University of Texas Recruitment 2017
 

UT Austin Sorority Recruitment starts today with Convocation - about 1,100 PNM's registered. 13 sororities participating in Formal Recruitment (Sigma Delta Tau will conduct recruitment starting in September).

Here is the schedule:

Monday, August 21 - Opening Convocation, 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Tuesday, August 22 - Open House, 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, August 23 - Open House, 9:00 a.m.
Thursday, August 24 - Philanthropy, 12:00 p.m.
Friday, August 25 - Philanthropy, 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, August 26 - Sisterhood, 12:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 27 - Preference 3:30 p.m.
Monday, August 28 - Bid Day Convocation, 5:00 p.m
Tuesday, August 29 - Day off
Wednesday, August 30 - Fall semester classes start

Good luck to all PNM's and Actives!

Comparatively speaking, that's not an enormous number. I think the brutal rep Texas has earned among PNM's may have become a factor?

Assuming every single girl pledges, which we can safely say will not happen, that would be a quota just under 85.

And given the number of legacies to certain houses, I wonder how happy Bid Day will be.

All true, although this is actually a large(r) number for Texas. If I remember correctly, 5 years ago the number was more like 7-800. Quotas are usually in the 60's and 70's. Early 90's it was more like 45.

UT gets it's brutal reputation from it's archaic tier system that is stupid and outdated. :rolleyes:

Last year I remember quota being much higher than in years past. I checked-last year it was 48+13=69, which I feel is a big number for upperclassmen.

This.

So ridiculous and so sad that so few girls are rushing at such a large school.

^^^

True, but I would also guess that since UT has a lot of different student organizations, there is probably no social pressure to "have to" go greek.

I don't have firsthand knowledge of their system, but it seems strange. You hear that house ABC recruits from private school X or one house recruits from summer camp Y. I stopped going to summer camp after 8th grade so it seems foreign to me. Or sorority XYZ recruits from so-and-so zip code. And there was the dumb article from the 60s or 70s.

As someone who had a daughter that went through successfully at UT, I can tell you that all that you mentioned above is correct. The greek system there has some serious issues for such a large school. Honestly, I think that one of the reasons for the smaller percentage of incoming freshman women going through recruitment is due to the top 10%, 8%,7% rule.
My daughter went to a very competitive high school that sent 25 students to UT that year. Of the 13 or so girls that went, only 5 of them went through recruitment. The other 8 or so simply weren't interested in greek life. They were definitely more focused on academics or other endeavors. At the time that she was there, I think the percentage of students involved in fraternities or sororities was between 9 and 12% of the total student body, which is very low for a large southern school with very deep traditions. Texas A&M is very similiar...very large school, relatively small greek system.

I think part of the reason that the upper classmen quota is high at UT is because of the CAP program. The CAP program allows students who were not able to get into the flagship campus to attend one of the satellite campuses for freshman year. If they make a predetermined GPA, then they get automatic admission for their sophomore year...thus more sophomores who have never rushed before. They are trying to allow those students more of a chance.

Quota was much higher last year, but the numbers were much higher. More like 80. ADPi actually had 95 NEW MEMBERS last year. This year we're expecting 85 girls in our new class.

Also, each sorority has a different quota for sophomores going through recruitment! 13 really isn't very high

I understand alum towing the company line that "all chapters are just as good" and that rankings are archaic, outdated and "mean nothing today".

I also hear the girls themselves saying the opposite.

There are certain chapters that seem to have trendier/prettier/cooler/more out going girls. No amount of denial by alum can change what the girls themselves pick up on. That being said, no one is denying how great all girls in UT chapters are. While all chapters are not the same in character, strength, looks or popularity, all of the girls are certainly smart and accomplished.

Even before that Texas Monthly article became well known, the tiers outlined in it were totally evident to all familiar with the UT greek system back then.

The role of connections in rush is not "strange". While certain sororities recruit from certain high schools and camps, there is more cross rushing now. For example, PiPhi/Kappa/Theta all pull from Memorial HS, Highland Park HS, Ursuline Academy, Camps Mystic/Waldemar/Longhorn, Hardin House/SRD dorms but Alpha Phi gets those girls, too. AXO takes suburban girls but PiPhi/Kappa/Theta have plenty of girls from the 'burbs, too. And all houses take wealthy OOS girls now. All of them.

