Junior Unsure about Doing Formal Recruitment or Joining a Colony!

[lovelygirl801]

Hi everyone!

I just transferred to Arizona State University this spring! (With 3 or maybe 4 semesters to go.) That being said, I'm 21 years old. (Which is older than the typical rushee!) Because I transferred in the spring, I was unable to go through formal (fall) recruitment, and due to personal family issues I missed spring recruitment. I did meet with some houses that were doing COB but I think due to the personal issues I was facing at the time with my family; the meetings didn't go great. I did stay on good terms with the ones I met, and I did politely explain my personal situation and issues I was having at the time. One of the COB chapter's I did like, did not offer me a bid, but I harbor no ill feelings towards them at all! I feel like it may have been a blessing in disguise for me to wait for fall recruitment. That way, I can meet all the chapters! However...

Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) just announced they will be colonizing at ASU this Fall (2017 semester.) I now am in the process of debating if I should go through fall recruitment or if I should try to go for AOII!

I'm a junior, as I stated. If my grades stay the way they do, I will likely have a 3.49 GPA for Fall semester. I'm currently the President of a new club/organization I founded (with some friends) this semester and do know that will take up a lot of my time in the fall. Being involved in Greek Life is something I have always wanted to do, and I know that I possess the qualities that a lot of sororities look for. I'm a very driven individual, I'd like to think I'm a fun person to be around (lol), and I want the most out of my college experience and make a difference at ASU.

At ASU, I've been told that there are chapters that do not extend bids to juniors. This is something I'm aware of, so if I did choose to go through Fall recruitment, I won't be blind-sided. I just am unsure of what to do because I have heard colonizing a chapter can be very time consuming and I will already be President of another club. But I also believe that being a founding member would be really rewarding...I know that joining an already established chapter possibly may be a better option (if I receive a bid,) because I already have a commitment to my founded club.

What do you all think could be the best option for me? Rushing in the Fall or colonizing? If anyone has any helpful information on colonizing they could refer, that would help me greatly!

Thank you for reading! <3