Hello everyone,
I searched through the threads for information about what it’s like to join a sorority as a transfer student and I couldn’t find a lot of information.
The last thread was in 2010:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/uc-transfers/924283-transfer-students-joining-a-sorority-frat.html
This previous thread talked about ranking and taking orders from 18 year olds. I’m 21 now and will be 22 in the fall or 2017. I’d really prefer not to be bossed around by some 18 year olds. Does anyone know if this is true? Are you chances slimmer because you’re older as well and I’m assuming they’d rather have Freshman?
Will you experience be dampened due to you being there for only 2 years?
I’m really interested in joining as I don’t know anyone at UCSD and I’d like to make some worthwhile friendships while out there (I know cheesy, but what can I say?)
Also, I read that kids from Greek are looked down upon from other students? Is this true as well?
Thank you in advance for reading. 
Not a current greek but I do have a lot of friends who are greek and am planning on rushing next year. From what I’ve been told/know, it’s actually easier for transfers to get into a “top house” sorority, if you will, or a sorority because there are less people in your grade vying for the same few spots(comparatively it’s harder for freshmen). Even though you will be part of the new pledge class, once initiated you will be given the same kind of respect as one of the older members because of your age/school standing. The experience is what you make of it so IMO it wouldn’t be dampened by you only being there 2 years. In regards to Greeks being looked down upon, I can’t answer that unbiasedly but I wouldn’t say they are that much. Of course there are some stereotypes that follow greek life around, but greek life at UCSD is very different than it would be at another school and the students for the most part don’t really embody the stereotypes. Hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions!
Hey bigdreams23! Thank you so much for the thorough response. I am excited to transfer to UCSD and look forward to joining some organizations on campus. Good to hear that transfers will have the same amount of respect as older members due to age. Hahaha, I don’t think I could handle being treated like an 18 year old.
At some schools, Rush is almost all freshmen. The houses try to keep the numbers in each class fairly even. Other schools it doesn’t matter at all. The houses also don’t want to have too many in the same class as there could be a huge drop off in numbers when that class leaves. If the house has about 100 members, they want to have about 25 in each class, so if the junior class has only 18 in it the year you are going through recruitment, you have a better chance than if there are 27 juniors. The freshmen classes are almost always bigger than the junior or senior classes, as people transfer, leave school, quit, go on study abroad, graduate early, etc. The houses need those dues, so will take a bigger freshman class, hoping to keep them all 4 years.
So much depends on the school. The big, huge southern schools? Upperclassmen don’t have a good chance of getting a bid if they are 22 years old. At a school that doesn’t have physical houses? Better chance.
Hey twoinanddone, thank you for your response. This is great information to know. UC San Diego is not a huge Southern School so I’m not sure but they don’t have a physical house so hopefully my chances are better.