Out of state pnms

[phimusam]

It is to almost any school's advantage to raise the quality of their student body. And I'm betting that the second 10% from many Texas high schools would raise the quality of any university's student body - including Texas and Texas A&M's student bodies. However, after filling up with the top 10% of any old high school in Texas, Texas and Texas A&M have no room for that second 10% from the Texas top high schools.

[gee_ess]

Originally Posted by lawgal

I think that it is great that they get such versatility but I am baffled as to the rationale. I always thought that the reason in state students got a tuition break was because their family's tax dollars supported the institution already.

I think the rationale is that those schools are working to entice the best and brightest to their state and, in doing so, hopefully keep those people in the state. Also, it is my understanding that at Arkansas, the top scoring Arkansas hs kids are highly rewarded for staying instate...

[Ladybugmom]

Originally Posted by momof4girls

Any Texas student that applies to a public state school in Oklahoma, Louisiana, or Arkansas can get their out-of-state tuition waved if they score at least 25 ACT or 1090 SAT. They must make their score prior to their freshman year starting. Once they start classes the out-of-state tuition rule becomes null and void.

I wish that were true for OU but it is not. In order to get an out of state tuition waiver, the student must make a 29-30 on the ACT. They have also raised thier minimum requirements for out of state students to a 26 ACT and a 3.5 GPA. (that's for automatic acceptance). At OSU, the 25 ACT score will get you an in state rate. I do not know about Arkansas or Louisiana.
Also, the out of state tuition for OU is about $25,000.00 per year, which is much higher than Bama, Ole Miss, KU. I believe that this is due to the high number of Texans applying to OU that can't get in to UT or A&M. OU has found out that Texans are willing to pay the out of state tuition so that thier kids can have the BIG college experience. It's a shame that Texas is losing so many capable students to these surrounding states, my daughter included.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by lawgal

This is really for all posters.
Zillini, in a different thread in the last few days (dealing with difficulties of smaller chapters ) in discussing the use of release figures, you mentioned that ''There is less chance for those unknown "discovery" PNMs (especially out of state) to be invited back, someone who the chapter didn't know squat about before Recruitment ". In a thread from last winter there was a comment by one poster about a cousin pledging a sorority that was having problems because "It was her only shot at a sorority because she was from out of state."

Can you give any kind of realistic assessment about the difficulty of an out of state pnm being successful in recruitment at a large Southern school like Auburn or Florida? Will she get cut heavily because she is from out of state?

Should she just settle for what she can get?

We can't give chances or probability or anything else.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

We're not statisticans or fortune tellers. We can't give chances or probability or anything else. How about just let the girl go through rush?

But some of us are amateur recruitment statisticians. It's sad but true, and I'll admit without apology that I find it interesting.

While we can't give any one person any probability for a specific girl, based on what some campuses release on the bid lists and what one can do sorting in Excel, you can see how things shook out this year at least.

ETA: and yes, we probably could get all uppity and tell people to look it up themselves but by the time people from the next year want to know the data is sometimes hard to find.

[lawgal]

Actually most of the responses on this thread gave really good advice for the out of state (or out of region) pnm. And I guess that was what I was really looking for. If the situation appeared hopeless or rarely successful for someone out of region, that information also is helpful. The search for realistic expectations can sometimes be helped by the numbers (which is why I asked) but the experience of the GC chat members appears to be the most helpful. I don't think I asked anyone how they thought a particular specific individual would do with a particular specific sorority. I realize no one on or off GC could tell that and I apologize if someone interpreted my question as asking this.

(But it does appear there are some very capable statisticians, amatuer or otherwise.)

Apart from that, I have to say that I find the recruitment stories and the following of particular recruitments at the various schools addicting. Not really sure why....

[irishpipes]

I think there is some reading between the lines going on as well for people who have some familiarity with the chapters and reputations on certain campuses. So, there can be an implied correlation between the by state listing of the NMs and the chapter rep. Not to go all status-crazy, but some posters would be lying if they said that never entered their minds when perusing the lists. Just being honest.

[irishpipes]

Also, some states have been making concerted efforts to retain their own good students (Georgia, Florida, and Texas come to mind.) By doing this, more students aren't being accepted and have to look out of state. A lot of Florida kids that would have had no problem getting into UF 10 years ago get a rejection letter now. Texas (UT) generally takes only top 10% students. There are a ton of very good students from these states that have a better shot (education-wise) by crossing the border.

