[LucyKKG]

Originally Posted by TexasRose

I have been going through this thread for a few days, but I have noticed that it's very inactive lately so if I'm re-asking the same old thing it's only because I'm not sure if the other threads are still accurate and up to date. I've noticed this is a hot button topic for some, so I'm sincerely trying not to step on any toes.

To make a long story short, my college funding is not going to go through, so I will not be attending after all. I thought that that would cut sorority rushing out of my life, but then I started reading through this board (although I do realize that AI is very different from regular rush and recruitment).

I don't want to pour out my heart on here and go on forever, but I think I could write a few pages on any of the questions, like why do I want to join an NPC sorority or what could I contribute? But overall, this is something important to me that I would like to look further into.

My first issue is, I'm not sure who it is "okay" to contact. I don't know any greek women (and please, I beg you, before anyone gives me hate comments about how I shouldn't want to join a sorority if I don't know anyone in it, please consider that many people don't know any greeks when they are regular PNMs, so I don't feel like this is a crazy idea). Would anyone be able to point me in the direction of sororities I could look into that would be open to a PNAM contacting them and expressing interest?

Like I said, I've gone through the thread repeatedly, and although there's a list saying which sororities are open to PNAMs on here, it's difficult as an outsider to figure out the different eligibilities as an outsider.

I contacted one sorority already because I knew their local reputation and thought very highly of them. Nationals just responded saying that only members could initiate that process and the message was pretty unfriendly in general (I had hoped that they might refer me to a local group I could meet who might decide over time if I would be a good fit). And I understand that it's their group and their decision on how to handle these things, but when you don't have a lot of connections to the greek world it is very discouraging to get the cold shoulder right away. How do you make friends with women that you don't know?

Okay, sorry, I got a little off topic there. I don't expect any process to be quick or easy, but if anyone could give me advice on which sororities might be more open to my reaching out to them (over them reaching out to me), and/or how I might be able to meet some of these ladies to express my interest and maybe make some friends "on the insider" as it were (it just seems strange to find someone and say "oh, you're a ABC, can we be friends?"), I would be grateful to hear it.

I may be swerving out of my lane a bit, but here's what I think. (Btw, my sorority doesn't do AI, so I'm not speaking from personal experience.) I think AI is usually the exception to the rule in NPC sororities. It is an honor for a woman who knows members of a specific sorority and is involved in their activity. I think that's why people are offended by "sorority shopping."
I'm sure other people on here have more experience and are more knowledgeable, but that's what I think. You could check out non-collegiate sororities like Beta Sigma Phi. I know there's a thread about that here somewhere.