That's not my place to say. I'm sure the NPHC chapters are a very strong draw. There is probably a stigma around women of color even trying to rush at a school like this. I would imagine the freakishly small number of women of color in the chapters now feels a lot like tokenism to the girls contemplating their choices (it's not my place to determine what is or is not tokenism because I don't know these women). I think the system could do a better job at getting a diverse group of girls to rush, and this badly written article was probably an effort in that direction. This isn't major league baseball where it only took 1 guy and then the floodgates opened. It's going to take time and effort because joining a sorority, as we all know is about friendships and a feeling of belonging, not meeting racial quotas or looking good on paper.

Perhaps we need a second Ole Miss thread for the diversity discussion.

A dear friend has presented me with a terrible quandry. Yes, I've given the snowflake talk.

PNM is absolutely lovely, gorgeous even, OOS, good family, well behaved, tons of activities, Greeks all over the family tree, and a 2.7 to 2.8 GPA. What should they do? To rush Ole Miss or not rush Ole Miss? If not now, when? And if not Ole Miss where?

GO

How about SMU where they have deferred rush and she can have a semester to pull her QPA out of the toilet?

Or, um, does she just not have the intellectual capacity?

My first question for your quandry-ridden PNM is this: why is her GPA where it is? Was she a slacker in high school? Are there extenuating circumstances that can be explained in a recommendation? Or is that simply her trying her hardest? I think the solution to her problem will change depending on why her GPA is so low, but deferred rush does sound like a good idea for her, especially if she was involved enough in high school to have a good resume otherwise.

Deferred rush is not really an option at Ole Miss.

No it isn't.

No it isn't. Freshman year provides the best opportunities as there are Chapters that won't consider a sophomore.

YIKES MP!!!!! a couple of questions-- does she know anyone currently "in house" down there? i.e. someone who can lobby for her and convince their sisters that she really may not be a grade risk?? (As you know this would be a lot more helpful if the active just happened to be in one of the girls legacy houses)...

Secondly-- what is the HS's grading scale? I know up here with all of the super competitive private schools a 2.7-2.8 isn't "that bad"- especially when the grading scale can be as high as out of 5... if she IS at one of those schools- she can always add to her rush packet "un-weighted" --- meaning if it was brought up to scale it would be more like a 3.6--- (I know times have changed but when I went through down there I put both my weighted (4.2) and unweighted (3.5) GPA's down and noted each as such--- all though come to think of it I actually think my official hs transcript also was listed like that-- based on which honors and AP classes you took-- )

Finally, NO deferred is NOT an option-- the only option that would be somewhat feasible would be for her to do a year at a community college, get the grades up and then transfer-- but even then she would be an OOS sophomore --which we both know how detrimental THAT would be....

I guess my advice would be to tell her to go on through but be prepared for MASSIVE cuts. I know every once in a while a sorority WILL make a grade exception for a truly exceptional candidate-- but she will need to realize that this is more the exception than the rule. I honestly think at Ole Miss that she would be more at a disadvantage NOT going through than going through and risking grade cuts....

(also you asked if not Ole Miss than where--- aren't grade mins set by IO and not indiv. chapters?? Meaning even if she did go somewhere else that she would face the same issues--- at least at Ole Miss houses are so large that I can see an exception being made with a pledge class of 100 versus a pledge class of 25-- if that makes sense????--)

HQ/IO grade requirements for some of the 26 NPC GLO's can be as low a GPA as 2.5. For some GLOs local by-laws may vary somewhat with the HQ/IO number being the floor and not the ceiling.

Ole Miss Panhellenic has run the statisics, and they see that students below a 3.0 are cut outright or drop out before signing their Bid Card (a/k/a MRABA.) In fact many ONMs that are cut will give the story that they chose to withdraw. And as s I mentioned in the very first post, everyone knows/hears of that one snowflake that made the bid list of ABC instead of ending up bidless or in XYZ (you know "that" chapter,) but there were factors beyond public knowledge that led to that bid.

interesting on the grades like I said (or maybe didn't say but thought) not a grade expert just somehow had in my head it was an IO thing and not chapter- but what you said makes sense :-)

I still come back to the if not Ole Miss than where-- would she end up transferring to Ole Miss after a year? Even then, there is no guarantee that she will affiliate, and you know as well as I do, how "cliquey" even the "best/ most accepting" of Ole Miss sororities are- so even if she did affiliate would she "fit in"....

I guess it really boils down to whether or not this girl has her heart set on Ole Miss or on being in a sorority. I still don't think the two are mutually exclusive, but it will be an uphill rush (sorry recruitment :-) ) for her with the GPA. If being in a sorority is more important to her than which school she is at, I suggest she look at the schools where she applied and were accepted and find out which one either has the "bare minimum" GPA for recruitment or does second semester formal recruitment.

