Why Did You Choose Alpha Phi?
 

To get this forum going again, I thought I might pose a question to all the fabulous Phis out there...

Why did you choose Alpha Phi? How has Alpha Phi impacted your life? Why not share your funniest, silliest, or most heart-warming Alpha Phi experience?

I am looking forward to meeting new Phis and hearing your unique stories!

Love in AOE,
G
Epsilon Omega deuteron

[This message has been edited by TexasPhi (edited August 15, 2001).]

I loved recruitment! I enjoyed meeting the girls in the different chapters, seeing their houses and seeing how they interacted with each other. I was a double legacy to another house, so I was focused on that house initially, but they just weren't the right "fit" (much to my relatives' disappointment).

Of all 11 houses I visited, the Alpha Phis and two other houses felt "right" to me. When it came to Pref night, I just knew. I felt the sisterhood and my decision was easy--I knew I had to be a Phi!

When I opened my envelope of bid day, I was SOOOOO excited to have been chosen (and to have gotten my choice).

Going A-Phi was the best decision I ever made!

Alpha Phi Love,
Angel

PS TexasPhi--share your story with us too!! :-)

I loved Alpha Phi from the first minute I walked through the doors. Every girl I met was cute, interesting and genuine. It sounds very cliche, but I felt like I'd come home. All through rush, I just held my breath hoping I'd get asked back the next day. At pref, I just knew I had to be an Alpha Phi.

I saw their sisterhood, their genuine affection for one another and I wanted to be a part of it.

On bid day, when I met my sisters it was the best feeling! Ever since then Alpha Phi has been an incredible part of my life.

Alpha Phi truly *is* the one to be!

TechAPhi: You're right, Alpha Phi is the best!!!

I joined Alpha Phi and it was the BEST decision I ever made. My best friends are my Alpha Phi sisters and I can hardly think of college without thinking about the fabulous Alpha Phis.

I loved everything about it: the mixers with all the cute guys (loved those Fijis and Betas!), the parties, the formals, initiations, Big Sis discovery, living in the house, preparing for rush (though I didn't appreciate it as much then!), and above all, all the great women I met!

AOE & love to my A-Phi sisters,
APP

Alpha Phi: Not for years, but for life!

Why Alpha Phi?
 

Why Alpha Phi you asked...

I was deeply saddened by the death of a 'boyfriend' - first college romance and all...I knew that when you joined a sorority, you were in it for life...

Well, seeing as there was only 1 sorority on my campus , I decided to 'start' another one to fill that void. The "greek advisor" told me all the feelings and emotions I would go through when I began this and over the course of 2 years he was right!!!

I gathered a few other "sisters" and wrote letters to several other sororities who were possibly looking to expand - i.e. KKG, DG, A Chi O, DDD, A Xi D, A-Phi...All said no except Alpha Phi!!! They were looking to expand and colonize!

Well, I was President during those first few terms in '85 then sidelined as an officer until my senior year in '87 when I became Soc. Chair...

I graduated 2 months after initiation - I was a pledge (aka NM) with many others for nearly 2 years!!!

Upon graduation, I became PanHel advisor and soon moved away...Years passed and I am currently an alum chapter president and a regional officer!

Alpha Phi kind of chose me in a way and soon became a part of who I am. I will NEVER EVER forget what it was like to be a founding member, then again, I never did have the experience of formal rush, preference etc...I don't know what my life would be with out A-Phi in it! I love what I do!!!

And the rest is HISTORY!!!

AOE Always, Maharet

wow! i love this question! it's like when girls ask me this during rush i just gush and gush about how much i love a-phi!
i already knew two girls before rush who were in a-phi, and one of them was my good friend. but i definately still went into rush with an open mind. all through rush though, i still like a-phi the best and so did all the other girls i rushed with. the girls were sooooooo easy to talk to, and i really enjoyed their parties. at pref they had me bawling.... i was just so in awe of their sisterhood and had to be a part of it. i absolutely adore my sisters, especially my pledge sisters. we're such an awesome variety of girls that it's so easy to get along. i can't go one day without talking to my sisters. it's turned out to be an awesome experience for me.

Let's see. Where do I start? When reading this, keep in mind that informal recruitment is held during the fall, which is when I joined Alpha Phi. Having said that, I will move on.

Before I even got to the school I am at now, St. Mary's University, I had checked out their greek system on their website. I researched all four sororities as best as I could. I decided Alpha Phi was the sorority I was most interested in, even though I had not met any girls from any sororities at St. Mary's. I got to campus, still keeping Alpha Phi as my number one choice, but knew I had to meet the girls from Alpha Phi as well as the other three sororities. I talked with a friend of mine who was dating the brother of a girl in Alpha Phi. (My friend goes to a different school.) I told my friend I was interested in going greek and wanted to meet the Alpha Phis, hoping she could help me out. I knew Alpha Phi was having an "open house" sometime that week, although we do not have sorority/fraternity houses in San Antonio because it is against the law there, but that is besides the point. I hoped that my friend would get in contact with her boyfriend's sister soon so that I could find out when their open house was.

