tobiagirl's non-standard COB Recruitment Story

[tobiagirl]

I joined in Spring of 2007, so this is a tad retro.

I was one of those people that never thought I would join a sorority--I don't drink at all or really party, and I thought that that was what Greek life was all about (stupid, I know now). Only about 2% of my school's population is Greek, and I was so busy the first few weeks of school that the notices of fall formal recruitment completely slipped past me. Because I went to school in the South, however, I witnessed (on Facebook) virtually all of my high school friends going Greek and began to long for a group of friends that I knew I would see consistantly semester to semester. So, with ever-growing excitement, I decided to look into my school's small (but very old) Greek system. We have four houses, which I will code as North, South, East, and West. All four were participating in Spring COB and Panhel hosted a meet and greet session in our student center one weekend, and each house had displays set up.

First, I visited South's corner. I LOVED South immediately. All the girls were very friendly and welcoming and seemed to know a lot about their philanthropy, which tied in well with community service I was already doing with another group. Every girl I met seemed generally interested in me, and I don't remember any awkward moments at all.

Next, I went to East's corner. I remember that this group had shirts in French, which I thought was odd but cool, as I love studying foreign languages. I got a very academic vibe from this house and spent a lot of time discussing my chem class (notoriously difficult at my school) with another science major. I really felt like I clicked with a lot of the girls who I spoke with and felt like this was a group of girls that would really support me and mesh with my goals. I really, really liked this house and was beginning to think I had judged Greek life totally incorrectly! I was loving this!

Third, I visited West, but I didn't spend much time here at all. The appearance of the booth itself was extremely drab, and the girls didn't really seem that friendly or interested in me, though they were far from being outright rude. The one girl I talked to only mentioned sports, which didn't really click with me, as I'm not a football fan. I left feeling like I probably wouldn't belong here.

Finally, I visited North, which I liked better than West but not as much as East or South. The girls were nice but didn't seem as interested as the girls in East or South. This was also the only house where I was consciously aware of being "bumped" (not that I knew the term back then!), which was a tad off-putting. However, I did like this house's philanthropy, which sounded really interesting and tied in well with stuff I had done in high school. I felt kind of meh about this house overall but wasn't as turned off as I had been by West.

Before I left, I went over and said good bye and nice to meet you to the girls in South and East. I then picked up my schedule of COB events (all COB events at my school are open) for the next two weks and left, giddy with excitement and sure I would end up in either South or East.

[tobiagirl]

Do you want to hear the rest?

[KSUViolet06]

What is it with people asking if we want to hear their recruitment stories?

If you would like to post, please do so.

[Jill1228]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

What is it with people asking if we want to hear their recruitment stories?

If you would like to post, please do so.

Yeah, that! No need for attention ho-ing

[gogreekmom]

Yes -- it is a very boring night at work -- please post some more of you story!!

[Benzgirl]

Posters:::::
PLEASE don't ask, and PLEASE don't drag it out for weeks.
I might read your story, and if I don't it's no big deal. Others will. But, I get so annoyed when OPs ask, then all of a sudden "get too busy".

[AXi1257]

keep your story going and don't drag it out- it drives everyone crazy.

[ZTA72]

yes please continue, we might not post but alot of us are reading

[GammaPhi88]

I agree, continue posting. And in the future, please look at the number of views on the thread...not the amount of posts!

[tobiagirl]

Okay, just making sure as this story does lack all the FR (pref night, bid day, etc.) fun!

First, I went to a party at South. It was philanthropy-based, supposedly, and we were making valentines for children, though a lot of girls were making them for the houseboys; this kind of turned me off as it seemed like they weren't really committed to their philanthropy. Given how well I had gotten along with the girls at the meet and greet, I was really surprised by how awkward the conversations felt this night. I got a definite "party/fashion-conscious" feel from this house, and I really didn't feel like I'd "fit" in here. I did talk to the president who seemed like a very sweet girl, but overall, my time here seemed to drag on uncomfortably. Additionally, the house felt dark and not very home-like at all. I left South feeeling shocked--my opinion about them did a complete 180, though I still tried to stay on very good terms with the girls in case I decided to go another event and just because I did want to be nice.

