Should I even try?
 

Last year I participated in formal recruitment at a fairly competitive school. I was a sophomore and despite my year in school I did much better than I expected. Of the houses I preffed at, two really stood out to me. Let's call them ABC and DEF.

I thought I felt more at home in ABC, but I wasn't completely sure. Finally I chose DEF. Big mistake.

The atmosphere in the house was very different when I was pledging than during rush. I really didn't feel like this was my home, and a few things happened that discouraged me from Greek life at all. I depledged from DEF.

Throughout the year, I became acquainted with a few women from ABC. I began to feel like I made a big mistake in not placing ABC first on my bid card. In my opinion they are an amazing chapter and I would love to be a part of that. Apparently they have trouble showing this during formal rush, and they are the smallest chapter on my campus and sometimes have problems meeting quota. Because of this, they may be likely to participate in COB.

I am participating in a research project for my major this summer, and the conference where I am presenting my work overlaps with formal recruitment, so I will not be able to attend.

Should I contact ABC and ask to be placed on a list for informal recruitment, or am I "used goods" and should I just give up? If I do email them, how should I word it?

Also, even though I am a junior by credit hours, I will not be graduating for another three years. Would this be something to mention?

Short answers:
Yes contact the rush chair of ABC and see about COBing or some other arrangements. If they remember you from last year that may expedite the process. But do it sooner rather than later.

Mention that you're planning on being a 5th year senior, that will allay any concerns about you being older and mention why you depledged, that it didn't feel like home to you and you remember how much you liked ABC before.

I wish you luck :)

What they said. Also to your advantage, many schools have "free juniors", so you wouldn't be counted in quota, anyhow. Good luck on your decision!

After formal recruitment ends, send a message to the Office of Greek Life stating you'd like to be put on a list to be contacted by all of the sororities holding continuous recruitment events following recruitment. This way, you may have more than one option. Call the office a couple of weeks later if you haven't heard anything.

Send an email to the ABC recruitment chair after recruitment, along the lines of:

Hi NAME:
Congratulations on your wonderful new member class! I'm not sure that you will remember me-- I preffed ABC last year and while I joined another sorority, I withdrew during my new member period. I would love an opportunity to get together for coffee or lunch, to hear how ABC is doing this year, and to see if you might be recruiting additional women after formal recruitment. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. I may be reached at (contact info)

Thanks again!
Best,
Your name here

This happened to a friend of mine. She wanted to be in EG, but she was in DEF, instead. She stayed in EG, though. Good luck.