The next day I was leaving my dorm and as I walked out of my room, I see the Alpha Phi my friend knew. I found it odd because she lives off-campus, not in the dorms. I became extremely nervous and did not know what to say! She walked up to me and said, "Hey! I'm Maria, Naomi's friend." I knew then that if all the Alpha Phis were as genuine as she was, then I had found the sorority for me! She of course told me about the open house, which was being held the following evening. To keep me from becoming a nervous reck, I took a friend of mine who wanted to join a different sorority on campus to Alpha Phi's open house. I ended up loving all of the girls and knew that I wanted to join Alpha Phi. My friend felt the same way! She decided that the other sorority wasn't for her.

I am glad I joined Alpha Phi. Athough I just completed my first semester in Alpha Phi, I feel as if I have known these girls always. They are absolutely wonderful!

My school's Greeek system is so small I didn't even really know much about sorority rush, but I worked at the bookstore on campus and became friends with an Alpha Phi who also worked there. She convinced my friend and I to go through formal rush. I went in with an open mind and was so nervous! There are only four national sororities at State, and I eliminated one after the first night. They just weren't for me at all. They were really nice girls, but I didn't have much in common with them. I was torn between Alpha Phi and another sorority until Pref Night.

I went to the other house first and the ceremony was really sweet, but I didn't feel a strong connection there. What a difference Alpha Phi was! As soon as I walked into the room, they had me. I bonded with so many of them and I cried during the ceremony. I knew that Alpha Phi was where I belonged. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made!

Love in AOE,
Jessica

I chose Alpha PHi....
 

Well before I decided to go APhi, I talked to 2 other sororities. And out of all 3 Alpha Phi was the only one where the girls where down to earth and honestly interested in what I had to say and what I wanted to know. The girls made me feel welcomed and wanted! That was very important to me!!! I always knew I wanted to be apart of a sorority although sometimes they could be given the wrong impression. And once I was introduced to Alpha Phi there was no doubt about it. I recieved a bid and called my parents that same night. They said it was up to me and they would support me in whatever I chose, although we did not really have the money to afford it, my mom said, "we'll find a way some how." Needless to say the rest is history!! :D

I strongly believe that becoming an Alpha Phi was the BEST decision I EVER made!!!!!;)

AOE,
Ronnie

WARNING: Long post ahead! Happy reading!

I transferred to a 4-year university from a junior college, and boy, did the tuition expenses go up! I was pretty much on my own to cover the finances because my parents couldn't afford the tuition. Thank God for school loans! My parents asked if I would go Greek; I said no. I just knew I couldn't afford to join one of the 8NPC groups on campus, even though I had been wanting to be a part of a sisterhood.

Fastforward to 6 months after graduation: I was surfing the internet, hoping to find a women's organization I could join. I wanted to meet other women, as well as perform some volunteer work. I came across Alpha Omicron Pi's alumnae initiation link. I thought, "Alumnae initiation? What's that?" So I checked out the link, and to my surprise and delight I discovered that it was not too late for me to join a sorority! I decided to research the different NPC sororities by checking out their websites.

Out of all the groups I researched, I was interested in 4 including Alpha Phi. Incidentally enough my alma mater has no Alpha Phi chapter. I e-mailed each local alumnae chapter president. Only one responded--- the president of the local Alpha Phi alumnae chapter! Not only did she respond, but her response was prompt! Her e-mail was enthusiastic and genuine. She invited me to attend their upcoming events.

The first event I attended was a book club meeting. I was excited, but nervous! I met 7 ladies that night, most of them around my age. The president is only a year older than me. Anyway, they welcomed me with open arms! Initially most of them asked which collegiate chapter I belonged to. This was no rush event, but I truly felt at home with these women. I knew I could call them my sisters!

I kept coming back to the group's events, while keeping the other 3 organizations in mind still. But the more I attended, the more I liked Alpha Phi. So, 5 months after meeting the group, I approached the president about possibly sponsoring me for alumna initiation; she gladly obliged!:)

About 3 weeks before initiation, I received an e-mail from one of the other groups I contacted. The alumnae relations officer from the local chapter asked if I was still interested in joining their organization, since she said they're always looking for good alumna initiates. (The organization does have a chapter at my alma mater. The ladies were well-liked on campus.) I e-mailed back to say no thanks, and explained my situation.

Now I'm so happy to be an Alpha Phi! I missed the Greek life as an undergrad, but maybe it happened for a reason...

What a great story Bearal! I enjoyed it very much. It is very interesting to read the stories of the alum initiates.

I've very much enjoyed all the other stories here as well. :)

Alpha Phi is the best!

Jen