A Wicked Recruitment: Fall '08

YAY! Your story is something that I think everyone rushing should take into consideration.

[axoalum]

Red carnations to you, my dear. I am so proud to call you my sister!

[honeychile]

So thrilled you stuck it out - great story!

[AOII Angel]

Loved your story, and obviously missed the "retro" part! I'm so glad that you stuck it out and realized that Alpha Chi Omega was a wonderful organization to join! Nothing worth while ever comes easy!

[aggieAXO]

yea!!!! an AXO ending welcome sister!

[true_blue]

Great story! I'm glad that you came to realize that Alpha Chi was your home.

[Smile_Awhile]

A quick update: My group is below chapter total by about 15 members. So, we decided to do a more formal COR this year. We had three parties, complete with a preference style party.

Our average spring intake for the past few years was about three girls. We were hoping to double that. My wish was to take 10 new girls. While slightly unrealistic, I thought that we had all invited a lot of girls.

Well, we have three BEAUTIFUL new members. I love each of them dearly, and while we were mildly successful, I was hoping for wildly successful. But I still can't wait to see everything "from the other side".

I'm already looking forward to fall recruitment. The other groups on our campus are really over total (we're talking by 30 girls!). My thinking is that we will reach chapter total during fall. We're only graduating about five girls, and while I'm not sure of the exact number of girls graduating from other houses, it's much larger than ours. I feel that this could really play to our advantage, and fulfill our wish of making it to total!

[loveandAOE]

That was a really cute story! I think it's always important for pnm's to give the chapter they were bidded by at least a few weeks to see if it's for them.

I got my first choice, but a lot of my pledge sisters had preffed other houses as thier first choice but are so glad they decided to stay in Alpha Phi.

[beccaminister]

I am SO glad to see this story up here...it's quite a tribute to giving your "second choice" a chance before deciding you can't be happy there. I hope other girls going through recruitment read this thread and learn from it!

[CougarGrad]

What a great story, Smile Awhile. This thread should be a must-read for any lurkers who are considering Greek life- second place doesn't automatically mean "ugh." I'm so happy you found your home!

My first Resident Advisor in our dorms, in fact the first sorority member I got to know well, was an Alpha Chi, so your sisterhood holds a little spot in my heart.

[kiteflyersmom]

Smile_Awhile:

I am sure you are starting to get ready for Fall Recruitment. Won't you please keep us updated? I think it's great how you are taking an active role in helping your chapter. Good luck and keep us updated

[Smile_Awhile]

Originally Posted by kiteflyersmom

Smile_Awhile:

I am sure you are starting to get ready for Fall Recruitment. Won't you please keep us updated? I think it's great how you are taking an active role in helping your chapter. Good luck and keep us updated

I'll try- I'd love to do a story from the other side of recruitment, ala Silverpearls. However, I do worry about my anonymity and the anonymity of my campus. Since we are a smaller campus, the odds of a PNM on Greekchat attending my school are slim, but present nonetheless. I'm currently thinking I'll do a story once recruitment passes, but that could change. I'll be sure to update this once that time comes.

I will say this though: Our VP Recruitment is AMAZING. While that position is one that I could never hold, she does it with finesse. She has already laid out her plans for each round, and I have complete and utter faith that it will be a rousing success.

[LyreLove2012]

YAY ALPHA CHI!!!!! Congrats we're sisters!!! I suspected as much when you said they sang In This Very Room...it's on of my favorite songs that we sing.

[AXOrushadvisor]

Originally Posted by Smile_Awhile

Those first few weeks, I attended everything I could. I knew there was now way I could figure out if this was right for me if I didn’t try it.

The first meeting was awkward- I didn’t like that we “had” to wear letters on Monday and nice clothes on Thursday. This was a display of pride, which I hadn’t quite gotten yet. But I did- I figured it was important.

I figured out that three of my pledge class sisters were in one of my classes, and another initiated sister was in another class. I also met a few more during the callbacks for the theatre shows. As I got to know these girls, I realized that they were really great. I particularly loved the initiated girl I knew- we shared the same sense of humor.

It was great to find signs outside my door right before going to my first day of classes, and in the weeks afterward from initiated sisters. It made me smile so much. One sister invited me to another sister’s birthday party, and I got to know her better- she was really terrific.

At some point, I met this insane girl who was the same major as me. She was nuts (in a good way!), but I really clicked with her. This was a girl that I could call my sister, and I knew that. We grew to be great friends.

The final straw was the chapter retreat. I had started getting a bit homesick about a month into school (I don’t get to go home very often), and I was kind of mopey the day of our chapter retreat. I was talking to one of the girls I met during recruitment, and she was saying it happened to everyone and just really comforting me. That’s when it hit me- I was staying.

The insane girl became my big sister, and the initiated girl in my classes became my twin. Now, I couldn’t be more excited about my sorority. I’m SO glad that I stuck around. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have the amazing sisters that I do have.

Our chapter is currently struggling- my recruitment was an example of that. However, we elected our new officers a month ago, and we (yes, I’m an officer now!) have a great president and executive board who will take our chapter up and above. I’m confident that we will turn it around during my time in my house.

There are days when I see Betty and Amanda (I rarely see Darcy these days) and I wish I could call them my sisters. And their group overall is wonderful. I do have my “What ifs” fairly often. But I’m confident in one thing- it worked out like it was supposed to.

Basically, I want any PNM who reads this to know this:

Even if you get your second choice, it is NOT the end of the world. Stick it out for a few weeks- if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. But you won’t know until you try.

I’m hesitant to reveal all the chapters on my campus, since there’s a small number. If you’d really like to know, PM me.

But I will reveal my affiliation (and the origin of my username!):










































“Smile awhile, and as the years go by,






































stronger grows our love for Alpha Chi!”

Great story You'd be surprised how fast you can turn a Chapter around by making some not so big and big changes if your group is willing to make changes

[court4short]

I'm so glad you posted this story. I will keep it in mind during my recruitment.