When I was in HS in the early 1990s, we didn't get our AP test scores until July. I distinctly remember my AP computer science teacher signing my yearbook (in June) congratulating me on being the first woman in the school district to get a 5 on the AP CS test. The tests had not even been scored. He told me that my classwork was so exemplary that he'd be shocked if I didn't get a 5. Sure enough ... I got my test scores in mid-July and I'd gotten a 5.

I had the opposite experience from yours when I took AP US History. I got straight A's in the class, but I only scored a 2 on the exam. I always hated social studies and history.

Anyway - I'm threadjacking. KSUViolet is bang on. You're not getting into a sorority if your grades are mediocre. Every sorority has a national minimum GPA for initiation. Every sorority chapter is looking to be above the all-sorority and all-greek average GPA. So if your GPA is 2.49, your chances are slim to none, and Slim just left town.

TTT for 2019!

Bump up for everyone who is doing winter/spring recruitment as well, a solid first semester GPA is beyond important!

Since there was talk about weighted vs non-weighted GPAs - here is how Oklahoma State University addresses the issue of high school grades. I know there are other schools that do something similar.

The Panhellenic Council does not set specific academic conditions for you to participate in recruitment. However, it is important to understand each chapter has grade point average requirements set by its inter/national organization and the local members. It is possible, but extremely rare, for exceptions to be made to these guidelines. These individual requirements are listed in the 2017 Recruitment Booklet on the chapter profile pages.

Please note that you are not asked to provide your own academic information on your application because your academic record will be verified using the Student Information System (SIS). The high school GPA that the Panhellenic Council accepts is the Core GPA provided by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, which is also used for admittance into Oklahoma State University. Core GPA is defined below.

15-Unit Core Curricular Requirements:

4 units of English (grammar, composition and literature);
3 units of mathematics (algebra I, geometry, algebra II and above);
3 units of history and citizenship skills (Must include 1 unit of American history and 2 units from the subjects of history, economics, geography, government, civics and/or non-western culture);
3 units lab science (biology, chemistry, physical sciences, physics or any lab science certified by school district); and
2 units of other courses selected from any of the sections above or computer science or foreign language.
AP and higher-level IB courses are identified and weighted in the Core GPA (i.e. If a student makes a B in AP language composition, it is calculated as an A. An earned A grade is given an extra point when calculated.)
*While the State Regents strongly support the initiation of honors courses, honors weighting will not be used in the calculation of either high school (overall or core) GPA because there is no equitable mechanism to include the honors premium

In my opinion, mediocre or average grades is in the 3.0-3.5 category, which will not prevent someone from being in a sorority. It may get a PNM cut from certain chapters, but there are definitely places for average PNM's. Even if it is just in the context of a generalization, I would hate for a PNM to read the title of this thread and find it unnecessarily discouraging.

I got in my sorority, at an SEC school, with a 2.9 after my first year of college. I did rush twice, but I had a good experience during my first rush, even though it didn't end the way I'd hoped. I also got my highest semester GPA the semester after I joined. So a PNM worried about grades should just make sure they have everything else in order and go through it and hope for the best. I feel like being outgoing, friendly, and presenting myself well ultimately outweighed my grades. it may not work that way for everyone, but it's worth a shot. Anyone with grade concerns needs to work hard on recs, outfits, conversation and just cross their fingers and hope for the best. There's more to be gained than to be lost

And I would argue that being in a sorority helps grades for a number of reasons. The required study hours, the motivation of wanting to go to events, and having automatic study groups/tutors among your sisters can help a lot. Networking 100% can help with academics and grades. Like everyone keeps saying, there's exceptions to everything, but I think there's enough people that "better under pressure" personality to be worth mentioning. That's a really common trait.

Just my thoughts. I understand what OP was trying to say, and academics do need to be emphasized among PNM's who are unaware of how important they are to Greek life. But I also think there's a balance in acting like sororities are only for the 4.0 class presidents types. I don't know how sororities have changed over the years, but this is my view as a current student and sorority member. Greek life may not be for everyone, but it is more inclusive and accessible than some people believe. That's part of what makes it so wonderful.

And yes, you can graduate with a 2.5. Particular majors may require higher, but a 2.5 is a B/C average, with a 2.0 being a C average. I've known people to graduate with 1.somethings. Not saying that's good, and I agree with the grad school comment, just throwing that out there.

1. Super glad you got a bid but I find that the low grade girls get cut heavy. You had an unsuccessful first recruitment, yes? Were you cut heavy both times or did you have a full schedule every day both times?

2. Is it all they're looking for? No - but balance is everything.

3. Yes. You can graduate with a 2.5 at some schools. But that is pretty bare minimum and it's not incredibly helpful unless you're well connected in the area.

To your third point, my alma mater and the University I work for both have a 2.0 graduation requirement, as do most schools I’m aware of as that is a C average. Also GPA is very dependent on college environment. I know some Panhellenic communities cut most PNM’s at a 3.0 or below but if my alma mater did that the recruitment pool would be cut in half on the first day and make it difficult for chapters to recruit sustainable classes. Every campuses “mediocre” is different.

