Rush at OU

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by Ladybugmom

Thanks for the quick response! I was hoping that the Texas thing wouldn't be a problem...I had read on a few other threads about other Southern schools that have chapters where "out of staters" wouldn't have a prayer. There are alot of students that go to OU from my daughter's high school which hopefully will help her.
She has great grades and EC's and is beautiful (of course I am her mother and very biased ). She can be a bit shy around people that she doesn't know and I just hope she will be able to shine. I know that there are alot of girls that are like her (not used to having to "sell" them selves) and they somehow make it through. We will look forward to the invaluable information that this site can provide!

Yeah, it's a problem but similar to Arkansas...Texas can be considered "in-state" by girls...There are so many north Dallas kids at these Universities that likely she has tons of friends already in sororities at the University.

[breathesgelatin]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Yeah, it's a problem but similar to Arkansas...Texas can be considered "in-state" by girls...There are so many north Dallas kids at these Universities that likely she has tons of friends already in sororities at the University.

I also am more seriously questioning the adage that it is hard to get into sororities from out of state. We are seeing more and more out of state PNMs who are adequately prepared have no trouble getting into sororities in the south/SEC. Also, I think we are in a new era where more and more individuals are going to school out of state due to certain state schools becoming extremely competitive. I can speak to UT specifically. There are many young women "of a certain background" who due to the top 10% rule can no longer gain admission into UT, when they probably would have in past college generations. For a variety of reasons these ladies may not want to go to A&M or Tech or wherever, and maybe they don't want to go to a liberal arts school either. They want a school with a big football program & etc. So, they head out to other flagship state schools. Those young ladies will be well-prepared for recruitment whether they end up at OU, Arkansas, Bama, Ole Miss, wherever.

The question is though, whether it's actually gotten "easier" to get into sororities at southern schools from out of state, or if the college admissions world has just seen such a huge sea change that student bodies have changed drastically and sororities naturally changed with the winds. The chicken or the egg, if you will.

But yeah, I am beginning to question the out-of-state thing, just based on anecdotal evidence from GC.

And as others have said, I think it's more important to be well-prepared than to be in-state.

[Ladybugmom]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

I also am more seriously questioning the adage that it is hard to get into sororities from out of state. We are seeing more and more out of state PNMs who are adequately prepared have no trouble getting into sororities in the south/SEC. Also, I think we are in a new era where more and more individuals are going to school out of state due to certain state schools becoming extremely competitive. I can speak to UT specifically. There are many young women "of a certain background" who due to the top 10% rule can no longer gain admission into UT, when they probably would have in past college generations. For a variety of reasons these ladies may not want to go to A&M or Tech or wherever, and maybe they don't want to go to a liberal arts school either. They want a school with a big football program & etc. So, they head out to other flagship state schools. Those young ladies will be well-prepared for recruitment whether they end up at OU, Arkansas, Bama, Ole Miss, wherever.

The question is though, whether it's actually gotten "easier" to get into sororities at southern schools from out of state, or if the college admissions world has just seen such a huge sea change that student bodies have changed drastically and sororities naturally changed with the winds. The chicken or the egg, if you will.

But yeah, I am beginning to question the out-of-state thing, just based on anecdotal evidence from GC.

And as others have said, I think it's more important to be well-prepared than to be in-state.

Thanks so much to all of you for your responses..this mom is feeling better. Unfortunatley the above poster has hit the nail onthe head...My daughter is in the top quarter of her very competitive high school with a 3.8 unwaited GPA and will not be able to get in to UT. Her father and I are both alums there.
It was a different world before the "top 10%" rule.. OU has become a very viable option for those kids that can't get into UT or A&M, especially those that are from the DFW area because of the close proximity to home. I just wish that we could get "in state" tuition since Texans are practically "in state".
I do agree that being prepared is key and that's why this site is so valuable. Please keep your advice and thoughts coming...

[kstar]

Originally Posted by Ladybugmom

My daughter is in the top quarter of her very competitive high school with a 3.8 unwaited GPA and will not be able to get in to UT.

I'm not going to lie, that GPA is going to work against her. While that GPA is over the minimum that most houses have set, most pledge classes at OU are 50-85% 4.0 unweighted GPAs from high school.

[Ladybugmom]

Originally Posted by kstar

I'm not going to lie, that GPA is going to work against her. While that GPA is over the minimum that most houses have set, most pledge classes at OU are 50-85% 4.0 unweighted GPAs from high school.

WOW! That's disheartening! I know that there are some girls from her HS that are in top houses that were ranked lower than my D, thus had to have a lower GPA. Do they look at weighted GPA at all? Her weighted GPA is a 4.7.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by Ladybugmom

WOW! That's disheartening! I know that there are some girls from her HS that are in top houses that were ranked lower than my D, thus had to have a lower GPA. Do they look at weighted GPA at all? Her weighted GPA is a 4.7.

I really couldn't say, since (1) I have no clue what goes on in other houses and (2) that discussion is usually membership selection. Just remember that most universities, including OU, don't use weighted GPAs, so I would guess that most houses wouldn't look at them. (And shouldn't, but that is another discussion.)

I will say that she should have excellent recs, tons of extracurriculars, and involvement in community (church/temple, volunteering, girl scouts, et cetera) to offset the lower GPA.

[AXOrushadvisor]

Ladybugmom-
If OU is anything like our University here we have a tough time verifing grades...period! It has something to do with privacy laws. Also, we get unweighted GPA's when we get them. I would make sure your daughter has a copy of her transcripts with her just in case and send them with her recs. I have seen more than one PNM dropped from every house because the grades are in the system incorrectly.

[Ladybugmom]

Originally Posted by AXOrushadvisor

Ladybugmom-
If OU is anything like our University here we have a tough time verifing grades...period! It has something to do with privacy laws. Also, we get unweighted GPA's when we get them. I would make sure your daughter has a copy of her transcripts with her just in case and send them with her recs. I have seen more than one PNM dropped from every house because the grades are in the system incorrectly.

Great advice! Thanks! As far as your earlier question, yes we are in Texas but my daughter did not attend any camps except cheer camp...every summer since 6th grade. Between family vacations and cheer, she didn't have time for any other camps...

[lyrelyre]

Originally Posted by AXOrushadvisor

Ladybugmom-
If OU is anything like our University here we have a tough time verifing grades...period! It has something to do with privacy laws. Also, we get unweighted GPA's when we get them. I would make sure your daughter has a copy of her transcripts with her just in case and send them with her recs. I have seen more than one PNM dropped from every house because the grades are in the system incorrectly.

This is generally not a problem at OU. A transcript is sent to Panhellenic and the grades are verified and entered into ICS. A PNM will not be fully registered for recruitment until her transcript has been received and verified by Panhellenic.