Wow, there's both alot of truth and alot of misconceptions in that post, I hardly know where to begin...
I went to Memorial, my kids went to Stratford, so I am extremely familiar with both - Just because you went to those highschools (or Highland Park), does NOT mean you automatically get a bid. I personally know about 5 girls who were dropped, including one whose mother attended UT in a top 6 sorority so was a direct legacy, and went bidless.
I also know girls who went to Cy-schools (there are about a million of them
), or Katy schools who got bids - shockingly
there are even out of state girls who got bids!!
Yes, there is no denying that knowing people beforehand will give you a leg up - but, it doesn't mean you are guaranteed anything! NOR, does not knowing people guarantee that you WON'T get a bid.
As for knowing who they are going to bid before school starts - yes, they have an idea of who they'd
like, but often houses are competing for the same girls! So, just because they'd like "Susie Q" from Camp Mystic, Susie Q may want another house!! There is flexibility during recruitment, there has to be - because the houses do not get together and have some master plan in place (collusion) before rush week!
Regarding the "dirty rushing" - UT has a history of summer events during the orientation weeks, and they aren't considered "dirty rushing" - ALL the houses do it, I'm not just talking "top 6" houses - ALL of them do it. How can I attest to this? I know people who are the rush captains of smaller houses - guess what they did all summer... It is the custom there, and while it may be considered "dirty rushing" by panhellenic rules, it goes on and I guess is overlooked because it's just the way it is.
Regarding the posters she's talking about - Yes, girls make posters for their "Rush Crushes", but just because they have a poster doesn't mean that girl is going to pledge that house! Maybe SHE wants to be in another house - the posters are just wishful thinking!!
I know recruitment was tough this year (as it always is). I have friends whose daughters were cut hard, but got bids, and I have friends whose daughters went bidless. But, there are also many success stories - they just haven't been on here posting their happy results! I have pictures of moms handing flowers to their daughters at bid day, both crying with happiness - so it does happen, we just haven't had a recruitment story from any of them!
I probably shouldn't get my nose out of joint, but all the negativity surrounding UT rush is starting to kind of p*ss me off...