You are not in a position to be giving opinions or advice on sorority life. I think they made that abundantly clear in the Zeta Phi Beta forum. How many people have to tell you that you are out of order for you to understand the kind of damage you are doing to your future Greek aspirations?

Oh c'mon KSUViolet! Just because there hasn't been a new NPC chartered here in almost 30 years doesn't mean some random non-Greek can't walk right into Panhel and start one on the spot. I mean, maybe no one has thought of it in all those years! Think positive! /snark

And please understand that we are The University of Texas. If you want to get technical, call us The University of Texas at Austin. Referring to our campus as UT - Austin really isn't the correct terminology and Longhorns can be kind of picky about it. :cool:

Just for the record, I have NO intentions of trying to start my own sorority.

Just wanted that out in the open. ;)

And I get that; really, I do. I'm just finding this decision INCREDIBLY difficult to make (for reasons other than GL as well, including $$ and being so far away from my family). I'm terrified of making the "wrong" decision and choosing the "wrong" college, or ending up in a college where I'm unhappy and isolated, even though I know the college experience will be what I make of it. I'm just all mixed up over this.

The good news is that IF I decide to go to UT and IF I decide to rush, many sorority alumni organizations have chapters in the area where I live, so I do have resources available for rec letters and general knowledge. The real test for me will be the actual events, though. I'm such a perfectionist and it's very difficult for me to contemplate rushing when a significant chance of failure exists; it's very difficult for me to take risks, and this is a HUGE one.

And you're right- I do have the opportunity to go to the school of my dreams. I should be so grateful for that.

Hope this post isn't too self-centered. I'm just thinking, hoping, considering...

:)

No need to be concerned about being self-centered. That's your job right now. Three years ago, I had 2 daughters leaving for college at the same time and we through the same types of scenarios. It is very difficult to know what to do and not second guess yourself. You are going about it the right way, asking for advice from those of us who have been there. Please continue to post. There are many people on this board who are happy to help and lord knows we have plenty of opinions!

Didn't realize there was another school like this. Alabama folks cringe when someone says UA - Tuscaloosa! We are the University of Alabama. MAYBE add Tuscaloosa campus but please don't say UAT! It may be UAH (UA at Huntsville) or UAB (UA at Birmingham) but there is no UAT!

I've had people ask me if UGA was for The University of Georgia at Athens. I've also had people ask me "which college?" when I said that I went to Georgia.

If I hadn't been geographically in the state of Georgia at the time, these might seem like reasonable questions.

Thanks. :) That kind of support really means alot to me. Greekchat is a great resource for GL info and I'm happy to have found it.

I have question (or two, or three) for any Texas pros out there. I just spent hours reading all the Texas threads on this forum, and I'm curious about a few things.

Does Texas really have "guaranteed placement?" :eek: That was mentioned in another thread, but it didn't make sense to me. Can anyone explain?

Do freshmen sorority girls live in the UT houses, or in campus housing? I filled out my housing application some time ago, but I'm just wondering.

Are there two exclusively Jewish sororities at UT? I am asking because that was also mentioned and I am not Jewish. Do they do a separate rush?

How many recs per house?

Any dress code tips? I'm trying to be positive!

Thanks to anyone who can answer...:o

Yes, there is guaranteed placement here. As long as you maximize your options throughout the process by attending all the parties you are invited to and receive at least one invite to a preference party, you will receive a bid. Of course that doesn't mean you are guaranteed a bid to your top choice(s), but you will be placed.

No, freshmen do not live in. (It's possible that some may be able to move in right away in the smaller chapter though since they could have some room available. I'm not 100% sure of that though.)

There are two historically Jewish chapters on campus, AEPhi and SDT. As far as I know, their membership here is 100% Jewish although that is not the case nationally. AEPhi participates in formal recruitment. SDT has not for the last couple of years.

It varies depending on the group, but I would say you should aim to get one letter of support and one to two really good recs from alumnae who know you versus simple informational recs. At the very least, make sure to have at least one strong rec for each group.

