No Goodbyes, Just see you later!

  This blog has been an interesting experience. I always valued the Greek advice blogs and starting one was really exciting. I love talking to people about the do's and do not's of trying to join a BGLO! I hope this blog has helped someone! If any more questions arrise do not be afraid to ask!


Till later!

Be Prepared!

            When expressing interest many people like to bring up the fact that they know history about their organization of interest. This is not a problem; the problem arrises when you claim to know something and it is completely wrong.  The most important advice I can give to my readers is this:

• Know what you know
• Be confident in what you know
• Ask if you do not know

 Remember those three things and you will be fine!

Its Almost my DELTAVERSERY!

        As I was trying to figure out what the topic of my next post would be, it hit me that it is almost my Deltaversery! I will have been a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for a year on November 20. So I figured that this post will be about my journey to Deltaland.
       I was first introduced to Delta in the sixth grade when I accompanied my aunt to a crab feast, hosted by her friends Delta alumnae chapter.  Those women were so nice and down to earth. After that crabfeast it seemed as though I saw Delta's EVERYWHERE! Being a Girl Scout, many of my mother's fellow leaders were Delta's. I loved the way that those women were so eager to help the girls in their troop, and provide for the causes they supported. So, when I came to college I knew for sure what organization I wanted to be apart of. I did my research, I read books, I read greek chat forums, I read greek blogs, I watched videos, I talked to family members, I spent hours finding information from every place I could possibly think of. I made sure my grades were right, I continued to do community service, I went to programs, I spoke to members on campus, I saved up money; I was determined to gain membership. Sophomore year came along and I missed Rush. I have never been so upset as I was when I found out that I missed Rush. The following semester, I saw that the chapter on my campus was having Rush again, so I went, gained information, and  applied. Waiting for a Phone call (or rejection letter) was the most nerve wracking thing in my life. I recieved a phone call, and continued on with the Membership Intake Process (MIP) and I crossed the burning sands with my 25 other links on November 20, 2012. It was a cold, rainy, night, but it was unforgettable.

When is a good time to join a BGLO?

     Most organizations in the NPHC require you to be at least a Sophomore in order to join. Now joining an organization sophomore year or even junior year would give you the opportunity to enjoy the undergrad experience that goes along with it. (i.e. Parties, performing in block shows, stepshows, meeting other greeks, community service, hosting programs, etc.)  Joining senior year is not bad because you still have a tad bit of time to have an undergrad experience and yes, you can still do the work of the organization but graduation should be a priority and hopefully you will be focused mainly on that. The only way to figure out when a good time for you to pursue membership would be is to do a self evaluation.

• Are your grades where you want them to be? If not, you may want to wait.
• Do you have the time to put in for your process? (What ever process that might be...)
• Do you have the funds available for joining a Greek organization? It can be very pricey joining a BGLO.

Consider those questions before you pursue membership because the worst thing in the world is to pursue and actually gain membership and not have the time and/or finances to continue forward.

The Do's and Do Not's of an Interest

      Many students who are interested in a Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO) usually have no clue as to how to go about trying to join an organization of their choice. So, I have compiled a list of Do's and Do Not's to help enhance your chances of getting chosen by the BGLO of your choice.

• DO research! Research is a big part in finding out which organization would best suit you and vice versa. Once you have figured out which organization you would like to join, DO even more research on the history of the organization and the chapter in which you would like to join. 
• DO be discrete. Discretion is a big part of Greek life. The only people who should know about your interest should be a member of the organization you are trying to join on your campus or a family member who is a member of the organization of your choice. The more people you tell about your interest (outside of those I stated above) the higher the chance of you not getting chosen for membership.
• DON'T think that meeting qualifications will result in you getting an invitation for membership. There is much more that goes into getting chosen for membership. 
• DO go to programs and participate. This lets the members know who you are, and they get a chance to see you be active.
• DO community service prior to applying for membership. 
• DON'T be down on yourself if you are rejected. Try, try again! 

Research, Research, Research!!

           

           When people decide they want to join a Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO), there may be various reasons behind it. Some people choose based on family connections, and some usually have a hard time deciding which one to choose. The most important thing to do when considering joining a BGLO is to do research. This is a huge factor because which ever org. you choose to join, a promise of a lifetime of commitment comes with it.

Here are a couple ways to help you figure out which organization is for you:

• Go to the organizations website (I posted the links to all of the Divine Nine websites in my first post!): If you are not sure which organization best fits you look at all of them and see, not only which one best fits you, but also consider how YOU can make a difference to that org. 
• Look outside of your campus: Greek life is so much more bigger than just what you may see on your campus. If you know someone who is Greek or comfortable enough with a Greek to talk to them about their org. or Greek life then do so.
• Read books.: Books such as the The Divine Nine offer information on all of the organizations in the NPHC. Some organizations also have books that focus directly on their organization.                                                                                                                                                                                  Once you have figured out which organization is for you, Go to programs, talk to the people in that organization and determine whether you truly want to pursue membership.                              

NPHC??

     

 When choosing which college to attend, many parents look at the majors the institution offers, financial aid available, on campus housing etc. but the students are looking more so at the campus life. Are there parties? What is there to do on campus? Are there clubs I can join? What about Greek life?  At an HBCU Greek life is a prominent part of campus life. Some young adults come to college with an idea of what the NPHC is about and others do not.

So...What is the NPHC?

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek lettered fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Divine Nine.

The NPHC consists of :

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, INC. : Founded December 4, 1906 at Cornell University  http://www.alpha-phi-alpha.com
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, INC. : Founded January 15, 1908 at Howard University     http://www.aka1908.com/
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, INC. :Founded January 5, 1911 at Indiana University          http://www.kappaalphapsi1911.com/
• OmegaPsi Phi Fraternity, INC. : Founded November 17, 1911 at Howard University      http://www.omegapsiphifraternity.org/

• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, INC. : Founded January 13, 1913 at Howard University    http://www.deltasigmatheta.org/  (OO-OOP!)  
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, INC. : Founded January 9, 1914 at Howard University        http://www.phibetasigma1914.org/
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, INC. : Founded January 16, 1920 at Howard University  http://www.zphib1920.org/
• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, INC. : Founded November 12, 1922 at Butler University  http://www.sgrho1922.org
•  Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, INC. : Founded September 19, 1963 at Morgan State University http://www.iotaphitheta.org/