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UT - El Paso and informal

I've been scanning the threads for anything on UTEP greek life, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of chatter. I plan on entering in as a freshman in the Spring 2010 semester, and I'm really interested in joining a sorority but the process seems a little mind boggling as an outsider.

I know so many people have asked similar questions, but hopefully this is okay since it's university specific. I have no greek contacts or relations, but since UTEP is a smaller college (I saw the quota last year was 14 women for the sororities, but I'm not 100% certain how many sororities there are) is it still a competitive school for rushing? I don't understand the recruitment process very well, but if a sorority reaches quota in the Fall, does that mean they won't take any new members in the Spring? Or will the quota process start over, or does a quota even matter during informal?

Sorry, the system is very confusing and I'm not sure who to talk to about the details.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasRose (Post 1824247)

I know so many people have asked similar questions, but hopefully this is okay since it's university specific. I have no greek contacts or relations, but since UTEP is a smaller college (I saw the quota last year was 14 women for the sororities, but I'm not 100% certain how many sororities there are) is it still a competitive school for rushing? I don't understand the recruitment process very well, but if a sorority reaches quota in the Fall, does that mean they won't take any new members in the Spring? Or will the quota process start over, or does a quota even matter during informal?

Quota has nothing to do with informal.

A chapter may reach QUOTA during formal recruitment and STILL hold informal recruitment in the spring.

However, once a chapter reaches TOTAL (the max number that Panhellenic says they can have in the chapter), generally speaking, they may NOT participate in informal.

So if a chapter reaches total during formal recruitment, they are not going to participate in informal because they have the max number of members allowed and can't extend anymore bids.

There are 2 NPC sororities and 1 local at UTEP that partiticpate in fall formal recruitment. I wouldn't call it especially competative. Its certainly not UT-Austin. Chapter total is 45 and I believe that all three sororites had spaces for new members in the spring.

For more information contact the UTEP greek life office ..

http://studentaffairs.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=14860

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasRose (Post 1824247)

UTEP is not competitive, in the slightest. There are 2 NPC sororities and 2 locals (one who is looking to affiliate with an NPC organization).

Like KSUViolet said, quota is different than total. As long as a chapter is not at total they can take new members in the Spring.

But I do know that, from the last time I talked to the Greek Life advisor, both NPC sororities were at total. This could have changed with seniors graduating and such, but there is a good possibility that those spots will be filled once Fall Recruitment is over.

Are you going to be at EPCC in the fall? If by chance the sororities do reach total (which then means they won't accept new members in the Spring), there are a few things you can do.

--You can check out the non-NPC sororities, so like the locals (Sigma Psi and New Delta) or the other national sororities (Theta Nu Xi is relatively new to campus, for example)

--or you can wait until Fall 2010. UTEP isn't competitive, so you don't don't have to worry about going through recruitment as non-first time freshman.

Hopefully I helped you some :)

Thanks for the responses everyone!

I was wondering epchick if you might know what the total is for UTEP? I went to the greek life website and it said ZTA had 40 members, AXD had 26, and the fraternity Kappa Sigma had 70, so I was getting confused on what the total might be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasRose (Post 1825238)

Ignore the stats for the men's fraternities....they don't have any influence on what the total is for the women's orgs.

I *believe* total was moved down to 40 recently. Although UTEP and the sororities have websites, they are outdated (at least they were the last time I checked). The last time I spoke to the GL advisor, AXiD had reached total.

If the NPC groups reach TOTAL after formal recruitment in the Fall, there is a possibility that they might have some graduating seniors which would open up a few spots.

If you are sure you won't be around in the Fall, you can contact the Greek Life office and see if any of the sororities are doing informal recruitment in Spring.

Quote:

Originally Posted by epchick (Post 1825336)

I *believe* total was moved down to 40 recently. Although UTEP and the sororities have websites, they are outdated (at least they were the last time I checked). The last time I spoke to the GL advisor, AXiD had reached total.

So I was wrong about total. Total at UTEP is 45.

Idk if this PNM is around, but for any PNMs that might be looking and thinking that they can do COB in the spring, here is some more info.

Quota was 16 at UTEP. All 3 sororities (the 2 NPCs and 1 local who is looking to affiliate) all got 17 new members. ZTA is currently over total, so they won't be recruiting new members. Alpha Xi Delta and the local, New Delta, are only a few members away from total, so they might not have any spaces left come Springtime.

So if you are looking to join at UTEP, Fall COB is your best chance, or you'll have to wait til Fall Recruitment next year.

^^^ WTF does that have to do with anything besides you bad mouthing a rival fraternity.

Cube TX, I have NO idea what your post has anything to do with sorority recruitment. But nice way to bash another GLO!

And besides that, I don't need to message anyone. I keep informed on everything. Thanks

I wouldn't worry too much about correcting your answer to the OP either. Apparently she has decided she isn't going to college and will AI instead. And people wonder why AI has gotten such a bad reputation here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasRose (Post 1830667)

I have been going through this thread for a few days, but I have noticed that it's very inactive lately so if I'm re-asking the same old thing it's only because I'm not sure if the other threads are still accurate and up to date. I've noticed this is a hot button topic for some, so I'm sincerely trying not to step on any toes.

To make a long story short, my college funding is not going to go through, so I will not be attending after all. I thought that that would cut sorority rushing out of my life, but then I started reading through this board (although I do realize that AI is very different from regular rush and recruitment).

I don't want to pour out my heart on here and go on forever, but I think I could write a few pages on any of the questions, like why do I want to join an NPC sorority or what could I contribute? But overall, this is something important to me that I would like to look further into.

My first issue is, I'm not sure who it is "okay" to contact. I don't know any greek women (and please, I beg you, before anyone gives me hate comments about how I shouldn't want to join a sorority if I don't know anyone in it, please consider that many people don't know any greeks when they are regular PNMs, so I don't feel like this is a crazy idea). Would anyone be able to point me in the direction of sororities I could look into that would be open to a PNAM contacting them and expressing interest?

Like I said, I've gone through the thread repeatedly, and although there's a list saying which sororities are open to PNAMs on here, it's difficult as an outsider to figure out the different eligibilities as an outsider.

I contacted one sorority already because I knew their local reputation and thought very highly of them. Nationals just responded saying that only members could initiate that process and the message was pretty unfriendly in general (I had hoped that they might refer me to a local group I could meet who might decide over time if I would be a good fit). And I understand that it's their group and their decision on how to handle these things, but when you don't have a lot of connections to the greek world it is very discouraging to get the cold shoulder right away. How do you make friends with women that you don't know?

Okay, sorry, I got a little off topic there. I don't expect any process to be quick or easy, but if anyone could give me advice on which sororities might be more open to my reaching out to them (over them reaching out to me), and/or how I might be able to meet some of these ladies to express my interest and maybe make some friends "on the inside" as it were (it just seems strange to find someone and say "oh, you're a ABC, can we be friends?"), I would be grateful to hear it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbie's_Rush (Post 1849494)

aww boooo i can't believe I missed that thread!!! Anyways, the whole "my funding didnt go through" is a complete BS reason to go to school, especially at UTEP. I'll make sure my AP is aware of this person trying to AI.