new here...rush/hazing question
 

hi, i'm new to greekchat and i'm interested in rushing the AEPhi chapter on my campus for the spring semester (informal recruitment).
i hope all goes well and that i get a bid to AEPhi but i'm terrified (i was at a different school last year, pledged a sorority and got hazed to the point that i felt sick every day and didn't even want to leave my dorm room) i still want to be a part of a sisterhood but i'm still a little wary after what happened before...
i'm not going to ask details of the new member program bc that that's just rude (repeat: i DON'T want to know sorority secrets!!! repeat repeat repeat!!!), and if i get a bid i'll learn what it's all about..but maybe you girls could give me some advice about how not to end up in a really scary situation again. i just feel like i did something wrong the first time around and maybe you all would know some things to look out for (having rushed too, or possible been recruitment counselors).
basically, i agree with everything AEPhi stands for (i've been researching them like crazy) and i really want to be a part of it--i'm just sooo nervous!!!
also, if anyone has an estimate of what i could probably anticipate to pay in dues (general) that would be awesome--i'm paying for college myself and i want to make sure i could manage the financial commitment.
please help me out if you can. i'd appreciate it so much!

i'm sorry if this offended anyone--i really really didn't mean it to be. i hope you can try to see where i'm coming from and not be pissed...

Welcome to GreekChat!

First, let me reassure you that AEPhi does not haze. We have a strong anti-hazing policy... if a chapter hazes its new members, it can lose its charter.

There's an overview of the new member program on the AEPhi website. It's not rude to ask about the program, as long as you don't ask specific questions about ritual - but if you want to know about the time commitment and such, ask away. If you're concerned about hazing, you may want to ask, but they will probably tell you what I just told you - AEPhi does not haze.

As for dues - if you take housing out of the equation, your first semester is always the most expensive, because you have to pay initiation fees, buy a badge, etc. I think my first semester ran around $500, and subsequent semesters around $250 (this was 10 years ago, though, and my chapter did not have a house). If you do join, you can work out a payment plan with the treasurer, so that you don't have to cough up $500 (or whatever) right away.

Good luck. :)