KitKat...you must have a lot of emotions swirling around inside you right now with the bid situation. I do echo to you what other members have been sharing on the boards and also encourage you to try it. Your pledge class sounds like a very great group that already shares some of the same "vibe" considering where you went to prefs.

My cousin is a Chi Omega. She was very bummed they didn't have Chi O at my school, but since she was older she always got to do things like joining a sorority first, etc. I am actually glad we had different affiliations because like you said, you have followed in her steps. And, now you can have a more Panhellenically diverse family ;)!!

Chapters and the tone of the membership change after time. Think about this...if in the present day your cousin was a PNM maybe she wouldn't have picked her respective group because the same composite isn't there...not saying that there is any "right" or "wrong" group.

Now is the time for you to be able to make your own road!! Enjoy pledging and getting to know your pledge sisters and your new Chi O sisters! If you and your cousin remain close after you graduate and are able to be active in an alumnae Panhellenic together down the road that would be a great sorority experience for both of you! :)

But for this time, enjoy YOUR time and make your college and sorority experience YOURS!

Congrats to you and CHI O!!

OK, I am having trouble with the concept of NOT having Chi Omega at your school. I thought it was some kind of rule that all Greek systems have Chi Omega. :)

KitKat - I'm so glad you had a good time. I wish you a great new member period and much success in out Sisterhood.

:)

I'm glad you had a great time...I know you will have a wonderful new member period with Chi Omega! Remember you only get out of an organization what you put into it! Good luck and keep smiling! :)

KitKat, I am so glad you've decided to give Chi Omega a chance. I definitely have to cosign with everyone who is raving about XO.... they're an INCREDIBLY strong national organization, and all the Chi Os at my school say that they can wear their letters anywhere and people will comment on the great reputation of their sorority.

I'm so glad you enjoyed bid night. Congrats to you and your new sisters :)

KitKat!!! I'm so happy that you decided to give it a shot. If I had realized where you are going to school, I probably would have paid more attention! I got my Masters from UMass Amherst (Class of '04). Chi Omega is a great organization, and the UMass chapter definitely has spirit!

Please go get a cookie from the Black Sheep and a piece of Antonio's pizza for me. I miss BBQ chicken pizza:o

KITKAT you have the potential to be a great 'preffer'. Your story is a great one and you told it so well. When I read your post (and forgive me for this) it actually brought tears to my eyes. Alot of us have been in your shoes and know almost exactly how you feel.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND XO - and it will be funny for you to read this thread 4/5 years from now when you are graduating and you will be totally surprised that you ever questioned joining XO . . . and don't forget you will get out of your sorority what you put into it. SO HAVE FUN!!!!

Congratulations on Chi O! I think it's great that you're at least trying it out through pledging. Based on my own experience, it's definitely what I would suggest too! When I went through recruitment several ago, there was a group that I fell in love with and thought was perfect for me. I didn't get a bid from them, though, and I was confused and hurt. But I tried my second choice and loved it. After I had been in the system for a little while, I realized that I really wouldn't have fit into the other group. Chapters generally have an idea about who will fit in best even though you don't see it through recruitment. I'm glad everything worked out the way it did for me- I wouldn't change a thing!!

Congratulations on Chi Omega! I don't know what they are like at UMass Amherst, but their URI chapter is wonderful. I'm friends with quite a few girls from their chapter and they are all very sweet, intelligent girls. Their sisterhood seems very strong. Also, as mentioned before, Chi Omega is an extremely strong house throughout the country. I'm sure you will love your new house. I know you really wanted Alpha Chi but remember, it's a mutual selection process. The girls in the houses know their sisterhoods and who will fit in the best. Obviously Chi Omega feels you will be an excellent addition to their house and that's something you should trust. As someone who went through recruitment at two different schools I can tell you that when people say 'you'll end up where you belong' they are telling the truth. Enjoy your new house and your new member period. One day you'll wonder how you could ever have second guessed it!

Ahhh!!!
I don't know you, but I loved your posts and..
I'm a chi o too!!

I figured I'd post a little update to say how my new member period has been going. My new member class started out as 8 people and with COB it has grown to 18. I guess it's one of the biggest pledge classes in a long time. I haven't even met everyone in my pledge class yet, our first meeting with everyone is tomorrow. The only bad thing is that so far there kind seems to be a little bit of seperateness between the original 8 and then the COB people but hopefully that will change after we have our retreat all together on friday. I'm hoping it will help us to bond. There are a lot of things that go on in the house that I thought didnt happen ya know drinking, guys etc but i guess the way things work is a little different but i still definitley love the house. I've started to get to know people in the house a little bit better which I like but I'm hoping to start fitting in more. We've had a mixer all together which was alot of fun and theres another one tomorrow although i dont know if I'll go since I have 2 tests on friday but so far I am really enjoying myself.

I think what you're going through is pretty normal. There's always some adjustment going on when new members join, both within the new member class and the sorority in general. My pledge class included a lot of COBs, and while it felt like there was a division between us who'd pledged during formal recruitment and "them," it soon went away and we were all initiated at the same time. In fact, I can't even remember who in my pledge class joined with me and who COB'd. The one piece of advice I wish someone had given me when I was a new member, though, is to go to every event possible--sisterhoods, mixers, TV nights, whatever. Just go. You will get to know the sisters and your fellow new members much better, and they will get to know you. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, though, and best wishes for the rest of your new member period!

our girls retreat is this weekend as well.. and dont worry about the seperation between the pledge class. It is normal but over time(retreat is a great way to bond with one another) everyone will get to know eachotehr better and be closer for sure. That is awesome that they have 18 girls after COB. I hope you have a great retreat...I miss the fun times then of being a NM, awww::TEAR::

Having some uncertainty in your new member period is very normal. I remember being totally gun ho during rush, and then when it was time to get pinned after bid day we were standing in line to be brought into the meeting and I remember thinking "what am I doing here, is this what I really want to do?". And my only regret after that was that I did not rush as a freshman!

Chi O is a wonderful organization and, in my opinon, one of the tops on a national basis. You will always get out of it what you put into it and I agree with others on this board that you will look back and find it amusing that you were ever meant to be anything except a Chi O!

Best wishes to you and I hope you have a wonderful undergraduate experience!!!