national strength

To me it matters because it just matters. Like how being OR doesn't really matter but it just does

It matters to me because joining a sorority is not just for four years. National conventions, becoming an advisor at a chapter near your home, and alumni groups are just a few of the ways to get involved after college. The stronger a sorority is nationally usually these are bigger and easier to get involved.

It matters in terms of networking and life post graduation. At UA, Phi Mu and Alpha Gam are very popular, but they're basically nonexistent everywhere else. This poses issues if one of your motivations for joining Greek life is having a large network. For example, when you pledge a sorority like XO, Theta, or ADPi you're basically guaranteed a strong national network as well as alumnae chapters nearly anywhere across the U.S. This is a huge plus if your career revolves around networking and making connections. This is also a huge plus because you can basically go anywhere in the US and have a collegiate chapter relatively close to you. Whereas PM and AGD don't have a presence nearly as big outside of the South.

For Old Row girls, who's mothers and grandmothers were in ABC and have stayed in Alabama for most of their lives, pledging houses with a large local presence is important to them because more often than not they're going to be an involved alum.

To PNMs - I suggest joining a chapter based on where you feel the most comfortable and NOT based on a chapter's local status (whether it's in Alabama or wherever you're from). If you end up joining a house that has a large national presence then that's great. And if you don't, well that's okay too.

It matters to me because having a strong sorority nationally gives me a larger network both professionally and socially.

I am from the North and so sorority life is very different from the deep south. They are much more relaxed and it not as big of a deal. BUT, the alum network is huge and sorority pride runs deep. The national orgs. were very helpful with gathering recs which is something that doesn't happen in the Northeast schools so no one around here had any idea about the importance or what to do.

I was blown away by the size and scope of some of the alumnae organizations. For one I was invited to a local luncheon but they hold networking events, charity events, and fun events for alums of all ages (some moms with little kids, some young 20s pub crawls, some mystery weekend trips for older women with older or grown kids, etc...). There were a few up here that had that very large, very strong national brand and alum groups. Others were small social groups but did not offer networking or planned outings and still other houses had nonexistent alum networks outside of the South.

I did choose one of the houses that had a very strong and vibrant alum group and that group was a big factor in my decision at pref. I am headed home after graduation to somewhere up North and I know I will find a thriving group in any Northern city or large suburban area to help me get settled.

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