid or at least to apply in spring?
Unfortunately, I didn't find any top-tier list for penn state. I actually don't want to join a top tier sorority, since it is very unlikely that they will give me a bid.

And my last question is about hazing... I know that officially it is absolutely forbidden, but I've read so many posts that it is still a common thing during pledging. I'm not speaking about some funny (and harmless) drinking games, or waterball-fights or anything like this. Or for example I've heard from my friends they were not allowed to shower for a certain time - yes, that's not the best I can imagine, but would definitely allocate it to harmless, funny stuff.
I'm concerned about practices which are really humiliating and also dangerous. Honestly, I really cannot understand any person who can become friend with a "sister" who treated her as shit and also risked her life because of dangerous drinking games.
I'm an outgoing person, I love to party, to meet new people, to make friends, and many other things which are related to the sorority-life. But as I said, I would never join a sorority when that would mean I may end up in hospital because they forced me to drink so much alcohol until I threw up, loose my conscious or whatever.
Can someone please tell me if hazing in such a dangerous sense is still common? Are there some rumors about certain sororities which have such rituals? Since I'll be a Penn State student, I'm especially interested about the hazing rituals at this school. Does anyone know about Pi Beta Phi? (I really couldn't take girls seriously, when they describe themselves as angels and on the other side risking the life of the new members ^^) So, please tell me which horror-stories are true or if you know about any rumors.

Thank you so much for your help! I'm thankful to any answers!!