Transfer - Depledging, Informal Recruitment?

[M.I.A]

I'm looking to transfer for the Spring Semester. I will either be considered sophomore or junior status, depending on how my credits this semester transfer. Chances are I'll be staying a full 3 years, though, for various reasons.

I rushed at the university I'm at now (before I thought that I was going to transfer) and received a bid. I haven't been initiated yet, but I am currently pledging. I love my chapter here, but the type of girls in the chapter at the university I'm transferring to are extremely different. I'm concerned that I'm going to go through initiation here because I love THIS chapter, and then leave and regret it when I get to the other university.

Most of the Greeks I've talked to about my dilemma have said that if I feel that way and do plan on leaving in the Spring, I should not go through with initiation anyway and should simply rush informally for Spring 2011 at my new school. Is this good advice? I don't want to lose my chance to be a part of Greek life - and I know that's the risk I take when I transfer. But at the same time I would rather not be affiliated than be part of a chapter I simply don't feel I belong to or get along with.

Also, if I go through informal recruitment, I'm assuming the other sororities will see that I accepted a bid and dropped it. Will they know who extended the bid and all of that information? Will they judge me based off of those things? And is it something I should talk about with the sororities as I go through recruitment - or should I just keep it to myself unless they address it?

I'm not positive that Spring rush even happens every year at the university I'm transferring to. As far as I know, the Greek life there isn't super competitive - but f I rushed formally as a junior, would I have less of a chance of receiving a bid?

Thanks!

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by M.I.A

I'm looking to transfer for the Spring Semester. I will either be considered sophomore or junior status, depending on how my credits this semester transfer. Chances are I'll be staying a full 3 years, though, for various reasons.

I rushed at the university I'm at now (before I thought that I was going to transfer) and received a bid. I haven't been initiated yet, but I am currently pledging. I love my chapter here, but the type of girls in the chapter at the university I'm transferring to are extremely different. I'm concerned that I'm going to go through initiation here because I love THIS chapter, and then leave and regret it when I get to the other university.

Most of the Greeks I've talked to about my dilemma have said that if I feel that way and do plan on leaving in the Spring, I should not go through with initiation anyway and should simply rush informally for Spring 2011 at my new school. Is this good advice? I don't want to lose my chance to be a part of Greek life - and I know that's the risk I take when I transfer. But at the same time I would rather not be affiliated than be part of a chapter I simply don't feel I belong to or get along with.

Also, if I go through informal recruitment, I'm assuming the other sororities will see that I accepted a bid and dropped it. Will they know who extended the bid and all of that information? Will they judge me based off of those things? And is it something I should talk about with the sororities as I go through recruitment - or should I just keep it to myself unless they address it?

I'm not positive that Spring rush even happens every year at the university I'm transferring to. As far as I know, the Greek life there isn't super competitive - but f I rushed formally as a junior, would I have less of a chance of receiving a bid?

Thanks!

Your chances depend on the school. At some schools, being a junior does not matter as much as others. At others, you may have a harder time. I really can't say whether you'll get a bid or not.

As far as whether they will know that you pledged elsewhere before you came to their school, I don't know. It's not something I would go on and on about, thoough.

I CAN tell you that if you initiate into your current sorority, you WILL NOT be able to rush at your new school. Once you are initiated into a sorority, you can never rush again.

[M.I.A]

Is it significantly more difficult to get a bid from informal recruitment, if you don't know any Greeks on campus? I hear a lot of people advising to talk to "friends" in the house you're interested in, etc., but I will be transferring into a school where I know very few people.

I was under the impression that once you accepted a bid, it was in the system even if you weren't initiated. That was my concern.

Yeah, I understand that. That's why I made it clear that I wasn't initiated - and that's also why this is such a big deal! I know it's a major commitment, so I don't want to become affiliated only to find I can't stand the chapter where I'm spending the next three years - and feel like maybe I would have found a better fit with a different sorority on my new campus.

What would you guys do?

[KSUViolet06]

We can't tell you what you should do. This is a decision you have to make on your own.

Like I said, it depends on the competitiveness of your school. At some schools, transfers may have the same chances as anyone else. At others, not so much.

You'll never know if you don't try.

[M.I.A]

Well, I understand that. I'm just looking for advice - which is why I asked what would YOU guys do in this situation?

My major issue here isn't whether or not to go through Informal Recruitment. If I drop and transfer, I would obviously do just that - I was just looking for more information on that topic. My issue is that I don't know whether or not I should stick with the sorority I received a bid from here and transfer chapters or if I SHOULD drop here to do informal there.

