I want to join a fraternity!

[tld221]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Now I've got "Poor Unfortunate Souls" stuck in my head!

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by tld221

Now I've got "Poor Unfortunate Souls" stuck in my head!

If it helps that's the "Body Language" bit

[dnall]

I didn't see a statement about only undergrads for any particular org. Obviously that's the norm. There's not a lot of grad students joining anywhere as far as I know. However, I was not under the impression he was interested in ONLY that org.

I really don't get how this guy got through an undergrad degree and some way into grad school before he figured out he wanted to be in a fraternity. It is probably too late at that point, but I can't tell someone not to pursue the things important to them when there is some possibility.

My fraternity was/is extremely important to me. Much more important than my degree. And in fact I've had more employment opportunities from my fraternity association than based on where my degree is from. But, I wouldn't necessarily say that's the norm, and the fact I have a fairly worthless history degree might have a little to do with that as well. But, my fraternity made me who I am. It shaped my beliefs and world view as much as my parents did, much more than any academic experience or training. I know that is not everyone's experience, but if someone wants that for themselves I can't tell them not to go for it. They have to decide for themselves if it's worth whatever the costs may be.

I probably wouldn't transfer from Rice to Sul Ross (didn't even know they had a Greek system) either. But, I would transfer from Rice to SMU, TCU, Tulane, LSU, A&M, or several other schools. I could find another school that's good for the degree I want to get and also has a Greek system I have some chance of getting in to. If I decided I wanted to do that, I would call a few of the chapters there to ask about the grad student thing, and I would then go visit them a bunch of times - effectively rushing. At some point in there both sides will be certain about giving or not giving a bid, and then I would go ahead and transfer.

I can't say that such a thing is going to work out or not. It is a lower probability for sure than if we were talking about a 19yo kid talking about starting his Soph year somewhere else. Yeah, the easy answer is too late and make the best of your current situation. But, I can't tell someone to just give up and deal with it. There is a way to get this done, and if this person wants it bad enough, I'm not going to tell them not to try.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by dnall

But, I wouldn't necessarily say that's the norm, and the fact I have a fairly worthless history degree might have a little to do with that as well.

*face palm*

I probably wouldn't transfer from Rice to Sul Ross (didn't even know they had a Greek system) either. But, I would transfer from Rice to SMU, TCU, Tulane, LSU, A&M, or several other schools. I could find another school that's good for the degree I want to get and also has a Greek system I have some chance of getting in to.

The key part of this sentence is "good for the degree." If Greek Life is the ONLY reason you transfer, that's pathetic.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by dnall

I didn't see a statement about only undergrads for any particular org. Obviously that's the norm. There's not a lot of grad students joining anywhere as far as I know. However, I was not under the impression he was interested in ONLY that org.

The first post in the thread:

Originally Posted by Cesky

Hi guys! I just joined here, so sorry if this is the wrong forum. I just had a question.

My father was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, and I'm really interested in becoming a legacy. Problem is, my university doesn't have a Greek system.

I'm thinking about going to a different university for Grad school. I was just wondering if most fraternities allow people to pledge as grad students?

If anyone here is from SigEp, that would be very helpful.

The tenth post in the thread:

Originally Posted by elicampbell

I am a SigEp. It is my understanding that only undergraduates my join SigEp. I may be wrong.

If you attend a school that has a chapter of SigEp, you might want to volunteer to help the chapter. I did that in grad school.

And from Post 21:

Originally Posted by Cesky

Guys, thanks for your help! I think the best course of action here would be to give a call to the chapter I'm thinking about joining, and see if they accept grads.

So, while he does ask about "most organizations," he also makes it clear, I think, that his interest is in Sig Ep, and apparently a specific chapter of Sig Ep, as a grad student.

[dnall]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

The key part of this sentence is "good for the degree." If Greek Life is the ONLY reason you transfer, that's pathetic.

That's a matter of opinion. I would value a good greek experience higher than the school name on my diploma, but I understand others have a different opinion about the importance of their greek experience or of the prominence of their university. There is almost nothing you have only one option for though.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

The first post in the thread:The tenth post in the thread:And from Post 21:So, while he does ask about "most organizations," he also makes it clear, I think, that his interest is in Sig Ep, and apparently a specific chapter of Sig Ep, as a grad student.

Yeah got it. I wasn't denying it was there, just didn't notice it. I don't personally know what SigEps policy is. Honestly on something this specialized though I would talk to nationals about that. I'd bet most chapters of any org think their policy is undergrads only & quite a few would be surprised to learn they are allowed to take grad students if they want, they just never have. The only way I know ATO's policy on the subject was we had a prominent guy in our history that toured around several universities during WWII starting chapters as he went, and I couldn't even tell you if that's really our policy any more or not. I'd have to actually sit here and read our entire policies and procedures to know for sure.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by dnall

That's a matter of opinion. I would value a good greek experience higher than the school name on my diploma, but I understand others have a different opinion about the importance of their greek experience or of the prominence of their university. There is almost nothing you have only one option for though.

It's graduate school. If you're going for a useless degree, then you're just wasting your money. Even though you 'acknowledge' others have different opinions, I don't think you realize how much your view is skewed by your own experience. Those non-Greeks must have wasted their entire education, neh?

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

It's graduate school. If you're going for a useless degree, then you're just wasting your money. Even though you 'acknowledge' others have different opinions, I don't think you realize how much your view is skewed by your own experience. Those non-Greeks must have wasted their entire education, neh?

Amen @ the bold.

My whole point is that the "college experience" doesn't begin or end with Greek life. As much as I love my fraternity and what it's taught me, I would have been OK had I not joined. The skills that I picked up are not exclusive to Greek life and the bonds could have been made in other ways. Greek life just had everything centralized.

I think dnall is playing black sheep on this one. I refuse to believe that someone would transfer to Podunk State University from University of Top Tier JUST because the former has Greek life.