[kchaptergphib]

I'm sure how well "holdovers" work depends on the school and the situation.
I was a holdover, signing my bid card in April, I think, and I wasn't initiated until December with the rest of the fall pledge class.
Aside from having girls who signed their bid cards after me being ahead of me in pin order (alphabetical), I loved it. I did not go home the summer after freshman year, but stayed in Minneapolis where I was going to school. I hung out with some of the girls from the sorority over the summer and got to know them better, so I was much more comfortable when fall came around. And, I got to help recruit my pledge class! There was another sister with me who had not been initiated in the spring, so at least there was someone else who was in the same situation.
So in my case, I loved being a holdover.