The chapter on the other campus is very unlike the chapter here - and they don't have a good reputation, either. I'd like to think that there's something universal about each chapter in a sorority and that there's a reason I'm in this sorority and not another, regardless of which school I'm at. But I don't know if that's the case. I'm extremely new to Greek life and can't say for sure.

[KSUViolet06]

Some things to consider about initiating and transfering to another chapter:

*Not every sorority requires that chapters automatically accept transfers.

*Every chapter is different, obviously. You could end up either really loving them or finding that you don't fit in.

I've seen women transfer and end up REALLY loving the chapter they affiiiate with and becoming really active.

It's a shot in the dark really. You never know.

You would need to MEET the women in this other chapter before making a judgement about them.

[Mevara]

Originally Posted by M.I.A

The chapter on the other campus is very unlike the chapter here - and they don't have a good reputation, either.

Have you even met the girls at the other campus? or are you just going off of gossip?

[M.I.A]

I've spent time with a handful of the girls. Admittedly, that's not the whole chapter - but the vibe I get from the people I have spent time with is very different. I think it's just a matter of personality. The whole chapter seems to have a different personality.

Also, that was prior to accepting my bid here. So now I'm afraid they'd take it personally if I were to come there and get to know them better - and then drop my bid here and do informal instead of transferring.

[Titchou]

I don't know about the groups on your next campus but my GLO requires you to check with the previous school on transfers to see if they went thru recruitment. So, we would find out that you had gotten a bid, pledged and dropped out. It might be a concern if it isn't obvious that you transfered for a major or something like that.

[M.I.A]

I am transferring for my major - they don't offer the program here. So I guess that would make them less inclined to think I'm just scatterbrained and jumping from place to place.

Would the sororities there know which sorority on my campus gave me the bid or would they only know that I had accepted one?

I know it sounds absolutely horrible, but I don't want the girls at my new school to see the name and think of the chapter on their campus - and then judge me based off of that. =/

[Splash]

It sounds like you're sure that you're transferring. I, personally, would not initiate. I would re-rush at the new school. Keep in mind, you might not get accepted into ANY chapter, or you might get accepted into the chapter that you're currently a new member of (but at least this would be after recruitment). If you initiate and transfer you only have a shot at one chapter (if they let you affiliate) to make it work. If you don't initiate, you can rush all the chapters in recruitment. And most chapters aren't going to know you pledged somewhere else if you don't initiate. I wouldn't bring it up. If they do, say you transferred for your major, and wanted a fresh start with recruitment or something, so you depledged and didn't initiate.

[DGTess]

My $0.02. If you love your sorority, initiate. Initiation is a lifetime commitment. If you choose not to affiliate after your transfer, that's a risk ... you'll be an alumna, but you'll miss out on the active greek life. It's a balancing act that only you can weigh.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Am I basically hearing that the chapter is a "lower-tier" on your intended campus for next year? That would be a bad reason not to initiate, IMO. You will meet girls you like and girls you don't like in ever chapter; try to be open-minded.

[M.I.A]

That's not the type of reputation I'm talking about, actually. It's more related to extracurricular activities, if you catch my drift. And I HAVE spent time with these girls. I'm not asking these questions or making these comments based on accusations, assumptions, or rumors. To put it bluntly, the reputation they have suits the girls in the chapter that I've met. I'm sure not every girl is like that, obviously, but it's a legitimate concern.

I just wonder if the chapters are TOO different. I don't want to initiate here and find that I would have been more at home elsewhere on my new campus, where I'll be spending the majority of my college career anyway. I love my sorority because of the girls that are in it. When you change those girls into people with totally different personalities and values - does the sorority still stay the same?

[RaggedyAnn]

Originally Posted by M.I.A

I just wonder if the chapters are TOO different. I don't want to initiate here and find that I would have been more at home elsewhere on my new campus, where I'll be spending the majority of my college career anyway. I love my sorority because of the girls that are in it. When you change those girls into people with totally different personalities and values - does the sorority still stay the same?

See, that's a very personal decision. Only you know why you chose your sorority. I joined my sorority for its values, philanthropy, creed-the whole package. I would have gotten along great with the women of 4 or 5 chapters on campus. My top two were so tied that my ranking decision came down to a mascot...seriously. I also transferred schools half way through my sorority career and were part of 2 chapters and 2 Greek campuses that were so polar opposite I felt like my head was spinning for a couple of months. I was extremely active though on both campuses and consider myself an alumna from both chapters. I can't choose just one.