To expand this train of thought, many great yet very different schools have fabulous programs in the same major. My D was undeclared yet had her eye somewhat on a particular major. Many, many schools had very strong depts in her particular field of study and were well within her profile based on GPA, standardized test scores, ECs yet she easily limited her school applications to 5 nationally RUs and 2 nationally ranked LACs.


When a student chooses a school, he or she may consider and then prioritize it on reputation of major, prestige of school, cost of school, location, size, gender percentage, ethnicity percentages, and a myriad of other factors. While prestige and tier ranking may be paramount in one student's decision, proximity to home and cost to mom and dad may be more important to a different applicant.

They can in ZTA, but you have to go through A LOT of paperwork. There's actually a girl in my chapter right now who was initiated into our chapter, transferred to another school without Zeta, making her an alum, then she came back. She had to fill out a whole lot of paperwork with IO, but she was able to get collegiate status back.

Yeah, I used to think that too, until I heard about the people who join a small chapter they have no intention of staying at, just so they can get in the large prominent chapter through the "back door." You're in effect screwing over TWO chapters, and if a sorority's had it happen a lot, I can understand why the "get acquainted" rules were put in place.

I think that the not fitting happens at alum chapters too, and I think that way too many times, rather than everyone working together, people either 1) drop out of being involved completely or 2) start a new chapter when it would be better to have one big strong one rather than a bunch of smaller ones. #2 drives me nuts, but it might just be something specific to my GLO.

For Kappa, if an undergraduate member transfers to a campus without a Kappa chapter, she is considered an Associate member, not an alumna. If she then decides to transfer again to a campus that does have a Kappa chapter, I believe she is able to affiliate and become an active member of that chapter.

Members don't become alumna (whether they are active or Associate members) until they either graduate, leave school completely, or finish their fourth year of school.

Question...although I understand if you can't say or just don't know...if a member drops out of school after initiating Kappa, is she still an associate member, or is she an Alum?

In Alpha Phi they can. For example, we are colonizing at UConn right now, and there are two sisters from other chapters that have transfered there. They are a part of the new chapter now.

We also allow our members to become alums if they transfer before graduating. A sister from my chapter transfered to another school after her freshman year and immediately joined the local alum chapter and took a position in it.

Sorry, I edited my post to reflect this; if she leaves school completely prior to graduation she is considered an alumna.

I do know this happens, but I think it is too rare to penalize sisters who should have all the rights and responsibilites afforded to every other sister. My campus was known as a feeder to LSU since we all know that recruitment can be hell. Phi Mu and Kappa Delta chapters at my school were frequently claimed to be victims of this activity, but after four years at this school, I cannot recall a single person that anyone could actually name who did this.

In Phi Mu you can do this. You can become an alumnae, but if you go to a school that does have it reinstate yourself. There is a lot of paper work involved (to prove you're in good standing). My chapter doesn't get a lot of transfers. It's so sad, they'll come but they won't reaffiliate even though nationals states on the paper work that you should. This summer when I was a Pi Chi, a girl came up to me and said she wanted to reaffiliate with Phi Mu, I was SOOO excited, but I never got her name and I don't know what became of her...I gave her the president of our chapter's email but I couldn't tell her I was one too since it was so close to recruitment. So SAD :(, I would have made sure to stay in contact had I been allowed.

That's the most intelligent thing I have heard all day

that's a good call!