[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by beatlesfan87

I have been regretting the fact that I was not in a sorority for several years now. I am hoping to learn more about alumnae initiates.

When I was a freshman in college I went to a big states school that I decided on last moment, kind of dragged my feet to rush, and ended up dropping out of rush. Everything seemed to go wrong my freshman year (ended up on upperclassman floor, no roommate no less), I was homesick, and I transferred to a school at home so I could commute. Because I was a commuter living at home, I did not consider joining one of my commuter school's sororities. But I began volunteering and getting involved in all kinds of activities and started noticing that a lot of the women I found myself around were sorority women. I have SO regretted that I wasn't a part of a sisterhood and a dedication to scholarship and philanthropy. I encouraged my younger sister to join a sorority, and the difference I see in her is amazing (she joined Chi Omega, by the way). I cannot tell you how upset it makes me to think I would never be part of a sorority until a friend told me about alumna initiation. I looked into it, and much to my surprise, the two sororities that I had felt such a bond with on my very first day of rush when I was a freshman in college, engage in alumna initiation.

I know so much more about myself now than I did when I was an undergraduate. I have a better sense of priorities, and a greater level of dedication to the activities I engage in.

Anyway, I was hoping you could give me some more information about AI. I have a close friend from one of the sororities, and a family member from the other.

Some things to think about:

Every sorority handles AI differently. With some, it is perfectly acceptable to contact the hQ for info concerning it. In others, women must be approached by another member in order to join. Your friends are the best source of info concerning their org's protocol. If they don't know, they probably know someone who does.

Being an alumna member of a sorority is QUITE different from being a collegian. I like to make sure that people understand that before really pursuing AI further. Some women are looking to join to make up for what they missed out on in college, and the 2 experiences are VERY different.

Really really think about "Why do I want to be a _____?" Members will want to know "why is she interested in us?" It has to be more than "I wanted to be a ____ in college but wasn't extended a bid."

Ask yourself: What can I contribute to ______? It's definitely not all about what you will gain from being a ____. Sororities want to know what a person is going to bring to the table to serve the organization.

It's not an overnight process and it is very different from collegiate recruitment. Poke around this forum a little bit. There are some women who took YEARS to be invited to join their orgs as alumnae. Are you prepared for that (if it should happen to take that long?)