A few days later, I went to a dessert party at East, my other top choice. Actually, I went to the second of two dessert parties, as they were supposed to give me a ride to the first one (they offered rides to PNMs, as our houses are off campus) but there was some sort of miscommunication, and they didn't show. For some reason, they were only willing to pick me up to go the second half of the party, too, which seemed odd. First of all, East's house was beautiful and felt very warm and welcoming! I sat down in the living room by a few girls, including one I felt like I had connected well with at the meet and greet. However, the president of the house proceeded to talk to me individually for the entire 45 minutes I was there! She was nice and very helpful in answering my questions, but it would have been nice to talk other girls, too. I probably over-asked about parties, as I thought (idiotically, looking back) that was what sororities looked for in a member, even though parties aren't really my thing. I also asked about their philanthropy, which seemed really fun and interesting. Despite the slightly strange experiences, I left East still loving it and hoping that I would get invited back to another event.

I orginally wasn't planning to go an event at North, but I had nothing to do that particular night and the event (a game/TV show night) sounded fun, so I went to meet the members and other PNMs who would be walking to house. To my surprise, North had a beautiful house, though not at all decorated in their colors! It wasn't as fancy as East but did feel very much like a home. The girls were very laid and very, very welcoming, one even offering to let me borrow her chemistry model kit, so I wouldn't have to buy my own (I had had a chemistry test that day, so we talked a bit about the class) and her generousity to a stranger surprised and delighted me! Next, the PNMs and some members sat down to play Apples to Apples. This was a ridicuously fun game and included cards the members had made up with inside jokes, which they let the PNMs in on. The conversation was very relaxed and free-flowing, and I felt like I was already part of the group! The members seemed diverse politically and in terms of interest and appearence, but it seemed like they really got along well, and I really hit it off with a girl who I had met briefly at the meet and greet. I felt like I could really, truly be myself here. After playing Apples to Apples, we headed into the TV room where a bunch of members gathered to watch Grey's Anatomy, a show I had never seen. Again, I was really impressed by how funny and laid-back the members were and how they seemed like they were really, truly good friends. I left North amazed, delighted, and hoping beyond all else that I would be invited back.

Over the next few days, I waited anaxiously and talked to my parents, both non-Greeks who were more worried I'd be hazed to death than anything else. I had LOVED North but still had a lot of affection for East and their mansion-like home. What, too, if I had written South off too quickly? I had loved them the first round. I got exciting and encouraging news from North but part of me was still unsure about what to do. I wasn't 100% solid on my decision until I few days later when I received a call from South inviting me to a mocktail party at their house that night. I was flattered but told the caller that I couldn't come, seeing as I had just accepted my bid from....








North!



Better known as...









Delta Gamma!!









One and a half years later, I am incredibly happy with my choice!!!!! I think the main things I learned going through recruitment were to a) not let first impressions define your view of a chapter (looking back on it, my first impressions of all of the houses definitley had some flaws) and b) to present yourself as who you are, not who you think a "sorority girl" is. The right chapter is a place where you can be you! And the girl I hit it off with so well at the game night? She's now my amazing Big Sister and and wonderful friend....

If anyone wants to know the school or the code, just ask...

[When Doves Cry]

yay! that's awesome
the only stories i read are about formal recruitment so i liked your story. it was different and way shorter
my younger sister (freshman this year) is a DG at her school

[gee_ess]

Of course we want to know the code and the school!

Congrats on DG! I thought your story was a good one.

[GammaPhi88]

Great story! I would love to know the code and school!

[sailboatgirl]

Thanks for sharing! I liked the simplicity and speed of your story telling!

[tobiagirl]

School: University of Montana

Code:

South: Kappa Alpha Theta

West: Kappa Kappa Gamma

East: Alpha Phi

North (duh): Delta Gamma

We have a small Greek system but one with a lot of history (two single letter chapters, including mine [Pi]) and amazing girls through out all four houses (of course, I'm biased toward DG's, but really, we do.)!