[Srmom1]

I was about to post that Irishpipes - many kids at our highschool are now heading out of state because they can't get in either UT or A&M and don't wish to attend one of the other schools in Texas. These are good students with high test scores and good extra curriculars who just don't make that 10% cut (not to say that you absolutely cannot get into UT or A&M out of the top 10%, but it is getting harder and harder).

These other schools -Alabama, Auburn, LSU, UF, UGA, Oklahoma, etc. offer a fantastic educational opportunity at a reasonable cost, and have the type of "college" atmosphere that they are looking for, unlike some of the commuter schools (UT Arlington, U of Houston etc.), uber expensive privates (TCU or SMU), or way far away (Texas Tech).

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by Srmom1

I was about to post that Irishpipes - many kids at our highschool are now heading out of state because they can't get in either UT or A&M and don't wish to attend one of the other schools in Texas. These are good students with high test scores and good extra curriculars who just don't make that 10% cut (not to say that you absolutely cannot get into UT or A&M out of the top 10%, but it is getting harder and harder).

These other schools -Alabama, Auburn, LSU, UF, UGA, Oklahoma, etc. offer a fantastic educational opportunity at a reasonable cost, and have the type of "college" atmosphere that they are looking for, unlike some of the commuter schools (UT Arlington, U of Houston etc.), uber expensive privates (TCU or SMU), or way far away (Texas Tech).

Then again, a lot of Dallas and Houston kids go to Tech precisely to get away from their parents. LOL

(My boyfriend is from Lubbock)

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted by Srmom1

I was about to post that Irishpipes - many kids at our highschool are now heading out of state because they can't get in either UT or A&M and don't wish to attend one of the other schools in Texas.

...These other schools -Alabama, Auburn, LSU, UF, UGA, Oklahoma, etc. offer a fantastic educational opportunity at a reasonable cost, and have the type of "college" atmosphere that they are looking for, unlike some of the commuter schools (UT Arlington, U of Houston etc.), uber expensive privates (TCU or SMU), or way far away (Texas Tech).

When I was an undergrad, out of state students were almost unheard of at Ok State.... except in certain majors such as vet med, forestry, fire safety, etc. However, now I see many Texas girls listed in the sorority bid list...... Who doesn't love Texas girls?! I am very glad to see them. They add spice and diversity to the mostly in-state chapter rosters.

Besides, what public university doesn't love to get the talented men and women who are in the top 15-20% of a neighboring state?

[formerlurker]

Tennessee is another state that is working to retain the top in state students and direct them to UT Knoxville. We have had the Hope scholarship program for 5 years now and UT admissions have become progressively more competitive each year. We do not have the 10% rule yet like Texas but the UT cutoff seems to be at about the top 15% of the graduating class. We had watched this happen at Florida and Georgia, and did not realize how quickly it would happen here as well. Since there is not another state school in TN that offers an SEC experience (except Vanderbilt, which is in a category of its own) a lot of kids from TN who can not get in to UT but want the sec scene go to Alabama or Ole Miss.

[brownie2]

I have been reading the greek chat all summer & finally have something to say...my daughter is out of state (TX) and just received a bid from Phi Mu! She is so so happy and I am glad for her. She knew no one, but is very outgoing and positive. After reading many posts I was worried that she would not get a bid, but there is hope for out of staters at Bama! Roll Tide!

[tinydancer]

Now keep in mind that this was back in the dark ages. When I was at Texas, out of state pnms were practically a shoo-in for a bid to an extremely "top tier" (for lack of a better term) sorority. Also interesting is that ALL rush week rounds were by invitation only. There were no open houses where you at least got a look at all the houses.

It's interesting to see how things have changed.

[Bamamom13]

My daughter also rushed at a very competitive SEC school, as you can see from my screen name, as an out of state student. She rushed her freshman year and had recs for all but one house, a great HS GPA, and a good resume but she did not know anyone in the houses and was pretty shy so she did not have a good rush getting dropped by all but one house and she did not feel at all comfortable there. She rushed again her sophomore year, and that year she went to the Panhellenic Weekend in the spring and knew lots of girls in the houses and had two recs per house. She pledged her first choice. The difference was knowing girls, and going through Panhellenic Weekend in the spring. She also kept up her grades and got involved on campus.

As an out of state student, recs are even more important because chances are you don't know anyone in the houses and this is the only information the chapters have besides your registration form. Try your best to get recs from people who really know you because they can give a better picture of who you are then someone who only knows you on paper. Also, any time there are things like Panhellenic Weekend you should try to go.

As Lamplighter said, out of state students do get bids, even sophomore, but if you don't do the legwork before, you really lessen your chances.