Too old to join a Sorority?

[LUgammaphi]

I know for us age is not really a question. We don't normally ask or talk about that at all during recruiment. We may ask what year you are, but there are some girls who are very ahead, and some who are behind. During our spring recruitment we had a girl who was 27 come through. She's amazing and she pledged, and she hangs out with us younger girls just like she is one. It's all in YOUR mentality and how you come across. to me, 22 is NOT that old!

[AB1120]

Hello out there. This is my first time posting so please help me if I'm doing something wrong. I'll be going to CSUS in the Fall of 07 and I would really like to join a sorority but I feel like I'm too old. I had to wait to return to college and I never got to fullfill my dreams of joining a sorority. I don't want to look stupid trying to join but I feel like if don't try then I'll never know if I could've be a sister. Does anyone have any advice for this lost sole? I also wanted to know about starting a new chapter or sorority on the campus of CSUS. Is anyone tring to start a new chapter and need members or does anyone have any information about starting one out. Someone help your girl out

[Jerz85]

I am a new member and I am going to be 22 this Aug, my girls didn't have a problem with my age. I think that it is more a question of when you are going to be graduating.

[Nicholie]

I went to college for a year and a half at age 17 and then got very unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, so I dropped out. Now I know exactly what I want to do...which just happens to be a doctor, neurologist to be exact. Anyways, I just turned 25, but I am very young at heart Would 25 be seen as way too old to rush a sorority???

[Miss{BooperDoo}]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

Booper Doo-

I don't want to seem rude, but a few things struck me from your posts that I just thought I'd mention so you don't go in thinking it's going to be a cake walk.

• Your age will likely be a factor, especially at a Deep South school. Those schools are sellers' markets and the chapters have their pick. All else being equal, a freshman will have one up on you.
• Being a transfer student at a Deep South school is also a strike against you.
• Being from Indiana (or any state other than Alabama) will likely be a strike against you. (Of course I would count it as a point in your favor, personally!)
• You mentioned the expense of IU and ND - make sure you evaluate the financial obligations of a sorority before you rush and get your heart set on one.
• You mentioned that your plans are influenced by your boyfriend. Some sororities may frown on that. I hate to say that, because it sounds like your situation is very unusual and I am very supportive of what your boyfriend is doing.

I am sure that at many schools your situation would have little or no affect on your recruitment, but the reality is that USA is Deep South, and Deep South is different. I would recommend getting great recs and also thinking of how you can sell all of your "shortcomings" as assets. Also, it seems that all the things I listed as concerns are things that are now beyond your control. Be sure that the things you CAN control, like your grades and extra-curriculars, are stellar.

Also, BTW Notre Dame has no Greek Life, but it is beyond huge at IU. That is one of the 3 largest Greek systems in the country.

Hey, your not being rude. Just looking for advice here, and thats what you gave

I guess I should stress again, I don't come from an area where greek life is big. IU is SOUTH Indiana unless your going to a local campus like IU-south bend. In which case I compare it to Ivy Tech...which you are prolly not familar with but its a community college. There is no ANYTHING at IU-south bend. It's a very boring campus. I come from North Indiana. Different world. ND is in North Indiana. (as I'm sure you know). I don't know any of my classmates who went down to IU who wanted to go greek.

I honestly do not mean this in a rude way, so please don't take it that way, but comparing the cost of ND or IU to greek life is like comparing the cost of buying a mansion to renting an apartment. ND tuition is about 50 grand,(nd.edu :
Tuition and Fees

$35,190

Room & Board

9,290

Books and Supplies

850

Personal Expenses

900

Transportation

500

Total

$46,730

while IU is more like 20 grand (iub.edu:Tuition and fees$7,460$20,472Room and board *$5,616–$7,164$5,616–$7,164Total for Academic Year$13,076–$14,624$26,088–$27,636* Based on a double room with a full meal plan.
Other Personal Costs for an Academic YearFor new full-time undergraduatesIn-stateOut-of-stateBooks and supplies$650–$740$650–$740Personal expenses and transportation $2,400–$2,950$2,400–$2,950
Just because I can't afford these schools dosent' mean greek life at USA is out of the question...I don't know of ANY sorority that expects 50 THOUSAND dollars a year in dues. But I respect what you said about evaluating financial situation before considering rushing, because as I've said before I don't know much about greek life and until I started persuing information on it, didn't know that some dues ARE quite expensive.

