A UT Austin Toy Story Recruitment

[Andystoys]

Good Afternoon. Wow what a long two days. As many of you know the University of Texas’ recruitment started yesterday and I have been so excited to start recruitment. Without giving out too much information, I am an incoming freshman from a fairly well know suburban high school. Many girls I know have pledged almost every chapter at UT, some more than others. My family has strong Greek affiliations, but my mom and sister’s legacy chapter (the same one) is not represented at UT. I had rec letters at every chapter and some I had two. Without disclosing my major, I am in an honors program so maintaining my GPA while being an active Greek is important to me. Although I fully understand that listening to the opinions of others is not good for your own recruitment, my dorm is a buzz with all things recruitment and it is just too tempting not to listen too. My dad is a Texas ex so we have been going to games since I was a baby and I have seen sorority women for many years and certainly have formed views on many chapters. With that said, I am very careful to not judge books by their covers so I am trying very hard to walk into each chapter with a complete open mind.

There are 14 houses doing formal recruitment and I have named them after Andy’s Toys in Toy Story:

Jesse
Buzz
Slinky
RC
Sarge
Barbie
Bo
Rex
Etch
Woody
Mr. Potato Head
Hamm
Bullseye
Wheezy

Convocation was Tuesday night and it was kind of overwhelming to move in most of the day and then have to grab a quick shower, get ready and be at Hogg by 8:00. But my mom was a lifesaver and stayed behind so I came back to a fully organized room. My roommate who I did not know until they sent roommate information is also going through recruitment as is most of our hall. Many of the girls went out last night but I chose rest over expressing my new freedom and I am so glad I did. My roommate and suitemates did stay in and we talked about how this week for many hours. We all agreed that we have no idea how it all will end but that we are going to try to stick with it.

This morning we met at 10:00 and our first party was at 10:30, each party is only 25 minutes and we have 15 minutes between houses. Open house is spread over two days and you visit 14 houses but I think the houses do 17-18 parties, so you don’t have a party every slot. I had a break right after lunch, which was really nice but I attended nine parties today. The parties are not in order in which I attended. I don’t want anyone to figure our what Rho Chi group I am in.

Slinky: What I knew about this house was they have had the highest GPA last year. That appeals to me because my honors program requires I keep my grades up. We were told that their house had a face-lift this year, and it was very nice. The girl that met me and took me inside was very pretty but we really had nothing in common. She asked me really basic questions about my move in and such and it was pleasant conversation, but a bit forced. I am sure she was just as nervous as me.

Jesse: This was the next house I went too. Their door chant was really loud! The girl that brought me in the house was someone I knew from high school. We basically spent our time talking about who we knew and what they had been up to the last year. I really wish we would have spent more time talking about the sorority itself, because for me, I feel like that is what I am here to do, to learn about each house. With that said, I had a really nice time and I felt like I was becoming more comfortable with the process.

Rex-I knew quite a bit about this house because two girls I knew pretty well in high school pledged here last year. We are friends on facebook and were friends my Junior year (same EC) but of course they were here and I was back home so I was not super familiar with their lives the last year except FB updates. They have always had really positive things to say about their sorority so I came here with pleasant thoughts. I saw both of them during the door chant, which was even louder than the house before…WOW! This house was really put together too. All the girls were very polished yet not Barbie like. I was brought into the house by a girl that I did not know, but she was in the same honors program as me. It felt really good to have something to talk about besides if I liked my room and how my move in was. We spent most of the time talking about the demands of the program and how you can succeed and have a great Greek life. I left here really happy and am really hoping it is on my schedule for the next round.

Woody: To be honest, I knew lunch was after this house and I was starving and hoping it would go by fast. As I was waiting in my starvation coma, I was jolted into reality by another really loud door chant. The girl that brought me in was really, really nice. She was my same major, but not in the same honors program, but again it gave us something different to talk about and I was glad to have a conversation that I was able to focus on. This house has been a big topic of conversation in my dorm. People either love it or hate it. I really liked it. Too early to be in love, but I had really good time here.

