From Bid Day to Initiation: What happens?

[CaseyBat]

What happens if you have to miss initiation? Can you be initiated at a later date? Bid Day is August 17th and my sister's wedding is the last weekend in October. I am so scared that initiation and the wedding will be on the same day! (If I get a bid of course )

Also, on what day of the week does initiation generally fall?

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by KitKat58

I really enjoyed the thread "From Pref Night to Bid Day: What happens?" So I thought this topic might answer more of my questions. What happens after Bid Day? Do most chapters go on a retreat?
Is it days, weeks, or months before initiation?

Originally Posted by CaseyBat

What happens if you have to miss initiation? Can you be initiated at a later date? Bid Day is August 17th and my sister's wedding is the last weekend in October. I am so scared that initiation and the wedding will be on the same day! Also, on what day of the week does initiation generally fall?

(Quoting because we've gotten out of the habit of QFP)
I would think your sister's wedding would take precedence over initiation. The chapter would have to initiate you at a later date...it could be after Christmas break. Just depends on the chapter.
Day of the week...again, depends on the chapter. The ones I'm familiar with, on a Sunday, but sometimes a Saturday...I've seen it done during the week especially for a holdover, but that's unusual. But your campus may be wildly different. The ones I know usually do it right before Thanksgiving.
I would call your Greek life office - someone on the Panhellenic side should be able to give you a little more specific info.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by CaseyBat

What happens if you have to miss initiation? Can you be initiated at a later date? Bid Day is August 17th and my sister's wedding is the last weekend in October. I am so scared that initiation and the wedding will be on the same day! (If I get a bid of course )

Also, on what day of the week does initiation generally fall?

It depends on the sorority and chapter. Our fall initiation was usually that first weekend in November (keep in mind that our recruitment was not until mid-September.)

Initiations for August recruitment could very well be in Oct. It's not uncommon for a PNM to have something like a wedding.

Rescheduling is possible. However, this is one of those things you'd talk to your NM Educator about early if you get a bid. Like, not as soon as you run to your group be like "hey, I have this wedding" but once you get settled, discuss it with her. It may be that your NM class initiation date is a non-issue (e.g. it is earlier or later than the wedding.)

However, in the event that it falls that weekend, you DON'T want to wait until (for example) the week before to be like "Oh hey I have this wedding." Many times, MN educators need clearance from HQ to postpone or reschedule an initiation for a NM, and it is a hassle for them to get it if you don't tell them til the last minute.

Sidenote: Be aware that you may not be able to control what your reschedule date is. Ex: It may have to be 2 weeks after that, on a weeknight. Also, you will probably miss out on any fun initiation weekend sorts of things held for your class (we did a lot of fun things leading up to it.) It will still be special either way, but just be aware that you may miss out on say, NM class painting the rock on campus the night before then going out to eat, etc. (but your sister's wedding trumps that!)

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by CaseyBat

What happens if you have to miss initiation? Can you be initiated at a later date? Bid Day is August 17th and my sister's wedding is the last weekend in October. I am so scared that initiation and the wedding will be on the same day! (If I get a bid of course )

Also, on what day of the week does initiation generally fall?

In the past, we have had someone with a medical emergency that was initiated the following week. We have also had someone that had to withdraw from school just before initiation for medical reasons, she was initiated at the beginning of the following semester.

We have also had to do this for someone that had a class conflict, so I would assume that we would also have done it for a family event. Basically, the big thing is that you would be missing the big party and gift exchange with your pledge class.

ETA: If you are going through recruitment with Bid Day Aug. 17th - likely initiations will be Oct. 7- 20?