To Rush Or Not To Rush

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
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<p>Hi, I will be an incoming freshman girl next year at UT and I'm trying to decide whether I should rush a sorority. I've always wanted to be apart of a group of girls that felt like a sisterhood, that's why I kind of want to rush. However, people say the sororities at UT are really expensive and I do not want to make my parents pay sorority fees on top of tuition. And they seem to be overly competitive to get into and someone told me they are especially hard if you don't have an family ties or good connections. So i was wondering what are the pros and cons of joining a sorority?</p>

<p>Also, can any one give me opinions on what are the best sororities at UT? Most diverse? Most down-to-earth girls? Best all-around?</p>

<p>Also, can tell me what kind of hazing things they put rushees through? Hazing is also something that is making me unsure on rushing.</p>

<p>I know I asked a lot of questions, but if anyone could give me the answers to at least some, that would be greatly appreciated!!</p>

2

<p>My daughter went through rush and it was a really positive experience for her. She LOVES her sisters and her chapter and it has worked for her. With that said, the experience is not for everyone. The process can be brutal if you go in with a closed mind (ie, “what are the best houses on campus”) Going in with that attitude, will create doom before you even start. You will have to get letters of recommendation for each house, but local organizations in most major cities in Texas will coordinate that you for you. One thing you can do is to go to Roundup in the Spring and start meeting girls. It is “officially” not a recruitment event, and my daughter did not go, but now being on the other side, knows it has importance. </p>

<p>No one who truly knows the Greek System at UT will tell you who the “best houses” are, because the truth is, the all offer something wonderful and what is a great house for you can be a complete non-match for someone else. There are girls out there that have been preparing for rush since they were toddlers. The camps they attend, the people they socialize with, etc. You have to ignore all of that and just do the best you can (my daughter is the “do the best you can” group) People will speak of the “Big Six” and although the houses on that list are quality houses, they are resting on a status that was given to them from a Texas Monthly Article written in 1970’s. Some of what is said is still true, but much is VERY different. To 2-3 houses, daddy’s money matters, well not just his money, but who he is…who can the girls in the house say they have as a sister??..the President of Valero’s daughter?..the daughter of a Mayor or Senator?? You get the picture. So much so that they overlook quality girls and settle for ho-hum girls with stellar backgrounds. So ask yourself, do you want that in a sisterhood. Most say, no. The ones bred for this, say yes. IMO…this is what is negative about the system.</p>

<p>As far as hazing, in sororities as my daughter knows it, it simply not an issue. There are four girls in her suite, and they are all in different houses and not one has ever indicated for a second that anything inappropriate has ever happened. As a matter of fact, most chapters are sensitive to it, they even joke and say things like “don’t haze my sister” when one sister asks a pledge something simple like passing the salt at dinner or asking for a favor. The girls know it is forbidden but more importantly they honor their own sisterhoods by not emotionally or physically harming each other. Directly opposite. My daughter’s sisters have been so valuable in emotionally supporting her, she is a better person for it.</p>

<p>Cost. Ok it is expensive. I know there is a range printed on UT Panhellenic website that puts the due range in the $3500-$5000 ballpark. My daughter’s dues are in the top of that range and her merchandise bill can be high (all the t-shirts and hats, etc…because it never happened unless a T-Shirt was made…lol) Dues can be paid monthly, and we feel it has been worth it for what she is getting from it. Her dues also include some meals at the house. Now when and if you live at the house, it is typically cheaper than living at a dorm and certainly an apartment and the dues are built in, making year 2-4 much more cost effective.</p>

<p>One last word. Stay away from Greek Chat. The place is brutal. The women there typically (there are exceptions) are snarky and mean and could really care less if you like what they say. It is certainly not a positive reflection on the Greek community. For 95% of potential new members that visit that site, they eat you up and spit you up all over their screens.</p>