And no, the UT greek system does not have "serious issues". The UT student body is very diverse with many other interest groups, both inside and outside of UT. Schools like Alabama and Ole Miss seem to attract students because of it's greek life, especially for Texas kids unable to follow in their UT parents' foot steps. UT attracts students because of it's academic reputation first and foremost. UT greek life is strong, yet exclusive and that's OK. They like it that way.

I couldn't agree more with Ladybugmom. In Texas, you have to be in the top 7 percent of your class to get automatic admission, and if you want to major in Business or another impressive major, it's even more competitive. These days UT attracts highly academically focused students, and Greek life just doesn't appeal to them much. The girls it does attract must be somewhat intimidating, most of them probably have everything in the world going for them!

But weren't the chapters also smaller (as compared to Bama/Arkansas etc) even before the top 10% thing went into effect?

The Bama and Arkansas chapters were a lot smaller before the Texas rule, which caused Texas to lose some of its finest.

We do get a lot of Texas folks....we've recruitment them heavily and give them big scholarships

Every Texas girl I know going to Alabama, Arkansas or Ole Miss didn't have the grades to get into Texas. Not sure they would be considered the state's "finest".

Wow. Who pissed in your cereal this morning?

ps it's "toeing" not "towing".

Arkansas has always had a large number of students from Texas, especially the DFW area. This has been going on decades before UT capped enrollment to the top 7%. Being a small state/university some of our largest alumni associations are out of state: DFW, Houston, Tulsa, Kansas City, Memphis etc.
UA athletic teams love to play in Texas especially in DFW, like our yearly visit to Jerry's World (Arkansas Kappa Sigma) to play A&M. We also still play games against our former Southwest Conference rivals to satisfy the Texas alumni base.

Yes, I know many Bama and Ole Miss folk who lament on the inferior exports from Texas. They refer to them as "pity" bids.

I know of several who had at least a 4.0 but because of weighting, these girls from very competitive high schools didn't qualify to get into Texas' flagship schools. These are brilliant and active students who wanted 4 years' worth of a big school and who can blame them?

I don't consider a student one of the best just because he/she had the class standing to get into UT or A&M. Many of those who do get in flunk out on their tails because despite class standing, they went to some crappy high school that in no way prepared them for a rigorous university.

Exactly. Go to a high school in an ISD in a certain area of the metroplex, and your class rank gets you in if you're top 10% at that school. You might get a 950 on your SAT and have to be in remedials your freshman year, but you've taken a spot from a student who happens to live in a more academically competitive ISD and who might have a 1300 SAT and better GPA. Those are the kids who then choose to go to OU, Arkansas, Ole Miss, etc. and they're very, very good students.

ISD?

There are vast differences in course offerings etc between high schools just in the tiny (population wise) little county where I grew up. I can't imagine how much more extreme that must be across a state as huge as Texas.

There is a minimum SAT/ACT requirement to get into UT. UT is considered one of the public Ivies along with Michigan, NC and UCLA and others. It's a long time member of AAU, which is the gold standard for universities (UT worked to get A&M included in recent years) so, if you want to compare UT students academically to A&M, OU, Arkansas or Ole Miss students, there will be differences (just like comparing UT students to Stanford students).

All that being said, there are some very good students who choose Arkansas, Ole Miss, etc, but it is also true that greek-minded Texas kids go elsewhere in droves because they can't get into UT, as carnation said.

To my point: UT draws such a diverse student body and has such a different vibe that it can't be compared to Alabama, Ole Miss or A&M, etc. in terms of student body size as related to greek life participants.

Texas greek life is strong, old, well established and limited. Nothing "sad" about that.

Texas school districts are referred to as "Independent School District".

Most of us talking about Hometown Independent School District will call it HISD or Hometown ISD.

And I apologize for my snarky 2nd comment.

I just dislike hearing denial of differences, whether in universities or chapters or whatever. Like denying winners and giving out participation awards instead. I think clear winners, higher ranks or whatever are motivational for gaining strength. The trick is to improve while having a clear understanding that chapters have different strengths and serve different types of girls.

