On the topic of Texas Alpha Phi-

https://vimeo.com/173668557

https://vimeo.com/187546185

RFM is NPC's Release Figures Methodology which is now in place on all campuses(well,maybe not one or two). I won't bore you with the details of how it works but in a few words it requires groups to adhere to a set release number that varies from chapter to chapter depending on past performance. So in essence, the groups who have the best return percentages are required to invite fewer women to their events. Quota additions no longer exist as they used to and women who do not match once all have been placed are placed typically with the smallest chapter they listed on their bid card.

This is a very simplistic explanation but it has resulted in chapters being much closer in size and therefore the entire system healthier.

As an alumna of Alpha Phi myself who has a special connection to our Omega chapter, even though I initiated at another school in Texas many years ago. It has been great watching our sisters at UT Austin thrive.

Thanks sharing for the Texas Alpha Phi videos Longhorn Mom. I enjoyed watching both of them.

With all due respect, many UT chapters may have "equaled out" somewhat, but the tiers are still firmly in place and likely always will be. As far as Alpha Phi moving up, they have always taken OOS girls, so that's a non factor. Anyone's who's familiar with their Texas chapter knows they primarily cut based on looks and then target the Houston Memorial/Highland Park/private school types that don't go Big 6 for whatever reason. Glad that it's worked for them but it's not a well rounded approach, in my humble opinion.

With all due respect, Tinkerbell, I think that unless you are an active member of a chapter, you don't actually know what their selection process is--and if you are an active member, you really should not be commenting on your chapter's internal selection process. Even as a midwesterner I know that UT-Austin is known for having great sororities and I think that we should keep this thread's focus on the OP and her recruitment. OP, good luck whatever you decide.

Throwing in a little love for Alpha Xi Delta:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFcvfZNiYPY

This is a dumb question but are most national GLO's incorporated and registered with the IRS as either not for profit or social organizations? I was under the impression that most fraternities and sororities didn't have to pay property taxes because they were exempt.

Non profits are not exempt from property taxes.Churches are. And there are some 26-28 501 C designations anyway. Only one, 501 C3, is a charitable non profit. A large number of NPC and NIC groups are 501 C7s - social orgs. Other than the C3, non profits are not tax exempt.

Also, if the chapter house is on school property, there are probably no property taxes as educational institutions are exempt.

Donations that Greek members make to their respective housing corporations to support our facilities are not even tax deductible :-( We have been working on that for years, but no success yet.

Yes, CHIA (Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act). I had the opportunity to lobby Congress on that when I was Director of Housing and CHM of our Fraternity Housing Corporation. Exciting experience...but still no movement from Congress.

I was told that part of a donation that was for a new house could be deducted if it was being donated for a library or study area in the house. I was told what part of my donation would be going to this area and that part could be deducted.

That is correct.

To back up navane, any money going toward a new house "MUST BE" towards educational space only, not just rooms, kitchen or other places. This also includes money sent to IHQ's.

Sad part is we as Greeks help relieve space in dorms on campus which gets over crowded or price gouging rentals.

As long as the architect has deemed it educational space, the donation can be deductible. This ONLY applies to the bricks and mortar and any built in or "fixed" furnishings. It's a prescribed process to get this done and it ends up being a very small percentage of the overall square footage.

Hey all! I've been asked to update but I've been so busy, as you can imagine. Just trying to shop in order to move in was huge. Anyway, here I am!

This process has been a little intimidating because lots of girls seem to know each other. I found a hall mate and girl from orientation who were both in my group today, so that helped calm me down.

I had a good visit with Kappa Kappa Gamma. They have a gorgeous house right on campus. The girls at Alpha Delta Pi were very nice and down to earth. At Zeta Tau Alpha and Alpha Phi, I could tell they go for the attractive girls. It was just obvious. Alpha Phi also has a house on campus which I really liked. I didn't care for the Kappa Alpha Theta house but had a good visit. At Alpha Chi Omega, I talked to girls from my home state, which made the conversation really easy. I know I'm leaving out one or two but I'm exhausted right now.

I'm so glad I have 2 recruitment t shirts because the one I wore today was totally trashed just from walking around in this heat. I'll try to give another update later this week. It looks like this thread took on a life of it's own with all kinds of comments!

Good luck today SarahE. It is reassuring when you see someone you know during rush. And I sympathize with you on having to deal with the heat and humidity. Do realize that the sorority members have also been through it and understand.

Glad things are going well, SarahE! Good luck with the rest of the week.

Thank you for the update, SarahE, and good luck!

Wishing you a great recruitment, SarahE. The Kappa and A Phi house locations are very very convenient, especially once recruitment is over. ;-) Then again, I'm a little biased being an A Phi myself! I'm eager to hear where my "rec girls" go this year as I have three going through at UT Austin and one at Texas Tech!

