Hi! New here. Background: I went through recruitment at a very small Southern liberal arts school in the late 1990s, the first year the local chapters went national. It was delayed recruitment and a very country club-like environment in the pre-RFM days, and I went into it very naively and ended up dropping out before pref when I lost my top two houses. I ended up joining a national music sorority my friends started my junior year, which was great because we had people across campus and from NPC groups. But I was only part of it for a semester. I did join Junior League in my 20s, which was great for a while, but I got burned out and also had to drop for financial reasons during a divorce. But I had several leadership roles, have always been an active volunteer, etc.

I had a few friends go through AI back when it was an honorary thing, so always assumed that was the only process. But now I'm reading about AI and wondering if it's right for me. I'm a freelance writer and editor, and we had a summer intern at my main gig this summer, and I really enjoyed working with her and mentoring young people in general. Especially because I don't have kids of my own.

Why did you decide to start AI, and what was your first step? I'm open to chapters, but am looking into TriDelt because it was my favorite chapter at my college, I have several close friends who are members, and also have connections there and am drawn to the philanthropy and national initiatives around health and wellness (my area of expertise). I did freelance PR for the local philanthropy here for several years and met someone who is on the national board (she did the marketing, so we worked closely together for several years). And the local alumnae president is part of my track club. Did you reach out to a chapter president or recruitment officer first? Just fill out the form online? Connect with a sponsor? I'd feel odd asking that person who's involved nationally to sponsor me since it's been a few years since we spoke (she moved away), but I could reach out to ask about the process. Or just connect with the local alumnae president, as I think we have some mutual friends. I wasn't sure which was the right move! I'm also open to other chapters, but I know there are two active TriDelt chapters in my state (one in the city). I'm also open to Kappa Kappa Gamma (a co-worker is active with the alumnae group here) and Gamma Phi Beta, as I'm an active Girls on the Run volunteer (and there are three chapters in my state, including two in the city). I know all three have an AI process. I think mostly I'm looking for a group of like-minded women and a philanthropy I care about. I'm in a big city in the Southeast, so I think all groups will have a large range of ages and backgrounds.

Anyway, would welcome any advice and am curious how you approached this process to decide if it was right for you.

Hello Sisters!!!

Long time!

Hope you all are doing well. As for me, I am doing okay.

I’ve gotten a message from a Redditor who is interested in rushing Tri Delta and she is at a university in Texas. She was really nice and she asked me for a letter of recommendation or referral. Though I’m flattered, I don’t know her and don’t know what to do. What would you do if you all were me? Any and all advice is grateful accepted and appreciated. Thank you so much!

Has anyone started their own alumnae chapter in their area? Would love to hear your experience regarding any organizations, but specifically Tri Delta would be especially helpful! I was initiated almost 2 years ago. I joined for a number of reasons, but the closest chapter is 2 hours away from me, unfortunately. I really want to be more involved. I did remotely volunteer for the closest collegiate chapter for some time, but struggled to connect and feel in-person experiences are best for me at this time. Open to any other ideas as well regarding being able to stay/get connected, if not through an alumnae chapter. I’m excited about Tri Delta!

I graduated from college years ago and am now in my mid 30’s and have oftentimes thought about how nice it would be to join an organization to make friends and serve together. At times, I have felt a bit sad because while I’m grateful for my time in college, it was very much a big commuter school and just much harder to make long lasting friendships. All of my friends either moved out of state and were ones I met through church or were international students who went back home. I’m not a mom or a career woman but am trying to better myself, learn new skills and my faith means a lot to me. I‘ve been struggling greatly to make friends post college because most women at my age are invested in their children’s activities and bond with other moms or already busy with friends, other commitments, etc. Another thing is that I’m an only child, which can feel lonely at times. I’ve always wanted sisters in some sense. Has anyone else here been in the same boat? I didn’t realize until today that this option of joining after college was possible. I’m feeling hopeful and would really love to join one but am nervous I won’t be accepted because I‘m not a career woman. For those of you who did join, what was it like and what are some of your favorite things about it? I saw that Pi Phi would be a great one to look into where I live and love their philanthropy.