As to UT admissions:

"Note also that a number of students were accepted with test scores and grades a bit below the norm. The University of Texas has holistic admissions, so the admissions officers are considering qualitative as well as quantitative information. Students who show some kind of interesting talent or have a compelling story to tell will often get a close look even if grades and test scores aren't quite up to the ideal . . . From the graph at the top of this article, you might be led to conclude that students with "A" averages and strong SAT or ACT scores are almost certain to get into the University of Texas at Austin. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Plenty of students with GPAs and standardized test scores that are on target for the university fail to be admitted."

Not being accepted into UT is in no way a reflection on the student's right to call themselves one of our finest; being accepted at UT does not mean you are automatically one of our finest. We have amazing students at just about any university you care to name, and something which is important to consider is the major. A program at one school, however well-regarded the school, might not be as good as a program at a less known school. Many flagship universities emphasize their graduate programs to the detriment of their undergraduates. I don't deny differences - I celebrate them, and also like a realistic, objective, fact based discussion of the benefits of choosing where to attend from a variety of opportunities. Just as our pnms benefit from large Greek systems with a variety of chapters, so our students benefit from having differing options in higher education.

Interesting graph - note the number of "admitted will not attend". Plenty of those who are admitted choose to go elsewhere: https://www.thoughtco.com/ut-austin-...and-act-786750

@SWTXBelle.

From that same article:

"The rejection of a seemingly qualified student can be the result of many factors: lack of depth or accomplishment in extracurricular activities; failure to demonstrate leadership ability; a lack of challenging AP, IB or Honors courses; a sloppy admissions essay; and more. Also, out-of-state applicants will face a higher admissions bar than Texas students."

Again, t's hard getting into UT and greek minded kids are going elsewhere because of it.

But then some of those same kids who are affected by those factors you just named are still getting in bc they're in the top 7% of their classes. And when they flunk out, the state shrugs and says, "Oh well, we gave then the chance."

No one has claimed it is easy to get into UT; we've just pointed out that not being admitted to UT does not merit snarky comments about them not being Texas' finest. There are a number of factors that might contribute to a qualified student's decision to attend another school. Having taught at a highly regarded private school in Houston, I've been able to see what a variety of students consider when choosing amongst various colleges. Sometimes it is a mature decision based on criteria we would applaud; sometimes it's whether or not the campus gets snow.

ETA - The young women for whom I've written recs to Bama, U of GA, U of OK, etc. have been exceptional. Complete packages - grades, service, leadership, looks, and no problem with money. I'd gladly claim them as among Texas' finest.

While colleges may hold OOS students to higher admission bars, the fact remains that OOS students are money makers for the colleges and colleges are money pits. It behooves said college to admit OOS students if for no other reason than money.

Several schools cleverly boosted their GPA admission statistics by offering free rides to stellar students from OOS. Unfortunately that meant that some local students would not be able to attend their preferred in state school, but hey, that low GPA is slowly rising.

State schools are still state schools, whether they are crowned "the best" or a "public ivy" in a magazine trying to sell copies or alumni trying to make themselves seem more important than they really are. Some people place the importance on ivy, while others realize it is still a public university.

I've got some outdoor stuff to enjoy right now but you can pull the graduation and drop out rates for UT and compare to the other schools in question.

We come to the same conclusion.

Texas is harder to get into. And it's apples to oranges when talking about the state of greek life at UT versus Alabama and the rest.

I don't need to, I have access to them.

Batten down those hatches PVGord and stay safe.

Since I have lived in various parts of the US during my adult life, I have consistently encountered two things concerning flagship universities.

1. Some graduates of those schools have a hard time believing that in-state students with similar grades and resumes' would choose to go elsewhere for college. They automatically assume those students weren't admitted.

2. Those graduates have a strong need to make sure others know their alma mater is a flagship or public ivy. Anyone ever read "The Sneetches" by Dr. Suess?

Back to Recruitment - any word on whether there are changes to parties or schedule due to Harvey?

TAMU girls will hear which group they have gotten from their recruitment counselors today. Bid Day festivities are postponed.

Understandable but darn! What a letdown!

How anti-climactic for them. I guess it's about the sisterhood and not the celebration, but I hope the groups are able to welcome them in their own way when the weather isn't quite so bad.

True facts.

Someone has suggested that because of this method of bid delivery, more girls who don't like their bids might drop. There won't be as much camaraderie to propel them to Bid Day.

That thought occurred to me. On the plus side, Texas State has extended registration for recruitment, so maybe we'll get some more pnms.