@Longhorns061012 Do you know how soon before orientation the Math Readiness Package and the ALEKS and Spatial Visualization assessments need to be completed? Also, any advice on what sources to use to research specific professors/classes?
@goincrazy I have no idea how to answer your questions, but I have advise for the spatial visualization thing: MAKE SURE YOU SET YOUR OWN TIMER. There’s this timer on the top of the page, and I wasted like 30 seconds trying to look at it and find where I left off. I bombed it because I couldn’t pace myself properly, so I was like halfway through the assessment when the timer ended.
@imthereal Good advice! Thanks for helping! Have you done the math readiness package and online ALEKS?
@goincrazy No problem! I actually took ALEKS right before I took the spatial test. Don’t stress because it wasn’t bad at all. I honestly didn’t remember any trig or precal (took the classes 2+ years ago), but I got a score well above what was required. Google is your best friend, lol.
hahah the math assessment is a joke. I took the Aleks, used a graphing calculator, the internet, and other resources and scored like an 80. So it was fairly difficult. Then i got to orientation, felt like I didn’t know anything and guessed on a lot of questions. I had already come to terms with failing it, and let it sink in that I might have to bear down and study to refresh some things. I got an 81. They curve it big time and the ALEKS is not an accurate representation of the in-person assessment’s rigor. Not that i’m complaining! But yeah, it’s pretty 'lax
@MaineLonghorn Yes, they open some additional seats per session. Still many classes are already waitlisted or closed. Especially UGS courses, which makes sense. The other thing I would say is that the additional seats opened up are helpful for guaranteeing that all people have access to certain classes, but these same classes with better professors or better time slots still tend to be rather elusive the later you go to orientation.
I posted this in the stickied orientation thread but I’ll repost it here because it’s relevant.
I just got back from orientation, by the way.
And just as a disclaimer, the possibilities for guys are a lot more limitless simply due to the differences in fraternity and sorority rush practices at Texas.
10:30 hits and the last mandatory session lets out, there are several little university sanctioned things one can go to (plays, dances, etc.), and many do, so there’s that. Then, for those feeling more adventurous there’s several Audi’s, Mercedes, Range Rovers, etc. owned by fraternity members outside of Jester and The Brazos Garage piling in any guy with a polo on. Don’t be afraid to just hop in, I did so for a Sigma Chi event, and ended up getting to go to a $3,000 bar tab on 6th street. Life’s better with a fake ID, but you’ll be quenched of thirst someway or another regardless. There are lots of tabs happening during orientation, but if you don’t wanna go to a bar tab, go to a party. The most insane party I got to go to was at the ATO house. There’s easily 5 or 6 concurrent games of beer pong and if you can’t find a girl to talk to, you aren’t looking. At ATO, and at SigEp, KA, FIJI, and SAE get ready to rage. Smaller frats throw kickbacks and barbecues and stuff for the tamer souls. Lambda Chi Alpha has no hazing, or pledgeship and all that so them and TKE are the best for those looking for less action. The frats I mentioned before haze balls (after rush of course), so know what you’re walking into. If you don’t wanna party, there are some frats where people are sitting around in a circle and passing things calmly. There’s also often concerts, for example ZBT paid to have Riff Raff perform during my session, but the concert took place at the SigEp house due to SigEp’s current good standing with the fire marshalls and ZBT’s lack there of.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING: At Orientation you’re told to be back in your room by 2:30 AM. Anyone who comes back later does see consequences. HOWEVER, those who do not come back at all, or come back in the very early AM (7-ish) are fine. The people who come back late, get caught; while those who don’t come back at all and attend their first mandatory orientation activity the next day are fine. All the frats get people back on time, but if you decide not to go back, many of the frats will allow you to sleep there and you will be fine.
Lastly, I didn’t pay for a single thing, ever. I didn’t swipe my meal card a single time on campus because I was with fraternity guys eating Torchy’s, Hopdaddy’s, Toasty’s, etc. on the frat’s bill. They use meals as an opportunity to talk to guys and get to know them, so they’re happening left and right. Of course at a bar tab, all the drinks are on the tab and thus, free. Even if you don’t plan of pledging a frat TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE FREE STUFF by rushing. It’s awesome.