Recruitment is pretty dressy here (no matter what Panhel might tell you on the web site or in recruitment materials) and it is also VERY HOT! Whatever Panhel tells you to wear for a specific day, step it up a notch. You'll see lots of cute sundresses until pref which is cocktail type dresses. And since the houses are pretty spread out, you will be doing a lot of walking, so make sure your cute shoes are already broken in and comfortable. Most of all, look classy. Dress to impress women, not guys.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. I will tell you what I can.

Thanks so much Lady Longhorn!

Sounds like I have some shopping to do. *grins*

Good advice from Lady Longhorn. I have recent experience since my daughter is a freshman at UT. Everyone in her pledge class either lives in Hardin House or Scottish Rite Dorm. Both are private off-campus housing for freshmen ladies only. You can go to www.austindorms.com to learn more about these options. And yes, recruitment is brutally hot and competitive. The girls wear flip-flops walking from house to house and carry their nice shoes to wear inside.

This is fantastic advice for any PNM at any university.

UT requests 4 (4x6) photos, one a full body. I think other schools only need 2-3 & just wanted to throw that out there in case you need the info.

Good luck!!! I do hope you decide on UT and give rush a shot!

cocktail dresses do NOT equal hootchie mama. think classy and sophisticated.

Remember you are trying to impress other young women, not guys.

Also please be aware that there is a possibility you can be cut by all the groups at any time during rush.

Is this affiliated with the Masons at all? Very curious about the name.

I have never heard of a Scottish Rite dorm...and after hearing about it I wouldnt have pegged it as a ladies' dorm.

Yes it is. Here is the history from the web site:

In 1920, Samuel P. Cochran, the Executive Head of the Scottish Rite Masonry in Texas, recognized that there was a lack of suitable housing for young women who were attending The University of Texas. He asked the Scottish Rite Bodies in Texas to donate the necessary funds to build a dormitory. In 1922, the dormitory opened the doors to its present building. It is a gift of Scottish Rite Masons in tribute to, and in interest of, aspiring young women.

As per the Charter, Scottish Rite Dormitory was built to provide a home-like atmosphere for the young women attending The University of Texas at Austin. The primary objective of Scottish Rite Dormitory is to promote the spiritual, mental, and physical development of our residents during their stay at SRD.

Wow...some of those private dorms are nice! The Dobie center is very nice....

Does UT-Austin not have a lot of University owned dorms? I have never heard of private dorms before....private apartment complexes, but not dorms.

there are a few private dorms around florida state. cash hall, osceola hall and one that is right next to the chi omega house(the name of which escapes me right now). cash hall has been there since the 70's. osceola at least since the late 70's, early 80's and chi o's neighbor late 90's(i think).

[hijack] I always call the one next to Chi O the "Phyrst" dorm, after the bar that used to be there before they built the dorm.

I think they just have more students than they can possibly house on campus!

Just now seeing this thread and popping in.

Disclaimer: I was not Greek at Texas. But having been involved on the UT campus and with my Austin alum club, I know a decent amount about Texas sorority stuff.

First off, just want to second that on the UT campus there are many options for sisterhood. First off, don't underestimate your chances at getting into a house. Yes, cracking into the "top 3" houses or whatever would be extremely difficult. But who really cares about that? You could find a great sisterhood in any of the houses. As LadyLonghorn posted, if you are open to all the NPC houses and maximize your options throughout the process, you are guaranteed a spot (presuming you make it to preference night).

Secondly, also seconding everyone who posted about the many spirit organizations on campus. Many of these seem to be quite similar to sororities in many respects (although they lack houses). There are also a number of non-NPC sororities on campus. Some of them based on cultural or multicultural interests, some Christian-based, some professional based. You might be interested in researching those.

Finally, a brief comment on Hardin House and Scottish Rite. I want to clarify that you basically have to APPLY to those dormitories. It's not like everyone gets in. They are the traditional places that the well-heeled UT woman lives in. They have a huge tradition. Hardin House in particular, it's to your advantage if you're a legacy or whatever, and if you're from the "right" background, and all that. For the uninitiated, I'm going to be very clear about this, Hardin House is basically a "feeder" to "top" houses at UT. I have a friend who got into Hardin House because her HS friend was a multi-legacy to Hardin House and invited her to be a roommate. My friend has said point-blank to me that she probably would never have gotten a bid to her chapter if she hadn't lived there. Also, for Scottish Rite, I could be incorrect, but I believe you still must be sponsored by a Mason to live there.