Hamm: My first house after lunch was really interesting. I had heard about the recruitment parties here and it is really interesting to see if what you hear is actually what happens. This is considered a top house, but the chatter at the dorm was this chapter was just too snobby for the average Texas girl. The only girl I knew here was from my camp days but we were in “rival” cabins then and were never close. I saw her at the door but she never stopped by and said hi but she did pass me and it was just awkward. I felt like I was in a bit of a happy groove before lunch and I was hoping that the rest of the day was not going to be like this.

Bullseye: There has been a lot of chatter about this house too. I have to admit, mostly negative, but some positive and I feel like the Rho Chis really talk them up. We were told they were growing and their door chant was loud and they looked as big as the other chapters. The girl that met me was really nice and she brought me and another girl in my group in. This was the first house where I talked to someone and had to share the conversation. I felt for three people that didn’t have much in common it went as well as it could.

Etch: Our walk to this house was interesting. We encountered a group of frat guys that were shouting out names of houses we should pledge. This is where I close my ears. What does a frat guy know about girl matters? Anyway. This house was really nice too. The girls here were also very beautiful and put together. The only issue here was you could tell when actives knew the girls they were brining into the house. They were very loud and celebratory about it which is great for that girl, but it leaves the girls who know no one (I did not know anyone at this house) feeling like they are crashing a party. I did have a nice conversation here and spend most of time talking about the music scene in Austin, which was a nice change of pace.

RC: Ok so this house was one I really was not looking forward to. I have conflict with very few people in the world, but his house had two sisters that I just did not get along with in high school. Interestingly enough I never saw them, and I was met by a girl who has the same kind of dog as me and we spent the whole time talking about this fun quirky breed. I left this house feeling really good, but felt like someone was watching me through the bushes. (not literally, but figuratively)

Mr. Potato Head: Cool house, loud door chant and the girl that brought me in was very pretty and also in my honors program. We talked about some of my required classes for my program and I feel like between Rex and Mr. Potato Head I am ready for this crazy adventure. I hope I come back here.

Thursday, Open House Day 2

Sarge-This was another house that people like to talk to about, but not in the most positive way. A bit on that. I can’t figure out why people care what other people do. I mean this process is long, hot and tiring. I would never criticize someone’s choices. You can’t make someone fall in love with you and you can’t really control what houses you connect with. I feel like girls really try to force square pegs in round holes because the want to join houses that are perceived as “the best”. I mean there is a “Barbie doll” house (and no it is not Barbie) here and if you are a brown haired soccer player (just an example…I don’t play soccer), pretty but not Barbie, why would you want to do that to yourself? Ok off my stool now. Anyway, I had a really nice conversation at this house and I would come back in lieu of a house that has “tip top” billing, because these girls are more like me.

Bo-This was a super spirited house. I heard more than a few times women introducing themselves as “Hi I am Abby and I am on the Cheer Squad.” Back to the paragraph before, I can relate to cheerleaders, but I would never use the word cheerleader as a defining characteristic, even thought I have cheered for many years. So for whatever reason, this annoys me. This was also one of my last houses and I am tired so maybe this would not have bothered me four hours ago.

Barbie-One of my strongest recs comes from this chapter. My mom is convinced all I need to do is show up and I’ll be a Barbie. What mom has to realize is that I might not want to be a Barbie. I really did like this house though, and they are well regarded on campus. The women here are beautiful but they don’t have a stereotype here, many different looks but a commonality with each other too. I would like to come back here.

Buzz-Nice house and nice girls but I think they just tried too hard. Everything seemed really forced, but again, I was tired and hungry at that point and I am not sure if I am seeing with the proper light. The conversation was really good but the girl litereally told me 5 times how glad she was that I was there.

Wheezy-This is my roommate’s legacy house and she is a really big legacy here. She came here yesterday and she said she could tell everyone wanted to talk to her. I didn’t quite have the same experience but I really liked the house and my conversations were good. I talked to many more people here than any other house.

We had to rank our bottom 4 so I listed:
Hamm
Bullseye
Slinky
RC
I had a hard time with this list. Some were known as "Top" houses. (It is really difficult to follow your heart when you brain says "what are you thinking") But for being a "top" house I just didn't understand what they were trying to get across.

Tomorrow is Philanthropy round and I am looking forward to getting my schedule just as much as I am looking forward to getting some sleep.