Thanks for the point in my favor as for coming from Indiana If transferring from an Indiana school is going to affect my chances of getting into a sorority that badly, honestly its not something I want to be a part of. I fully plan on giving everyone a fair chance, and hopefully they will do the same for me. But forming an opinion of someone based on where they come from as a reason to not accept them is about as shallow as not accepting them because of their hair color.

Also thanks for supporting what my boyfriend does. But this wouldnt be something I would bring up rushing, as from what I've read boys are a no no to talk about. I would give other (equally truthful) reasons as to why I didn't attend in the Fall.

Thanks for the great advice, yours is one of the best responses I have received.

Have a great day!!

[Miss{BooperDoo}]

P.S. sorry about the IU/ND cost part, they were tables until I posted it and it kind of got meshed together

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Miss{BooperDoo}

Thanks for the point in my favor as for coming from Indiana If transferring from an Indiana school is going to affect my chances of getting into a sorority that badly, honestly its not something I want to be a part of. I fully plan on giving everyone a fair chance, and hopefully they will do the same for me. But forming an opinion of someone based on where they come from as a reason to not accept them is about as shallow as not accepting them because of their hair color.

Let me clear this up...nobody is holding your home state against you. Nobody cares that you are from Indiana or New York or Arizona. The problem is that nobody went to your high school, church, summer camp, etc., so you don't have the personal connections that other girls may have prior to rush. You may be competing with girls who already know a lot of sorority members, and you have 20 minutes to impress sorority women who have known other PNM's for years.

THIS IS WHY RECS WILL BE CRITICAL. They can not replace personal friendships with women in the houses, but they will help.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by Miss{BooperDoo}

Hey, your not being rude. Just looking for advice here, and thats what you gave

I guess I should stress again, I don't come from an area where greek life is big. IU is SOUTH Indiana unless your going to a local campus like IU-south bend. In which case I compare it to Ivy Tech...which you are prolly not familar with but its a community college. There is no ANYTHING at IU-south bend. It's a very boring campus. I come from North Indiana. Different world. ND is in North Indiana. (as I'm sure you know). I don't know any of my classmates who went down to IU who wanted to go greek.

I honestly do not mean this in a rude way, so please don't take it that way, but comparing the cost of ND or IU to greek life is like comparing the cost of buying a mansion to renting an apartment. ND tuition is about 50 grand,(nd.edu :
Tuition and Fees

$35,190

Room & Board

9,290

Books and Supplies

850

Personal Expenses

900

Transportation

500

Total

$46,730

while IU is more like 20 grand (iub.edu:Tuition and fees$7,460$20,472Room and board *$5,616–$7,164$5,616–$7,164Total for Academic Year$13,076–$14,624$26,088–$27,636* Based on a double room with a full meal plan.
Other Personal Costs for an Academic YearFor new full-time undergraduatesIn-stateOut-of-stateBooks and supplies$650–$740$650–$740Personal expenses and transportation $2,400–$2,950$2,400–$2,950
Just because I can't afford these schools dosent' mean greek life at USA is out of the question...I don't know of ANY sorority that expects 50 THOUSAND dollars a year in dues. But I respect what you said about evaluating financial situation before considering rushing, because as I've said before I don't know much about greek life and until I started persuing information on it, didn't know that some dues ARE quite expensive.

Thanks for the point in my favor as for coming from Indiana If transferring from an Indiana school is going to affect my chances of getting into a sorority that badly, honestly its not something I want to be a part of. I fully plan on giving everyone a fair chance, and hopefully they will do the same for me. But forming an opinion of someone based on where they come from as a reason to not accept them is about as shallow as not accepting them because of their hair color.

Also thanks for supporting what my boyfriend does. But this wouldnt be something I would bring up rushing, as from what I've read boys are a no no to talk about. I would give other (equally truthful) reasons as to why I didn't attend in the Fall.

Thanks for the great advice, yours is one of the best responses I have received.

Have a great day!!

I'm from Illinois and went to U of I so I know where you're coming from regarding the differences in Indiana. As for the financial aspect - I know that Greek life is no where near as expensive as an entire college education at ND. Not knowing your personal finances, I was just bringing it up because you had mentioned finances as a concern. It sounds like you are knowledgeable about the costs associated with Greek life - too often girls get swept up in sorority life only to find out half way through their pledgeship that they can't afford to initiate. I'm glad that won't be a problem for you.

