Should I wait it out?

[cherryblossom90]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

Looking at this from all angles, your chances of joining as a junior at a SEC school will probably not be good as a transfer student if you don't know anyone. They would be better if you have good friends/connections in chapters at the new school. Most groups want freshmen because they'll be around for 4 years, and even if there is a separate upperclassmen quota (this is often less than 10 women), you're competing against women the members know and like from clubs and other activities, and transfers they know from home. Chances will also be improved if you have recs, excellent college grades, have been participating in campus activities at your current school, etc.

If you join now and transfer to a school that has a chapter of the sorority, as FSUZeta asked, you could possibly join that chapter as an affiliate (transfer) member. Each sorority has different policies for how this is handled...some chapters vote, some may automatically affiliate you. You'd still be a member for life, but if for some reason the transfer chapter doesn't affiliate you (or any transfer members), you could not be an actively participating member of that undergraduate chapter. You'd be an alumna member.

On the other hand, if the COBing chapter finds out you're transferring in the fall, they would probably not use of of their available bids to offer you membership, because they will want members who will staying. Each group is capped at the campus total number set by Panhellenic each year/semester, and each group will want to reach that number through COB. They won't want a revolving door of add one, lose one, try to add another to get to total, etc. This is nothing personal, but groups want members who will be participating for several years.

So, there is a lot to consider and your question is a good one to ask. If you're offered a bid and accept it, do some investigating before you actually initiate...is there a chapter at your potential new school? What is the affiliation process?

I transferred and affiliated, and the new chapter had to vote on my affiliation. I didn't know I'd be transferring when I joined...I joined as a freshman and transferred at the beginning of my junior year. I communicated ahead of time with the new chapter and moved right into the house when I transferred.

Wow, thank you for your response. There is a lot to consider and I'll definitely take everything you said into account. How would I find out the affiliation process? How was your transition into the house you transferred to?

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by cherryblossom90

Wow, thank you for your response. There is a lot to consider and I'll definitely take everything you said into account. How would I find out the affiliation process? How was your transition into the house you transferred to?

Ask about the affiliation process after you accept a bid from this group, if they offer one. You have a window of time before initiation where, if it turns out the transfer chapter doesn't take affiliates and you're definitely transferring, you could drop and try recruitment afresh at your new campus. You will probably need to contact the transfer chapter and ask what their policy is...even if the national/international sorority has an affiliation process, the specific chapter may not accept affiliates as a rule, due to the reason DubaiSis mentioned. Just realize that if you initiate, you are a life member and you can never join another NPC sorority...and there are no extenuating circumstances that would allow this.

I had a great experience as an affiliate...fit right in with my new sisters. But, your mileage may vary, as chapter vibe and personalities vary. If you get a bid, initiate, and then definitely decide to transfer, and you know they accept affiliates, I would reach out to the new chapter ahead of time and make a friendly overture, visit once or twice, etc.

[cherryblossom90]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

Ask about the affiliation process after you accept a bid from this group, if they offer one. You have a window of time before initiation where, if it turns out the transfer chapter doesn't take affiliates and you're definitely transferring, you could drop and try recruitment afresh at your new campus. You will probably need to contact the transfer chapter and ask what their policy is...even if the national/international sorority has an affiliation process, the specific chapter may not accept affiliates as a rule, due to the reason DubaiSis mentioned. Just realize that if you initiate, you are a life member and you can never join another NPC sorority...and there are no extenuating circumstances that would allow this.

I had a great experience as an affiliate...fit right in with my new sisters. But, your mileage may vary, as chapter vibe and personalities vary. If you get a bid, initiate, and then definitely decide to transfer, and you know they accept affiliates, I would reach out to the new chapter ahead of time and make a friendly overture, visit once or twice, etc.

Perfect, I'll keep this all in mind, thank you!!