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<p>Hey I tried it and wound up absolutely hating it and thanking my lucky stars I got out and got my dues back, but at least I tried it so that I could see what it was like. No big deal, just didn’t turn out to be my cup of tea…</p>

<p>However:</p>

<p>They and have different names and faces, but their purpose is essentially the same: sisterhood. That’s what you should focus on. Test the waters and see which group you think would make a better pack of friends because for all that money that it does cost - just hope you get yourself in with girls you’re going to like being friends with. No sorority is perfect and no sorority girl is perfect. It’s a two way road - what you can do for them and what they can do for you. </p>

<p>You won’t know who’s actually “down to earth” and who just likes to say it until you’re around them so it’s a gamble.</p>

<p>Pros: the ‘‘feel of sisterhood’’, perhaps friends, connections, bonding, a social life, a nice place to socialize and live, yay fratty boys at mixers and parties, study groups
Cons: rules, fees, potential enemies, hurt feelings, judgement galore, getting labeled, to be honest you cannot lie to say you aren’t paying for friends</p>

<p>Of course I’m on the flat broke scale of college students so I wasn’t looking forward to those dues, but if your family has it then why not! </p>

<p>Good luck whatever you do! Be careful too!</p>

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<p>Thanks so much for your responses! They helped me get a better feel of the sororities. Do any of you know anything about spirit groups at UT. One of my friends at UT told me they are an alternative if someone doesn’t want to be in a sorority? She said they were sort of like sororities except not greek and less intense (her words exactly).</p>

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<p>First, congratulations on UT. Hook 'em.</p>

<p>If you’re contemplating it, I think you should at least try it out. One of my sons went to Texas as did several of his friends. It’s the norm to rush from their high school, so they all did fraternity/sorority rush, and had wonderful greek experiences. My spouse and I were also greek, though at a different school. I can’t tell you how much the friends you make there and the alumni contacts you develop will help you in the future. Two of my first jobs came through alumni.</p>

<p>That being said, it isn’t for everyone. UT is known as being one of the most competitive greek systems in the country, and it is a bit conformist. (The ubiquitous Nike shorts, Rainbow sandals, Jon Hart/Longchamp bags) Even high school seniors know that it’s Pi Phi, Kappa, Theta, rounded off by Chi-O, Tri-Delt, Zeta, in terms of the sororities that “count”. Is and always has been that way. As noted above, there are dues in thousands. Also consider that the dresses and shoes you need to buy for rush week are added expenses.</p>

<p>It needs to be said that the Texas greek system likes to be pretentious. Even top-tier there is nowhere near as “elite” as they like to think they are. Family ties (e.g. “legacy” status) helps, but is not a guarantee nor required. And, sure it helps if your dad is CEO of this or your mom is on the board of that, but it’s not required. It’s just another way of getting noticed. Keep in mind that all sororities will require recs, however. Pi Phi / Kappa / Theta are known for having feeder high schools (e.g. HPHS/Hockaday in Dallas; Memorial/Kinkaid/St. John’s in Houston; AHHS in San Antonio; Westlake/Austin in Austin) but that’s just a reflection that the girls in the houses know incoming girls from their own high schools. They also tend to live in Hardin House as freshmen.</p>

<p>The mid-tier has some gorgeous girls too; if caste isn’t important, and that seems like the least of your concerns, they’d be something less competitive to look into. They seem to be more open to other high schools; many of the suburbs are represented here. They include A-Phi, A-Chi-O, DG, ADPi.</p>

<p>Hazing is a topic that is never talked about. It happens, I’m sure, but probably more for guys. Girls, from what I understand, just receive baskets of gifts. And even if they are hazed, consider that they all survive. Some of the girls my son was friends with were so sheltered that they wouldn’t have made it through anything challenging.</p>

<p>Yes, Texas Spirits and Lone Stars are an alternative, and seem to be less competitive.</p>

