Legacy Dilemma

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by tld221

did i miss something?

Apparently we all missed the 2 new sororities added

[PANTHERTEKE]

Originally Posted by tld221

did i miss something?

I caught that, too.

It's 26, Panda. Not 28.

[PhiMu_Gator]

My grandmother was in a NPC sorority and my mother ended up being in different NPC since her mother's wasn't at her college, and crazily enough, I ended up in a completely different one even though both were at my university. I think being a legacy might have been special, but honestly each chapter is way different at each school. It's the women in that chapter that make the chapter. The ideals of each sorority are important, but each one has the common goal of being a place to become the woman you want to be and offering friendship, support, and love in that endeavor. Be proud of your legacy status in coming from a family that values sisterly bonds, but don't let it stop you from looking at all the options that are out there. =)

[taurus0426]

Hey guys thanks for all your advice! My mother isnt pushing anything on me per se I just feel like I wasnt sure if I wanted to pledge this for me or for family traditon. I really do like her group but I dont wanna rule anything out. It's like when you're brought up in the thought that this is your destiny it's kinda hard....but times change so who knows? What was right in the 70's for her might not be the same for me in 2008. My family told me when they pledged it was beacuse black students needed to "stick together" in school but since then we made some progress.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by PhiMu_Gator

My grandmother was in a NPC sorority and my mother ended up being in different NPC since her mother's wasn't at her college, and crazily enough, I ended up in a completely different one even though both were at my university. I think being a legacy might have been special, but honestly each chapter is way different at each school. It's the women in that chapter that make the chapter. The ideals of each sorority are important, but each one has the common goal of being a place to become the woman you want to be and offering friendship, support, and love in that endeavor. Be proud of your legacy status in coming from a family that values sisterly bonds, but don't let it stop you from looking at all the options that are out there. =)

What a great explanation of why you shouldn't be so worried about pledging your mom's group or expecting your daughter to pledge yours!

[AKA_Monet]

The NPC sororities and NPHC sororities do vary chapter by chapter. However, with the NPHC differs in most of their chapters because of the International programmatic targets each of us uphold. Since I do not know what differences are with NPC sororities, I cannot say--some like ZTA do have a "universal philanthropy" with Susan G. Komen. But that is all I know, personally.

The reality is Taurus is that you do well in school, end of discussion. I really am unsure what your qualms are--is it that you want to join an D4 Sorority or not? If you want to join, then first and foremost, if you choose the one that your mother is a member, there are guidelines and rules in place for that. Your mother should be assisting you fully in that process within limitations.

But, if you do not want to join her Sorority and she might react to it profusely, the whole thing is if you have done all your research like others have stated, then you will know you did the best thing for you and only you. However, remember, parents are just fearful that their children will make adult choices without considering the entirety and gravity of the whole situation. Thereby alienating yourself from her "comforting arms". But, it has happened before and many people do it. So, hey, know yourself.

There is NO directed PLEDGING in any NPHC sorority--it is now called "membership intake process" or "MIP". You make an application to the organization with proof of your grades at an informational (when directed) or Rush (may or may not be invitation only). Rush is NOT the time to decided if you want to become a member--that decision should have been made a long time ago. Rush is when you are asking if you can change your life...

Consider this, just as XYZ is not your material, so is it that you may not be XYZ's material or ABC's material either--legacy or not... You may be PDQ or EFG's material... Or not... Get what I am saying?

Good luck on your education!

[taurus0426]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

The NPC sororities and NPHC sororities do vary chapter by chapter. However, with the NPHC differs in most of their chapters because of the International programmatic targets each of us uphold. Since I do not know what differences are with NPC sororities, I cannot say--some like ZTA do have a "universal philanthropy" with Susan G. Komen. But that is all I know, personally.

The reality is Taurus is that you do well in school, end of discussion. I really am unsure what your qualms are--is it that you want to join an D4 Sorority or not? If you want to join, then first and foremost, if you choose the one that your mother is a member, there are guidelines and rules in place for that. Your mother should be assisting you fully in that process within limitations.

Okay now how should she be assisting me then? I know there's a special legacy form out there. I'm a very dilgent student so that's not a problem but why is it that when it comes to D9 organzations a person must do tons of research (which reminds me I have some books to get) but in NPC or IFC organziations it seems that people just pick the one they like. I'm not sure if that's how it works but many people I know who want to pledge NPC dont even have a house in mind before rush.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by taurus0426

Okay now how should she be assisting me then? I know there's a special legacy form out there. I'm a very dilgent student so that's not a problem but why is it that when it comes to D9 organzations a person must do tons of research (which reminds me I have some books to get) but in NPC or IFC organziations it seems that people just pick the one they like. I'm not sure if that's how it works but many people I know who want to pledge NPC dont even have a house in mind before rush.

This is true. It's due to the drastically different processes of NPHC and NPC.

With NPHC, you are encouraged to research the orgs beforehand and choose only one to pursue. As I understand it, there are many NPHC members on these boards that pursued membership in their selected organizations for years.

In contrast, the NPC members always encourage women going through recruitment to keep an open mind to all the groups and not go in with a preconceived idea of which one they want.

I'm not in a position to fully explain why NPHC focuses on research so much more than NPC, since I'm not an NPHC member. What I've learned from being on these forums is that NPHC tends on the whole to view membership as more of a lifetime commitment and thus something that deserves a long period of research, education, service, and self-improvement before membership can be granted. It's also due to the fact that each NPHC has a missional identity that is very well-developed and distinct. While all kinds of women join the NPHC sororities, they are very focused on their particular values and service and developing the same ideals. NPC is also a lifetime sisterhood and NPCs all have national philanthropic efforts but I don't think that NPCs have achieved the kinds of well-known missional identity that the NPHCs have. Frankly I think this is one area where NPC has taken a lesson from NPHC. I know my org has put a lot of emphasis on specific values-based identity in the past several years and I think it's awesome.

