UT Austin for OOS PNM

[DubaiSis]

Simmadona. I wasn't throwing them under any bus. In the past they have only done informal rush and they did a big and successful invigoration last year. It might behoove the OP to be aware of alternatives. And I don't believe I had any handwritten offers from SDT hidden in my post.

And as opposed to pretending to go through rush which is all the current scenario would be, at least as a sophomore she'd have a chance, slim as it might be. But I do agree that unless she is spending the summer on Mars, she needs to find a way to attend an earlier orientation. It's a very important part of the process and shouldn't be discounted.

[LadyLonghorn]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

Simmadona. I wasn't throwing them under any bus. In the past they have only done informal rush and they did a big and successful invigoration last year. It might behoove the OP to be aware of alternatives. And I don't believe I had any handwritten offers from SDT hidden in my post.

And as opposed to pretending to go through rush which is all the current scenario would be, at least as a sophomore she'd have a chance, slim as it might be. But I do agree that unless she is spending the summer on Mars, she needs to find a way to attend an earlier orientation. It's a very important part of the process and shouldn't be discounted.

It. Is. Not. An. "Alternative." They are a fully functioning chapter that will participate in formal recruitment this year. You don't have any experience with this school except from what you have read on the internet. Step away from the keyboard.

You have a history here of presenting groups like colonies, revitalized chapters and struggling groups as "alternatives" for PNMs who have some kind of additional hurdle to overcome. That only perpetuates stereotypes and comes off as patronizing.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by pinapple

The late orientation session has always been in place specifically targeting international students. Many come here without any parental involvement and it provides an opportunity to move into their dorm room and register for classes the week before. Without the late session some would not come to a session at all or be forced into paying for two international flights or wasting time on a student visa for which they would rather actually be studying.

Well then, they should limit it to international students so they could focus on and discuss the challenges they are going to face, rather than offering it up to people who are perfectly able to get there at another time. I'm sure sorority rushees aren't the only ones perpetually screwed by this late session if it's presented as a cost-saving measure.

Originally Posted by LadyLonghorn

It. Is. Not. An. "Alternative." They are a fully functioning chapter that will participate in formal recruitment this year. You don't have any experience with this school except from what you have read on the internet. Step away from the keyboard.

You have a history here of presenting groups like colonies, revitalized chapters and struggling groups as "alternatives" for PNMs who have some kind of additional hurdle to overcome. That only perpetuates stereotypes and comes off as patronizing.

Ten thousand million billion trillion times YES.

[pinapple]

I agree that the late session should be reserved for either international students or students that might be participating in a summer program where they legitimately don't have three days earlier in the summer. For the OP's daughter, without knowing why this is the session she is registered for, we can only speculate. Many students get places in this last session because frankly they either procrastinated in signing up or they made their college choice late and that is what was left. That session is notorious for crappy course selection too so the bottom line is that if the OP's daughter has the time and the means earlier in the summer then phone calls of firm persistence should be made to make it happen. And of course the student aid you get first will tell you no. It will be up to the OP to find away to turn it into a yes. There are so many avenues, UT Panhellenic, Texas Parents, the advisor if she is in a small honors program, etc. It doesn't have to come through the orientation folks. Get creative, find a way.

[Momx2]

Originally Posted by pinapple

or students that might be participating in a summer program where they legitimately don't have three days earlier in the summer.

This- overseas during June and July so late orientation is the only option. I am taking in all the advice everyone has given and we are trying to find a way to get back to the US for a summer session. It's not a financial issue but a timing issue. To get to Austin for 3 days would require almost a full week off program due to flight schedules and she may not be allowed to miss that much time. UT Greek office was very helpful and tries to accommodate girls in this situation. They said she could get to approx. 10 of the 14 houses depending on the orientation schedule but I know it is not ideal, especially for a PNM with no contacts or legacy houses at UT.

[pinapple]

Going to 10 out of 14 would be better than nothing, but I would be interested in knowing what 4 would be missed. Depending on the PNM, missing 4 chapters might not be a big deal, it would depend which four. It is not uncommon for the majority of PNMs to not have full schedule round 2, so having four knocked off the list before even starting may not matter in the long run, and yet depending on what chapters are in question, it could be a huge miss. It would be nice if your daughter knew what four chapters she would miss (which based on my knowledge, she would have no idea because Panhellenic would have no idea that early on) so that maybe she could make a weekend visit to UT prior to her departure on her summer program and carve out a way to meet some girls in those houses. The first orientation session is the 5th of June, will she already be gone at that point? Most high schools don't even finish until the very end of May. It might be a tight turn, but worth it if greek life is important to her.

[pmdal]

Good advice Ladybugmom!