A Sugary Sweet Sorority Recruitment Story!

[UTmom2]

Philanthropy is 2 days at UT.

[AmoXO]

Originally Posted by UTmom2

Philanthropy is 2 days at UT.

Good to know. I was confused, too.

[MayBeth]

So sorry that I did not clarify that the Philanthropy round was spread out over 2 days!

Mango Peach Lemonade: I couldn't have been happier to visit this house again! I have a genuine connection to this house’s philanthropy, and I was so happy that I was able to have such an honest conversation about the good that this chapter’s cause can do for the lives of others with the first sister I talked to. The second sister I talked to ended up having one of the same hobbies as me, something that I hadn’t had in common with anyone else during recruitment so far. I joked around so easily with the last sister that I talked to, and I saw many familiar faces on my way out. Yes, I definitely felt at home here.
Cinnamon Sugar Donut: This house’s philanthropy video confused me because of how short it was and how little information it presented to us. Someone in my family is affected by this house’s philanthropy, so I was happy to get to share that with someone else. The sister that I talked to for most of the round had a personal story to tell about their philanthropy as well. It took her the entire round to tell the story, though! I tried to fit in comments and ask questions where I could, but she wouldn’t let me intervene for the most part. She ended up having to speed through her ending because it was time for us to leave.

I had had varying experiences with the houses throughout the Philanthropy round, but I would’ve been happy to receive invitations back to any of them for the next day. My only receiving 6 invites thankfully made ranking simple. We could list our top 6 favorites to be invited back to for sisterhood.
I casted my vote as:
1. Mango Peach Lemonade
1. Lemon Pound Cake
1. Blueberry Cobbler
1. Snickerdoodle Sundae
1. Strawberry Shortcake
1. Cinnamon Sugar Donut
2.
3.
4.
5.

I honestly had no idea what to expect from my schedule the next day. I was inclined to believe that I’d be lucky to get more than one chapter back at all. Although I had given the process all that I had so far, I was also terrified of receiving a release phone call. I had already met so many incredible women, and there had been multiple instances in which I’d been reminded why I chose to go through the process in the first place because of the sisterly bonds, kindness, silliness, and dedication I’d seen in practically every chapter I’d visited. I had always thought it was a tad bit silly when girls would gush about how connected and at home they felt with certain chapters after visiting with them for a grand total of 70 minutes, but I was beginning see how easy it was to get swept up in the thrill of it all. My doubts about how quick the bonds of friendship and sisterhood could form were fading fast, and that’s something I was so pleasantly surprised about. I was beyond ready to run home.

[TLLK]

My dorm that night was full of girls anxious over how their schedules would look the next day, myself included. Many of my hall mates vocalized their fears of not being asked to join a “top tier” house, and I couldn’t help but wonder what truly separated the “top tier” from the “bottom tier.” For the most part, every single sorority at Texas seemed to be truly incredible. If someone had asked me to tell them what specifically distinguished the “bottom” houses from the “top” ones, I wouldn’t have had a clue as to what to say. I’ve always thought that the people who feel the need to explain how or why they believe themselves to be better than others aren’t people who are worth worrying much about at all. I had witnessed multiple girls entering houses over the last two days engulfed in a cloud of superiority. I couldn’t imagine how that must feel to a chapter, working so incredibly hard to put together an organized and enjoyable recruitment, just for certain girls to write them off from the get-go because they believed they were too good to be there. Everyone wants to feel liked and accepted, and I honestly feel like sorority recruitment is one of the most vulnerable situations you can voluntarily put yourself into. I was already experiencing my own self doubts in regards to how I had looked and whether or not I had been outgoing enough. There was no reason for girls to put other people’s personal opinions and experiences down by telling them that certain houses weren’t worth joining.

You have an outstanding and mature attitude toward recruitment. It's a shame that there are those PNMs who have already discounted those that they deem to be "below them." Sadly though they've likely heard this from family and friends.
Can't wait for the next installment in your story.

[AmoXO]

You're forcing me to root for my least favorite confection on your list. Go Mango Peach Lemonade!