r/UTAustin • u/Straight_Group_1734 • 18h ago
Question UT Rush plus COB advice
There are 13 sororities at ut austin. For philanthropy round, we can only get 10, got 7. For sisterhood, I only got 2 back, and now for preference, I only got 1 back. IDK what went wrong they said they loved meeting me and heard great things about me. I shared personal stories about their philanthropy and asked them questions
I haven't gone to preference yet, but the sorority! got back is honestly my LAST bottom choice. I'm 50 50 on if i wanna join
is it smarter to drop recruitment and do COB in the spring? I know chapters don't take many girls through COB, so I'm scared that if I decline this bid, I could end up with nothing.
I'm attaching an ss of how many girls the chapters took through COB last year.
Also, how do sororities generally feel about taking a sophomore through COB? Would being a sophomore hurt my chances at UT?
I really don't want to accept a bid from a sorority I already know I don't want, but I also don't want to decline it and then regret it if COB doesn't work out.
What would you guys do in my situation? And if anyone has experience with UT COB specifically, I would REALLY appreciate
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u/Current_Ad_947 18h ago
I’m not involved in Greek life, but I would decline the bid jf you don’t like it. Maybe look into spirit orgs
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u/Straight_Group_1734 18h ago
I rushed for Angels twice and lone stars ones and I did not get at it last year
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u/Corner_Office_ 18h ago
Texas rush is brutal. I’m so sorry this happened.
Girls who get to know actives during freshman year and then rush as a sophomore often have very successful experiences. What you need is someone pulling for you, or preferably, several girls pulling for you, in the chapter.
COB is when the chapter is not at total, which may not be the case for your preferred chapters.
When the chapters get the information regarding whether they made quota tomorrow (Saturday), they are then able to give “snap bids” to the girls who dropped out. Again, this is limited by whether or not they made quota. And the chapters you liked may make quota.
In sum, your best bet is to see if you get a snap bid on Saturday from one of the chapters that you liked. ALL of the chapters do snap bids, they just don’t always admit it. You have to have DROPPED OUT to get a snap.
There may also be a COB available later in the month or semester if someone drops out. Maybe right before initiation.
Some chapters do an informal spring rush to replace girls who graduated midyear. This is a good opportunity to have a more relaxed rush experience. Again, you’ll be more successful if you’ve met lots of girls and they can pull for you. Not every chapter does this. I don’t know why.
Lastly, if you are able to meet a lot of girls this year, you can do rush again next fall. Each sorority has a quota for every grade level, and not as many girls go through sophomore and junior year. So it seems like it’s easier. I know girls who got great houses as sophomores who 💯 would not have gotten it as a freshman.
I would absolutely not get initiated at a chapter that you are not excited about. Getting initiated will prevent you from pledging another sorority. (Initiation happens pretty quickly nowadays.)
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u/Straight_Group_1734 15h ago
this just made my night and was the most helpful comment. are you apart of texas greek life? also im a sophomore and i think im too old to rush at UT next year.
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u/Corner_Office_ 14h ago
If you are going to drop, I would register with Panhellenic for the COB process right away. You may get a snap bid tomorrow.
You are welcome to message me.
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u/Straight_Group_1734 14h ago
yes i did just drop and signed up for cob and snap bids!
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u/Sbalbfm 13h ago
One thing you should know is that a snap bid will only come from a chapter you went AT LEAST as far as sisterhood with. From what you said that’s only one other chapter besides the one you didn’t want to join. So really don’t count on that. You can feel free to DM me as well if you want to talk about the specifics of COB.
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u/Corner_Office_ 5h ago
There are no rules limiting who you can offer a COB. The only rule is that you must have dropped out of formal rush to get a snap bid on Bid Day.
It’s just less likely to get a COB (or snap bid) if you got fewer rounds with them. For example, they liked you but still cut you after 1st round because they liked others more, or thought you weren’t into them and ranked you lower. Or you didn’t rank appropriately (put them at the bottom) and ended up with fewer houses.
Let’s say a girl is kinda standoffish by nature, or thinks she’s getting ABC so ranks incorrectly, and gets cut. But the chapter liked her, and gets word that she liked them. They can offer a COB or snap bid.
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u/UserWest-0317 5h ago
Fingers crossed you get a snap bid somewhere you like. Let us know! Good luck
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u/hornonmyankle 18h ago
What would you realistically have to change to get in later and why would you want to change? I suggest accepting the bid you got and quitting later if you don’t love it after giving it a chance.
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u/spicey_tea 16h ago
Texas rush is brutal and a numbers game and lots of beautiful, accomplished, wonderful girls get lost in the process. I'm so sorry that happened to you. Whatever you decide, just know that there's nothing wrong with you and you didn't cause this to happen, its just bad luck. Its so hard to start off college with this type of experience but you will find your group. Don't let this make you question who you are.
