Perception of sororities nationally

[pbear19]

Part of what I got out of the OP's message also was that would be quite difficult to quantify which are the strongest NPCs nationally, because most people's perspective is skewed by the regional image. Someone in CA might think the strongest NPC nationally is completely different than what someone in TX might think.

Thus it's not practical to think in terms of "national strength", because very few people can distance themselves enough from their regional perspective to make an accurate assessment.

Originally Posted by Kansas City

Maybe I'm a bit naive but don't most NPCs have excellent national reputations? The tier and who's best is only a collegiate thing. Once a member becomes active as an alum, best/worst/strong/weak thinking becomes a moot point.

I agree with this.

However, (based on what I've seen on GreekChat) there are definitely some alums still obsessed with tiers and being elite.

What was that line from Animal Farm again? "But some are more equal than others." yeah, that was it.

[Lil' Hannah]

Originally Posted by OTW

However, (based on what I've seen on GreekChat) there are definitely some alums still obsessed with tiers and being elite.

Yes, it would be nice if they could "...live constantly above snobbery..."

[Cutie_Hootie]

Originally Posted by Lil' Hannah

Yes, it would be nice if they could "...live constantly above snobbery..."

Wow.

I attempt to keep my nose out of these discussions (would much rather lurk!!) but I do have to agree with those brave people who have pointed out that the main discussion here is once again the vast regional differences we all experience. I love talking to my sisters from the South, mostly because I am constantly left with my mouth agape while they tell stories about Recruitment, Southern style. Then in return, they are shocked at my extremely no frills, low quota, small liberal arts college deferred recruitment. That is one of the true gifts of belonging to a national organization--my sisters have had a variety of experiences that we love to share as we work to make our sisterhood even stronger.

I know that we are not the only organization blessed in this way.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by Cutie_Hootie

Wow. Didn't know it was "pick on Chi Omega night" tonight on GC...

I'm pretty sure that comment was not directed at you, Cutie Hootie.

[AnchorAlum]

Originally Posted by OTW

I agree with this.

However, (based on what I've seen on GreekChat) there are definitely some alums still obsessed with tiers and being elite.

What was that line from Animal Farm again? "But some are more equal than others." yeah, that was it.

OTW is EL CORRECTO. We have a winner!

I moved around the country with my husband while he climbed the old corporate ladder, and lived in the South, the Northeast, Midwest, Cali, and Texas in the 80's and 90's.

My group was perceived differently in each of the areas where I lived, and I learned an interesting lesson. It doesn't matter a whole heap after you leave your little bubble world on your own campus. It matters that you stay involved, give your time and talents towards service, and enjoy the opportunity to meet lots of new people regardless of where you live.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by AnchorAlum

My group was perceived differently in each of the areas where I lived, and I learned an interesting lesson. It doesn't matter a whole heap after you leave your little bubble world on your own campus.

I agree 100% with this statement.

In my experience, no one cares what "tier" your sorority is/was after college.

I mean, maybe it's just my friends and I, but we don't sit up and re-live our collegiate "glory days" and have discussions about who was "the best." We have lives and would rather talk about the stuff that's going on in our lives right now, not from college 3 years ago. We may talk about some of the crazy times we had with our sisters, but that's it.

If you were to hang out with a group of mid-20's professionals (at least in the areas I'm familiar with) and start going on and on about how "top tier" your sorority was in college, they'd look at you like you had three heads (and were someone who is still living in college-land and needs to grow up).

[AOEforme]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

ISo, in summary, once you graduate, no one cares.

You know, sometimes people just don't care in college. Yes, everyone (at least, who's Greek) knows who the top groups are or who, in their opinion, the top groups are.

But, sorority life is so much more than that. It's what you get to do, the whole experience that matters, right? And that's often what a lot of people want to know. Not what fraternities you mixed with but what your philanthropies did, how you bonded with your sisters, etc.

(FYI, my group just joined our college's Panhellenic recently, so we're not really in the tier system at all, or we automatically start off at the bottom. So, it's not like I'm saying this and in the top house on campus....)

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by Kansas City

Maybe I'm a bit naive but don't most NPCs have excellent national reputations? The tier and who's best is only a collegiate thing. Once a member becomes active as an alum, best/worst/strong/weak thinking becomes a moot point.

Have you seen some of the posts on GC? For some women, sorority is LIFE.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

Have you seen some of the posts on GC? For some women, sorority is LIFE.

And...there are women in EVERY NPC who care more about reputation than about sisterhood! It takes all types to make the world go round. If that's all someone wants out of greek life, then I hope their dues were worth it.

[Kansas City]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

Have you seen some of the posts on GC? For some women, sorority is LIFE.

And (I think that many will agree with me?) that these same women should grow up and GET A LIFE.

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by baci

I wish I could agree with your experiences, but "top tier" members loved to put it out there that they were "top tier". (at least where I came from) Congratulations to them, but to have to "put it out there" was kind of sad/major turn off. It really brought them down, IMO. Quite possibly, that may have be their immaturity/insecurity oozing out.

I have noticed that it is not so much the members of the sorority as it is guys in Fraternities that focus on what "tier" the sororities are in. They are the ones that will refuse a mixer with a "lower tier" sorority or who will tent talk to the extreme.

Originally Posted by Kansas City

And (I think that many will agree with me?) that these same women should grow up and GET A LIFE.

Yup. I love discovering that my friends are greek, but I could care less what house they were in. Simply being greek is a connection and we can share silly stories. It isn't the end all be all.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

I have noticed that it is not so much the members of the sorority as it is guys in Fraternities that focus on what "tier" the sororities are in. They are the ones that will refuse a mixer with a "lower tier" sorority or who will tent talk to the extreme.

Very true. I went to a smaller school with three NPC chapters, but it was the guys on campus that "ranked" the sororities. Nobody in each group really even cared. With so few chapters, there were never really "tiers", but it was well known what the guys, especially the ones in the fraternities, thought about each chapter.

As to whether that affected girls' decisions as to which chapter they joined... I don't think it did.

But in a competitive formal recruitment setting, I could definitely see girls forming opinions and basing decisions on what the guys on campus think.

[barbino]

Originally Posted by Kansas City

Maybe I'm a bit naive but don't most NPCs have excellent national reputations? The tier and who's best is only a collegiate thing. Once a member becomes active as an alum, best/worst/strong/weak thinking becomes a moot point.

Great observation, Kansas City. Very Panhellenic-based, and I very much agree with you.

[Senusret I]

From a nonprofit organization standpoint, would anyone argue for or against some NPCs being "run better" than others?

Or more specifically, in private conversations, have you ever heard advisors or other alumnae comparing notes on operations and observing that some people believe one org fuctions at a level higher than another?

Note: I am not asking if anyone has done this themselves, but if they've overheard such conversations.