How to start a new chapter?

[33girl]

Originally posted by breathesgelatin
Let me also point out that just because you have never heard of a particular sorority, doesn't make it any worse or any better than the ones you HAVE heard of.

AMEN.

And as AchtungBaby pointed out, just because you are a legacy does not guarantee you a bid.

Plus, at many schools sophomore status isn't a hindrance at all - the person you are a legacy through may have had that at her school, but it definitely isn't the norm.

[texas*princess]

Originally posted by preciousjeni
But you have to remember that some chapters have hard and fast rules about taking anyone who is further along than freshman/sophomore. Perhaps if you focus more of your energy on organizations that don't have strict rules against sophomore/junior/senior, you'll have a happier time! You can usually get this information from your Greek Life office or Student Affairs.

Yes I am completely aware that some chapters will not accept juniors, seniors or even second-semester sophomores, but that doesn't mean a person should just discount all of the existing sororoities on any given campus b/c just a handful of them won't accept upperclassmen.

On my campus juniors and seniors are considered "free" and not counted towards quota (maybe even total?) when they are extended bids as an upperclassman. Even with that rule, I know of one, and *maybe* two sororities on this campus that will most likely not take any woman past a sophomore level, but that doesn't mean the remaining 4-5 sororities are not great organizations.

I'm not sure what the rule is at texasgirl's new school, but even if a few of the sororities do not usually extend bids to women who are past their freshman year, chances are that some other sororities on the campus do

I think the accepting of upperclassmen doesn't really apply to any one GLO, but instead varies from chapter to chapter of each organization.. for example, a chapter of XYZ might extend upperclassmen (any class above freshman level) bids, and another chapter might feel that only freshman would suit their chapter needs (for whatever reasons)..

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by texas*princess
Yes I am completely aware that some chapters will not accept juniors, seniors or even second-semester sophomores, but that doesn't mean a person should just discount all of the existing sororoities on any given campus b/c just a handful of them won't accept upperclassmen.

On my campus juniors and seniors are considered "free" and not counted towards quota (maybe even total?) when they are extended bids as an upperclassman. Even with that rule, I know of one, and *maybe* two sororities on this campus that will most likely not take any woman past a sophomore level, but that doesn't mean the remaining 4-5 sororities are not great organizations.

I'm not sure what the rule is at texasgirl's new school, but even if a few of the sororities do not usually extend bids to women who are past their freshman year, chances are that some other sororities on the campus do

I think the accepting of upperclassmen doesn't really apply to any one GLO, but instead varies from chapter to chapter of each organization.. for example, a chapter of XYZ might extend upperclassmen (any class above freshman level) bids, and another chapter might feel that only freshman would suit their chapter needs (for whatever reasons)..

That's what I meant! I was telling her to research the chapters at her school and find the ones that are more lenient with upperclasswomen.

[33girl]

Originally posted by preciousjeni
But you have to remember that some chapters have hard and fast rules about taking anyone who is further along than freshman/sophomore. Perhaps if you focus more of your energy on organizations that don't have strict rules against sophomore/junior/senior, you'll have a happier time! You can usually get this information from your Greek Life office or Student Affairs.

Just to point out that there are NO NPC groups that have a blanket statement of you should only take freshmen or whatever. If these rules exist, they are made by the local chapter only and have no bearing on the national organization. XYZ at Texas may only take freshmen, XYZ at Oklahoma might have no problem with taking seniors.

And Student Affairs can tell you overall how many freshmen/sophomores/juniors/seniors pledged, byt they're definitely not going to say "well, ABC only takes freshmen but PQR has no problem with juniors" etc. That is part of the chapter's confidential membership selection process. For Student Affairs to disseminate such information would be at least ill-informed, at most discriminatory and a conflict of interests.

[texasgirl12345]

I thought that sophomores count against each sororities quota? Im not really sure how that works but I thought that was why most sororities only take 1 or 2 sophomores...is that true??

[33girl]

Every school is different - some schools don't count sophs & juniors, some do. I would advise you to contact your school's greek life office and ask, or let us know the name of the school. Someone here may be an alum and able to tell you.

[texasgirl12345]

it is Texas State University in San Marcos

[texas*princess]

Originally posted by 33girl
Every school is different - some schools don't count sophs & juniors, some do. I would advise you to contact your school's greek life office and ask, or let us know the name of the school. Someone here may be an alum and able to tell you.

I agree w/ 33girl!!!

[Txsurfinwaves]

Originally posted by texasgirl12345
it is Texas State University in San Marcos

Funny...you PMed me a about 2 weeks or a week ago and said you were thinking of transferring to my school, University of North Texas.

If you are transferring to Southwest(sorry..im so used to that name now that they changed it on us)...they have several well-recognized national chapters and a very strong greek life(this is according to my cousin who is a Zeta there)...i dont think that they will be open for expansion anytime soon..maybe someone can verify that.


However, if your PM was correct, UNT has 6 sororities currently and i believe we are pushing for expanision in the next year...according to our greek advisor(again, texas*princess can verify me on that)...currently we have here at UNT Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Phi, Chi Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, and Zeta Tau Alpha.

Good luck with everything!

[dzandiloo]

Wow. If you are headed to Texas State, you have 6 organizations with extremely strong national orgs & pretty strong Texas reputation/presence: ADPi, Alpha Xi Delta, ZTA, Chi Omega, DG and DZ. (Alpha Xi is not so big in Texas, but they're still a great org). As Txsurfinwaves said, I also haven't heard anything indicating that they are looking into expansion anytime soon.

I strongly encourage you to give these 6 groups a try-I have not heard that Texas State is particularly hard on Soph's, but maybe there is someone here who can give more insight.

[33girl]

Originally posted by dzandiloo
I also haven't heard anything indicating that they are looking into expansion anytime soon.

Texas State is having presentations in the next couple weeks I believe, but I'm not sure if it is definite that another sorority is coming.

[Shawndalynn]

I acutally just graduated from Southwest Texas ( I still refuse to call it Tx State) but whatever you want to call it. I wasn't in a sorority there but I had a bunch of friends that were and my best friend was a Lambda Chi there- they have a great group of guys. I agree with everyone else and think you should go through rush and give the 6 orgs a try.

Shawnda

[texas*princess]

Originally posted by Txsurfinwaves
However, if your PM was correct, UNT has 6 sororities currently and i believe we are pushing for expanision in the next year...according to our greek advisor(again, texas*princess can verify me on that)...currently we have here at UNT Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Phi, Chi Omega, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, and Zeta Tau Alpha.

Like txsurfinwaves said our panhellenic system is really strong right now! We just recently raised total, and there have been talks about the possibility of pursuing expansion sometime in the near future All the organizations on our campus are strong both locally and nationally and I think it's great how much panhellenic spirit we have

[dzandiloo]

Originally posted by 33girl
Texas State is having presentations in the next couple weeks I believe, but I'm not sure if it is definite that another sorority is coming.

Hee. I need to go yell at my little brother (a Texas State grad student & Greek alum) now, for not keeping me better in the loop! Thanks 33girl!