Best of luck to her (AND TO YOU!!!--- ugh what an awful situation to be put in to advise :-) )

Deferred rush is an excellent idea, but I am struggling to think of a Southern school that she could attend with that GPA. She can't even sniff SMU. Their freshman class will be 3.5s and above and most from college prep private schools.

Vandy, Tulane, W&L, UVA and Emory are also out. I'm seriously doubting Baylor as well, but of all of those it is the least competitive admission-wise.

I can't think of a single Southern public university with deferred recruitment.

Spring Hill College in Mobile AL is not public, but it does have a deferred recruitment.

Or could she take one semester at a community college, study hard and get great grades, then take the next semester to build her community involvement resume?
With only 1 semester of college, would the Ole Miss GLO's still consider her a freshman?

It really wouldn't help her to take 1 semester at CC and transfer to Ole Miss to try sorority rush. Very few chapters participate in informal/ Spring recruitment.

Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly, but isn't Alpha Phi planning to colonize in 2015 at Ole Miss? If she likes the school and wants to go right away, and things don't work out the first time or she decides not to go through recruitment, would she consider colony recruitment as a sophomore? That might be something for her to think about when making her decisions, and she would have some time to improve her grades.

Actually, she could take the Spring semester off (work, volunteer) and start the next Fall.

Well, that means:
- 1st semester freshman yr at CC
- 2nd semester no school at all
- Then enroll at Ole Miss and rush in the fall as a 2nd semester freshman
as an OOS student.

Seems really risky. I really don't know that this idea would be successful at Ole Miss either, but I guess not impossible if her grades at CC were stellar.

Sequins here needs some help understanding the scenario. If she is a current HS senior, isn't there a chance that she can pull up her GPA this semester before graduating? It's not over yet. Another thought, with its own risks, taking a couple of classes this summer to show a university-level (versus HS) effort?

I believe Christopher Newport has Spring recruitment, but as popular as CNU is becoming, it isn't an Ole Miss experience. A very different vibe: new versus traditional. Other Virginia schools with deferred recruitment: Richmond (private) and VT.

ComradesTrue,

UVa is a Southern public ivy. : )
But that's a moot point for this discussion.

Another thought, but first a question. How do the Ole Miss sororities view sophomore transfers from smaller schools that do not have Greek Life or instead have locals or only 1-2 chapters (for example, Agnes Scott or Hollins or Stephens)? Some of these schools will also present academic entry barriers, but there may be schools with limited Greek life that may be accessible to her.

I am also confused about how these low GPA students are even getting into a flagship school.

There is no way for a single semester to bring up 3 1/2 yrs of mediocre GPA. Just too late :(

True, true. Just wondering if it was possible to squeeze it to a 2.9.

No matter the creativity of our musings, it really boils down to attending Ole Miss and really working at becoming a solid student. She might step up her game and blossom, or she may find college even more challenging (in which event sorority engagement really is too much).

Ole Miss ladies, in the low gpa scenario that has been discussed, would the young woman fair better by not rushing as a freshman, concentrating on her grades, protecting her reputation, and getting involved on campus (especially in clubs or activities that sorority women might also be members of), so that she meets grade requirements and has established friendships with sorority women, which sets her up for sophomore rush,

or,

would it be better to rush fall 2014 with her low gpa and hope that some chapter will be willing to take on a grade risk?

I am afraid that I don't see either of those scenarios leading to a bid. Not impossible, but not good choices. I guess if I had to pick one, it would be sophomore rush with good grades.

I have to both agree and disagree with thealady- I agree that I don't see either scenario leading to a bid- like she said, not impossible, but very very hard. But if I had to pick one, I would say rush 2014 with low GPA and hope for someone to take her. I fear with Alpha Phi coming in 2015 her choices as a sophomore would be EXTREMELY limited. I would imagine (don't know and don't quote or hold me to it, but just assume) that much like this year when ADPi came on, they will halt upperclassman quota-- thus unless she has a "near perfect" freshman year- making the right connections, getting a kick-a$$ GPA, keeping her rep. clean, etc.. etc... her choices in 2015 will be extremely limited, however, colony might be the best option for her if she has interest....

oops meant THETAlady-- (not thealady) so much for fast typing and not proofing :-)

I know every situation & girl is different but for what it's worth, here's my somewhat personal story, my DD is a soph. at Ole Miss. Her roommate went to a college prep school OOS and was a grade risk (with a 2.8). She knew that it would be tough but decided to go through anyway last year. She was released by all but 1 after the first round. She found out later, the sorority who invited her to skit had invited several of the grade risks that they were interested in so more girls would have another chance to meet them but they were only taking 1 or 2 of those! She didn't make the cut. Fast forward to sophomore year - she didn't make much better grades or get involved in other activities but tried again with even less success. However, she was successful in her interview and recruitment and was thrilled to be an upper classman to help start A D Pi. I don't know how many upper classmen they took or how many grade risks but they did colonize a large chapter.

