Joining my chapter during the fall semester of my sophomore year was one of the best decisions I’d ever made. I remember being so worried while going through recruitment that people wouldn’t want to be my friend because I was “older” than many of the freshmen. I feared I’d miss out on the connections that the younger members seemed to already be forming. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. The first semester after joining was such a whirlwind—I made so many new friends, found my big, applied for my first position, and had the best time bonding with my sisters. The chapter quickly became my second home.
Then came the news that we were participating in COB. As a new member, I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. I had heard about COB (Continuous Open Bidding), but it was still a bit of a mystery. Would it be like a formal recruitment process? Would it change the dynamic of our chapter? I didn’t know. But as time went on, I found my uncertainty around COB was resolved and was replaced with unexpected hope for growth for my chapter.
What surprised me most, though, through the process of having seven new women join, was how seamless and natural their immersion into the chapter was. I had always thought of COB as a “second chance” option, something that was kind of outside the traditional recruitment cycle. But what I came to realize is that COB is an opportunity, not only for women who didn’t initially get the chance to join but for chapters to expand and grow their sisterhood in meaningful ways.
One of the most rewarding parts of the COB process was how it strengthened my own sisterhood. A few weeks after the new members joined, I was asked if I’d be willing to take a little, a semester earlier than I had originally planned. As a sophomore, I was so excited at the chance to add to my family. I quickly met the new COBs, eager to find my little. I soon learned that I would be getting twins! Aly, a freshman, and Allison, a junior, joined my family, and I immediately clicked with both of them. It felt like the perfect mix of personalities, experiences, and backgrounds coming together.
Looking back, I honestly can’t imagine my chapter without Aly and Allison. They brought a new dynamic, fresh perspectives, and even more laughter into our chapter. Through COB, we had the chance to deepen our sisterhood in a way that recruitment alone could never offer. COB allows us to diversify our sisterhood, making it stronger and more inclusive—it's not just about finding new members, but about finding the right members who will truly add something special.
Speaking of finding the right people, I also met one of my best friends through COB, Jade. Jade and I are in the same grade, but it wasn’t until she went through COB that we really crossed paths. The more we talked, the more we realized how many similarities we had. Similar sense of humor, interests, and even shared experiences. I honestly don’t think we would’ve ever become as close if she hadn’t joined the chapter through COB. Jade has become such a core part of my college experience, and I’m beyond thankful that the COB process brought us together.
These experiences have made me realize that COB shouldn’t be seen as a backup plan but instead, as an opportunity to expand your sisterhood in a way that’s just as valuable as traditional recruitment. By embracing COB, we get the chance to invite in women who are genuinely excited to be part of our chapter and who have so much to offer. So let’s change the narrative. COB is about finding new sisters who fit perfectly into our chapter, no matter what semester they join.
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