Tips on Affiliating with a new chapter

kray · #1 08-20-2009, 02:36 PM

Hi all! So, I had a few questions on affiliating with a new chapter of my sorority and was wondering if anyone could give me any tips on what to do, as I don't want to step on anyone's toes with the new pledge class just getting here and what not. I have contacted the president and have signed up for intermurals and am awaiting our first chapter. Let me give you some background though. At the school I came from, I loved the chapter despite it being a "lower mid tier" (I know we're not supposed to use this tier nonsense but this will make sense and I'm not disclosing the chapter or school), at the school I'm going to now (we've had three days of school thus far) the chapter is known as being top tier and has a reputation for only accepting the prettiest, thinnest girls on campus and as being pretty stuck up. This scares the pants off of me. I know stereotypes are silly and that a generalization cannot be true for 250 plus girls but still...very scary. Anywho, I have yet to visit the house and I'm not really sure how I go about this without it being super awkward. Like I said, I really want to affiliate-I'm just not sure how I go about getting to know these people. Also, my organization does not have reveals or vote on the transfers or anything like that. We just fill out a form. Thanks so much for your help and sorry about the entire novel.

KSUViolet06 · #2 08-20-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kray

Hi all! So, I had a few questions on affiliating with a new chapter of my sorority and was wondering if anyone could give me any tips on what to do, as I don't want to step on anyone's toes with the new pledge class just getting here and what not. I have contacted the president and have signed up for intermurals and am awaiting our first chapter. Let me give you some background though. At the school I came from, I loved the chapter despite it being a "lower mid tier" (I know we're not supposed to use this tier nonsense but this will make sense and I'm not disclosing the chapter or school), at the school I'm going to now (we've had three days of school thus far) the chapter is known as being top tier and has a reputation for only accepting the prettiest, thinnest girls on campus and as being pretty stuck up. This scares the pants off of me. I know stereotypes are silly and that a generalization cannot be true for 250 plus girls but still...very scary. Anywho, I have yet to visit the house and I'm not really sure how I go about this without it being super awkward. Like I said, I really want to affiliate-I'm just not sure how I go about getting to know these people. Also, my organization does not have reveals or vote on the transfers or anything like that. We just fill out a form. Thanks so much for your help and sorry about the entire novel.

In terms of affiliation:

*Be sure that you are FULLY aware of the transfer policies of the sorority and the chapter. There are some chapters that (for whatever reason) just can't take on transfers. Be sure you know their policy.

*Make contact with the chapter WELL BEFORE you transfer. It's hard to make time to meet a transfer when they just contact you when they get to the school. You need to be communicating with them before you actually get there.

*Be sure that you are in GOOD standing and your paperwork is in order. So many times girls find out that their transfer can't be approved because they owe money or are otherwise in bad standing with the sorority.

*Be accommodating. Chapters are very busy this time of year, so don't be alarmed if the Pres. or VP takes awhile to get back to you about possibly coming over and getting acquainted. Don't get offended.

*Understand that every school is different. When you do get a chance to meet with this chapter, don't start going on and on about "Well in MY chapter, we did blah blah blah..."

*Give them a chance. If you don't immediately hit it off at the first meeting, it's ok. If this is a huge chapter, it may take awhile.

*It's okay if you for whatever reason feel like you don't fit. You aren't required to affiliate, and if you feel like you don't fit in with them at all, it's ok not to.

kray · #3 08-20-2009, 03:13 PM

Thank you so much KSUViolet06. I have gone about doing most of these steps. The reason I am transferring is because I received a full scholarship at this school and it was too good of a thing to pass up. I contacted the chapter advisor and have spoken with the president via telephone several times. They asked me to do recruitment with them but I could not, as I was abroad still working in an internship. I'm excited about giving this a chance. I emailed the president again and expressed how I understand she's very busy with the new pledge class and recruitment, but that I was wondering what to do next. Apparently this chapter gets new affiliates all of the time what with it being a big SEC school and all....apparently, there is no vote and they take new students. I guess I'll just wait until I hear back. Thanks so much to all. This whole process is just a little scary.

AnchorAlumna · #4 08-20-2009, 03:15 PM

Before you affiliate, I highly recommend a few get-acquainted visits to make sure the chapter is a good fit for you. You would not want to affiliate and then find out you are uncomfortable. There may not be any "disaffiliation," and the only way out would be to resign entirely. Go slow.

kray · #5 08-20-2009, 03:21 PM

Thanks so much, AnchorAlumna. I just found out there is going to be a transfer meeting type deal September 12th so I guess I'll just go to that and chapter and feel it out.

violetpretty · #6 08-22-2009, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kray

...the chapter is known as being top tier and has a reputation for only accepting the prettiest, thinnest girls on campus and as being pretty stuck up.

Also, my organization does not have reveals or vote on the transfers or anything like that. We just fill out a form.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kray

Apparently this chapter gets new affiliates all of the time what with it being a big SEC school and all....apparently, there is no vote and they take new students

Who told you this chapter accepts any and all transfers? I find it hard to believe that a top tier SEC chapter would just take all transfers without a vote, otherwise, there'd be tons of women joining at non-competitive schools and transferring to this school to be top tier.