Best or average time to get a lil???
 

I was just wondering; after being initiated, what is the avergae time to wait before asking for a lil??? I cannot wait for my lil because I know it's a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime bond. :) I know there isn't a specific "time" but I was just curious.

I got my first little the semester after I was initiated into APO.

I think it all depends on the chapter and certain other tangibles. I didn't receive my diamond sister until my senior year (three semesters after I was initiated) because I studied overseas one semester, and our chapter had so many women ahead of me in line to take a diamond sister (we go based on seniority). Technically, I also should not have received a diamond sister the semester I did, because (from what I was told at that time), the Membership Education VP (and NMC, from my understanding) is not supposed to take a diamond sister during her term of office. Since I only had that year left as a Delta member, however, I was able to take a diamond sister.

I am totally ready to take a lil sis. However, it has been hinted (by various girls in my chapter) that you should wait at least a year before taking a lil sis. And it has not been a year since my initiation.

Edit: Hope the "hinting" thing doesn't so weird or mean. It's been said that it's just better to take a lil, after a year of initiation b/c you are more comfortable with the hang of everything. It has never been a requirement, nor are there any requirements (except being in good standing & stuff), I guess that's just the average time with some girls in my chapter.

Out of curiosity, how do they "hint" to you that you should wait a year?

In our chapter, most girls take a little the semester after they get initated (or the next time we have an Alpha class... like if they were initated in Fall and we didn't take a Spring Alpha class they normally take one the following Fall)... but in our chapter it also depends on things like if you made grades and are in good standing with the chapter and stuff like that.

Geez - we had the opposite problem. Because we were growing in size, we sort of HAD to take a little every year, and could only beg out if we had legitimate financial concerns and couldn't afford all the gifts that were involved.

We have deffered recruitment at the beginning of second semester - so if you get initiated in the Spring, generally you pick up a little the next Spring. The informal recruitment girls get initiated in the Fall, but that's a smaller class. Generally, the girls who got initiated in the Spring don't pick up littles the next Fall, but it has happened before.

Example: I was initiated in Spring 2002. Most girls in my new member class picked up littles when we had our next formal recruitment period, in Spring 2003. However, one girl (from my NM class) had her best friend in our Fall 2002 informal class, so they became big and little.

I got my little a year after I was initiated. But my big got me the semester after she was initiated. We also go based on seniority.. it just makes it a lot easier.

We're hoping for a rather large pledge class this semester (we've had over 30 girls signed up for interest.. that would DOUBLE our chapter!!) So, maybe I'll get another little! :D

i had to wait a year and half due to going abroad, usually a year is pretty common, or around there anyhow.

worst time, depending on the people is the semester you graduate. My best friend had her big graduate like 2 mo after we initiated. and it was tough cause she never really got that bond. (mine deactivated, so that is a bad time too...if you are thinking of doing that)

I took me a year and a half to have a little sister. My little sister had to wait two years. I think a one year wait it good.

Our Big/Little system is slightly different from most chapters that I know of. Each of our new members get a different temporary big sis (or temp big) each week of their pledge period (6 weeks) and close to the time of their initiation they choose three people they could see as their big. Then on big/little night they find out which girl they actually received. I think this is such a great system because the new members get a big they feel comfortable with and have established a connection with instead of someone randomly deciding with whom they would be a good match. Also, girls can take littles as soon as they're initiated which works really well for us.

Concerning what LittleE said about not taking a little because you're graduating: yes, it is hard to develop a really strong bond in such a short time but if the connection is there then you'll continue the relationship even after you graduate. My big graduated the quarter after I was initiated but I really couldn't have seen anyone else as my big. She's the reason I joined Kappa Delta and we still have the best relationship and talk often! So it can work if you really want it to. :)

I initated Spring 03 (I was in a colony) and took my little Fall 03. My little will be getting her little Fall 04 :)

Not necessarily. I had three littles during my time as an active member in APO, and the one I was closest to was my little during my last active semester. (I was just in her wedding this past June actually!) It all depends on the people, I think.

it varies
 

from sorority to sorority and chapter to chapter, but i wanted to point out that while some people do experience that "once in a lifetime bond", there are others that don't. it doesn't mean that you and your little don't like each other or get along, it just might mean that there are sisters you each are closer to. going into a big/little relationship with the "be all /end all" expectation is like going out on one date with a guy & expecting that you will hit it off so well that you'll end up getting married. it might happen, but then again it might not. it doesn't mean that he's not a nice guy and you are not a nice girl. it just means that there might be a more suitable match still out there.