Second Try at UT Austin

[Heart_in_Texas]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to say how much I love GC and how much it has helped me in the past year.

So I am going to be a sophomore at UT Austin and am planning to participate in formal recruitment. I have a really good gpa and obtained recs from all the sororities on campus (some a little late in the summer) and am involved in 2 organizations ons campus.

BUT... I participated in rush last year but did not make it past the third day. I was cut by all of the houses excluding one that after attending all their parties except pref ( which I was recommened not to attend unless I was serious about this house) decided to drop out of recruitment. I went through all of the proper channels for withdrawl, signing papers, etc. and talked endlessly with my rho chi. I am the oldest in a family of no greeks. I literally have no relatives that are greek, so I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had only one rec letter b/c the panhellenic site said they were not mandatory but later found out that they were an unspoken necessity. Rush was very emotional for me last year but decided to participate again this year because I feel that I want to be there. I have met some sorority women this year but did not make close friends in many of the houses.

I would love any advice for my recruitment this year? Should I mention I am a sophomore at open house? mention I have rushed before?

I know that being a sophomore is difficult at Texas due to the competitive nature and adding to the top of it, second time pnm. I was wondering if, and please be honest, if you think I have a chance at making a house. I am a tough girl and can take the honest advice

Any help will help, rush starts in a week.

Thanks Heart in Texas
Hook 'em

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Heart_in_Texas

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to say how much I love GC and how much it has helped me in the past year.

So I am going to be a sophomore at UT Austin and am planning to participate in formal recruitment. I have a really good gpa and obtained recs from all the sororities on campus (some a little late in the summer) and am involved in 2 organizations ons campus.

BUT... I participated in rush last year but did not make it past the third day. I was cut by all of the houses excluding one that after attending all their parties except pref ( which I was recommened not to attend unless I was serious about this house) decided to drop out of recruitment. I went through all of the proper channels for withdrawl, signing papers, etc. and talked endlessly with my rho chi. I am the oldest in a family of no greeks. I literally have no relatives that are greek, so I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had only one rec letter b/c the panhellenic site said they were not mandatory but later found out that they were an unspoken necessity. Rush was very emotional for me last year but decided to participate again this year because I feel that I want to be there. I have met some sorority women this year but did not make close friends in many of the houses.

I would love any advice for my recruitment this year? Should I mention I am a sophomore at open house? mention I have rushed before?

I know that being a sophomore is difficult at Texas due to the competitive nature and adding to the top of it, second time pnm. I was wondering if, and please be honest, if you think I have a chance at making a house. I am a tough girl and can take the honest advice

Any help will help, rush starts in a week.

Thanks Heart in Texas
Hook 'em

You have 2 strikes against you here.

Being a sophomore and being a 2nd time PNM.

You're in recruitment with most first time freshmen.

The odds are definitely against you.

Paging LadyLonghorn, our UT girl! She can probably tell you more specifics.

[gee_ess]

Do not mention you are a sophomore. They already know and it is not necessary. They may ask you about being a sophomore, which is fine, and it is fine to talk as if you are familiar with the campus...because you are. But it is not necessary to "come clean."

The same is true with discussing last year. There is no need. If it comes up, and I doubt it will, you should say exactly what you told us - you come from a family with limited Greek affiliation and did not realize you needed recs. That is a very legitimate reason to be cut heavily and makes perfect sense. Also, that is what I would tell anyone, anywhere (other pnms, rho chis, alums, etc) The info will, more than likely, get back to the houses.

Go back through this time with a renewed spirit. Make friends. Be a friend. Keep your options open. Act interested in whomever you are speaking with. Be enthusiastic (not like you are on crack, mind you!) and be complimentary of the groups. No negative comments in or out of the houses!

You are already aware of how competitive UT rush is and you probably know that you will have some difficulty rushing as a sophomore. But, I do not think that means you cannot find a home.

Remember, your goal is to be Greek. So, keep an open mind. There are truly great girls in every house.

[Heart_in_Texas]

KsuViolet-- Thank you for responding. Do you believe I am setting myself up for failure? I was really hurt last year and would like to prepare myself this year if that is what I face.

Do you have any advice to give? I wasn't nervous until just recently. I have asked advice from all my rec letter writers and they have said the same thing to just be myself and i will find a place. Do you believe that if I fit well with a house will i be cut because it is my second try or a sophomore?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Heart_in_Texas

KsuViolet-- Thank you for responding. Do you believe I am setting myself up for failure? I was really hurt last year and would like to prepare myself this year if that is what I face.

Do you have any advice to give? I wasn't nervous until just recently. I have asked advice from all my rec letter writers and they have said the same thing to just be myself and i will find a place. Do you believe that if I fit well with a house will i be cut because it is my second try or a sophomore?

The thing is, we just don't know. All we can do is speculate based on the circumstances you have given us.

I do think that you should prepare to be potentially cut heavily, because there are likely going to be chapters that just prefer freshman PNMs. That's just the way it is.

I can't tell you for sure if you'll get a bid, or someone will cut you. All we know is that sophs are typically at a disadvantage at UT. Some have gotten bids, but they're typically girls with friends in chapters, stellar grades, recs, etc.

This is why we tell PNMs at schools like UT that if you get a Pref invite, you should at least GO, because re-rushing as a sophomore is difficult at some schools and freshman year could be your best shot at getting a bid.

Do the best you can to prepare, and just see what happens. You may get a bid, you may not. You never know. Good luck!

I'd also suggest PMing LadyLonghorn, she probably can tell you better than we can what your chances are.

ETA: This thread has info for sophomores in it:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...d.php?t=103315

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Heart_in_Texas

Do you believe I am setting myself up for failure? I was really hurt last year and would like to prepare myself this year if that is what I face.

