For whatever reason, joining a Divine Nine sorority or fraternity might not work out for everyone during their collegiate years. But that doesn’t mean you are too late to join the party. Alumni chapters are always welcoming new members, whether you were able to be a soror during college or not.
Joining a sorority as an alum has many benefits. Here are seven of them:
1. You will be working with alumni sorors who have more life experience.
These sorority sisters will have wisdom and maturity that collegiate sorors may not have been able to offer. Alumni sorors will have a great understanding of and appreciation for the mission of the sorority.
2. You will be surrounded by strong leaders.
You can learn a lot from the leadership experience of other sorors. These sisters will have experience leading groups within their sorority as well as on a professional level. At collegiate levels, sorority members will have only had so many opportunities to lead, but at an alumni level, you will be exposed to more seasoned leaders.
3. You will be able to network professionally.
Joining an alumni chapter can be beneficial to your career since you will start networking and rubbing shoulders with other like-minded women. Many of these women are years deep into their careers, whereas, at a collegiate level, you are all still getting your education. These fellow sorors can be an immediate asset to you for career mentoring or guidance. They can help you get jobs, make connections, and meet the right people.
4. You will be surrounded by service.
All Divine Nine sororities and fraternities, both collegiate chapters and alumni chapters, have a strong foundation in service. But at the alumni level, the service experience is deepened. Most alumni members are in a more stable position than those in college. In situations like that, they can give more. You may also find chapter members who have devoted their careers to service, whether in nonprofits, social work, public policy, education, criminal justice, or more. The perspectives they can bring will help make service more meaningful.
5. You will have fun. The fun doesn’t have to end when you graduate college.
Alumni chapters have some of the best times together, and they can put some of the college parties to shame. The Greek picnics you can now join are a vibe. It helps that everyone is in a better position to afford fun experiences than they were as poor college students.
6. You will make friends.
Finding opportunities to make friends as an adult can be more challenging than expected. Joining a community of like-minded women can help put you in positions to build genuine friendships and relationships. You will meet some of your best friends as you participate in your sorority responsibilities.
7. You are welcomed into a family.
You are making a lifelong commitment to be part of a new kind of extended family. It really is a sisterhood, and it extends beyond just your chapter. You will have a connection with fellow sorority members around the world.
Advice for Potential Alumni Sorors
If you decide that joining as an alum is the right choice for you, here are six tips to help you prepare to rush.
1. Don’t expect to relive your undergrad fantasy.
Your college days are behind you; you are an adult now. Joining a sorority isn’t about walking with your sisters across campus in your sorority shirts. Rather, it’s being part of a large organization of like-minded women who want to make a positive impact on the world.
2. Start budgeting for membership fees.
Each organization is different, but they each will have associated yearly membership dues. You will also need to attend conferences, clusters, and regionals. You will probably want to buy things there too, so add a little wiggle room in your budget for items like cute DST paraphernalia.
3. Determine the requirements.
You will need to have your undergrad degree. Each organization will have their specific requirements, such as service hours. Use this time to build up your service resume. These organizations are service-based, so you want to show that service is in your heart (not just something you give when you want something in return).
4. Keep your social media clean and classy.
Go through your Instagram pictures and delete anything that might make your grandma raise her eyebrows at you.
5. Get to know the members.
Attend the public events put on by the chapter you are interested in. As you get to know the current members and start to build genuine relationships and connections with them, you will be more likely to be considered once you decide to rush. Members will be able to tell if you are just chatting them up to get something out of them. Let a relationship organically develop. Don’t be pushy.
6. Know your “why.”
Have a thorough understanding of what is drawing you to join an organization. And have a clear vision of what you can bring to the table. Take the time to really think about what makes you different from the other candidates. They are going to have service-oriented members. They are already going to have leaders. What else can you uniquely bring to the table?
If joining a D9 sorority is a goal of yours, know that it’s never too late.