[DZKatie]

Hi Yippiechio! I have a feeling I know exactly which school you're talking about as I am an advisor of another chapter on a campus where Chi O just had their colony bid day yesterday, and I highly doubt there would be two in the same day. With that I'd like to tell you my story and hopefully it'll give you some perspective.

When I rushed I did so in the spring through COB (13 years ago, yikes!). My "bid day" was not a traditional bid day at all. Myself and another girl accepted our bids and went to dinner with the sisters. I met the rest of the 6 person pledge class in our first new member meeting. I thought I'd made a huge mistake. Same thing as you, they were completely non-traditional sorority girls, didn't wear makeup, didn't dress like they had any self-respect, I was shocked and had serious doubts.

However, immediately I got involved in chair positions in the chapter, had so much fun with Sigma Chi's Derby Days and got to know a lot of the older members and by the fall of my sophomore year, I felt so much better. Really long story short, it was the best decision of my life. I met great friends through my sorority, I met my husband through my involvement with my sorority, and some of my best friends in the world I met through my sorority, many of them I met as an alumna, but that truly shows you the reach of a wonderful organization. And Chi Omega is a wonderful organization!

Keep a few things in mind: "The alumni in charge of recruitment were a lot like me, very "sorority girl" and girly. I made great connections with them and I knew Chi O would be a great fit for me." These women are made to recruit colonies so just cause you connected with them, doesn't mean you won't connect with your class. They recruited you all for a reason, and saw something in all of you.

"Most of the girls were extremely odd. There were a few that I connected with, but if I had a dollar for every girl who dressed in ripped jeans (dress code was DRESSY), said "I never wear makeup," or "I don't like socializing," I'd have about $50. I won't go into the attractiveness of everyone... because I'd get a lot of hate and I think you get the point." Like I said, this was my experience at first, to a T! It gets better!

"it seems a little impersonal to let anyone that has a couple grand to drop join." As much as we all hate to admit it, a sorority is a small business and the financial aspects of it are very real and important. So, it is important to note during recruitment, especially of a colony, that members will be able to commit to the sorority financially.

Yippie Chi O, the whole purpose of the pledge period is to make sure that you can commit to Chi O for life. So give it your all, really try to connect and get involved with the sorority. If you come to initiation and find that it's not for you, there's no shame in that. But I recommend you really commit yourself to it now and see what happens. Good luck!