disaffiliated and looking

[SAEalumnus]

I'm not sure what rules or procedures other national fraternities might have on the subject of joining one fraternity after having already been initiated into (and subsequently quit) another, but as far as SAE is concerned, the Fraternity generally does not consider a person eligible for membership "who is or has been a member of another national or international college social fraternity. (Section 5 of the Fraternity Laws)"

The Fraternity does, however, provide for an exception to this rule in Section 47D8 of the Fraternity Laws. The conditions of this exception are very restrictive, though. For example, the candidate must be approved by a 3/4ths vote of the Chapter concerned, the vote must be confirmed in writing, and must be accompanied by written recommendations by both the province archon (regional president) and the Eminent Supreme Recorder (executive director). Even then, there are further restrictions: the candidate may not be an undergraduate; he must have rendered substantial service to SAE over a substantial period of time; he cannot have attempted to become a member or pledge of SAE in any manner other than as described in the Fraternity Laws; he must have resigned membership in writing from his previous fraternity and the office of that fraternity must also confirm this in writing (this requirement can be waived by the Supreme Council [Board of Directors] in the event the previous fraternity refuses or fails to provide such documentation); he must never have been expelled from his previous fraternity (this requirement MUST be confirmed in writing); the candiate is still subject to the standard fees required for initiation (unless the Supreme Council chooses to reduce the amount of required fees and charges); and the Supreme Council still reserves the right to add any other requirements, rules, or restrictions as they deem necessary in each individual situation.

So even though an exception to the rule is provided for, the difficulty in qualifying for membership after having already been initiated into another national or international college social fraternity is considerable. If you are still an undergraduate student at your college/university, my personal opinion is that you will never be granted membership to any national or international social fraternity. On the other hand, a local fraternity might not have this kind of restriction. Best of luck to you in either case!