Greek Life at the University of Texas at Austin

Originally posted by TxGirl
Thanks AlphaXiGirl for clearing up about it being too late to go through recruitment - I had to do real work and you beat me to it!

As we both said, UT recruitment gets a bad wrap b/c of articles and things that happened over 10 (OMG - it's actually been over 10 years since I pledged!) years ago. The horror stories of how tough UT recruitment was CAUSED the drop in our numbers. This wasn't the only factor but it was a big one.

Stories of how "it's too late" and "all the chapters already have their new members classes choosen" are what continue to feed these stories. I also don't think quota has been in the 60's since we went to setting quota the way the rest of the NPC world does (#of women accepting to second invite round divided by # of houses) instead of it just always being 60. I can remember when we had to change form a "set" quota to a "floating" quota. Everyone thought their houses would fall into decay b/c they wouldn't have enough new members to support them!

As was said earlier - this is still a MUTUAL SELECTION PROCESS. Like AlphaXiGirl said, they may have their top 150 - but how many of those are on 1, 2, 3 or 10 other lists chapters on campus??

It is never too late to sign up for recruitment. Waiting just makes you have to work harder to get all your stuff together.

These are all great points. My best friend was an AXiD at Texas and we often compared stories about rush and ideas, etc. THe point was made that sorority XYZ may have their top 150 picks, but how many of those girls are on OTHER sororities top 150 picks? I bet it is near impossible for one sorority to have all 150 girls on both bid lists put them as their top choice. That just doesn't happen!
It was also said that if you go all the way through recruitment, you will get a bid. It is my understanding that their is guaranteed placement for any woman who completes the entire recruitment process at the University of Texas. That is good and bad, but if you want to be in a sorority at UT, you can be in one.
Baylorgirl, I think the recruitment system at UT is beyond anything that we Baylor girls can fathom, but thanks for your input on what it's like! I just think that we should keep a little bit more of a positive perspective. Letting on that someone doesnt' have a chance because she didn't register 2 months ago is kind of ridiculous when you don't know anything about her. If she is from Highland Park, and hasn't registered yet, I bet you she still gets in wherever she wants!
BTW, what year are you at Baylor? How is good old Waco, Texas?

[g41965]

I always hate to post on a rush question for sororities but since I went to UT here goes, my opinion, if the deadline hasn't passed go through with it if you want to join.
UT has 13 sororities, each sorority is different and I know for a fact that many sororities snap bid the last 2-3 ,some of our little sisters snap bid, when I went to UT. You may be hurt a little with some of the " big six groups" ( note I said some , not all).
But so what, I don't think any group at UT is a bad group, every group has smart girls, fun girls and yes, best of all from a guys point of view pretty girls, jump in have fun meet people, four years goes fast!

[JohnsDGsweethrt]

Not to belabor the point but I have a ?. How is it possible to limit PNMs based on their high school activities? Are some activities more desirable than others? For instance I was a majorette in high school (had been twirling since I was 2) and could do all sorts of neat things like twirl fire and even won 3 team national championships. So is that slightly less desirable than say being a cheerleader? I come from a small greek system where recs aren't needed so I'm a little confused. thanks!

[lyrica9]

Originally posted by JohnsDGsweethrt
Not to belabor the point but I have a ?. How is it possible to limit PNMs based on their high school activities? Are some activities more desirable than others? For instance I was a majorette in high school (had been twirling since I was 2) and could do all sorts of neat things like twirl fire and even won 3 team national championships. So is that slightly less desirable than say being a cheerleader? I come from a small greek system where recs aren't needed so I'm a little confused. thanks!

i think it's more of a question of how many activities she had, rather than ranking some activities as more desirable than others.

[JohnsDGsweethrt]

ok that makes more sense. and here's another random ? how is it possible for the members to look at pnm recs, pics, etc over the summer? i know everyone meets together several weeks before rush starts for workshops and stuff so wouldn't that be the first time the girls are exposed to the pnm coming through? its not like everyone stays at the house over the summer. just curious...

[AlphaXiGirl]

First, as far as activities, it is not just the activities themselves but did the woman hold leadership positions within those organizations or were they "just a member in name".

As far as looking at apps during the summer...

All NPC groups have their own membership selection process - so with that said I will tell you what I have seen as the "norm" for how many UT chapters handle the number of women that go through recruitment... Many groups at UT require the Recruitment Officer/Membership Chairman/ Membership Vice President, etc to live in Austin for the summer - and she will have a committee that also is in Austin over the summer that starts the process. Obviously, the chapter's advisors are in Austin as well and very involved in the process.

There may also be "city groups" - groups of chapter members that all reside in the same city - typically the different parts of Dallas, Houston, Lubbock, etc, areas where large numbers of PNMS are from. These groups of women serve a few functions but one is to help review the applications for women from their area. In most cases, it is not the entire membership of the 200+ chapter that is involved at this stage - but, like I said, all NPC groups have their own membership selection process so once recruitment begins I am sure they all follow their National Policies for selection.

These summer activities are just a good way to effectively manage 800-900 applications. Like someone else stated, many groups are required to release 300-400 women after open house - which is 14 20 minute parties with 60 PMNs in each party - you have to have a system in order to make that happen.

