utexasgirl's recruitment story!

[FSUZeta]

just like you, legacies sometimes wonder if their legacy sorority is inviting them back because they like them or because they are a legacy. all i can say is this:while your family's social status may be well known and it may get you a second invitation, i like to think that most sorority members realize that YOU, not your status, will be what they deal with on a daily basis, and that will be what they base their decisions on. don't sell yourself short!! and if your family comes up in conversation, it just might be because your hostess has run out of things to talk about and is grasping for anything to avoid "dead air." best wishes. lisa

[utexasgirl]

Hey yall-

I want to thank everyone for their support and advice in regards to recruitment. I am still trying to give recruitment here a shot, and I hope that everything will turn out how it is meant to be.

This morning was very emotional - a LOT of girls were cut, and a LOT of girls were crying. Yall, it's so hard to see so many girls be so disappointed! I was invited back to:

Bluebonnet
Rodeo
Pecan
Cowgirl

Sadly, I was cut from all of the houses that I really liked. I accepted all of today's invitations. I am still going to give today a shot, because you never know what will happen!

I have a question for anyone that knows about the the PHC sororities at UT. If I choose to pledge a house that is in the so-called "bottom tier" at UT, am I going to get treated poorly by other greeks for it? I want an honest answer from someone...I've tried asking my recruitment counselors but I can tell they are not being honest with me. Yalls answers aren't going to change my opinion on anything, but I want to be prepared if I decide to go a certain way....I hope that makes sense to yall. A house's "status" here is really not important to me, but I want to know what to expect from others.

12mom3- Do you know what houses here do informal recruitment? I'm just curious.

That said, I just want to stress how great yall are!! It is SO wonderful to have support and encouragement from girls who have "been there done that". If I'm not too tired tonite, I'll post again with how tonight went

[hannahgirl]

I hope you have a great time tonight!!! I can't say much about UT house status since I really have no idea. I'm so glad that you are continuing with recruitment! You might just find that one of those houses are your "diamond in the rough" and you'll love it!!!

Good luck to you!

[pinkyphimu]

i am sorry you got cut from your favorites, but i am glad that you are giving this a chance!! i can't speak for how you will be treated by other people on your campus, but you should do what is best for you...regardless of what other people may think. in any house, you will find friendships, sisterhood, opportunities for involvement in leadership, philanthropy, etc. your experience will be whatever you make it....wherever you go. good luck!

[ASUADPi]

I'm sorry you got cut from your favorites but I'm glad that you accepted your invites. Those houses see something in you that makes them say "we want this girl as our sister", keep that in mind.

I know deep down that you will find your home. Just keep your heart and your mind open to the houses you were invited back to.

And don't worry about "tier status". It doesn't matter. All that matters is that if you find a house tonight that you can see yourself a sister of, go for it. Don't worry about what other people think. All that matters is what you think.

Best of Luck and I can't wait to hear back how the parties went.

Sorry to hear you got cut from your favorites, but hopefully you'll find another favorite out of the 4 houses you have left.

I cannot speak for UT directly, but I was greek at Texas Tech. I would hope that other greeks would not look down on you for being in a necessarily "bottom tier" sorority. If you find a 'home' that fits you, that is all that matters. I know in today's society it is hard to put behind you what other people think or how they treat you. I went through rush not knowing anything about any of the sororities at Tech and in the end, I was completely happy. I was with girls that I had much more in common with and it was the greatest thing of my life. Regardless of what other people thought or what other greeks thought, I wore my letters proudly!!!!

Sometimes you just have to ignore what other people think (its easier said than done) and just know that you are happy.....and that is what matters most.

Keep an open mind (as you seem to have done so far) and best wishes!!!!

[12mom3]

utexasgirl -

My son who goes to UT has friends in all of the sororities. Some of his best girlfirends are in the so-called "bottom-tier" sororities and he encouraged his sister to give all the sororities a chance and to not listen to anybody's opinion.

I also told my daughter to try fall in love with three sororities and to try to wait until today to have any favorites.

Let me tell you my story. i went to a small college as a triple legacy to a sorority - aunt, grandmother and mother. By the time Pref rolled around, the only party I was invited to was the one I was a legacy to. That was ok, because I liked the girls I had met. But looking back and being honest, if I had known nothing about sororities and had no ties, I probably would not have chosen that group. But I had a fabulous sorority experience, I love all my sisters, especially my pledge group and my big sister and would not change the sorority I am in. So please, do not judge any group based on someone's so-called "tier" ranking.
You have only spent about an hour with each group - go into tonight with open eyes and a new perspective, look around like it was open house and I bet you come home tonight with a new perspective about each house. Best of Luck to you.

