A Look Into The Alpha Kappa Psi Recruitment Process

We all know AKPsi as the professional fraternity on campus, but how much do you know about it? From the outside, the recruitment process for AKPsi can seem intense, so we got the inside scoop on everything involved with pledging this professional organization. We caught up with multiple people involved—pledges and a brother alike —across graduating classes at Elon.

AKPsi’s core values are brotherhood, knowledge, integrity, service, and unity—and those are represented in everything they do. According to Phoebe Becker, current AKPsi brother, the whole pledge process is “very professional and structured, and taught me management and professionalism.” This includes many interviews with current brothers and a professional write-up of their conversation. These interviews are actually encouraged to be in person! Most pledges get their interviews by hanging out in the atrium of KOBC.

If you spot a pin like this on campus, you know you’ve found an AKPsi pledge. Photo of Lindsay Gelman.

 In addition to interviews, pledges must wear their pledge pin during business hours every week to show their dedication to the fraternity. The pledge process includes professional development workshops including a resume and cover letter review which all the pledges we spoke to really benefited from, especially the juniors who have jobs right around the corner. Then, at the halfway point in the pledging process, the pledges prepare for their mid-term interview. 

For first-year Alex Cope, pledging AKPsi has definitely been a lot of work but “the pledge process helps you get the most from AKPsi and I am really looking forward to being an initiated brother in May,” she says. Cope describes the process’s time commitment as adding a class and a half to her schedule but assures us that it has been worth the hard work and dedication. “The best part of pledging for me is getting to meet all the brothers because, as I have gone through this process, I have realized that there is something to learn from every brother,” says Cope. The process has made Cope want to better herself and she is so glad she made this part of her first year at Elon. 

Juniors Jack St. Pierre and Sophia Dimidis are also current pledges this semester. Although they are pledges like everyone else, they are some of the few juniors that rushed this semester. St. Pierre says, “It has been really cool to have this opportunity. I know I’m late to the process, but I feel like I am getting the same benefits but just getting to be a brother for a shorter period of time.” St. Pierre feels that was welcomed into AKPsi as a junior and is thrilled to have met so many people through the process and believes it has pushed him out of his comfort zone for the better. 

Juniors Dimidis and St. Pierre also hold leadership positions in their pledge class and take their roles very seriously. They work together to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, AKPsi’s chapter philanthropy. St. Pierre says, “As the fundraising chair, I have enjoyed bringing the pledge class together to raise some money for suicide prevention and awareness.” Dimidis, who is the treasurer of the PC, is in charge of collecting all the money raised for this cause. Their goal is over $4,000 dollars (and you can help them reach it here). Dimidis is proud to be in her position and feels her maturity is what won her this role. She says she views her role as “taking advantage of the opportunity and raising money for a great cause.”

Pledging AKPsi takes about a semester and can be strenuous, but everyone we spoke to agrees that it has been not only worth it, but a beneficial learning experience.

Good luck at Honor Court and with the last few weeks of the pledging process. congratulations to all the new members of AKPsi!