TCU Rush.
 

Hey everyone, as common among these threads I'm an incoming freshman to TCU (Texas Christian University -- The Horned Frogs!). It's very well known...at least around Texas...that TCU is a very big Greek school with a lot of tradition. Unfortunately that's about all I know. I tried to do the search engine but all the results came up for UT, A&M, or Tech.

I definitely plan to rush and have already registered and gotten some recs and planning to get them for all 11 sororities. I was wondering if anyone knows what rush is like at TCU? I'm not a legacy to any of the sororities at TCU and not familiar with the whole TCU hiearchy. I'm not asking to know what the best houses are or anything like that, I'm just trying to find any advice from TCU alum to know about their rush and what I should expect and some tips for a great rush.

I've heard UT has a really tough rush with heavy cuts if you don't have legacies and recs so I'm just really hoping TCU isn't as intense. TCU is about 60-65% female and more than half our affiliated!

Thanks! :D

And em_adpi

Here I am!

Yay for a Horned Frog! I have wonderful memories both of TCU and my Greek experience. Congrats to you on selecting a great school and planning to go through recruitment!

As to your questions: While not nearly as cut-throat as UT, TCU does indeed have a competitive recruitment. You will need, at minimum, a formal recommendation to each chapter. It is not unheard of for PNMs to have more than one recommendation to each chapter, so if you have the opportunity to secure an extra rec or two then by all means do that. However, don't panic if you only have one. The Greek Life website will probably tell you that recs are "suggested" or something to that effect. "Suggested" means that "you absolutely better have one."

Be sure and look at the what to wear photos on the website and/or the recruitment booklet which is mailed over the summer, and then be ready to step it up a notch. If the photo has someone in capris or shorts, then I would wear a casual skirt. Most other PNMs will be dressed to really impress. (special note: impress WOMEN, not men. Think trendy but classy.) Don't step it up tooooo much, just enough to look a smidge dressier as that is what all the Texas girls will be doing anyway!

Legacies: There are chapters on campus that will have more legacies going through recruitment than the size of the pledge class will be. Chapters do give special consideration to legacies, however, by no means is that a guarantee for a bid. Scores of women go through recruitment every year that are not legacies to any house.

As for tips for successful rush:
-- brush up on your conversations skills (APhiAnna has a great post about that somewhere around here....)
-- dress to impress. Again, think trendy and classy.
-- let your personality shine through so that the actives can really get to know who you are
-- finish high school strong- good grades, plenty of activites, etc
-- be prepared that virtually everyone going through recruitment will have a strong resume. Those girls who were homecoming queen, head cheerleader, 4.0, etc and go through rush thinking that they will still get to be the Big Fish in the Pond have their eyes opened wide that there are plenty of others with the same background. THat is not to say that if you don't fit into those categories that you can't have a successful recruitment. Nothing can be farther from the truth. The mistake is thinking that (general) you are special when, in fact, there are scores of other PNMs that have the same activities/titles/awards/honors.
-- be gracious in all the houses. They are all incredible and provide wonderful opportunities for Greek Life. Plus, as you know, TCU is relatively small and word will get around.... ;)

Congrats again! Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

I'm at TCU though I'm in a fraternity...still if you have any questions feel free to PM or ask in this thread! Nice to see there are a few TCU people here, I hadn't seen or heard of any before.

Just kind of doing some searching of my own, I was able to read blondie's retro rush thread, and it was a true delight! I was able to guess most of the sorority's right but it's funny to see how some things have changed while others haven't haha.

I have friends in Theta and TONS of friends in ADPi!

TCU is a great Greek school but I hear plenty of horror rush stories. So can't stress enough to get all your recs in, TCU does have a competitive rush. I wouldn't worry about being a legacy, because the only mandate is that a legacy be invited back for Round 2. I hear about legacies getting cut all the time. From what I know, if a girl makes it to pref round she is guaranteed a bid on bid day. IN FACT, one of my friends only had Theta on her pref card so was guaranteed the bid lol.

And not to change the direction of the thread, I would just like to say that tonight is a special night for me as a TCU Greek. I'm taking my little tonight and couldn't be more excited. He pref'ed me as his #1 choice and we are both honors students and involved in other similar organizations. He doesn't know but our whole family will be there to welcome him into our family!

Just wanted to show how much being Greek has meant to me as a Horned Frog. You've made an excellent decision to come to TCU and go Greek!

Greek Week is next week as well!

Okay, I thought of something else:

Become familiar with the names and nicknames of all 11 chapters prior to recruitment starting. That first round goes sooooo fast and it is easy to get all jumbled. If you at least know your Greek then that will help you keep the chapters straight. In addition, I think they allow PNMs to make notes after each house... definitely do that. You will think that you can remember, but really there is no way that you can.

Wouldn't that be the big frog in the pond? LOL.

:D

This is true for some but not all sororities, FYI.

Thank you everyone for your help!

My mother was a Kappa Delta at Vanderbilt but from what I've heard the TCU chapter closed long ago. I'm really excited for rush and my mom and I are getting in touch with the local Panhellenic alunae association to secure the rest of my recs. I went on to the TCU Panhellenic recruitment page to get a good idea for attire for all five days. I know it's a long way's away but could not be more excited.

I've also been looking at each sorority's website just to get a better idea of what they are like and that's been helpful as well. It seems as though each sorority has a lot to offer, and I can't wait to be a part of one of their organizations if all goes well!

I wrote a rec for a girl from my (non-south) hometown who had a great rush and went to 3 super houses on the last day--and would have been happy at any of the 3. She had at least one rec and letters for most of the houses. It ended up being very important there, we even had an active call her mom mid-rush (totally against the rules probably) for a house other than mine and say "send more letters" as she needed more hometown support to help push this PNM's case. In the end, recs and letters were very important, but we were all glad they gave a northern girl a good chance.

My son is a TCU Delt alum!

Helped out at TCU rush parties for my sorority and was a Delt Rush Mom which means I just made sure they didn't run out of food!

TCU has a very high percentage of its students who are in GLO's. Just do what the girls in this thread say as to dress and having recs in advance and you'll find a great place to land. All of the houses there have their strengths and you'll have an amazing four years. Enjoy and good luck!

While I am not necessarily qualified to give advice for rush at TCU, I hope that you have a great experience! I work with a lot of women who are in sororities at TCU, and they are all outstanding--it seems like a great system to be a part of.

I call shenanigans.