That's my best attempt to explain the difference and the cause of the difference from the NPC perspective. Maybe the NPHC women could give a different or better explanation.

Again, as many have pointed out, the two processes are apples and oranges.

[taurus0426]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

This is true. It's due to the drastically different processes of NPHC and NPC.

With NPHC, you are encouraged to research the orgs beforehand and choose only one to pursue. As I understand it, there are many NPHC members on these boards that pursued membership in their selected organizations for years.

In contrast, the NPC members always encourage women going through recruitment to keep an open mind to all the groups and not go in with a preconceived idea of which one they want.

I'm not in a position to fully explain why NPHC focuses on research so much more than NPC, since I'm not an NPHC member. What I've learned from being on these forums is that NPHC tends on the whole to view membership as more of a lifetime commitment and thus something that deserves a long period of research, education, service, and self-improvement before membership can be granted. It's also due to the fact that each NPHC has a missional identity that is very well-developed and distinct. While all kinds of women join the NPHC sororities, they are very focused on their particular values and service and developing the same ideals. NPC is also a lifetime sisterhood and NPCs all have national philanthropic efforts but I don't think that NPCs have achieved the kinds of well-known missional identity that the NPHCs have. Frankly I think this is one area where NPC has taken a lesson from NPHC. I know my org has put a lot of emphasis on specific values-based identity in the past several years and I think it's awesome.

That's my best attempt to explain the difference and the cause of the difference from the NPC perspective. Maybe the NPHC women could give a different or better explanation.

Again, as many have pointed out, the two processes are apples and oranges.

Yeah this is going to take more research....luckliy I have a few months to work with.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Your mother should be assisting you fully in that process within limitations.

Her mother hasn't been active since college. I doubt there is much she can do to assist her, since she would not know the current process. In fact, in DST a mother's "help" can be to the detriment of the daughter, especially since we do not have a legacy clause.

[taurus0426]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Her mother hasn't been active since college. I doubt there is much she can do to assist her, since she would not know the current process. In fact, in DST a mother's "help" can be to the detriment of the daughter, especially since we do not have a legacy clause.

That's what I meant....she only knows the 1973 editon of how it works. But I do know some actives that could help out with rec letters if I needed them.

[taurus0426]

And I want to do this on my own and not feel like I got in based on legacy status.

[Little32]

According to what you have said, your legacy status is a moot point anyway, so you don't have to worry about that at all.

Also, the only thing that I would add is that depending on your school, you might not have a good deal of time to make up your mind about an NPC org. Not rushing your freshman year can hurt you in some places; and AI is not often or routinely an option (from my understanding).

If you veer toward an NPHC organization, I would suggest that you remember that post-graduate membership is always an option. Don't rush a decision to pursue membership, because our organizations are a life-time commitment. Make sure that you are certain of your choice, and with an NPHC, you get to enjoy that luxury of time.

ETA: Even then, as my soror noted, just because you have made your choice does not mean that you will be chosen; this is true for both NPC and NPHC sororities.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Her mother hasn't been active since college. I doubt there is much she can do to assist her, since she would not know the current process. In fact, in DST a mother's "help" can be to the detriment of the daughter, especially since we do not have a legacy clause.

You learn something new every day. I thought you all did have a legacy clause. I know I heard that somewhere before but it must have been hearsay. We don't have a legacy clause either and I agree that a mother's "help" can sometimes be a detriment.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

This is true. It's due to the drastically different processes of NPHC and NPC.

With NPHC, you are encouraged to research the orgs beforehand and choose only one to pursue. As I understand it, there are many NPHC members on these boards that pursued membership in their selected organizations for years.

In contrast, the NPC members always encourage women going through recruitment to keep an open mind to all the groups and not go in with a preconceived idea of which one they want.

I'm not in a position to fully explain why NPHC focuses on research so much more than NPC, since I'm not an NPHC member. What I've learned from being on these forums is that NPHC tends on the whole to view membership as more of a lifetime commitment and thus something that deserves a long period of research, education, service, and self-improvement before membership can be granted. It's also due to the fact that each NPHC has a missional identity that is very well-developed and distinct. While all kinds of women join the NPHC sororities, they are very focused on their particular values and service and developing the same ideals. NPC is also a lifetime sisterhood and NPCs all have national philanthropic efforts but I don't think that NPCs have achieved the kinds of well-known missional identity that the NPHCs have. Frankly I think this is one area where NPC has taken a lesson from NPHC. I know my org has put a lot of emphasis on specific values-based identity in the past several years and I think it's awesome.

That's my best attempt to explain the difference and the cause of the difference from the NPC perspective. Maybe the NPHC women could give a different or better explanation.

Again, as many have pointed out, the two processes are apples and oranges.

To add to this, Alumnae/Grad membership is expected of all NPHC members so continuing to honor your lifetime committment by being active in your org after college is not taken lightly and although some members don't remain active after college, the idea is for potential members to understand fully what they're getting into so that they will indeed strive to remain active once they become members. Hence the need for all the research and reflection. Just to give you an idea of how important Alumnae/Grad membership is in NPHC orgs, some of the NPHC orgs have more Alumnae/Grad active members than they do undergrads; in some cases as much as 70%-75% Alumnae/Grad. The NPC and other councils cannot say that about their Alumni participation or even come close.