And about being from Alabama v. from Indiana. DeltaBetaBaby understood what I meant. Some southern chapters feel like out-of-state PNMs are a risk because no one can really vouch for them. Plus, some groups like to brag that they got all of the Birmingham girls or whatever the city-of-choice is. At some schools, taking out-of-state girls is looked down on. That always seemed silly to me, because at Illinois it was really cool to get out-of-state girls. But, as we've established, the south is just different. Mostly though, a good rec will help negate your out-of-state status since they will have that chance to know more about you.

As for the boys thing - you have obviously done your homework since you know not to talk about boys!

Good luck!

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Miss{BooperDoo}

This is my first thread (and first post of anythig...as I've just joined). So work with me if I'm not doing it right I'm transferring down to University of South Alabama next Spring (would be Fall, but my boyfriend is in the military and is going to be home for the first time in a year in August...) and at that time I'll be 22. I waited awhile after highschool to start college, so I'll only be a sophomore when I transfer down there. Do you think 22 is too old to join?

I don't think so. I think it all just depends on how well you get ot know the members of the sorority.

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I don't think so. I think it all just depends on how well you get ot know the members of the sorority.

I have to disagree. I think it has to do with the campus culture. On some campuses (especially in the South), 22 (regardless of class standing) is too old, especially when the majority of those going through rush are 17-18 years old and sororities may look more favorably on them.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by OTW

I have to disagree. I think it has to do with the campus culture. On some campuses (especially in the South), 22 (regardless of class standing) is too old, especially when the majority of those going through rush are 17-18 years old and sororities may look more favorably on them.

I agree with this. It really depends on the campus you are on. I pledged at 22 and had no problem whatsoever, but had I been on other campuses in this state I would have had no chance of getting a bid because of my age and junior standing at the time.

[ZTA zetahunny]

Originally Posted by Miss{BooperDoo}

This is my first thread (and first post of anythig...as I've just joined). So work with me if I'm not doing it right I'm transferring down to University of South Alabama next Spring (would be Fall, but my boyfriend is in the military and is going to be home for the first time in a year in August...) and at that time I'll be 22. I waited awhile after highschool to start college, so I'll only be a sophomore when I transfer down there. Do you think 22 is too old to join?

I wouldn't go out of my way to let anyone know my age. I was making the rounds at U.Tenn Martin my soph year, checking on a pledge during study hours. I was her guardian angel so we were sort of close. To my horror, she was making mixed drinks in a blender in her room. I didn't get authoritative because I remember being scolded for goofing off myself during study hours, but I told her we had to clean it up etc, before anyone else came in. She told me she was 22 (I was 18) and in so many words let me know that she could handle it. She was an "A" student, and even represented that particular freshman dorm in the Miss UTM pagent. I don't remember anyone mentioning her age during rush. I do remember she was Banana Queen lol. She ended up being more of a guardian angel to me in the long run. We had so much stupid fun. This brings back so many good memories.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by ZTA zetahunny

I wouldn't go out of my way to let anyone know my age. I was making the rounds at U.Tenn Martin my soph year, checking on a pledge during study hours. I was her guardian angel so we were sort of close. To my horror, she was making mixed drinks in a blender in her room. I didn't get authoritative because I remember being scolded for goofing off myself during study hours, but I told her we had to clean it up etc, before anyone else came in. She told me she was 22 (I was 18) and in so many words let me know that she could handle it. She was an "A" student, and even represented that particular freshman dorm in the Miss UTM pagent. I don't remember anyone mentioning her age during rush. I do remember she was Banana Queen lol. She ended up being more of a guardian angel to me in the long run. We had so much stupid fun. This brings back so many good memories.

Was this the Fulton, Kentucky / South Fulton, Tennessee International Banana Festival?

[Thetagirl218]

Its been said before, but frankly it is all about your campus' culture. One of my pledge sisters was 23, and she was a great asset to our pledge class.

[ZTA zetahunny]

Yes!!!! hahaha Busted.

Originally Posted by TSteven

Was this the Fulton, Kentucky / South Fulton, Tennessee International Banana Festival?