sorority

I'm sorry i didn't mean to stereotype I just heard you had a rep for really big and fancy formals. But besides that, what are opinions on my other questions.

Thank you so much! Can alumni be current members in sororities from other schools and should I try to find some Alabama alum too even though I do not know any?

Alabama alumni are the best rec you can get, but it doesn't truly matter who writes it as long as they're a person you can trust and with your own judgement say is a good person. So don't feel like you have to go searching for an AXO, PM, ZTA, APhi, etc alum from Alabama to get your rec, the girls here know that'd be pretty impossible for an out of state girl with next to no connections.

Thank you! You are all really helping me in my decision to choose Alabama now! Especially since I know everyone is moving toward diversity which makes me really happy because I have a very diverse group of friends and was nervous it wasn't like that here. But also I live about 14 hours away so when will I found out when all of this sorority stuff is such as preview weekend and spring tea and when can I start adding sororities on social media and if I cannot make it to the events is it best to notify them to keep me on the radar?

Thank you! You are all really helping me in my decision to choose Alabama now! Especially since I know everyone is moving toward diversity which makes me really happy because I have a very diverse group of friends and was nervous it wasn't like that here. But also I live about 14 hours away so when will I found out when all of this sorority stuff is such as preview weekend and spring tea and when can I start adding sororities on social media and if I cannot make it to the events is it best to notify them to keep me on the radar?

I'm happy to help!! We love helping PNMs and we want all of you to be as knowledgable and prepared as possible because we want yall to be happy on Bid Day and have the amazing sorority experience that all of us have had :). I'm also really glad that this is helping you to consider UA more than you had been previously. To be honest, several years ago, we were lacking in diversity, but that has drastically changed (and please know that it was us actives that happily initiated that change)! There truly is a place for every type of girl in our sororities, and you can find your niche in any group. As far as Preview Weekend/spring teas etc go, check the Panhellenic website often and they will post the dates when everything is finalized. It will be posted soon enough that you'll have plenty of time to try to make arrangements to attend :). If you find out that you're unable to attend, I think it's perfectly fine to email the chapters' recruitment chairs (listed on each chapter's website) and let them know that unfortunately, you can't attend Preview Weekend, but that you wanted to let them know a little bit about you and how excited you are to meet them. In regards to social media, I think it's actually a good idea to "like" the chapters on FB etc...members can see this, and it will let them know that you're interested in their chapter, which is a positive thing. Continued...

Maybe she had the wrong impression bc WE are giving people the wrong impression about Bama sorority life. That's not her fault, it's ours!

The impression about money is almost laughable. There's not much of that around here.

Aww, thank you so much! You seem like an amazing girl and I think any house would be proud to have someone with such a great attitude! Yes, you can start sending recs in May/early June. This way, the sororities will have more time to get acquainted with you (from the info your rec writers provided), and the more girls pulling for you, the better. The addresses for recs to be sent to can be found on the chapters' websites as well. Some groups will allow collegians (actives) to write recs, and others will not. The ladies you contact from each group should be able to tell you whether they accept recs from collegians as well or alumnae only :). And yes, you can go ahead and like/follow chapters now, because there is a no contact period that starts after finals week in May. I'm really happy that you came here to ask these questions, because to the "outside world", we are often portrayed as cliquey/judgmental/unaccepting, but that really isn't true. We truly want girls from all over the country and from all different backgrounds to come enjoy not only life at Alabama, but to enjoy life as a sister in one if our awesome sororities as well!! Roll Tide :)!!

okay so one more question (i think)! so i looked on the chapter website that I am technically a legacy to, my sister is in the chapter in our home state and it said have recs sent by february so they can be processed in time for preview day and spring teas. so do i do them earlier?

If your sister is an initiated member of her sorority, then yes, you are a legacy of that chapter. Be sure to have her send a legacy introduction form to her chapter here at Bama (even if her group doesn't allow actives to write recs, the chapter will still want to know that you're a legacy through your sister, because that's a special family connection). Since the website says Feburary, I would try to have as many recs (to all houses) as possible sent in by that time, but you can always send in any others you gather later. This way, you will likely have actives looking for you at Preview, and you will probably receive multiple invites to Spring Teas, which will definitely put you in a good position to have a happy, successful recruitment. I just didn't want to say anything about sending them earlier before in case you were already worried about getting them sent in by May (I didn't want to stress you out even more haha), but since you know, go ahead and send them by Feburary if you can :)

So should we be sending all of our recs in February if possible? Is that the best time? I want to send them in at the best time, but I don't want to send them in too early. My mom thinks that sending them in before school starts is crazy, but I've seen on here and other websites that it's best to send them in before y'all get out for summer.

If we should send them in February, then when is the best time to start contacting ladies and asking them to write recs for us? Should we just ask them to send them to the chapters in time for preview weekend?

@different PNM, Hey! Yes, I would try to get as many recs as you can sent in prior to Preview Weekend, so that sororities have as much time as possible to get to know you and learn more about you from the info your rec writers give. This will help with having actives actually looking for you at Preview Weekend, as you'll be on their radar already. It will also help you in receiving invites to Spring Teas. You can start reaching out to alumnae you know now! Just mention that you're so excited about going through recruitment at Bama next year, and politely ask if they would mind writing a rec to their group for you. If they agree, just talk a little about Preview Weekend and how chapters like to receive recs before this time. Try to get 2 recs per chapter. Then, when it gets closer to the beginning of next semester, gracefully remind them that you would really appreciate it if they could send your recs in prior to Preview Weekend. Be sure to include everything needed in your rec packets (HS transcript up to that point, social resume, photo) and to send hand written thank you notes to all of your rec writers. Good luck! :)

Your message is so sweet and thoughtful and I'm so happy that I was able to help you realize what you need to do in order to put yourself in the best position possible to have a successful recruitment!! That's why we give advice-we want yall to be as informed and prepared as you can :)! I don't really want to say what house I'm in (don't get me wrong!!! I LOVE my sorority and my amazing sisters!) only because I don't want you to make your decision just based on some advice I've given; I want you to go in to recruitment with an open mind to all chapters and find the sisterhood that's right for you! It's similar to the "I want to be in the same house my Rho Chi is in!"-you may love her, but she's just one member, and you need to decide who you want to be your sisters based on your experiences with the groups as a whole. Good luck!!!