Lucky to Be a Pi Phi

With odds of one in 350,000—a chance so small you are more likely to find a four-leaf clover—California Beta AIMEE CHO couldn’t feel luckier to have found her way to our sisterhood. After joining Pi Beta Phi in November 2024, Aimee has since discovered Sincere Friendships, new opportunities and an honorable title she would carry far into the future—Pi Beta Phi’s 350,000 th initiated member.

Before attending her first year at the University of California, Berkeley, Aimee knew she wanted to become involved in the community to meet new people, especially due to the school’s large student population. Although unfamiliar with sorority life, Aimee enrolled in recruitment—a decision which would help her foster meaningful connections within weeks. “I knew I loved Pi Phi right away,” Aimee says. “They reminded me of my hometown friends, and every member I talked to seemed to have a real purpose in their life.”

Aimee’s admiration for Pi Phi only strengthened as she went through recruitment, confirming it was where she was meant to be. “At the beginning of recruitment, I wrote down four key things I would look for in a sorority,” she shares. "On Preference Night, Pi Phi verbally expressed exactly what I wrote.” Excited for what was to come, Aimee became a New Member of our sisterhood, and soon learned her choice would impact not only her own life, but the future of Pi Beta Phi.

At a chapter meeting only a few weeks later, it was announced that Pi Beta Phi reached an incredible milestone of initiating our 350,000 th member—Aimee Cho. “I was confused at first because I thought I applied for something I forgot about,” Aimee jokes. “Once I processed what was happening, I was so honored.”

Celebrating this milestone—which has only been achieved by one other sorority— was an unforgettable experience for both Aimee and the entire chapter. To celebrate in true Pi Phi fashion, members were surprised with a special Cookie Shine after the announcement. From shock to joy, Aimee felt a whirlwind of emotions that night and has since reflected on what this moment truly means to her. “I knew becoming a Pi Phi was the right decision, but this milestone solidified why I chose Pi Phi in the first place,” Aimee shares. “I love our sisterhood and it’s amazing I get to be that representation in our shared history.”

This experience has brought more connections than Aimee could’ve imagined, with sisters from all member classes—even some from different chapters—sending her kindhearted messages to congratulate her. Looking ahead at the next four years and beyond, Aimee hopes to make Pi Phi a central part of her life and nurture both the relationships and new opportunities that cross her path. “I want to hold Pi Phi with me forever,” she says. “I hope to immerse myself in the chapter, connect with alumnae and make the most out of this experience.”

From entering a large, intimidating campus to discovering lifelong friendships and becoming Pi Phi’s 350,000th initiated member, Aimee has experienced incredible personal growth throughout this journey—something words or numbers could never describe. “I can’t condense my love for our sisterhood into a small thing, but I've become the best version of myself since joining Pi Phi,” she reflects. “Finding your community can be daunting, and I’ve never been more grateful to be part of such an amazing one.”