Agreed, low grade girls get cut heavy. I'm mostly just disputing the mediocre part of the thread title, because a girl can most definitely, and most likely will, get in a sorority with mediocre grades. no one is getting released entirely from recruitment because of a 3.2. (which was clarified in the body paragraph, I just feel like having that in the title is misleading).

I would consider my grades at the time bad, so yeah my story is probably the exception. I was released entirely from my first recruitment. The second time around I did spring recruitment (which I recommend to anyone with a lower GPA, since they don't have to make as many heavy cuts in the beginning and they get to know your personality more), and not all sororities do spring recruitment on my campus. Only 4 of the 12 participated this year, I believe. So, were my options severely limited because of my grades, both times? Yes!!! But I got into the #1 house that I had been hoping for since the first time around and I couldn't be happier. I feel even more grateful knowing that even though i wasn't the ideal PNM on paper, they still saw something in me that made them want to have me as a sister.

All this to say, girls with mediocre grades have little to worry about unless they are trying to be in the house with the top GPA on campus, and girls with lower grades have something to worry about, but they should still try anyway. It always improves a girl's chances to have a 4.0 on top of their looks, personality, etc. but if they don't have time to improve their GPA you just have to go in with the best you've got.

This. When I was at IU, the minimum GPA to go through recruitment was 2.5. However, most of the individual sororities’ minimum GPA requirements were significantly higher. Only a few sororities would even consider offering a second-round invite to someone with a 2.5. (Back then, it was partially deferred- round 1 was in October or November, then every other round was done after winter break - you’d come back a week early from break to do all the rest of the rounds, and you wouldn’t know who invited you back until you returned to campus. Now it’s totally deferred.)

These days, the PHA minimum has gone up to 2.8, and I imagine the individual organizations’ requirements are higher still. (I could only find the PHA minimum on their page.)

I was at a graduation party last weekend, and the honoree's elder brother is in a fraternity. He & I talked, and he told me that the ADPi chapter at his school required a 3.75 for initiation. I was shocked, impressed, and dismayed, all at the same time!

The bolded is my point. When you are going through recruitment with low grades, you are going to be limited.

If you don't care how many options you have, then go you.

However, I feel like every PNM needs to put themselves in the BEST position to maximize their options. Your GPA has the power to take chapter's off the table before you even start. Why do that to yourself? You basically shoot yourself in the foot before recruitment starts.

Ex: Let's say there are 5 chapters on campus. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Kappa, Delta.

Alpha and Beta's GPA is a 3.5
Gamma is a 3.2
Kappa is a 3.0.
Delta is a 2.85.

If you have a 3.6, your grades are golden for every chapter. Are those a 4.0? No but you put yourself in the best spot to be able to consider everyone. Even if they cut you down the line, at least you are not getting cut on day one due to grades and you have the opportunity to meet everyone.

If you have a 3.1, can you still get a bid? Sure. You still have grades for Kappa and Delta, but you just limited your pool by 2 chapters.

5 options > being automatically limited to 2.

Sidenote: I don't know what school you're at but grades matter for spring recruitment as well. I've worked with collegiate chapters of my sorority at a number of schools and the GPA is still a requirement even during smaller spring recruitment. My chapters were not permitted to bid anyone below the minimum at any time.

You may have been a rare exception. Which is why I responded to this. Sure it is great you got a bid with a subpar GPA but I definitely do not want any PNMs thinking this happens all the time, you know?







Yes! I was recently at our Convention and I am routinely impressed with how high some of the HS GPA requirements are on our campuses.

Re spring recruitment, if anything sororities should probably look at grades MORE because if you’re doing it, you’re probably one of the smaller chapters, and (example) 5 rotten GPAs will mess up the average of a 123 person chapter more than that of a 200 person chapter.

I agree with everything you're saying, I think we're just making different points. I think girls are more likely to go into recruitment overly discouraged than overly confident, so if what you meant is that mediocre grades merely limit your options rather than obliterate them, than the thread title should've been less decisive or should've just focused on low grades. There's nothing a PNM can do about their grades at this point anyway, so i'm just trying to highlight how it's still worth trying provided they keep their expectations realistic and work on other important elements of the process.

I go to a SEC school with has a large, competitive Greek system. Arguably one of the better and more competitive ones in the country. Just as you wouldn't want PNM's to think my situation happens all the time, I don't want a PNM to think they are going to get released from recruitment so it's not even worth a shot anyway.

I understand where you are coming from though, I'm sure there's a lot of posts on here about "chances" with low gpa's from people not understanding the importance of grades in the process whatsoever, and that probably gets annoying. But I am just trying to speak encouragingly on the matter as someone who has been in the recruitment process recently.

Sorry if I implied grades don't matter in spring recruitment. What I meant was, because of the length and casual atmosphere of the parties, you get to meet more members and know them more than during a typical first day ice water round, where the low grade girls would be likely to experience heavy cuts. They have a better chance on making an impression that can help overcome a grade deficit.

Timely bump
 

Bumping because I saw a discussion of Bama Morgan and how her grades affected her recruitment; I think not enough PNMs are seeing information on how much grades can help/hurt their recruitment.

Did she say what her college GPA was when she re-rushed?

They see it, but they don't understand how important it is to sororities. And they think they're so fabulous the grades will be overlooked.
And sometimes they are.
Which is frustrating when you have a PNM with fabulous grades, activities and looks who gets released.