To all, just be safe and be smart. The opportunities to make unbelievable memories are all there and the freedom parallels college itself. Just bring condoms, intake your alcohol responsibly, and know when you have to be where.
Or you could be like me and leave a frat party after 5 minutes because you don’t want some sleazy frat boy drugging your cup of diluted alcohol. I wish I went to Thunderground, in retrospect.
@imthereal That’s a stereotype if I’ve ever heard one. Lol
As a confident male, I certainly don’t need to stoop to that level, nor would I allow a brother of mine to do something like that.
Being in a fraternity is just about being a part of something bigger than yourself. Fraternities are huge on philanthropy and are active presences on campus.
Being in one doesn’t mean you’re sleazy, an alcoholic, financially illiterate, or misogynistic.
I’m not saying bad things don’t happen, and I certainly wouldn’t encourage anyone to stay at a place, or frat party where they’re uncomfortable, so I can understand you leaving…
But if that superficial characterization of fraternities and their members is your sole reason for not even spending 5 minutes in the environment or adequately getting to know a single fraternity member before making such a judgement, you’re not really someone I care to be around either.
@Pikidikitiki For the record, I was with friends who were equally uncomfortable, and we all decided to leave as a group. There were some guys trying to get girls extremely inebriated, and that in itself made me uncomfortable. Pretty much all of the girls there were drunk, lol. When we first entered, I also noticed that only the guys in our group were greeted, which could be for recruiting reasons, but it did seem a bit misogynic. I would assume that a good party host would attempt to initiate conversation with an entering guest if noticed. The party I went to did encompass the frat stereotype in most aspects, and not in a good way.
I’m definitely not a fan of frats from my experience, but I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. I’m no longer planning on rushing (though the sorority members I talked to did seem very nice, and maybe I would’ve enjoyed their party more than the one I went to). I also would like to make sure I am on top of my studies. I don’t think skipping orientation events and/or coming back way past curfew or in the morning is a good indicator of responsibility in future coursework, so Greek life probably wouldn’t align well with my interests. I’m going to go ahead and assume you’re not an engineering major, so it doesn’t seem like we’ll have to stick around each other anyway. Regardless, have a nice day and hook 'em, fellow classmate.
@imthereal
It’s unfortunate that whichever fraternity you and your friends went to epitomized and perpetuated the stereotype that you’re rightfully averse to. I hate to hear that, but it is what it is. And just as a discretionary note, the girls who are rushing sororities at Texas are typically discouraged from attending fraternity sponsored parties anyway until after their formal recruitment is complete and bids have been distributed. So the girls you saw aren’t necessarily the one’s who will be around during the school year. Regardless of who they were, intentionally getting them drunk with malintent rather than the pursuit of good times is definitely shallow. And yes, when you stepped foot in the frat house you should’ve been welcomed and acknowledged as a guest. By only doing so for the guys, they dropped the ball. For what its worth, I intend to be a more open and accommodating host for the girls who will inevitably cross my path in the future.
And as much as I respect the notion that staying out late and enjoying myself was irresponsible and not right for everyone. I adamantly refute the notion that it’s in any way, shape, or form indicative of responsibility in future coursework. I work hard for everything I have, including the opportunity to sit in classrooms that I’m paying thousand’s of dollars to be lucky enough to participate in. My late nights don’t blur my priorities, or negatively affect my motivation to propel my life forward at all times. You’re right, I’m no engineer, but I will be studying at the McCombs school of business in the fall which is pretty widely acclaimed and merit-able itself. We have two fundamentally different approaches to life, but we’re both smart and we’re both gonna be successful. I don’t wanna party with you, ever, lol but I’m still proud to have you as a classmate. UT has 50,000 people and the differences in views and approaches is a really good thing for everyone in the end anyways. Best of luck to you.