How do I join a sorority that is colonizing this fall at FSU?
 

Hi!

I recently transferred to Florida State University and I'm going into my junior year. I was thinking about joining a sorority and I found out that a new sorority is being established this year. Alpha Phi, if anyone cares to know. :) Being an upperclassman I'm thinking that would be the best opportunity for me since they are just starting out and will probably need girls from all class levels...plus, it seems really exciting helping a sorority get it's start! I know since they are new they probably won't participate in the formal recruitment, I understand that colonization is a little different. So does anyone know how I can get involved with them and let them know I'm interested? This is their webpage right now http://greeklife.fsu.edu/alphaphi.html, the colonization calendar says they'll be marketing on campus...but I'm not really sure what that means...so if anyone could help me out at all or knows anything about the colonization process that'd be great!

Thanks!

Here's a thread in GC's Alpha Phi forum. The colony apparently has a Facebook page so you can go check that out.

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...d.php?t=112794

If you have any questions ask one of the nice Alpha Phis in this thread. :)

Thread about colony recruitment with links to other colony threads:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...d.php?t=113009

Typically you can sign up for interviews during the colonization week. Check with the Greek Affairs office at FSU for details.

Keep in mind this is the time to be prepping yourself for the colonization process, a lot like preparing for an interview. What activities have you been involved in that show your ability to work with a team? To lead? To follow? Have an idea of what you can bring to the organization. Doing research on Alpha Phi, having some idea of their organizational values and history is nice (resist the urge to do super research, there is such a thing as too much knowledge ;)). Read some general recruitment advice threads.

Let us know how it goes.

I don't mean to lane swerve into NPC territory, but I think considering her age/year and how competitive the school is, colony recruitment might be the easiest, or rather only opportunity, for her to go greek.

Whether regular recruitment or colony recruitment, I don't think it is a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket. My suggestion would be to enroll in formal recruitment, attend all the info. meetings, and go thru formal recruitment. You will get to learn about Alpha Phi as well as the other sororities. You will be giving yourself the best advantage by doing this. You are not obligated to join one of the established sororities-you can drop out of recruitment at any time, and often panhellenic will set a day for the girls who want to try for the colony alone to declare their intentions and withdraw.

Meeting girls at the other chapters will also hone your interview skills.

Colonizations are a rare opportunity for most students, but it is no easier to join a colony than it is an established chapter. While it is true that the sorority colonizing will want members from each class, it should not be assumed that if you are a junior you have no chance to join an existing sorority or that you are a shoe in for a colony.

GTALphaPhi, I just love the Alpha Phi FSU blogspot site! It is so cute and girly and I love the formal dresses the chapter officers are wearing in the photo. Gotta love the late 50's early 60's.

What house are you all renting?

Completely agree with this. Typically the colonizing sorority participates in round 1 of formal recruitment and then drops out, conducting colony recruitment soon after formal concludes. During round 1 you will have a chance to meet collegians (from a different Alpha Phi chapter, but still) and hear what they have to say about their experience. If you don't find a fit with an existing chapter, you can continue with colony recruitment after formal has concluded.

I just have one question for you. Your name is "kdlovely". Are you a KD? If you are, then you can NOT join the Alpha Phi colony. If you are not, then why is your name "kdlovely"?

Maybe she's riffing off kd lang?

No, I'm not in a sorority already. My initials are kd. :)

I joined my sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, when it was a colony. Although I am not an Alpha Phi, I thought I'd share the process I went through, just to help give you an idea of what it's like.

During the semester that AXiD colonized, they participated in only the first round of recruitment. I'm not quite sure what it was like because I did not go through formal recruitment that year, but I know that sisters from other schools were there to talk to PNMs.

After formal recruitment for the other sororities was over, there were open events that any PNMs who were interested in the colony could attend. There was an event to give more information about Alpha Xi Delta in general, there was one about the philanthropy, etc. At each event, there were sign in sheets where you could sign in with your name and email to show that you were interested. This also put you on the email list, so that you could receive email updates (for example, we got an email update when we found out where the house was going to be located.)

The way we scheduled interviews was by emailing one of the representatives from the sorority. We got our interview assignments by picking up a card that had our name and interview time at the last open event (if you could not be at that event, they emailed it to you). Then we had interviews with national representative (at least I *THINK* they were all from nationals...). The day after all the interviews were done, we could go to the Panhellenic office and pick up our letter--either one that would invite you to Alpha Xi Delta's preference party, or one that said that thanks for coming out, but that they would not be extending you a bid. (I'm sure it was said way nicer than that, lol)

Then they held a preference party, much like one that you would see during preference round of formal recruitment. The next day we could go to the student union once again to pick up a "sorry" letter or your bid.

Obviously, Alpha Phi's colonization is not going to be run exactly the same way. But from what I have read, there are similarities (such as having events after formal recruitment, having interviews, etc.) I hope this helps in giving you an idea of how colony recruitment works!

This is very true. Obviously, the only colonizing experience I had was when I joined Alpha Phi at Georgia Tech, whose recruitment is way less intense than FSU, so that probably influenced my statement. Alabama's recent colony had to turn away hundreds of girls and now has one of the largest, if not the largest, Alpha Phi chapter in North America. I bring up Alabama because I think the size of their recruitment pool, competitiveness, and status as a recolonization make it a better comparison to FSU than my alma mater.


