Recruitment Frequently Asked Questions

    • Virtual Opening Convocation- Monday August 11th 

    • Open House- Sunday, August 17th  

    • Philanthropy Day 1- Monday, August 18th

    • Philanthropy Day 2- Tuesday, August 19th

    • Sisterhood Day 1- Wednesday, August 20th 

    • Sisterhood Day 2- Thursday, August 21st

    • Preference- Friday, August 22nd

    • Bid Day- Saturday, August 23rd

  • A woman is eligible to participate in recruitment and join a sorority if:

    • They are a regularly matriculated student at UT Austin which means they are enrolled and have been granted full-time status.

    • They are not a new member or initiated member of a National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sorority.

    • They are participating in the Pathway to Admission through Co-Enrollment, also known as PACE

      • Each sorority has individual membership requirements and membership decisions are the sole responsibility of the organization. We would encourage you to consult with the national organizations should you have questions about eligibility requirements.

    Each sorority sets its own membership requirements, and all membership decisions are made exclusively by the organization. If you have questions about eligibility criteria, we encourage you to reach out directly internalrecruitment@texaspanhellenic.com.

  • Students who are not physically present in Austin for the upcoming fall term are ineligible to participate in sorority recruitment.

  • Register for Panhellenic recruitment using the online application.

    The registration page will open on June 2, 2025. The link to the page can be found online at texaspanhellenic.com/fall-2025-recruitment-registration. Registration closes Thursday, August 1, 2025 at 11:59pm.

    Please wait to register until you have a final high school GPA. No paper applications will be accepted.

  • The registration fee is $185.00 This fee is due at the time of registration.

    Payment can only be made electronically. The registration fee is non-refundable.

  • When registering for Primary Recruitment, please have the following items ready in an electronic format (PDF, DOC, DOCX, or PNG):

    • A recent photo – This helps chapters recognize and remember you throughout the week.

    • Transcripts

      • For Freshman or Transfer Students - High school transcript, dual enrollment/credit transcripts, and/or any college transcripts not from The University of Texas at Austin (if applicable).

      • For Continuing UT Students - any college transcripts not from The University of Texas at Austin (if applicable). We do not need your HS transcript.

    • Resume – A social or academic resume outlining your high school/college involvement, interests, awards, and achievements.

    • Academic Information – Final GPA, class rank, and standardized test scores.

    All information is shared with chapters in this process; however transcripts are only seen by the Panhellenic recruitment processing team for verification purposes.

  • Potential New Members (PNMs) interested in joining a sorority will have the opportunity to meet different chapters to find their best fit. Primary Recruitment is structured into four rounds that take place over the course of several days, each highlighting a unique aspect of sorority life, such as philanthropy, sisterhood, and core values.

    As recruitment progresses, both PNMs and sororities participate in a mutual selection process. After each round, PNMs submit their preferences with the chapters they would like to revisit, while sororities extend invitations to PNMs they would like to invite back. This process ensures that both PNMs and chapters have a role in shaping their recruitment experience and potential membership.

  • During recruitment events, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in conversations with active members while also viewing presentations that highlight the theme of each round (i.e. Philanthropy, Sisterhood). This allows you to learn more about each chapter and its values in a meaningful way. Our chapters enjoy welcoming PNMs with spirited cheering and singing as they enter and exit the house. It can get loud, but we aim for it to create an exciting and fun atmosphere!

  • A legacy is generally defined as a sister, daughter, or granddaughter of an initiated sorority member. However, each sorority may have its own specific legacy criteria and policies. Please note that many national organizations have recently updated their legacy policies regarding recruitment. For any questions about these changes, please refer directly to the respective national organization website.

  • Yes, sophomores, juniors and seniors can register and participate in Primary Recruitment.

  • You will reside in your designated housing for the school year. To ensure a smooth transition, contact your residence hall or housing complex to confirm your move-in date and make any necessary arrangements for early move-in, if required. Please note that early move-in may incur a prorated cost.

    On Campus Move-In for Primary Recruitment Participants

    Students participating in the University Panhellenic Council’s Primary Recruitment will move into their assigned on-campus residence hall early for the 2025–2026 academic year on Saturday, August 16th, 2025. Students who need to request an exemption to this move-in date, must email internalrecruitment@texaspanhellenic.com, otherwise, students living on campus will automatically be signed up for early move in on August 16th. 

    Please note: This move-in option is available only to students living on campus for Fall 2025 and participating in Primary Recruitment. Students living in private residence halls or off-campus apartment complexes, should coordinate directly with those properties about early move-in needs. All Primary Recruitment participants need to be in Austin available to participate in Recruitment on Sunday, August 17th.

    Move-In Cost Details 

    The early move-in rate is $100 per night: 

    • This rate includes both your move-in accommodation and select meals on Saturday, August 16th – Sunday, August 17th. The cost breakdown is $76 room fee + $24 in dining credit per day. 

    • Your Unlimited meal plan for the regular semester will start Monday, August 18th, 2025. 

    • The cost will be placed on your WhatIOwe profile.  

    Primary Recruitment Registration Information

    • Do not register for Primary Recruitment until you have received your room assignment, as you will need to provide your residence hall and room number on the registration form. 

    • When selecting housing, if your selected room is occupied for summer term housing, your room assignment may be changed. 

    • For information and on selecting your room, please email housing@austin.utexas.edu or visit this website.  

    If you have any questions about Primary Recruitment move-in, please contact internalrecruitment@texaspanhellenic.com.

  • No, chapter houses are within walking distance of most student housing. No potential new member should be using a car or be escorted from one chapter facility to the next by anyone except the UPC recruitment team.

    To ensure Potential New Members can travel efficiently between houses that are farther apart, the University Panhellenic Council provides privately chartered buses. UPC will also make reasonable accommodations for potential new members who communicate their needs.

  • Yes! Sorority and Fraternity Life hosts an information session for families, and the University Panhellenic Council offers a late-night social event for students during each orientation session.

    We highly encourage you to attend both, as they provide valuable insights into Sorority and Fraternity Life at The University of Texas at Austin. Find information about the late-night socials on our Instagram.

  • Yes! You can still participate in Primary Recruitment even if you have an orientation session in August. Our Sorority and Fraternity Life staff will have a list of all students participating in both August Orientation and Primary Recruitment, but please email internalrecruitment@texaspanhellenic.com if you have other conflicts during that time. We have a long history of helping students balance both events but be prepared to be flexible!

  • UPC’s Primary Recruitment occurs in August before classes begin, but some sororities may continue recruiting throughout the year through a process called Continuous Open Bidding (COB). COB is available when a chapter has open spaces and elects to recruit to fill those vacancies. Each sorority manages its own recruitment process and it tends to be more casual.
    For more information about COB, feel free to be in touch with the Sorority and Fraternity Life office or we recommend reaching out directly to the sororities you’re interested in, via their social media platform or website.