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<p>Croakie is somewhat spot on, although I would say that some of the Big Six rest on the reputation that has been provided by history, not by current trend. Many “mid-tier” houses this year wrangled girls who in the past would have only gone Big Six because they offered deeper sisterhood as well as equally outstanding girls who could actually stand straight up without leaning on Daddy’s money. Some Big Six houses are so focused on where these girls come from and who bred them they are left with a house full of plastic fantastics with personalities to match. The Frats will mix with Big Six and above mentioned mids, yet tend to repeat more with a few of the Big Six and all of the mids as the girls actually have a tremendous amount to offer. There are a few Big Six that have crap grades, big egos and tons of money…they are in the house they are in because it was not only expected, it was planned from birth. Unfortunately they are so in love with themselves and each other, it makes it hard to play nice with others.</p>

<p>And yes, Hardin is almost all Greek and you will find a huge concentration of Pi Phis there, but you will find a large percentage of girls at SRD are also Greek and another example of how when girls choose living arrangements, SRD has so much more to offer facility wise, yet, some girls were just bred to be at Hardin. Reputation > Reality.</p>

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<p>I really hate to even bump this thread up for fear that impressionable 18 year old girls will read it. Collegeshopping…you are spot on regarding all of your observations…bravo for your posts!!
Croake…I feel that you are just perpetuating all that is wrong with the UT Greek System. It is very irresponsible to name tiers and very unpanhellenic as well. You need to remember that 18 year old girls are reading this board and will take what adults say as “the gospel”. Your information is coming from your son and some of his friends…unless you have a daughter that has gone through the process at UT, you cannot fully understand it.</p>

<p>Fortunately, some things have changed in the UT Greek system for the better. The Mid-tier is stronger than ever, because the Big 6 is forced to pass up on so many wonderful girls because they are not legacies or go to the “right” highschool. I would basically put every other sorority, excluding the Big 6, in the mid-tier. Every single sorority at UT has girls that are smart, beautiful, well connected, debutants, wealthy, not so weatlhy, ordinary, not so cute, heavy and not so smart…every single one…and they all have wonderful things to offer…</p>

<p>I will get off my soapbox for now…I just felt that I needed to clarify for the OP that UT has 14 GREAT sororities. The recruitment process is VERY competitive, but there is a place for everyone as long as you keep an open mind and dont buy into the crap the Big 6 is trying to sell…that is REALLY old news at UT…the saddest thing I can think of is the girls that drop out because they are led to believe that unless they get in the Big 6, they are nothing…this couldnt be farther from the truth!!</p>

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<p>Another word on the Big Six. The Big Six was a phrase coined by a Texas Monthly article “Sisterhood is Powerful” written back in September of 1976. Even though that was 35 years ago, for whatever reason some people insist on holding gospel as to the Greek System of UT. For goodness sake the minimum wage was $1.25 back then and it is not the only thing that has changed. But as much as things have changed, some have stayed the same. Of the houses mentioned in the article, some of those members today still believe that just because Prudence MacIntosh said they were awesome, means they are awesome today. The backgrounds of most of these girls are similar to their 40 year older sisters, but I believe that is where the similarity ends. GPA leaders today were not even on Prudence MacIntoch’s radar back in the day, and the division between the Big Six and everyone else was a very distinct line in the sand. </p>

<p>Today that line is extremely blurry, and some would even say the Big Six exists only because Prudence MacIntosh says it does. If you could un-ring her bell, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who would unilaterally place theses same houses on the UT Greek high horse. They are there, simply because of history. There are many girls in what Croake calls “mid-tier” sororities (and I use that term very cautiously as I feel it a very degrading term toward the girls that find themselves in the houses Croake called out…I also feel “caste” is an extremely harsh term, since greek affiliations between Universities can be extremely variable, what is number 1 at UT can be bottom of the bucket at Alabama) that cut Big Six houses because their reality simply did not match their reputation. </p>

