University of Texas Recruitment August 21-28, 2012

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The Tales of Recruitment.....Why PNMs should stick it out....

Ok so I think we can all agree that some of the most common comments on this board come from girls who "don't fit" or "didn't find a connection" with a particular house, and should they suicide or drop all together. For the most part we all advise to "stick it out" and we just leave it at that. These are my observations (specific to the University of Texas) and why I think PNMs should stick it out.

There is a dangerous trend amount PNMs currently at UT that it is "ok" to drop from recruitment when their party schedules are no longer to their liking. UT has 14 chapters, 13 of which participated in full blown recruitment. There is an unhealthy and unnecessary focus on 6 houses that seem to be "make or break" houses for a good number of girls. But the math says that of 1178 PNMs (this year)...if EVERYONE stuck it out...only 540 would be placed there. Based on how it really went down, less than 430 were placed there this year. Now these houses are not filled with rainbow pooping unicorns. They are idolized for an article written 30 years ago. They have tradition. They have reputation. They have money. Well here is a news flash. So do the other 7 houses. Some of those 7 contain some of the brightest and most brilliant young women at UT. Why is that? Because some of the "7" target the smartest of the smart. They don't care what dad does, they don't care if mom is in the Junior league. They care about the girl in front of them.

**Ok..off of soap box...***

So, when the PNMs from the "golden high schools" have a party schedule that is "beneath them" they get all pouty. They stomp their feet, get all angry and "just don't understand". It is all in the math. It is not personal. There are 1,721 high schools in Texas. If you were a "top" girl in high school, welcome to UT...small fish...big pond. It doesn't matter if you were a cheerleader...it doesn't matter if you graduated number 1...so did 1721 other kids. And each and everyone who even bothered to apply to UT got an acceptance. That is the benefit of being number one in your class. So as they say here....it takes much more than that to be a special snowflake. It takes the perfect storm.

So these PNMs have a decision to make. Stay the course or bail from the process and hedge their bets next year...you know...upperclassman quota and all...they think their odds are better. Well here is the problem with that. IF and this is a bit IF a house even uses their upperclassman quota, now you have a shot at even less spots. You use the tactic of getting to know girls and having them fight for you. Yes, this can work. It can also backfire. And it can backfire big time. What if you becomes great friends with a group of girls from that dreaded "mid tier" house....you know the one that wanted you back for pref, but you know..."you just didn't connect with?" Do you think the upperclassman forget? They don't. Consider them elephants. They wanted you. They invited you back. They saw something in you. And you said no. So the girls in this new pledge class may fight for you, but there will be two upperclass pledge classes that will remember. And remember, this is about math...two pledges classes against one. You will lose.

The greek system at the University of Texas is strong. There are dynamic and intelligent women at every single house. And lots of them. Each and every house is filled with leaders, beautiful women, smart women, honors students, and good friends. They each value sisterhood. They have each others backs. This does not change based on the letters on their chests. They each know they have wonderful things to offer.

For the women that had parties in their hands and did not take advantage of the gift of hospitality, I hope you reflect on this as a learning experience. Upperclassman quota was not meant for you. It was meant for the women, primarily, that are part of the CAP program that will not come to campus until their sophomore years or students that transfer from other schools. They have a fresh start. You will have a tarnished start. This is not meant be a harsh post. It is meant to reflect a piece of reality on this system. It is meant to discourage PNMs from going into recruitment with a closed and narrow mind. It is meant to force young women to reflect upon what is important in a friend and a sisterhood. It is meant to make you realize this is not your momma's rush. This is not high school. This is recruitment in the new age of the University of Texas. The age of the top 10% and the age of social media. Many times this is the age of "one chance." One chance to be Greek, one chance to make a difference and one chance to wear letters. The question is, "what are you going to do with this chance?"