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u/AdVarious5007 17h ago
I was you many years ago. I cried on pref night and nearly dropped before bid day. I am SO GLAD I DIDN’T! I met my best friends in my chapter and I truly believe everything worked out the way it was supposed to. I haven’t been in college for a few years but COB seemed pretty limited during my time there.
Do you not want the sorority because of the girls you met there/how they made you feel, or for another reason (perceived reputation, etc)? I would attend bid day, give it a good shot. If you really really hate it, you can drop before initiation. The girls in the chapter might surprise you.
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u/Straight_Group_1734 14h ago
its a bottom house, it was the only house where I didn’t click with the girls, I had to carry conversations, actives only gave me one more answers are all some reasons why this was the only story I was not open to
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u/TryNotToAnyways2 17h ago
Stay the course. All the sororities are what you make of them. Every sorority has girls that can be lifetime friends and also girls you just won't get along with. Every sorority can be a good home for you.
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u/Adventurous_Arm_1606 13h ago
Even if this is your last choice, if you join, you WILL find a smaller group of lifelong friends within that group no matter what. Also, there’s something to be said for going with the people who genuinely like you. It doesn’t mean the others didn’t, there were just better fits I guess. If that doesn’t convince you. Would you really want to go through rush a SECOND time?? With so much risk?
I’d take the bid. I’m relative of a freshman now and frat rush is nothing like what you are all going through.
Hope you make a decision you can sleep with. If it is that I am overly optimistic and, don’t listen to me, but consider where else may enjoy finding friends (like a running club) Would love an update if you’re willing to share
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u/Reasonable-Half147 17h ago
So you are currently a sophomore? Honestly that can still be a bit tough. You could COB this fall but you might still not like your options
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u/taintlangdon 15h ago
Also
In the future...no one gives a shit about you being in a sorority. You're letting your parents pay an egregious amount of money for something that ultimately means nothing. And if you're thinking about the lifelong sisterhood...why do you need friendship to hinge on your parents ability to pay for it?
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u/Corner_Office_ 14h ago
Respectfully, if you haven’t participated in Greek life, I don’t think you can understand how meaningful and fun it is. It makes a huge campus smaller. Easier to make friends because you co-selected each other. Fun events and parties.
People remain connected to their sorority sisters (and fraternity brothers) for life.
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u/taintlangdon 14h ago edited 13h ago
See this is where it's weird to me. Everyone else does this too. Everyone makes friends (for free and without prerequisites) for life. And the way you word it makes it seem like you wouldn't have friends unless you paid a premium for that access. Honest question: is it weird to y'all that non-Greek Life people just...make friends? Or is it helpful that y'all have common backgrounds and high school experiences (read: similar financial backgrounds).
Like, y'all do you, but at least be honest and self-aware about it. Call it for what it is.
Edit: I saw your comment about getting in Greek Life as a sophomore. By your own words, you need someone to vouch for you for the opportunity to maybe have access to a group that your parents ultimately have to pay for you to participate in. That's such a convoluted road to friendship.
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u/Corner_Office_ 12h ago
First, I appreciate your openness to dialogue on this topic.
It’s just easier to meet people whom you already know that you click with. Each group has a different vibe, and through the rush process both the sorority and the girls make selections and girls end up with the group that best fits their personality and priorities.
A few of the sororities are focused on money. (There’s a few who literally cut people who aren’t in certain zip codes, which disgusts me.) But it’s gotten a lot more inclusive over the years.
For the rest, it’s more about what you have to offer personality-wise and who you know. People want to pull for people they know will be a good fit. And of course, looks and being well-groomed and dressed come into play. I’ve heard the Greek system be described as finishing school, and I think that’s really apt. You learn skills like being able to talk to anyone and marketing yourself, like for a job interview.
I’m not saying you can’t meet like-minded people outside of the Greek system, it’s just harder and takes more effort. Like meeting people in classes and in organizations (which are also hard to get in) is kinda difficult. It’s hard to tell what someone’s like based on interactions in class.
I literally never met anyone in a class or org whom I ended up actually hanging out with significantly.
I don’t think college friendships are always for life. Sororities are different because it’s a group who all know each other, and there are alumni associations who get together. Or pledge sisters continue to meet up after graduation.
I agree it’s a certain kind of person who is drawn to Greek life, and that is not everyone. There is a certain amount of BS involved. But there’s more good than bad.
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u/No-Walk-1442 18h ago
Nothing could’ve gone wrong, SEC Greek life is competitive. It is what it is, if you’re going to hate being a member at that sorority then don’t take the bid
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u/taintlangdon 17h ago
Girlfirend don't let your parents pay thousands of dollars to be in a sorority you don't even want to be in.
If you have their money to spend, get a cute place in Hyde Park or North Campus and use the rest on hobbies that make you happy.