<p>Rush is extremely individual. You will always have those girls that want to pledge XYZ because some famous person was an XYZ or because her Junior League mother insists it is “the best” sorority EVER at UT. And pledging anything “less” would embarrass her mother straight out of Julian Gold. Ridiculous right? </p>

<p>But the resulting product of that, are Big Six houses that are filled with shallow shells of girls that thought that is what they wanted, only to be disappointed with the lack of sisterhood that comes with omnipotent thinking. Don’t get me wrong. There are Big Six houses that have dynamic and wonderful sisterhoods. But there are some that don’t. Don’t drink the Big Six cool-aid. Be the independent, academically achieving young women you are, the one that got you in the doors of UT and keep your mind and heart open and you will have a successful rush.</p>

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<p>GREAT post Collegeshopping!!</p>

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<p>I am thinking about rush or not too next fall when I will transfer to UT. I think that I am a little scared. I’ve always been a shiny girl particularly around new people. but when I get to know them I can be the craziest girl they had never seen. today i want to change. I want a social life with friends, true friends. that is why I am thinking about rushing. the other part is that I am black, pretty smart(4.0 GPA),I am not from here(I am from France) and I will be a transfer student (sophomore). All these things scared me. I think that because of that maybe I will be rejected. I really don’t know if I have a chanceto get into a sorority.</p>

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<p>I’m currently in a UT sorority, so I’d like to add in my perspective for y’all to consider. </p>

<p>Rush is brutal. It is a very long week, and not everyone makes it through for a number of reasons. There is a very good chance that is is not for you, but the only way to find out is to try it. I did not even consider going Greek until just before I got to UT, and, looking back, it was the best decision I could have made. </p>

<p>There are lots of stereotypes, that is unavoidable. Each house has it’s own stereotype both nationally and on campus. My advice is don’t listen to “what people say” (unless they are people you personally know and trust) about ANY house, because there are always exceptions and it is easy to make judgements from the outside looking in. </p>

<p>It is expensive. However, much of your dues will go towards your housing, and in the end it is sometimes cheaper than having to live outside of the house. For those who say you are “buying your friends,” that is utterly untrue. You are not paying anyone to be friends with you. Some of your money, the bit that isn’t for housing and national dues, goes towards events you’ll attend with your friends. It is no different than paying to go to a movie or out with non-greek friends, you just pay all at once at the start instead of at each meal and event. </p>

<p>Try not to stress about if you’ll get accepted or not. Just focus on getting the most out of rush and the experience. It is difficult to get to really talk to the girls during rush, because it all happens so fast, but if a house is right for you, you’ll just feel it. Trust me. </p>

<p>If rush isn’t for you, or you don’t find the feeling you’re looking for in a house, don’t fret. There are other sororities that have a much more informal recruitment, including one panhellenic sorority, so it might just be that you need a different recruitment environment to find what you’re looking for. If that’s not it, look into spirit groups, which are very much like sororities minus the expensive dues and houses. There are also tons of other clubs and organizations on campus. No matter what, you’ll find somewhere to fit in. </p>

<p>I would love to answer any other greek questions you may have, feel free to direct message me if you have any- as a former recruitment chair for my sorority, I am all about encouraging all incoming longhorns to rush and would love to help you find your home :)</p>

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<p>How difficult is it to get into a sorority if you are an out of state student? Will sororities not consider you because of that? Plus, I hear you have to get letters of recommendation…?</p>

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<p>Out of State girls rush and are successful just like in-state girls. As for letters of recommendation (LOR) yes, you will need those. They can be obtained from you local panhellenic office and you can just google for instance “Seattle Washington Panhellenic” and the office should pop up. They will get you in contact with alum from that area that are willing to write LOR. You should also ask around. Especially teachers…you may be surprised how many Greek women are out there. But get started very, very soon. Letters should be in no later than the end of April.</p>

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<p>Great! Thanks so much for answering my questions!!</p>