Sorority Involvment...sorry it's long!

[VandalSquirrel]

Not only have I heard of Willamette, and considered attending the school, but a relative of someone I know very well is in a sorority there. Recruitment is done in the spring, and it is the type of school where undergraduates come at 18, and leave by 22 (and therefore sorority membership is in that age range). Even though you will be 20 (according to your post) you will still be married and a gradaute student. I am not a member of any of those three groups (Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, and Pi Beta Phi), so I don't know if they consider graduate students or married women for membership. However this document http://www.willamette.edu/org/phc/phcrecruitrules.pdf does not mention graduate students to be eligible, just sophomores, juniors and seniors for fall COB, and freshmen only for spring formal recruitment.

You should probably contact the Greek Life advisor for clarification and more information.

[EGAOPi]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Not only have I heard of Willamette, and considered attending the school, but a relative of someone I know very well is in a sorority there. Recruitment is done in the spring, and it is the type of school where undergraduates come at 18, and leave by 22 (and therefore sorority membership is in that age range). Even though you will be 20 (according to your post) you will still be married and a gradaute student. I am not a member of any of those three groups (Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, and Pi Beta Phi), so I don't know if they consider graduate students or married women for membership. However this document http://www.willamette.edu/org/phc/phcrecruitrules.pdf does not mention graduate students to be eligible, just sophomores, juniors and seniors for fall COB, and freshmen only for spring formal recruitment.

You should probably contact the Greek Life advisor for clarification and more information.

Thank you for posting this--I second EXACTLY what she said. She makes an excellent point--since only freshmen are eligible for formal recruitment (whereas at most schools, sophomores and upperclassmen are eligible), it appears that this school adheres to stricter guidelines. If they're focusing on freshmen primarily, your chances are not good as a graduate student. Furthermore, it should really not be your focus at this time.

[PeppyGPhiB]

I am very familiar with Willamette and its greek system since my best friend was in a sorority there. There may only be three sororities, but greek life on campus is very popular and filled with tradition (it's the oldest univ. in the northwest). There are live-in requirements (though you'd probably be exempt since you'd be married). The undergraduates are isolated from the graduate schools and their students, so honestly I think you would be labeled as "unusual" or "weird" for going through recruitment with freshmen. They probably won't know how old you are...once they find out where you are in your studies, they'll assume you're older and wonder why you're going through rush now. When it comes to recruitment, the bottom line is that chapters select members based on whether they would fit in. And since none of the chapter sisters would be able to relate to your school experience yet, they would probably think you wouldn't fit in.

This is how I see it, and I know that I'm just trying to be optimistic...A twenty year old girl is a twent year old girl. Yes, she will be married, and yes she will be in graduate school, but she's still 20 and enthusiastic to become an active sorority member. I think the rushers (and anyone for that matter) would see her as her first, then her academic status and relationship status. How she approaches this topic will be critical.

It's not like she's a 40 year old, 8 month pregnant woman in hair curlers (not that that's a bad thing, of course!). She's 20 and obviously determined and smart. Personally, I would see the fact that she's a 20 y/o married MBA candidate stranger than her wanting to join a sorority.

Despite what I think, it maybe completely different at Williamette. It could be a real disadvantage that you will be married and a graduate student. I think the fact that you you want to participate in a less involved manner would be your biggest disadvantage. That's what is what stands out the most to me. I'm not an NPC sister, but that would really stand out to me. That, plus the fact that grad school is a lot more work than undergrad. Lack of time + wanting a lesser role = hesitation on my part.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Right, I think what makes people hesitate when it comes to a graduate student is that graduate school is serious work. Not that undergrad isn't, but undergraduate study is also about being away from home for the first time, making new friends, making your own decisions, etc. A sorority would expect you to do all the same stuff the other members do...would you have time for two meetings per week plus any other new member and chapter social/philanthropy activities?

[kddani]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

A sorority would expect you to do all the same stuff the other members do...would you have time for two meetings per week plus any other new member and chapter social/philanthropy activities?

Very good point. Being in a sorority collegiate chapter is not an a la carte type deal. You don't get to pick and choose what aspects you want to participate in (aside from the obvious like running for council).