As you said last year, you had no idea what you were getting into. You didn't have your recs in order and no one in your family to help you.

This year, you remedied those things: you have recs for all the groups, you have a good GPA and you're involved on campus. The important thing is that you learned from your mistakes, and you tried. I definitely am not saying you'll get a bid, but you have done what you can do instead of just flailing back into recruitment willy-nilly.

Expect the best, but be prepared - well prepared - for the worst. Good luck .

[cbm]

Don't mention having rushed before. There are some houses that take Sophomores, but just don't expect a Top Three, especially since you don't have any close friends there, ya know? Having your recs in order, a great GPA and campus involvement, and just being aware of how it all works (from reading GC = ) ) may help your case.

I would stick with it as long as you are able, and if you get invited to Pref, even if you're not sure about the house, go to it, because you might change your mind. Plus, this would pretty much be your last chance at becoming Greek. Please report back and let us know how it goes for you! I am really interested in hearing how everything works out.

[srmom]

I want to second the post up there about ALL the houses having good girls. It is likely that you will be cut by some of the houses, just the nature of recruitment there. There are a houses though, that will not have a problem with you being a sophomore if you seem to be someone who would make a good sister. Keep an open mind, be yourself, and best of luck!

[LadyLonghorn]

I'm going to be as honest as possible with you without venturing into MS territory. As a re-rushing sophomore your chances at most chapters are slim to none if you don't have a lot of friends there supporting you.

Even though you did the smart thing and got recs this time (and of course you will never know if not having recs was the real reason everyone cut you last time), please don't be surprised if you experience brutally harsh cuts from the first set on. Almost everyone has recs. Almost everyone has a high GPA. Almost everyone is involved. While these are admirable things, they don't give you a leg up, especially as a sophomore. They're just what's expected of PNMs here.

This doesn't mean you won't receive a bid, but it does mean your choices will be very narrow. You need to keep a very open mind. The only chapter you had left last time may very well end up your only alternative this time as well.

If you think you can handle it emotionally, by all means do go through recruitment again. You will never know unless you try.

[Heart_in_Texas]

Thank you all for the responses. After reading these, which was tough, I decided to participate in recruitment and give it my all. Everything will work out for the best and I have been praying day and night to find the perfect house for me. I plan to attend every event and be myself and I have prepared myself for the worst but am hoping for the best.

Does anyone know if houses at UT will cut automatically if you are a sophomore. Are there exceptions if the girls really like you? and are sophomores included in quotas for each house. I know that rushing as a sophomore will be difficult but everything happens for a reason.

Thanks for all your help again. It means the world to me.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Heart_in_Texas

Does anyone know if houses at UT will cut automatically if you are a sophomore. Are there exceptions if the girls really like you? and are sophomores included in quotas for each house. I know that rushing as a sophomore will be difficult but everything happens for a reason.

Thanks for all your help again. It means the world to me.

To my knowledge, UT does not use an upperclassman quota.

I can imagine that there are likely some chapters who just are going to prefer freshmen. They just aren't going to consider sophomores.

I can't speak to whether a chapter is going to make an exception, as that would be up to the chapter.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Heart_in_Texas

Thank you all for the responses. After reading these, which was tough, I decided to participate in recruitment and give it my all. Everything will work out for the best and I have been praying day and night to find the perfect house for me. I plan to attend every event and be myself and I have prepared myself for the worst but am hoping for the best.

Does anyone know if houses at UT will cut automatically if you are a sophomore. Are there exceptions if the girls really like you? and are sophomores included in quotas for each house. I know that rushing as a sophomore will be difficult but everything happens for a reason.

Thanks for all your help again. It means the world to me.

If you're going to be a sophomore at UT, do you have any friends who might be able to answer these questions? While a lot of GC-ers can be helpful, most don't have the experience of actually being at your college. While I have several friends who rushed at UT as sophomores successfully, I don't know what their individual circumstances were--if five-year programs are looked upon differently, what they had done with the chapter, etc--and I'm sure that had a lot to do with it.

Good luck with everything!

[FSUZeta]

there are gc'ers who are alumni of texas. maybe they will come on and answer her questions.

[Just interested]

UT use to have a 2 free Junior rule. Not for sure if it is still in effect. I applaud you for making a second attempt with references this time and yes, there are groups who pledge sophomores.(one or two) My major concern is that you have already been cut from all but one group the 1st time around. I hope they are willing to give you a second look. I wish you the very best.

[LadyLonghorn]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

there are gc'ers who are alumni of texas. maybe they will come on and answer her questions.

So I guess my previous post is in some way invisible? I think I pretty much addressed the OP's questions about her "chances" without delving into MS issues. I think her latest post is crossing the MS line.

OP, I will reiterate what I said before. You have very slim chances as a sophomore with most of the sororities at UT unless you have lots of friends who are members and really pulling for you. Unless something spectacular happens, at best you're pretty much going to be limited to four or five chapters (and one of those will be the one that wasn't good enough for you last time.) There is no sophomore quota.

Exceptions happen, but generally those exceptions were women already well known and liked by the group long before recruitment. In recent history, one of the top three even took a senior, but again those were EXCEPTIONAL circumstances.

I am really not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but I just get the feeling that you're getting your hopes up in spite of your saying you're preparing for the worst. It sounds like your first recruitment was really crushing for you, and I would hate for you to go back in with blinders on.

I sincerely hope you find the home of your dreams. There are wonderful women in every chapter. All you can do is be yourself and give it your best effort. Just understand that there are some things that will be totally out of your control and you should try not to take it personally.