And remember - there are 150 - 200 girls in each group - you have only met maybe 20. I told my daughter you will find close friends in whatever group you choose.

About informal rush - acccording to the texasgreeks website -

"The University of Texas Panhellenic Council does not sponsor or organize a formal spring recruitment. Some chapters continue to recruit and pledge women throughout the school year. Events are organized and scheduled at each chapter's convenience. If you want the opportunity to interact with all fourteen of our sororities before making your sorority choice, then you should participate in fall formal recruitment."


Hope this helps - I wish you the best

[angelic1]

I really liked your advice dzandiloo! I definately agree on this.

This story pertains to this advice and on "top tier".

I had two girls in my rush group who would constantly talk about other sororities and the such.. when "decision time" came, they openly said how they couldnt imagine being in any other sorority except this one (they made it know that they put this one top). This made my decision that much easier to go pi phi (not that they were the real reason). Talk to other girls who are going to the same groups you are to get to know them, this will help bc those older girls will one day not be there, but you new pledge class will make a difference.0.

Also, Pi Phi at the time was what we called a "sleeper sorority". We had (and still do) have a true sisterhood and great time. None of us ever worried about being number one bc that didnt matter to us. So maybe we arent the top one on campus according to the top sororites, but that doesnt matter bc when you have girls in those "top chapters" coming up to you telling you how much they respect your sorority and wish they had pledged pi phi instead you can only smile and know that those rankings dont mean anything.

Originally posted by angelic1
I really liked your advice dzandiloo! I definately agree on this.

This story pertains to this advice and on "top tier".

I had two girls in my rush group who would constantly talk about other sororities and the such.. when "decision time" came, they openly said how they couldnt imagine being in any other sorority except this one (they made it know that they put this one top). This made my decision that much easier to go pi phi (not that they were the real reason). Talk to other girls who are going to the same groups you are to get to know them, this will help bc those older girls will one day not be there, but you new pledge class will make a difference.0.

Also, Pi Phi at the time was what we called a "sleeper sorority". We had (and still do) have a true sisterhood and great time. None of us ever worried about being number one bc that didnt matter to us. So maybe we arent the top one on campus according to the top sororites, but that doesnt matter bc when you have girls in those "top chapters" coming up to you telling you how much they respect your sorority and wish they had pledged pi phi instead you can only smile and know that those rankings dont mean anything.

This is SOOOOOOO true!!! Awesome advice angelic1!!!

[mmcat]

congrats to you and your daughter....she's still in the game.
now if she can keep an open mind and look at the big picture things could be terrific.
my hopes are with her.

[Speechpath]

ditto all of the above, rankings don't matter if you find a place where you can be comfortable and sisters you can be great friends with. I do believe there are girls in most groups with whom you can find connections and develop lasting friendships.

[Jill1228]

What she said! I have to admit this high tier and low tier crap works my last GOOD nerve!

Better yet, if they look down on you for not being in a top tier, that is THEIR problem...F**k THEM! A chapter that is "top tier" at one school might not be so strong at another
Is the sisterhood strong? Are they close? Would you be proud to be part of that sister hood? Then that is what matters.

Like "packages" bigger doesn't always mean better! (sorry for the crass comparison)
Keep an open mind and one of those sleeper groups might knock you off your feet and put a big ol smile on your face

Rho Chis are not supposed to say anything negative...who knows they may be a member of one of those groups

Originally posted by peanutttu
Sorry to hear you got cut from your favorites, but hopefully you'll find another favorite out of the 4 houses you have left.

I cannot speak for UT directly, but I was greek at Texas Tech. I would hope that other greeks would not look down on you for being in a necessarily "bottom tier" sorority. If you find a 'home' that fits you, that is all that matters. I know in today's society it is hard to put behind you what other people think or how they treat you. I went through rush not knowing anything about any of the sororities at Tech and in the end, I was completely happy. I was with girls that I had much more in common with and it was the greatest thing of my life. Regardless of what other people thought or what other greeks thought, I wore my letters proudly!!!!

Sometimes you just have to ignore what other people think (its easier said than done) and just know that you are happy.....and that is what matters most.

Keep an open mind (as you seem to have done so far) and best wishes!!!!

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Snaps to all of the above. I had friends in many sororities on my campus, and there were things I admired about every one.