Since neither option (going through recruitment this year or waiting to go through as a sophomore) is that viable, is the Alpha Phi colony her best choice? She has time to get her grades up since it isn't until next year, though I'd hate to put all her eggs in one basket.

If she has gotten accepted into the school with her current grades, I'd probably go through in the fall and make the best of it, fully understanding what will probably happen. Then when it does, go about getting/keeping outstanding grades along with a full social life. If she has the grades as a sophomore and has made friends with sorority women along the way, she could have an unexpectedly successful sophomore experience. If she doesn't have outstanding grades at the end of her freshman year, then sorority involvement at a school like this probably isn't in the cards for her.

But she might as well give it a shot.

She could try it this year...if it doesn't work out and she manages to get good grades, she might be appealing the next fall during the colonization -- she won't have the "we already cut you last year" baggage with Alpha Phi.

Due to the limited desire for grade risk PNMs, it's important that the PNM keep an open mind or she risks not being Greek at all, whether as a Freshman or as a Sophomore. Some Ole Miss Chapters do not consider Sophomores at all.

And since the season for sending out recruitment packets is here, I thought I would add more detailed information on that subject.

The importance of Letters of Reference, Recommendations, et cetera, is twofold: 1) to check a box that the PNM has one; and 2) to let the chapter know about the PNM. The amount of PNM support a rec/ref provides is dependent on the quality of the rec/ref itself, and therefore dependent on the writer and the PNM. If it's bland or pro forma it will just fulfill that box check requirement.

The crux of the matter comes when the PNM seems attractive to the chapter and the chapter now wants to know more about her. If she is already known to the chapter then the pro forma rec/ref is fine. If she is not well known, or perhaps unknown, then a informational ref/rec is needed. The unknown/less well known PNM needs the additional boost to go beyond the chapters mere interest. Chapters use all information received to study the PNM, they use that information in recruitment to connect with her, and if she is a rush crush to promote her within the chapter.

It is old school to look at the number of ref/recs or letters of support when evaluating an PNM. I cannot speak to how old school any of the chapters here at Ole Miss are as that is clearly a membership selection area. Since recruitment gifts of food and flowers in support of a PNM are no longer permitted, the extra letters and rec/refs may now seem the only avenue available. I cannot know how additional letters and rec/refs would be received at the various chapters at Ole Miss, but I think that I would make certain that there was quality over quantity in any rec/ref, resume', or materials sent in on one of my daughters.

Depending on the NPC Chapter, there are legacy introduction forms that Alumnae fill out for their legacies, and yes, it is appropriate for a relative to submit those forms. It's the only way the legacy chapter has of knowing that you have a special relationship to them. Mother-daughter and Sister-Sister seem to be universally accepted as legacy relationships. Grandmother-Granddaughter and Aunt-Niece may be accepted as legacy relationship by some chapters. Your relative needs to investigate with her headquarters if your relationship requires a legacy introduction form or perhaps it might instead require a letter of recommendation/reference.

By the way, if it should happen that your legacy relative has passed away, it may be possible for another member of that NPC chapter to submit the legacy introduction form on the deceased members behalf.

Each NPC Chapter has it's own rules, and those are subject to change from time to time, according to the constitution and bylaws set forth by each organization. The alumna member vouching for the PNM has the responsibility to be sure that they are familiar with the current rules and policies on legacies and letters of recommendation/reference.

I understand it (left hemisphere of brain), but it just boggles my right hemisphere that some ginormous Ole Miss new member classes. Consist. Only. Of. Freshmen.

Yes it is crazy. Especially when only 18 years ago my pledge class had about 54 in it! Since enrollment is still going up I think we won't really see that big of a change in new member classes until Alpha Phi gets here in 2015. I think quota will still be at least 100.

This is another school where they waited too long before starting the expansion process. I honor them for being patient to make sure each one goes well before moving on, but tick tock! They could easily add 5 or 6 and STILL have big pledge classes.

I advised a dear friend (and sorority sister) a few years back whose daughter had a low GPA as your friend's DD, MP. My advice was 100 times NO, don't rush! We knew the cuts would be harsh, and even though her daughter knew that going in, it would still hurt. As it turned out, her DD went to Ole Miss and made good friends without going through, but she still was unable to keep up her GPA and transferred to a CC the next year. You can use my story if you would like to convey this to your friend. I don't think most moms realize how excruciatingly competitive Ole Miss rush is, and I would hate for her daughter to have to experience that type of rejection straight out of the gate. Just my two cents.

I know we talked about how Texas has the spirit groups and such that are very sorority-like - is there anything like that @ Ole Miss?

Not that I'm aware of, but I could be mistaken.