Agreed for the most part. While upperclassmen have gotten into houses at competitive schools and while upperclassmen may have been declined by colonies, if pressed, I would say that in general, attempting to join a colony has a higher chance of success than attempting to join an installed chapter.

I extra agree with this! By going through formal recruitment, you may find that you're more interested in another chapter...or it may increase your preference for Alpha Phi. Either way, you'll get a taste of each house and won't have that nagging feeling of "I wonder what ABC or XYZ would have been like."

I also wondered about this! I'm glad we got it cleared up.

I have a few questions about Colony recruitment in general (any NPC). If any of the questions is private MS information, I apologize. I am just curious about the process for the end of Colony recruitment.

If you're invited to Pref for a Colony, do you still fill out a Pref card?

Is that part of the process similar to that of COB? (You either put the name of the one sorority, or leave it blank if you want to drop out).

Do Colonies typically try to bid up to chapter total?

Nope, no pref card was needed! If someone wanted to drop out, I believe they just had to get in contact with the ELC who scheduled interviews.

As far as your other question, I obviously can't speak for all colonization attempts, but at my colony was around 130 while total on campus was 170. (If I remember correctly, there were initially 400+ women who at some point came to a colony recruitment event and signed in to say that they were "interested". Then I believe over 200+ interviewed.)

Generally, a new chapter will try to pledge "average chapter size" for that campus. They'll typically have the first group of NMs, and then add several for a week or two or three after that. Expect a few to quit before initiation/installation...they find out they don't have time, or that sororities aren't for them. The new chapter will also usually pledge quota plus a large amount at its first formal recruitment, all to bring the chapter up to "average" size.

Once the chapter is installed, a sorority professional (often a sorority member who is there to also do graduate work) will live with the chapter for another year to furnish guidance. You'll have frequent visits from international and regional officers, often for several years.

All in all, it's a unique way to experience sorority life with special attention from some of the most outstanding leaders of the international sorority. It's not easy, but it's a fantastic launch into life!:)

Sometimes it's easier to talk with an adult than it is someone in your peer group. Also, the national reps aren't going to be swayed by things like "OMG Tim Tebow is her cousin! OMG she works at the Coach store and gets a 50% discount!" which, let's not kid ourselves, I'm sure sometimes goes further than it should in rush.

Also - I kind of think that people knowing you're there to join that sorority would take some of the pressure off in the manner of "how enthusiastic should I be?" You don't have to let the people know how interested you are in their group. If you weren't you wouldn't be there. Versus formal rush parties that you "have to" go to.

GT - go to the bottom of your post and click on the edit button if you want to remove something.

fsu sororities will hold cob/cor events if needed, but not too many of the sororities will be able to participate. lately everyone has pledged quota and most are above total after formal recruitment.

cob/cor events are usually postponed until the following semester when a sorority is colonizing.

For your colony, how many girls attended Pref but didn't receive bids?

How long was the colonization process for PNMs, from the first interest sessions to chapter installation and member initiation? I know that a colonization is a long process and a lot of work.

At what point was the colony/chapter allowed to be an official, voting member of Campus Panhel? When were colony members able to wear letters? Could the colony hold socials or official philanthropy events?

It's all very fascinating. I guess I'll have to read some colony threads!

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions!

YMMV, of course, but some general answers:
I also wanted to add that you would be well served to try to get a couple of recs. I know it's sometimes unusual for a colonization, but recs could only help, and might even make you stand out.

I'll copy AnchorAlumna and reply like this:

Just checking! You don't know how often we get people from one sorority trying to join another. :D

it is interesting to see how similar and different we all do thing.

I just want to say thank you all so much for all the great information! You've really helped me out! :) I actually got an e-mail today from the Panhellenic Association inviting me to a few upcoming recruitment events, so I'm pretty excited to participate in that and learn more about all of this. Thanks again everyone!

In my experience it is after interviews - they can make you or break you. Pref may have an impact if you really blow it but rarely are women released after pref.

Ha, ha, I hope this post hasn't jinxed anyone - I just had a vision of a rushee spilling an entire tray of drinks on the 70 year old past national president that just happened to be at pref for the colonization. :p

Since I am sure they'd be adhering to "no frills", there would be no tray of drinks...;)

we like frilly rush at fsu.

I was under the impression that it is actually NOT ALLOWED to release after preference unless the national HQ approves it, and that this is a National Panhellenic rule.

It's phrased differently, but yes, chapters are expected to be willing to accept as a member anyone who attends their preference events. But obviously will only be able to accept up to quota (plus whatever additions etcs)

Just didn't realize I answered this fully:

After bid day in Sept '08, we had a longer "new member period" as we were doing lots of things like selecting officers, writing chapter bylaws/code of conduct, etc. We were initiated and installed on March 14, 2009.

"Be able to accept" and "must accept if they match" are different. Which one do you mean? I was under the impression that the second is mandatory.

The language says that chapters* must be willing to accept everyone invited to pref. I added the second line to clarify that attending pref does not necessarily guarantee a bid with a particular chapter as a chapter may reach quota before hitting any particular PNM on their list.

*The agreements refer to the organizations as a whole which then make the rules for chapters, I'm simplifying it.

So just to clarify ONE MORE TIME:

If Susy Sorority is your last choice and she gets to you as a QA because she was cut by all other chapters, even though she is a QA and NOT part of your quota, you CANNOT individually reject her? You MUST bid her because she was invited to preference and you were the only chapter who invited her?

Like I said "unless you really blow it"....things do happen and women find they are not on the bid list....