[dzandiloo]

QUOTE]Originally posted by utexasgirl
I have a question for anyone that knows about the the PHC sororities at UT. If I choose to pledge a house that is in the so-called "bottom tier" at UT, am I going to get treated poorly by other greeks for it? I want an honest answer from someone... [/QUOTE]

utexsagirl-
There are always going to be people who are so self-centered & caught up in the world of labels (e.g. "top tier", which I hate to even perpetuate by referring to it) that they will not think twice of thinking poorly of someone who is a member of a group that they do not consider the top. These are the same people who would rather miss out on true sisterhood than have to wear the letters of a group that they feel is beneath them (stupid & shortsighted!). This is true on every campus. I may be wrong, but I don't think the atmosphere @ UT is one where the groups treat eachother badly based on some kind of status....

To my knowledge, every group has strong numbers and excellent national support (admittedly, I don't know the numbers first hand), so the only thing that places some of those groups in the top tier is that they are the good ol' girl Texas blue blood groups (no offense to those groups, BTW - they have earned their place, but don't exist in a vacuum!). You said yourself that you don't want your social status to be the deciding factor of where you end up.

My brother, who was Greek @ UT several years ago never had a bad thing to say about any of the sororities, other than there were some who did not mix with his fraternity b/c it was too small (his org was recolonizing at the time). He told me that every group had something to offer, and that he thought it was a shame that so many women at UT don't take advantage of membership in the smaller groups just because they aren't considered the cool groups to be in. IMO? If I had gone to UT, I never would have rushed b/c the whole process would have completely intimidated me, and knowing what I know now, I really would have missed out...making it as far as you have is an accomplishment in itself, and speaks well of you for not being close minded and letting others decide for you.

Be honest with yourself-what are you going through recruitment for? If the answer is to enrich your college experience w/a meaningful sisterhood and countless wonderful memories, then don't worry about whether your group is upper echelon. Your sisterhood will last well beyond your 4-5 years @ UT!!!!! All of the groups there are wonderful national organizations that can provide you an enriching experience for the rest of your life.

Hang in there-it is up to you, but I strongly encourage you to at least embark on the new member/pledge process if you can. (I'm stopping short of begging...I just really cannot stress enough how life-changing being a part of a sorority is, and would hate for you to forego it w/o some real 1st hand experience beyond this hectic week.

Originally posted by dzandiloo

utexsagirl-
There are always going to be people who are so self-centered & caught up in the world of labels (e.g. "top tier", which I hate to even perpetuate by referring to it) that they will not think twice of thinking poorly of someone who is a member of a group that they do not consider the top. These are the same people who would rather miss out on true sisterhood than have to wear the letters of a group that they feel is beneath them (stupid & shortsighted!). This is true on every campus. I may be wrong, but I don't think the atmosphere @ UT is one where the groups treat eachother badly based on some kind of status....

To my knowledge, every group has strong numbers and excellent national support (admittedly, I don't know the numbers first hand), so the only thing that places some of those groups in the top tier is that they are the good ol' girl Texas blue blood groups (no offense to those groups, BTW - they have earned their place, but don't exist in a vacuum!). You said yourself that you don't want your social status to be the deciding factor of where you end up.

My brother, who was Greek @ UT several years ago never had a bad thing to say about any of the sororities, other than there were some who did not mix with his fraternity b/c it was too small (his org was recolonizing at the time). He told me that every group had something to offer, and that he thought it was a shame that so many women at UT don't take advantage of membership in the smaller groups just because they aren't considered the cool groups to be in. IMO? If I had gone to UT, I never would have rushed b/c the whole process would have completely intimidated me, and knowing what I know now, I really would have missed out...making it as far as you have is an accomplishment in itself, and speaks well of you for not being close minded and letting others decide for you.

Be honest with yourself-what are you going through recruitment for? If the answer is to enrich your college experience w/a meaningful sisterhood and countless wonderful memories, then don't worry about whether your group is upper echelon. Your sisterhood will last well beyond your 4-5 years @ UT!!!!! All of the groups there are wonderful national organizations that can provide you an enriching experience for the rest of your life.

Hang in there-it is up to you, but I strongly encourage you to at least embark on the new member/pledge process if you can. (I'm stopping short of begging...I just really cannot stress enough how life-changing being a part of a sorority is, and would hate for you to forego it w/o some real 1st hand experience beyond this hectic week. [/B]

co-sign! co-sign! co-sign!!! she could not have said it any better!!!!!!!!