Question for GC'ers who joined their chapter as upperclassmen!

[KSUViolet06]

For those who joined their chapter as upperclassmen, do you ever wish you'd joined sooner sometimes? I know there are some positives to joining after freshman year, but as a junior who joined last spring, I'm realizing that I only have one more year as a collegian. I sometimes wish I'd have joined sooner just to have more of the collegiate experience. Anyone else ever have the same feelings?

[Kevin]

In my chapter, I think the few guys we've taken as upper classmen actually have missed out. I don't think they have as much opportunity to try running for an office or to take a real lead on anything due to the short time that they're active with the chapter. Also, as you get older, real world demands tend to take a toll on your activity in your chapter.

So yeah, I think they regret it. I would have had I waited.

[WCUgirl]

I joined in the Fall semester of my sophomore year and I regret not having joined my freshman year.

[kddani]

I joined fall of my sophomore year. I wonder what would've been different had I rushed the year before in the fall or spring. I likely would've held a different office. Though I wonder if I would've gotten more burnt out....

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by kddani
Though I wonder if I would've gotten more burnt out....

I wonder that too honestly. I'm pretty active (though I don't hold and office, I'm pretty dedicated to my chair).

[BabyPiNK_FL]

I didn't even attempt to do anything until COB of 2005 (Spring), then they found out that they couldn't really do it because they would only let them take two of the 6/7 girls interested and you can't make a pledge class out of two people so now I have to wait until Fall but at least I've got some money saved up so I can afford to pay and not worry about fundraising too much or where the money will come from period. I'll be a junior though and it'll be sad because apparently (and this is a concern) the alumnae aren't allowed/encouraged (???) to really mingle with the collegiates(or so I've heard is the policy) so there won't be anything for me to do outside of reviving the alumnae chapter in like two years! But I'm gonna make the best of it anyways because I LOVE the org and I hope they'll take me, they are great Ladies!

-Unpatiently (LOL) Independent

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by BabyPiNK_FL
I'll be a junior though and it'll be sad because apparently (and this is a concern) the alumnae aren't allowed/encouraged (???) to really mingle with the collegiates(or so I've heard is the policy) so there won't be anything for me to do outside of reviving the alumnae chapter in like two years!

-Unpatiently (LOL) Independent

Although I can't be certain because I don't know which sorority you're attempting to join, but alot of times the reason for these policies is that they apply to events that the collegiate chapter has already budgeted for like formals, mixers, date parties, and other social events. Chapters just don't really want alumnae (who obviously don't pay collegiate dues) showing up to these things because they only budgeted money for a certain number or dues-paying collegians. It's perfectly okay to help out with other things such as recruitment however.

[Glitter650]

I wish I had joined earlier and been active for four years. However I was a transfer, so that's why I didn't join. I wish I had made a different choice of schools during my senior year and stayed at one school for four years.

[ladygreek]

This is an interesting and informative thread for me. In DST you must be at least a sophomore to seek admission. Then due to various circumstances many of our members do not gain admittance until their junior or senior years. But for us, that is not an issue because it is to be a "lifetime commitment." So in the scheme of things you still have MANY years to seek leadership roles, etc. through the alumnae chapters.

I was initiated in a collegiate chapter as were my sister and daughter. All three of us were juniors at the time. But my mother was initiated through an alumnae chapter (just three years before me.) However, in the end, it made no difference. My mother fulfilled leadership roles in Delta, as have I.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally posted by ladygreek
This is an interesting and informative thread for me. In DST you must be at least a sophomore to seek admission. Then due to various circumstances many of our members do not gain admittance until their junior or senior years. But for us, that is not an issue because it is to be a "lifetime commitment." So in the scheme of things you still have MANY years to seek leadership roles, etc. through the alumnae chapters.

Yeah, dealing with NPC sororities, I venture to say that the majority of girls who join, do so as freshmen. Depending on the campus (this is mostly the case with large SEC conference schools and schools with very high numbers of rushees) it can be extremely difficult to join after freshman year. I'm very fortunate that my campus is VERY different from those. We have girls who go through rush as juniors and even seniors and get their top choices.

Like I said in the beginning of the thread, I do get a little sad thinking I'll only be active for another year, but since I joined later I knew I'd be graduating in 2 years. I knew I'd only be a collegiate for so long, so I plan on enjoying my leftover time as an active while also bearing my lifetime commitment in mind and getting excited about alumnae life.

[DeltaSigStan]

I wish I hadn't bullshitted around with pledging that Asian frat and had joined IFC sooner...

But hey, shit happens for a reason, and I needed to go thru both experiences.

[neonsparkles]

There are a few things I think about, but as a whole I do not regret my decision.

I just joined Pi Phi this year, (my 3rd year of school) but I really so have 2 more years due to changing majors, etc.

I regret not having as much time to spend with my sisters in our undergrad days, and that I don't have much time to hold an office.

However, looking back to my freshmen and soph years of college I was a completely different person. I probably would have joined another sorority that I thought I wanted (because I fit a "stereotype" and knew girls from high school who were members so I would have the connection) and would have been miserable in the end. I got to meet some of the best friends of my life those two years without being in a sorority. Some of these girls are in other chapters and some are not involved with Greek life at all. I am still friends with these girls and it has helped me to be more open to the Greek community as a whole through friendships with girls in other houses.

Also, when I went through recruitment I was able to decide which house was TRULY for me and not based on apperances or where my friends were.

I have met some of the most amazing women by joining a sorority, but I am able to have a life outside of it.

I guess I don't regret it because I am extremely happy with my sisters and with my college experience as a whole. Joining a sorority was something I always wanted to do and these amazing women are my sisters for life. I might not see all of them as often when I graduate as I do know, but we share a sisterhood that is really strong and I know that many of them would be there for me for the rest of my life no matter what! I think you should focus on the present and what you DO have, instead of the hypothetical things you may or may not have missed out on.

[smiley21]

I joined last fall as a second semester Junior. I do not regret it at all. I am not graduating until fall of 06, but that is enough for me. I am not saying anything against my sorority, but I have been in college for quite awhile and it is the most important to me. So I am ready to go. I love my sisters and all, but I am ready to move on.

[sigtau305]

Originally posted by JocelynC
For those who joined their chapter as upperclassmen, do you ever wish you'd joined sooner sometimes? I know there are some positives to joining after freshman year, but as a junior who joined last spring, I'm realizing that I only have one more year as a collegian. I sometimes wish I'd have joined sooner just to have more of the collegiate experience. Anyone else ever have the same feelings?

I join Sig-Tau at the beginning of my Junior Year as a transfer Student at CSU. It would haver been nice if I started as a freshman, but I have no regrets.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Absolutely!

I wished I had joined in my freshman year. I definitly think I missed out on some stuff and it's a shame, but the way I try to look at it, is "better late than never". I still have great memories and now I'm trying to make my contribution as an alum.