I've been reading posts on Greek Chat for over 4 years, and have finally decided to register and post because I think about the "what if" sororities a lot. A brief background on me-I attended Vanderbilt University and just graduated in May 2004. Basically, I went through recruitment by freshman year and joined Delta Gamma...I later realized DG was just not for me (it's a wonderful organization, but I was just overburdened with school work and really felt like I did not join the sorority that fit me.) I disaffiliated Fall 2001 and have since wondered what might have been if I...
~Had written down AOPi or ADPi first on my bid card. I preffed DG, ADPi, and AOPi, and really like all 3. I listened to people say very negative things about ADPi and ignored my gut feelings that they were the organization for me (given my choices.) Or, AOPi could have been great, too, and I had many friends who were a part of that house.
~Had actually loosened up and went to parties my freshman year. I met very few people outside of those who lived on my hall or those in my classes. I really think if I would have gotten out and socialized more I would have had more choices during recruitment. My sophomore year I decided to let myself have fun and met a lot of people-it was too late, though!
~Had known just how serious recruitment is in the South. I had no idea I should have gotten recs...how was I supposed to know that the more elite sororities basically pick the pledges they want just a few weeks into school...also, the legacy thing isn't that important in the South (from what I've seen) unless your mom, sister, and/or grandma, was in the same sorority at the same school. My mom was an AChiO at a college in Indiana and she had me believing that I would automatically be invited to join at Vanderbilt-little did we know many of the girls who go through are legacies, and it really doesn't give you much of an edge!!!
~Had decided to attend another school I was considering: Hanover College, Indiana University, or DePaul University. Going to a school in the midwest would have been a completely different experience! I loved Vanderbilt, though, and wouldn't trade my four years there for the world.
Well, I'll eventually have to post my recruitment story, even though it happened over 4 years ago (I remember it well!) It's really good to know you all have thought about the "what if" sororities and what might have been...I know it's something I think about quite often.