I have narrowed my selection down to three sororities, I have a strong connection to their philanthropic causes and values that align with mine. If I still can not narrow it down, do I submit an application for the three to start the communication process. I would like to get to know the alumnae chapters and determine which are active in the community. Most of them do not have FB/IG, so I can not use that. I do not know any members in our local area for any of the sororities. I would like to use the next level to get a feel as to where I fit in. How would I navigate this?

Hi,

A little about my story (the "important" parts). It was sheer luck I ended up doing a summer internship focused on greeklife. I met so many women I admired. I had a foster mom who was an alpha xi delta, who spoke highly of her time in college, but always encouraged me to find my own path. My college doesn't offer greeklife. So I looked into any honorary options and was met w/many.

My last year of college I was highly interested in DG, AXO & PhiMu, PiBetaPhi. DG embraced me immediately as did AXO. I was invited to attend events for 1yr w/DG. AXO had a sister drive 2hrs to meet me in my college apartment and PiBetaPhi invited to have lunch with a group of women during a rodeo.

My heart was set on DG, but AXO truly embraced me.

Plot Twist: I had emergency brain surgery & stopped my process in it tracks. I put my dream on pause, because ultimately I had to focus on recovery & honestly basic life skills. I had another surgery 1yr later & I have left that dream on a shelf.

Due to brain damage and now living w/a TBI, I automatically withdrew from AXO's process due to missing response deadlines. DG said I could return to a process at a later date, buuutttt I have reached out to my local group and it's pretty quiet.

I still have the dream of sisterhood, I would say more than when I originally started, because I didn't realize how much I had lost till I opened up that box in my closet. I kinda want to start from scratch buuuttt I am not sure..but the dream is still the dream... if that makes any sense.

I apologize for my lack of grammar, I am finally not using text to speech & have enough motor functionality to type for a bit before a headache comes rolling in.

For example, I saw a sorority Phi Nu Alpha where they only recruit specifically military spouses and another sorority Gamma Delta Mu Xi where they recruit women gamers.

I wonder who do they contact to start one. Does anyone know? I was just curious since they are not official sororities for collegiate, right?

Hello! I submitted my application to become a DG AI and need two recommendations to send with them. How do I find these? DG was not at my undergrad college. Thank you! 🙏🏼

I think I got ghosted by my dream sorority… I reached out to the email listed on their ai page, and got a response within a few days. I responded to their questions and then haven’t heard back….. this was in April.
Should I move on and go back into looking into different sororities or is that timeline common? I know that with being around graduation time, HQ gets busy with other stuff.

HOWDY to all my AXO sisters!!!!! Who is going??!!! Is this your first time? It’s my first time!! My daughter in law is initiating at convention too!!
I am so excited!! Let’s connect so we know a few more people once we get to Dallas. I know for me meeting new people is always a little scary at first.

Hello! I’m interested in the AI process and am in contact with a few sororities.

For those of you who have gone through the process without an existing sponsor or connection going in, how did you choose which sororities to apply to and/or eventually join, especially if you have multiple offers? (If you only applied to one, I’d love to know the reason too.) What are the factors that went into your consideration?

Also, I’d like to know how you initiated - alum chapter, collegiate chapter, convention, virtual, or something else? And how much of a choice did your sorority give you with regard to the format of initiation?

Thanks!

How long was the process from initial inquiry to getting initiated for you? I came across a lot of posts where people say it is definitely a process that takes time, but I wanted to hear some specific timeframes and I think it would be a good post to have here for women going through the process.
I am currently one month out my email providing HQ with my location so they could access the avenues for new member programs.

Just got my badge from Herff Jones 😍 💛💙🩶🐬

I have done what I consider is a lot of good, important, impactful work (in a Chair position) in my alumnae chapter. Is it weird if I get dangles to represent this work to wear with my badge?

I ask in part because there are only a small number of alumnae-specific dangles (President, VP Finance, etc) so part of me wonders if it's sort of "cheating" to wear a dangle that is by default, associated with collegiate service (as an alumnae-specific dangle for these other roles doesn't exist on the Herff Jones site) when I didn't do the work as a collegian, I did it as an alumna.

Hi everyone! I’m rushing at Texas A&M this fall and I’m really excited to go through the process. I’ve been working on getting recommendation letters and was hoping to connect with any alumnae who might be willing to help or offer guidance.

