My Colony Recruitment Experience

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

Hardly the case!

Colonies, from my observation, are as competitive and selective as Formal Recruitment. The colony needs to select the strongest class possible, to form a strong chapter from the outset and to be "competitive" with the established chapters. There is so much at stake and so much that goes into MS, and the interview process is designed - no, I've said enough.

That mindset of "I didn't succeed in FR, I'll try the colony" seldom, if ever, works out for the PNM.

You better believe it.

There's a FB group for women trying to bring a particular sorority back to their university. They seem to have all the wrong ideas about the process:

"Hey girls! So here's what's up.
------- is a sorority that used to be on the ----- campus and we want to bring it back. We're looking for enthusiastic girls who would be interested in joining that didn't think any of the other sororities already on campus were a good match for them and would want to help create a new chapter. Don't worry, there won't be that agony that came with rush week, it's much much much more laid back. This is a really unique opportunity because we get to build our reputation and choose new traditions for ------ at the ------. Our job is to find girls who are interested in creating a new chapter, so that way we can bring the big shots from the ----- corporate here to help take the next steps. If you're interested e-mail or talk to ---, -----, or -----"

[33girl]

Well, they can begin that way, and one of two things will happen.

1. The school will open for expansion, they will get the sorority they really wanted, and then the girls who originally started the group will quit because OMG ALL THESE RULEZ. (Saw it happen.)

2. The school will refuse to open for expansion and the girls will become the "rebel, nonconformist" local sorority, only to croak a few years later because nonconformist only goes so far. (Saw that happen too.)

While I think that what I've come to call "organic" colonizations - i.e. groups that start on the campus by the students, not colonies that the sorority comes in and picks all the members - can be a great thing and expand the Greek community, and are the ONLY way some campi end up expanding, these silly geese have it wrong. They'll get an education quickly.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Well, they can begin that way, and one of two things will happen.

1. The school will open for expansion, they will get the sorority they really wanted, and then the girls who originally started the group will quit because OMG ALL THESE RULEZ. (Saw it happen.)

2. The school will refuse to open for expansion and the girls will become the "rebel, nonconformist" local sorority, only to croak a few years later because nonconformist only goes so far. (Saw that happen too.)

While I think that what I've come to call "organic" colonizations - i.e. groups that start on the campus by the students, not colonies that the sorority comes in and picks all the members - can be a great thing and expand the Greek community, and are the ONLY way some campi end up expanding, these silly geese have it wrong. They'll get an education quickly.

Or, on the more positive side, things can work out well. In my chapter's case (long story short) a group of women approached the campus's Panhel about bringing AEPhi to campus. Panhel would not open for expansion, but told the women that they could form a local sorority. The local thrived for two years (during which time I pledged) before Panhel did open for expansion, indicating that there was a local group interested in affiliating with AEPhi. A match was made, and the chapter is still there 16 years later. There was a bit of "OMG ALL THESE RULEZ" shock, but we got through it.

xoStarr, I don't want to give you any false hopes here, but under the right circumstances, things can work out.

[xoStarr]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

There's a FB group for women trying to bring a particular sorority back to their university. They seem to have all the wrong ideas about the process:

"Hey girls! So here's what's up.
------- is a sorority that used to be on the ----- campus and we want to bring it back. We're looking for enthusiastic girls who would be interested in joining that didn't think any of the other sororities already on campus were a good match for them and would want to help create a new chapter. Don't worry, there won't be that agony that came with rush week, it's much much much more laid back. This is a really unique opportunity because we get to build our reputation and choose new traditions for ------ at the ------. Our job is to find girls who are interested in creating a new chapter, so that way we can bring the big shots from the ----- corporate here to help take the next steps. If you're interested e-mail or talk to ---, -----, or -----"

Wow, reading that I was like "Yeah! Yeah! Oh....No! No! No!"

I have no unrealistic expectations that this process is going to be easier than Formal Recruitment (except we won't have to stand in heels for 8 hours, thank goodness). I know that I'm going to have to present my best self and be on my game. Other people around me are like "oh girl, you're so going to get in" and I tell them "hopefully, but I'm not counting it until the paper is in my hand". I have extensive volunteer experience through Big Brothers Big Sisters and US FIRST, donated my hair for cancer patients, and hold/have held lots of different leadership positions both in school and in the workplace. So a leadership position would be super intriguing to me right off the bat and what I'm hoping for but not what I'm expecting.

I thoroughly enjoy the term "big shots". Sounds super professional - ha!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by xoStarr

Wow, reading that I was like "Yeah! Yeah! Oh....No! No! No!"

okay, I cracked up so bad reading this because I heard it like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_O30-fIcIA