Rooting for you! Can't wait to hear where you end up!

SarahE would love to hear an update! My daughter is participating in recruitment also and is so nervous for bid day tomorrow!

I'm a little embarrassed to say that I dropped out of recruitment earlier. I can honestly say it was the craziest, most difficult experience of my life.

Some chapters that cut me pretty quickly I had rec letters for and others that I didn't have letters for stayed on my list longer.

I had Alpha Delta Pi and Alpha Xi Delta left. They're great girls but for a few reasons I was just not feeling it with them.

I'm located in a good dorm and hoping to meet a lot of actives this year so that as a sophomore I can connect to a chapter that I'm 500% behind. So, I'm not finished yet!!

There was a lot of good information on here so that was good!

Good luck to your daughter. What houses does she have left and which one does she like the most?

Thanks for the update! Next year is just around the corner ... get to know those girls!

SarahE, I am sorry that rush didn't work out the way you had hoped. It sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders and are going to be fine. Best wishes.

SarahE-so sorry it didn't work for you this year! UT recruitment is tough but it sounds like you have a good plan for next year. My D will kill me if I share too much so I will say she went to two pref parties yesterday-one is her legacy house and the other is the house she fell in love with from the second she walked in the door. I am hoping that she gets her first choice but I know that she will be just fine with her second.
Good luck to you. UT has so many great organizations that I know you will have a fantastic freshman year!

Sarah, I would strongly urge you to edit the post that contains the specific names of the chapters that you "didn't feel it with." That can come back to bite you if you rush again as a sophomore - certainly from those two chapters (who you might decide you really like as you meet more people this year) but also from other chapters who might feel your post is in poor taste. Actives DO read these boards and DO have long memories!

Of the 3 recs I wrote, one went Zeta, one went AEPhi, and one went Alpha Phi! Glad they all found a home.

trymeplease, congrats to your rec PNMs, especially the one who went AEPhi (I'm a tad bit biased ;) ).

SarahE, good luck with your recruitment next year.

SarahE
I tried to PM you but not sure if you received. My daughter pledged her legacy. She was disappointed because she absolutely love her first choice. However she is okay with with where she ended up and is making friends with the girls in her pledge class. Her legacy house is not in the top 6 or 8 most popular sororities at UT yet is filled with lovely young women who seem to have a great sisterhood!

I don't know. There seem to be a lot of sophomores that rushed and got houses they were happy with. I think it'll be fine. I liked the two chapters that were on campus and five others that were off campus, so I think with better preparation next year and getting to know some of the active this year I hope to be in better shape as a sophomore.

Thank you and everyone else for the good luck wishes!!

Yeah, you're right. All of the houses have girls that enjoy each other. That I could tell.

I've got a couple of messages in my box that I need to read but they always pop up on a separate window and I can't open them, so sorry if I missed one of your messages.

You have to go directly to the box-ignore the pop up.

I know future PNM's going through recruitment at UT will probably read this thread. Some will drop out of recruitment when they are cut from the "top tier" sororities and I have to say I am so sad for them. I wish someone would explain what makes a sorority "top tier". The women are wealthier,prettier? Is that how you normally choose your friends?

They have more social opportunities? The sorority my D pledged is not considered a "top tier" sorority. Yet in the last two weeks she has attended mixers,been invited to date events, gone to fraternity pledge lines,had dates to the game,been invited to Texas/OU. She has had plenty(too many if you ask me;)) of social opportunities!

Yes I will admit there were some sororities that she felt more at home with initially. But she knew that she would be able to find some kindred spirits in any of the groups. I guess dropping and going through as a sophomore is an option if you feel like the "top tier" is the only place for you. Maybe it is. My D is having a great time in her "lower tier" sorority.

I realize that the tier system at UT will probably never go away especially after reading some of the previous comments. Maybe some chapters at UT are better than others. I would like to believe that if you go in with an open heart you will be able to find an amazing sisterhood in any of the chapters if you are lucky enough to get a bid. You will be able be make lifelong friends and fabulous memories regardless of "tier".

If that is what you want. If it's not and you believe you can only be happy in a "top tier" sorority then good luck next year. I wish you the best!

I am so glad to hear that your daughter is having a grand time and that she took advantage of the opportunity given to her.
I often wonder how many women who drop out of a very competitive recruitment because they didn't have top tier choices actually re-rush with their desired results and also stay involved with their sorority as alumnae?
My impression is that those who pledge a sorority for the sisterhood and philanthropy and service during college years tend to be more involved as alumnae than those whose main objective is to belong to a top tier group on their campus.
Just my opinion as an adviser and national officer...

is there a bid list anywhere?
 

i wrote a few recs for UT-Austin and would like to know where they went, can't get a hold of the girls now and their facebooks are locked down, nothing new in their instagram bio...

Bid list not published.

@UTmom2 please check your messages.