[ThetaPrincess24]

Also too and I think this has been mentioned before, a lot of your bonding will come from doing or participating in more than just what is required. If you only show up to just what is required of you, you will not have the experience or the kind of bonding you seem to be seeking that the other girls in your pledge class will, that went to and participated in everything they possibly could. I personally saw girls quit after initiation (grrrrrr!) because they stated they werent bonding well with the members or their pledge class. The main reason for this that I saw was that they only were doing the minimum required and not spending free time on the floor getting to know people, not going to mixers/crush dances, not participating in AOII Lip Sync, not socializing on the weekends, not participating in greek week activities, etc. Most chapters as well set a certain number of service hours that you must complete each semester and some even require you to be involved in atleast one other campus activity.

As stated previously by many, greek life takes a lot of time commitment. If you arent willing or able to put forth this kind of commitment, then I dont recommend going through recruitment.

[AChiOhSnap]

Originally Posted by ErinKathleenNJ

This is how I see it, and I know that I'm just trying to be optimistic...A twenty year old girl is a twent year old girl. Yes, she will be married, and yes she will be in graduate school, but she's still 20 and enthusiastic to become an active sorority member. I think the rushers (and anyone for that matter) would see her as her first, then her academic status and relationship status. How she approaches this topic will be critical.

Buuuuuuuut....

Based on previous research that other GCers have done, two out of the three sororities on her campus DO NOT allow graduate students to join an undergraduate chapter as a matter of national policy. I apologize if this has changed since the list of sororities that allow graduate students to join was originally posted.

In sum, it doesn't matter how amazing, wonderful, or enthusiastic she is (I'm sure she's all three ) but national policy will take precedence in this situation. It is unfortunate for the OP, but them's the rules.

If she were at a campus with lots of NPC groups that allow graduate students membership, then I'm sure we'd all encourage her to try her luck at recruitment.

[MissKP]

Just wanted you all to know you can stop posting on this thread because I think I've got enough replies to make up my mind...unfortunately the greek system isn't as welcoming as I would have hoped, but that's life. Thanks to all who wrote encouraging messages, I appreciate it. I am done with this whole greekchat thing...Unfortunately there are too many people that are here to judge. As far as I am concerned, having graduated at 20 and wanting to get my MBA is the biggest accomplishment of my life, and I have honestly been messaged and replied to like I am an idiot and a freak...wow. Way to recruit.

Originally Posted by MissKP

Unfortunately there are too many people that are here to judge. As far as I am concerned, having graduated at 20 and wanting to get my MBA is the biggest accomplishment of my life, and I have honestly been messaged and replied to like I am an idiot and a freak...wow. Way to recruit.

Okay now that's just not fair.

I just re-read every post in this thread and the people who made the effort to reply back have offered some great pieces of advice. Now, I don't know what was written in any PMs you might have received, but where exactly have they "judged" you?

Certainly no one's putting lesser value on graduating at 20 and pursuing your MBA. You came here seeking advice, and now you've been given info you probably didn't want to hear, you cop this attitude? Nuh uh!

If you're not going to pursue this any further, decide that because you know what your options are and what your chances are, not because of the amount of replies you got on a message board.

[33girl]

I don't think anyone was trying to make you feel like a freak or anything like that - just letting you know what the score was before you got your hopes up too high. If you were at a different campus, or if different sororities were on your campus, the answers may have been entirely different.

The only person who said anything like what you're complaining about was PeppyGPhiB, who said THE STUDENTS would probably think you were weird because they'd assume you were older. She never said that anyone on GC thought that.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by EGAOPi

Thank you for posting this--I second EXACTLY what she said. She makes an excellent point--since only freshmen are eligible for formal recruitment (whereas at most schools, sophomores and upperclassmen are eligible), it appears that this school adheres to stricter guidelines. If they're focusing on freshmen primarily, your chances are not good as a graduate student. Furthermore, it should really not be your focus at this time.

That's not what it said.

It said "first year students may only participate in the formal recruitment period or Spring COB."

That means these are the only things freshmen can do, not that only freshmen can do these things. Any school that limited formal rush to only freshmen would find themselves on the end of a lawsuit (not to mention a reprimand from the sororities' national offices and National Panhellenic) very quickly. So just to clear up any confusion - sophomores, juniors and seniors ARE permitted to participate in formal rush at Willamette.

And again, the original poster would most likely be allowed to participate in formal rush. It's just that she's very very very very unlikely to get a bid.