Anyway, I just checked Hardin House's website, and they're full for the fall now anyway (dunno if they were at the time when the poster posted that suggestion).

Basically what I'm trying to say is that saying "Go live in Hardin House!" is not that great a suggestion because it's probably harder to get in there than it is to get into an NPC at UT. Getting in there is kind of akin to getting into a "top tier" sorority.

I just like to be straight up about things. I hope that doesn't step on any toes. I want to just clarify that I don't put much stock in being "top tier". I myself wasn't "top tier." But let's just be realistic and honest about what things like Hardin House represent. Not to demean Hardin House. My friend that lived there had a good experience with it. It is what it is, but let's at least say outright what it is.

The thing is, you can still get into a sorority if you don't live in Hardin House or Scottish Rite. Also, there are several other private dorms that are popular with freshmen going Greek. Those are just two that are most frequently mentioned for young women striving for "top tier" sororities.

And yes, UT does have its own dorms. It just can't house everyone, so there is a big private dorm market, as well as several "student ghettos" in outlying areas on UT shuttle routes. UT is making a strategic effort to build more dorms - the most recent addition being the new one across from Sigma Chi. There is also a TON of construction of private semi-highrise dorms, apartments, and co-ops in the West Campus area. I would recommend living on the UT Campus or the West Campus area if you are wanting to go Greek, definitely.

I don't know a whole lot about Dobie center, but from what I know, it's not necessarily where a lot of Greeks live. If anything it tends to be more international students... I like going to the movies in the shopping center there though. They show a lot of independent films. Also, fond memories of seeing Sex and the City there... and Hot Fuzz. aaaaaahhh...

This is totally OT, but as I take every opportunity to do so, I'll just say that I love Austin and after this weekend and now that the CA Supreme Court fouled up once again, it has leapfrogged SF as #1 on my "when I leave NYC" list...

To add to what breathesgelatin said, ALL of the houses are good at UT, not just 3 or 4 of them!

As for Hardin House and SRD - Yes, most of the girls who live in them plan on rushing, so you're surrounded by other pnms, possibly pnms who have contacts in the houses, which can help quite a bit; BUT, it is not necessary to live there to be considered for recruitment.

It used to be that Hardin was THE place to live, but that has waned a bit, and I know of girls who've given up their spots there (whose Moms put them on the waitlist in elementary school! :)) to live at SRD instead (maybe the proximity to the Fiji house? ;)) You do have to have a Mason sponsor you, but if you don't know one, they will find one for you, so no biggie...

Yes, as mentioned, there are many on campus dorms in addition to many private ones here (as well as private housing co-ops.) The ones you're looking at are the super nice ones though. Not all of the private dorms are as nice as HH and SRD, but they are definitely the sorority freshman housing of choice.

Come one, come all - Austin rocks!

How fun would it be to be the live in librarian at the Scottish Rite Dorm?

My thing is though, I really have reservations about living anywhere with the death penalty (where people actually die) and Texas is too hot.

I like the heat, but that is definitely not a popular opinion.

My great-aunt was a house mother in a women's dorm at UNC back in the day. It was when the position was far more of a "social planner" and "adult supervision" kind of thing. I believe there is portrait of her in one of the UNC dorms still.

To continue the off-topicness, I thought about you, VS, when there was that crazyass guy from Idaho on the Bachelorette this season.

OT - We have random Texans (and other states) here, so I think there is a crazyass exchange program. I stopped dating Idaho boys, remember that one I was seeing a few years ago who slept walk and if he had been drinking would sleep walk and peed in his closet, and ran down the street naked? College, GOOD TIMES. His parents bought him a ridiculous pick up that would pay most of my grad school tuition, gave him their house, bought him a new bird dog, and I think he plays golf and gambles professionally when he isn't doing hunting and fishing related stuff for fun.

I'm going to find a man and import him to Alaska with me and open my Goatel.

Okay, that guy sounds like a real winner (especially the peeing in the closet part - ewe! :rolleyes:

Speaking of the Bachelorette this season, doesn't it seem like there are an inordinate amount of Texans competing??? There's like 2 Dallas guys, a Houstonian, some guy from Spring, etc...

WHAT! They can't find a good gal here??:D