Even if you transfer, don't you still have a college GPA that the sororities will see? (The answer would be yes.) I transferred schools and still had to put my college GPA on my recruitment application.

I am not sure about your situation with 'not having a GPA after transferring', but I think this is bad advice to give to other people. No sorority is just going to believe that you don't have a GPA if you transfer after the first semester of freshman year.

Not only that, but it pains me to see anyone suggest transferring schools just to be Greek.

If a girl wants to transfer schools, let it be for valid academic reasons...not because she might have a better chance at recruitment.

I agree with smiley. That's some bad advice up there.

I highly suggest that you seriously take what other people here are saying to heart. You need to be releastic.

I would go as far as to say not to even think about recruitment until next spring at the earliest. You don't want to "barely" get in a sorority (if that is possible). Work on your grades and make yourself highly desirable academically. Get as far away from academic probation as possible! Take advice from someone who experienced academic probation very early in college. I went through a lot of hardship in college and had to take 7 years to finish a 4 year degree. I had to wait until junior year (also known as college year number 5) before I even had a successful recruitment. I won't go into detail but I had to concentrate on school before I could realistically consider rush.

Do yourself a favor and don't be so concerned about recruitment until you are "not struggling" academically.

I agree with those who are pointing out that your education should be your priority. You don't have to forget about Greek Life, but taking the time to improve yourself academically would be a win-win for you. First you would improve your academic standing and you would be a stronger candidate. Good Luck!

I agree... but the poster who suggested that appears to have a small history in suggesting transferring schools in order to be greek

You may want to inquire if they look at cumulative gpa or last semester's gpa. It is hard to bring up a cumulative quickly, but one good term shows your level of academic commitment. It is worth asking your panhellenic adviser on campus about.

Good luck.

According to JMU's sorority recruitment application / registration document:

"ACADEMIC RECORD RELEASE: I understand that to apply for recruitment, I must be a regularly enrolled, full-time student in good standing with James Madison University with a 2.0 or better cumulative GPA. Every chapter's GPA requirements will be listed in the recruitment booklet you will receive at the orientation session. I authorize James Madison University's Student Organization Services Office and Panhellenic Council to verify my academic eligibility."

https://secureapp.icsrecruiter.com/I...%20Recruitment

So it looks like JMU takes "cumulative" into consideration.


Edited to add: What I find a little unnerving is that JMU's Greek Life and/or Panhellenic evidently has "every chapter's GPA requirements," but they aren't giving them out until the orientation session -- is that right? Unless several chapters have a 2.0 requirement, I can just imagine the fun when a few PNMs show up at orientation, only to discover that they have, for all practical purposes, no chance.

Maybe JMU is just following the classic verse by Thomas Gray:

"Yet ah! why should they know their fate?
Since sorrow never comes too late,
And happiness too swiftly flies.
Thought would destroy their paradise.
No more; where ignorance is bliss,
'Tis folly to be wise."

Something else to keep in mind ... Assuming that you have the grades to apply for recruitment AND assuming you do not get cut because of grades AND assuming you are offered AND accept a bid, you will still have to make and maintain a minimum GPA academically to become initiated into an organization. I'm sure that it varies by organization but many only allow you to be a provisional member for so long (maybe 2 semesters) before you are released due to grades. You're then stuck waiting another calendar year before you would be eligible to go through the process again (would this be your senior year?).