Texas A&M: To rush or not to rush?

[johansla]

TXbelle13, no offense but you're going to be VERY recognizable with that information up--you may want to redact that to ensure your online security, etc. Many TX sorority women who are involved in the recruitment process are on here and will able to find you out from what you just said. Your decision, of course.
And we cannot comment on "your chances" individually-- membership selection is private, and kept strictly in house. Sophomores obviously only have three years of membership and as such are at a disadvantage over freshman who can contribute four years of time and dues. Someone from TX can comment more on that situation.

[HQWest]

I looked it up to double check for the PACE program at UT, and while PACE women may go through recruitment at UT, some sororities will not be able to pledge them because of their national restrictions. The decisions are being made by the individual chapters. I would assume the same groups would do this for Blinn women at A&M. I would be prepared for heavy cuts - as if you were a grade risk (which I believe is one of the concerns?).

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by HQWest

I looked it up to double check for the PACE program at UT, and while PACE women may go through recruitment at UT, some sororities will not be able to pledge them because of their national restrictions. The decisions are being made by the individual chapters. I would assume the same groups would do this for Blinn women at A&M. I would be prepared for heavy cuts - as if you were a grade risk (which I believe is one of the concerns?).

This is my understanding as well. It's definitely a gray area that has become potentially black & white due to some national restrictions/bylaws/etc...

WARNING: HUGE GENERALIZATION FOR PURPOSES OF EXAMPLE AHEAD...

What I mean by that is that you have Person A who went to uber-competitive small private high school and is in the top 20% of a class of geniuses, but doesn't get into A&M or UT in the traditional way because of it. Person B goes to Podunk High, in a class of 300 that only 1/3 is headed to any sort of higher education. Person B is in the top 5% of her class, gets into A&M & UT in the traditional manner, but really may not be fully prepared to be in an academically tough environment.

The argument to be made is that Person A might be on Blinn Team (or PACE) AND completely ready for competitive higher education, as well as the demand of a sorority, is well-liked, well-rounded, great recs etc... But, because of individual group rules/bylaws, may not be able to receive a bid. Panhellenic is letting them go through, but the groups themselves will have to make the decisions as to whether or not they can extend them an invitation or eventually a bid.

Will be interesting to see how it shakes out this year.

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by shirley1929

This is my understanding as well. It's definitely a gray area that has become potentially black & white due to some national restrictions/bylaws/etc...

WARNING: HUGE GENERALIZATION FOR PURPOSES OF EXAMPLE AHEAD...

What I mean by that is that you have Person A who went to uber-competitive small private high school and is in the top 20% of a class of geniuses, but doesn't get into A&M or UT in the traditional way because of it. Person B goes to Podunk High, in a class of 300 that only 1/3 is headed to any sort of higher education. Person B is in the top 5% of her class, gets into A&M & UT in the traditional manner, but really may not be fully prepared to be in an academically tough environment.

The argument to be made is that Person A might be on Blinn Team (or PACE) AND completely ready for competitive higher education, as well as the demand of a sorority, is well-liked, well-rounded, great recs etc... But, because of individual group rules/bylaws, may not be able to receive a bid. Panhellenic is letting them go through, but the groups themselves will have to make the decisions as to whether or not they can extend them an invitation or eventually a bid.

Will be interesting to see how it shakes out this year.

Yes. This would seem to be another unintended consequence of Bush's 10% rule (now 8%) that was to help students from underrepresented groups and rural areas get in to the top schools in Texas. On the one hand it has made for a more diverse student body and has really helped continue to grow the program. On the other hand, some of these students will struggle with the rigors of a huge university and grade inflation is running rampant at schools that historically would have sent more students to UT or A&M.

(Meanwhile, Bama, Auburn, and U.Ark. are happily accepting the students from the 9-10% from those top uber competitive schools.... )

[33girl]

If that's the case then I think those sororities should have to disclose that they can't pledge these women. That's not membership selection, that's a hard and fast rule (like you can't pledge if you're a dude).

[BAckbOwlsgIrl]

If certain groups are unable to pledge these women due to national rules, then why should they even attend their parties?
Why waste anyone's time; the chapter and the PNM's?
It seems unfair for a PNM to visit a chapter that she will not be able to join due to her status. Not that it doesn't happen with grade cuts, but this is pretty outright.

[Low D Flat]

Meanwhile, Bama, Auburn, and U.Ark. are happily accepting the students from the 9-10% from those top uber competitive schools....

Yes. Don't forget OU, LSU, and Ole Miss.

The schools have more or less invented a new category of student here. Are they full-time enrolled undergraduates? Kinda. At least, there's an argument for treating them that way.

What Texas is doing is unique AFAIK. Montana State also allows students enrolled in its junior college to live in MSU housing, use student services, etc., but I don't think they've made a path to Greek life.

[als463]

Originally Posted by Low D Flat

Yes. Don't forget OU, LSU, and Ole Miss.

The schools have more or less invented a new category of student here. Are they full-time enrolled undergraduates? Kinda. At least, there's an argument for treating them that way.

What Texas is doing is unique AFAIK. Montana State also allows students enrolled in its junior college to live in MSU housing, use student services, etc., but I don't think they've made a path to Greek life.

Actually the University of South Carolina has a program just like this called Gamecock Gateway. Students are accepted provisionally and they live in dorms on campus but, attend the local community college. After a year, if they have made the grade, they are eligible to be full-time South Carolina students. They even get South Carolina ID cards. I would really like to see them allow the students in that program to go through recruitment but, that is set by the school and it has never, to my knowledge, been brought to the attention of the campus Panhellenic. I think it helps lessen the stigma of being in one of these special programs.