Think about it in terms of sending your resume in for a job. A HR person may get 200 resumes for one position. She uses the resumes to come up with a "short list" of people to interview. It really is no different with recruitment.

[exlurker]

Originally posted by ADPiZXalum
. . .It was also said that if you go all the way through recruitment, you will get a bid. It is my understanding that their is guaranteed placement for any woman who completes the entire recruitment process at the University of Texas. That is good and bad, but if you want to be in a sorority at UT, you can be in one. . . .

As ADPiZXalum said, Texas - Austin DOES have guaranteed placement for women who make it through Preference and maximize their options. The UT Panhellenic says:

What is Guaranteed Placement? Choosing the maximum amount of chapters at each convocation is strongly encouraged and required for you to be eligible for guaranteed placement. If this is followed through the preference event, those potential new members who have chosen the maximum amount of chapters throughout recruitment and who choose all of their options on their preference cards will receive a bid from one of the chapters listed on their preference card. That DOES NOT mean that they will automatically receive their first choice, but it does mean that they will be placed with one of their choices. Reminder: You MUST attend ALL Recruitment events of you will be WITHDRAWN from recruitment.

http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/gle/join_upc_faq.php

Obviously, if a woman drops out, or is cut by all of the NPC sororities, guaranteed placement doesn't apply.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by OtterXO
Honey, not to be rude but you've clearly been misinformed. Every NPC org has some form of a recommendation process even if it's not required at the school. Maybe the sororities at your school don't use this system but there are a large number of schools that do...it's just the standard procedure at those schools. From what I've heard, UT is one of them. (Hence the thread title "Greek Life at the University of Texas at Austin) It doesn't give anyone an automatic bid, the chapter and the girl still have to pick each other through a "mutual selection process".

Also, don't knock Lifesaver...we love him.

edited to be a more pleasant person

Actually, not every NPC org has a form of recommendation process. It's not required by our school and as far as I know it's not required by Phi Mu. OUR CHAPTER is what recommends a new member (Phi) for initiation into Phi Mu.

Personally if it was required by every school, that'd be incredibly ridiculous. Our number of PNMs who go through is like 60 if we're lucky.

So no. Not every NPC has a recommendation process. Actually on our campus that would probably be considered an Rush Infraction.

[OtterXO]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
Actually, not every NPC org has a form of recommendation process. It's not required by our school and as far as I know it's not required by Phi Mu. OUR CHAPTER is what recommends a new member (Phi) for initiation into Phi Mu.

Personally if it was required by every school, that'd be incredibly ridiculous. Our number of PNMs who go through is like 60 if we're lucky.

So no. Not every NPC has a recommendation process. Actually on our campus that would probably be considered an Rush Infraction.

I think you may have misunderstood me. I didn't mean that every chapter requires recs nor did I mean that it was required at every school. It definitely was not required at my school! I meant that every national org likely has some process where alums can recommend PNMs to a chapter...even if it's just an informal letter saying "I know Sally and I think she's a great girl." But, I'm not a member of every organization so you would know about Phi Mu better than me!

[PM_Mama00]

Ahh I see my bad!

[CarolinaCutie]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
Actually, not every NPC org has a form of recommendation process. It's not required by our school and as far as I know it's not required by Phi Mu. OUR CHAPTER is what recommends a new member (Phi) for initiation into Phi Mu.

Personally if it was required by every school, that'd be incredibly ridiculous. Our number of PNMs who go through is like 60 if we're lucky.

So no. Not every NPC has a recommendation process. Actually on our campus that would probably be considered an Rush Infraction.

I PMed you, dear

[TXADPi]

I am an active greek member at the University of Texas, and by all accounts, most of this stuff is true.

It can be relatively cut throat. There may be sororities you don't like but don't base your entire decision on the top 1 or 2 because chances are most of their class is filled with triple legacies anyway. As long as you're open-minded about the sororities and you pick the one you think you'll fit well with and not a big 6 solely because it's a big 6, then you really can't go wrong. You will be placed if you go all the way through rush.

But I would suggest getting those references ASAP. They are absolutely vital.

and Good luck! It's an amazing system with so much history and I have no doubt you will love whever you end up pledging.

[aggieAXO]

TXADPi,

Why don't many of the sororities have their own website? (I know AXO use to but I don't think it works anymore?). Just curious. For such a big/popular school I guess I was expecing to see a larger, more in depth greek website.

Texas A&M's greek life website has evolved over the years-very informative and thorough and our greek system is only 30 years old-I would've expected UT to have something similar.

[gaangel5]

Just curious....What sororities are considered the "big 6" at UT?

[TXADPi]

AggieAXO - To be completely honest, I have no clue. I know we don't have a chapter website, although that might change in the near future.

gaangel5 - The Big 6 at UT have been, for decades, Pi Phi, Kappa, Theta, Tri Delt, Chi O, and Zeta. Our greek system is so set that not only have the big 6 not changed, but we haven't had a new sorority try to colonize here in at least 30 years.

I will refer you to another thread: http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...5&pagenumber=2
About halfway down the page, a post by Texas-Gal adds more information, then on page 4 a post by Angels&Arrows & another one by Texas-Gal pretty much sum it all up.