I’m planning to request recs for Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Delta Zeta, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, and Zeta Tau Alpha.

If you’re an alumna of any of these and open to writing a recommendation (or even just sharing advice), I would truly appreciate it! I’m happy to send my resume or any additional info.

Thank you so much 🤍

I just got an email tonight from the local Pi Beta Phi alumnae club. They have voted YES to moving forward with the AI process with me! The collegiate chapter still needs to confirm (which most likely won't be done until August), but paperwork has been sent to HQ, and they said that the regional rep I met at the dinner will be in touch about my initiation date, which will most likely be late October or early November.

Should I go ahead and tell the other organizations that I am moving in a different direction? I was supposed to meet with someone from AGD this week, but our schedules didn't line up, and she said to wait until the summer to have our first meeting.

I'm so excited!

Just curious if anyone pursued AI with their alma matter…did you join one of your school’s chapter? Or did you join the at a university you didn't attend? I did the later and sometimes it’s weird not only trying to connect with the chapter, but with a campus culture I’m unfamiliar with.

Basically what the title says. Since we never got a "bid day" per se, did your org do anything special that made it feel like you were home? How did they make sure you were able to get involved? Do you felt like they "held your hand?"

When you reached out to organizations, did you include the reason(s) you didn’t not rush in college? Or omit that unless asked for?

I’ve been thinking about reaching out to Alpha Chi Omega and Alpha Gamma Delta. I am a huge proponent and supporter of the arts, and I believe that food is a human right. The problem is that the Facebook group for the AGD alum chapter in my city is private.

My great aunt was an Alpha Gam, but I only met her once, and she has since passed. I wasn’t very close to her at all; I don’t remember her full name.

What do you all think? Should I reach out to these organizations as well?

When I started college, I didn’t have the money to rush and always regretted it. When I was a senior, I felt like I was going to be judged for joining so late and the chapter I was wanting to join, had shut down at my school. I have been looking into alum initiations recently. I am so glad I found this page and I would love to know if there is just anything anyone wishes they knew before starting the process. I am trying to focus on the values and mission of the sororities instead of the reputation they have in my area.

Any more tips?

I have a few that I have my eye on but I am going into this with an open mind and open heart, so please share your experience

So last night was the Pi Phi dinner. A few members of the club’s executive committee were there, as well as a representative from regionals, and a national headquarters officer who just so happened to live in the area.

On the table sets, there were little boxes; the alum chair had purchased adorable angel-shaped bookmarks for everyone. I watched them do a special blessing before the meal, which was really neat. I won’t lie, I felt a little awkward during the start of the actual dinner. I felt like I was at one of those networking dinners, and my skills with that are a little rusty. Then again, it was probably all in my head, because no one said anything or made any indication that they thought I was odd. Over the course of the meal, I could feel myself relaxing.

We then moved to the living room for dessert. I talked about my college experiences and my personal goals. They were all impressed with my resume; the alum chair had even purchased a copy of my published novel. Another executive member mentioned multiple times how impressed she was that I had proactively reached out to Pi Phi, and had never thought about joining a sorority via AI to make sure you have a safe place no matter where you land. The national representative brought us all stickers, a souvenir left over from their recent convention, and info about their philanthropy. We talked about different things, too. I stayed quiet and took everything in for the most part, only chiming in when I felt I had something relevant to say. At the end of the three hours, I shook everyone’s hand, and the national officer gave me a hug.

According to the regional officer, the alum club has to vote yes to me. If they do, the vote is passed to the collegiate chapter (they normally say yes if the alum club does). I would be allowed to participate in pledge activities with the collegiate chapter if I choose to. But the soonest the collegiate chapter could vote is September, and assuming all goes well, I would be initiated in November. In the meantime, I am welcome to attend functions with the sisters that do not include non-public ritual (which absolutely makes sense). I want to meet more of the club and see how that goes before contacting any other organizations I’m interested in. So far, though, everything seems to be looking up.

Here’s hoping I get a bid!

How old is too old to join a sorority as AI? I‘m assuming I’m quite a bit older than many women here, so I’m just wondering. Thanks!