[clemsongirl]

Originally Posted by als463

Actually the University of South Carolina has a program just like this called Gamecock Gateway. Students are accepted provisionally and they live in dorms on campus but, attend the local community college. After a year, if they have made the grade, they are eligible to be full-time South Carolina students. They even get South Carolina ID cards. I would really like to see them allow the students in that program to go through recruitment but, that is set by the school and it has never, to my knowledge, been brought to the attention of the campus Panhellenic. I think it helps lessen the stigma of being in one of these special programs.

Clemson has the same concept program, called Bridge To Clemson or something like that. There are currently on-campus dorms being built to house students in this program but as of right now we have a good deal of girls go through recruitment as sophomores facing a much tougher GPA requirement because they weren't allowed to go through recruitment as freshmen. I'm not sure if fraternities can recruit or choose to recruit these students on the down low but I know that sororities can't. There's also a lot of friction between students in this program and full-time Clemson students re: whether they truly go to Clemson or not, which allowing Bridge students to join Greek life might ease.

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

Clemson has the same concept program, called Bridge To Clemson or something like that. There are currently on-campus dorms being built to house students in this program but as of right now we have a good deal of girls go through recruitment as sophomores facing a much tougher GPA requirement because they weren't allowed to go through recruitment as freshmen. I'm not sure if fraternities can recruit or choose to recruit these students on the down low but I know that sororities can't. There's also a lot of friction between students in this program and full-time Clemson students re: whether they truly go to Clemson or not, which allowing Bridge students to join Greek life might ease.

Soooo... let me see if I have this right. The 250 or so Blinn Team freshmen take some or most classes at A&M but count as Blinn students. Clemson is even building dorms on campus for the their version of these students. How many of their classes do they take at the CC, and how many at the main campus?

Seems like the university is playing games with the numbers? They get to say they are staying more selective and not growing the overall size of the university by keeping within a certain range of acceptances, but then they have this waitlist of students who will go through the Blinn program in the hopes of getting into A&M next year. (Die hard Aggies one would assume.) At that point, they can replace other previously higher ranked students who transfer or drop out or fail out or if they fail out of Blinn they don't count against the university's 4 or 6 year graduation rates?

[clemsongirl]

Originally Posted by HQWest

Soooo... let me see if I have this right. The 250 or so Blinn Team freshmen take some or most classes at A&M but count as Blinn students. Clemson is even building dorms on campus for the their version of these students. How many of their classes do they take at the CC, and how many at the main campus?

Seems like the university is playing games with the numbers? They get to say they are staying more selective and not growing the overall size of the university by keeping within a certain range of acceptances, but then they have this waitlist of students who will go through the Blinn program in the hopes of getting into A&M next year. (Die hard Aggies one would assume.) At that point, they can replace other previously higher ranked students who transfer or drop out or fail out or if they fail out of Blinn they don't count against the university's 4 or 6 year graduation rates?

I had to look it up since I didn't know these numbers off the top of my head, but the Bridge To Clemson page says that students in this program are enrolled at Tri-County Technical College for a year and are required to complete 30 credits there before automatically being enrolled at Clemson. This phrasing makes it sound like they're not Clemson students since they take no classes at Clemson and are required to reapply for admission to Clemson if they don't meet the 30 credit requirement. In this regard I suppose Clemson's program is different from the Blinn Team program.

ETA: Found this on the Bridge Program FAQ:

Can Bridge students pledge a Clemson fraternity or sorority?
No. Due to policies governing national social fraternities and sororities, Bridge students may not join one of these organizations until after they enroll at Clemson.

I think the reason the Blinn program and others like it in the state of Texas exist is because there's state laws on the books saying that they can only accept the top X percentage of high schoolers from any high school, thus forcing still-qualified students who didn't make that percentage for whatever reason to gain acceptance through these Texas programs. I think it's a better alternative than not letting qualified applicants in to the school at all, but it probably does make their overall graduation numbers look better if they calculate them a certain way.

[shirley1929]

Sorry for double-post I never knew ZBS existed (and it's logo is not inline or in color with the others, so I never noticed it on their website)! Interesting!

[CMDelta]

I am a NPC member in an area of Texas where as many kids go to A&M as Blinn due to the competitive nature of our local 5A schools. For what it's worth, fraternities have been able to rush and pledge Blinn Team guys but until now, sororities were not able to. I think that is why sophomore quotas came in to play at A&M and UT and a few other schools followed suit. That change caused many questions, issues, opinions as this will but it has been more positive than negative once people got used to the idea. It will be the same way here. For the most part, Blinn Team students ARE considered a part of A&M. To answer the OP question, I think it's worth it to go through recruitment provided you are able to get references lined up and you have a solid GPA. At the very least, you will meet many girls (PNM's and members) and get to have an inside look at Greek life at A&M. Since we don't know how the week will really play out since this is new to everyone, you can make your decision whether or not to pursue it after you see who invites you back. It's the old cliche "you won't know unless you try"....and who knows, you just might find your sisters!

[Just interested]

Zeta Beta Sigma is a Jewish interest sorority which has been on A&M's campus for several years. They are an affiliate member of panhellenic. The have been approved by the collegiate panhellenic to seek NPC affiliation. This is in the early stages.

[33girl]

Soooo...

-This wasn't decided until May 1 leaving BT girls less time to find recs.

-The school is saying there are chapters who can't take BT girls.

Is it just me or does this sound like a hot ass mess waiting to happen?

It would be one thing if this was a school with a laid back rush that requires little money investment (both in rush oufits and fees) and where you don't really need recs. Since this is neither, it doesn't seem fair to use these girls as guinea pigs before all the kinks are worked out.