Is it weird to join a colonizing sorority?

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[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by Ajohnson

Hi everyone! So due to personal circumstances I wasn't able to be on campus for a lot of the formal recruitment week at my school, so I wasn't able to rush even though I now feel I'm missing out. However, I do still have the opportunity to join tri sigma (sigma sigma sigma) because it is new this year and is doing its recruitment seperstely from the other sororities. I am interested in it, but I'm nervous I'll be looked down on for joining it. I don't know if it's going to end up being a lot of girls who didn't get a bid during the regular recruitment, or if people will think I wasn't "cool" enough to be in one of the already established sororities. I know I shouldn't care about what people think but I do, so I ask your opinions. Side note - I go to umass amherst where Greek life is not a huge thing-there's maybe 7 sororities not including this new one (if that's helpful at all) thank you!!

I'm pretty sure there's someone on GC who is familiar with your campus.

You would be very, very lucky to get a bid from the colonizing sorority. I emphasize: VERY lucky. It's super competitive, colony recruitment, in case you didn't know. They only want the best possible candidates, because they want to establish themselves and be successful. So "joining" is not a sure thing for you, at all.

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[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by Ajohnson

Actually at my school like I said Greek life isn't huge so basically if I want to join that sorority I can but thanks for your zero help @aztheta

You're welcome. I'm sure my Tri Sigma Panhellenic sisters have noted your mature responses.

[JayhawkAOII]

You know, it's best not antagonize an alumna on this board who gave you sound advice, especially since you gave a number of identifying details.

Nothing is ever guaranteed. Nothing. Even on your campus.

[misscherrypie]

Wow! OP, you are the first person to truly get my goat by being so incredibly insulting to a wonderful woman on this board. For no reason. AZTheta told the truth, and you treated her like a......I'm not even going to say the words.

Frankly..I hope that you learn some respect and common courtesy for your fellow man really quickly or you will find it a hard road to tow if you end up being extended an invitation to join any sorority anywhere.

*Added to Ignore*

[AOIILisa]

If Greek life isn't a big deal, why not try to get to know sisters from all the chapters this year so you know at least you've done your due diligence finding what is the best fit for you, and either go through recruitment next year or try to get a bid through open bidding if it's offered at your school?

I don't know if anyone said this, but being in a colony is a lot of work (and a lot of fun), if you're up for that, fine, but if not you may prefer to be in an established chapter. It sounds like you may have some doubts so maybe you need to check all options first. Just my two cents.

[Sororitysock]

Originally Posted by Ajohnson

Actually at my school like I said Greek life isn't huge so basically if I want to join that sorority I can but thanks for your zero help @aztheta

No matter how huge or competitive Greek life is at your school, sororities and colonies have standards for giving out invitations to membership. Grades, involvement, interviews, recommendations and social media reviews are among the many criteria used to evaluate a woman's suitability. Bids aren't given to rude little toads who behave poorly towards people who have given them sound and truthful advice. As noted, there are several Sigma Sigma Sigma members on this site and some are alumnae involved on the national level. I'm sure those involved in selecting the colony members will give AJohnson at UMass Amherst exactly the kind of personal attention she deserves.

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[navane]

Well, here's the thing -- even if Greek life is really low-key on a campus, colony recruitment isn't conducted by the campus staff or students.

Colony recruitment, for the most part, is organized by national representatives of the sorority's headquarters. That is, colony candidates are assessed and interviewed by national officers and specialized recruitment team members. They're not going to pick the "scraggly leftovers and losers" to found their chapter. They are going to look for winners....the cream of the crop. If it were me applying to be in a colony, I'd be nervous to have to face an interview with national representatives.

[jolene]

Originally Posted by navane

Well, here's the thing -- even if Greek life is really low-key on a campus, colony recruitment isn't conducted by the campus staff or students.

Colony recruitment, for the most part, is organized by national representatives of the sorority's headquarters. That is, colony candidates are assessed and interviewed by national officers and specialized recruitment team members. They're not going to pick the "scraggly leftovers and losers" to found their chapter. They are going to look for winners....the cream of the crop. If it were me applying to be in a colony, I'd be nervous to have to face an interview with national representatives.

THIS ^ They are looking for leaders and doers. They are looking for fabulous young women who can make a chapter happen and thrive. It's actually pretty competitive to get ask to be a founding sister or a recolonization sister. With the Kennesaw State U chapter, most of the women who chartered weren't people who went through formal recruitment (So, no, they weren't leftovers). They were ladies who saw a unique opportunity to make an impact on campus. I attended their pre-initiation stuff and the actual chartering. They are funny, smart and beautiful ladies.

[DubaiSis]

I read the initial post while on lunch today. Come back a couple hours later and it looks like all kinds of awesomeness happened. What I initially thought was "why would it be weird to join a colony?" But I thought I'd leave it to others to jump in. And then apparently all kinds of snark happened. LOL. I miss all the fun!

So which school other than Auburn is Tri Sigma expanding to currently or soon?

[tinydancer]

OP, you can delete all you want, but the damage has been done.

[navane]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

So which school other than Auburn is Tri Sigma expanding to currently or soon?

U Mass - Amherst

[als463]

So, the OP, ajohnson (which probably stands for her first initial and last name) attends UMass-Amherst and thinks that she is too good for the Sigma Sigma Sigma colony because she is concerned they will be viewed as the girls who were rejected in formal recruitment. Because of this, she shared that she will have no problem getting in. When an alumna of another NPC who has helped her organization through colonizations spoke up about how competitive colony recruitment is, the OP pretty much told AZTheta where she could shove it because she wasn't of any help and getting a colony bid to Sigma Sigma Sigma would be easy---or so she said. Tri-Sigma ladies, please take note of this special snowflake PNM. Her poor attitude leads me to believe she would deserve to be turned away.

[ihearttrisigma]

This discussion and individual has been duly noted.

Thank you AZTheta and others for the great responses. As a colonizing sister of my chapter, I can tell you an offer of membership is not guaranteed no matter the size of the school or Greek life. My colonizing sisters were not "left-overs." These were women who saw the opportunity to create a legacy, have a profound and positive impact and were willing to put in a lot of hard work. Today, 14 years later, I see the results and it fills my heart with so much pride.