Rushing as A Sophomore and GPAs...
 

Hey everyone!
I'm new to this forum and many of my recruitment questions have been answered but the specifics, naturally, aren't >.< I'm currently a freshman and I'm planning on rushing next fall. I didn't rush this fall because I figured it would be a lot for me to take in at once, being away on my own at school and from what i hear, sororities are time consuming. I'm actually glad I waited, even though I hear it puts me at a slight disadvantage.

I'm mostly concerned about my GPA not being high enough compared to other upperclassmen. It will probably be about 3.1-3.2 which isn't too bad but I constantly kick my own butt because my GPA in high school as about 3.6. I participated in a community service club this year, but that's as far as my college involvement has gone. Mostly, I want to know how much sororities take into consideration your high school resume because I did a lot during high school and I feel like I'm getting a slow start here in college. The main reason I want to join a sorority is to become more involved! ^_^

I'm also a legacy because my sister was in a sorority in her university, but I know not to rush for any one sorority. I'm really open minded to all the sororities here on campus and I've been asking around a lot about general greek stuff here at uf. I'm open to any advice, and constructive criticism and such!!

Thank you!! ^_^

Hi Gatorgirl,

UF has a minimum GPA to rush, and I would think you are fine there. Did you check? Also, some sororities at UF will put more weight on GPA than others, once we get beyond talking about the university's minimum GPA to rush.

Being a fellow Floridian that is not that far from UF, that is what I can tell you with any type of certainty. I defer to others who may be able to fill you in on how to put your point (about being very involved in H.S., and taking freshman year as an adjustment period) across effectively during rush.

Make sure your sister turns in any required forms to claim you as her legacy. AOII has a form, but I don't know if KD does. Can any KDs help?

Assuming from your screen name that you are at Florida. :) That's a very competitive recruitment, and yes, being a sophomore will put you at a disadvantage. No one can say for sure how the sororities weigh high school activities vs. college activities. Each one probably does it very differently. I am NOT NOT NOT at UF, but if I were, I would want a sophomore to bring a lot to the table to make her just as much as or more desirable than freshmen. That means a super-competitive GPA and a killer resume.

I'm not saying that it's impossible, but realistically, you are at some disadvantages. Probably more than "slight." Good recommendation letters for each sorority are a must. If you get them from people who know you well, that will help.

Yay! A Gator! Greek or no Greek, you're at one of the happiest places on earth for undergrads ;)

My thoughts on your situation (take these with a grain of salt!): Your GPA isn't that great for sorority purposes, and that will account for early cuts. So will being a sophomore with some of the chapters. Not all of the chapters will have super high GPA req's and year in school rules, but most will. You have a good attitude about keeping an open mind, so just expect these cuts coming in and keep going!


You certainly have a shot at being offered a bid through formal recruitment! Just know your options are fewer than a freshman with a high high school GPA. DO list your HS GPA and activities on your recruitment application and to your recommenders.

Make sure you have recommendations for all the sororities. Being a legacy at UF doesn't stand for much b/c so many legacies go through recruitment each year, so continue to keep that open mind!

These thoughts aren't meant to dissuade you from rushing-- just know to expect fewer options than someone else with a higher GPA and who is a freshman. I wish you the best of luck!

I hate to rain on your parade...
 

Realistically, at Florida, you will have a real problem with grades. Although you meet the minimum cut off to go through recruitment, your GPA is below every NPC sorority's average GPA at Florida. See the following link. http://www.greeks.ufl.edu/resources/...radeReport.pdf
You need to really work on your people skills and your sparkling personality, or you may be headed for disappointment. Your best bet outside of that is to make friends with some of the girls and get them pulling for you.

Wow, those are all really helpful tips. Yeah, I constantly kick my own butt about my GPA and it's something that I definitely am working on. I never had to actually build a GPA in high school, I just had to keep it up. That was a big college kick in the face for me ^_^

As far as recommendations go, I keep reading here on the forums that you can contact alumnae through chapter websites and Panhellenic, but I've been trying to figure that out and I'm kinda lost. I know I can get a few from some of my sisters friends, but I hear that it's good to have recommendations for as many sororities as possible.

You still have this semester to bring up your grades some!! Don't give up hope! Study really hard for your midterms and finals!!!

Good luck!

Ditto on being in one of the happiest places for an undergrad! My oldest son is graduating from UF on May 3, and while he's happy to be moving on, some of the best years of his life have been in Gainesville!! GO GATORS~!!

Yeah, I know my chances are slim. But I'm a fighter and I have to do it. If I don't get picked then I'll wait for spring and if I don't get it then, at least I did it instead of never having done it.

Go Gators! I'm so happy I'm feeling the love here for UF. If you have kids and you live in Florida I totally recommend that they apply here. Even without being in Greek Life, UF is such a fun school to be in. There's something for everyone. The community service club I'm in is so much fun and in general, I've found it so easy to make friends even though I have a good group of friends from high school here. Of course, the fact that it's such a huge school makes certain things harder, like getting into a sorority or fraternity, and applying for certain organizations, but the size of the student population makes it such a diverse school and it's just great all around.

Ok I'll stop gloating about UF now ^_^

Woah, diversity just popped into my head! I'm hispanic but I'm born and raised here in the US. Do you think being Hispanic might make me less "Sorority material." I know that the answer is more likely no, but I guess I like to expect the worse so that there are no surprises when the time comes ^_^

*Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I do not believe that UF has any spring recruitment.

Yes, the do. I almost went out for spring rush but I decided not to because I still wasn't too caught up with sorority stuff. It's just that not all the sororities have bids to give, but I think that goes for most colleges....

I wanted to chime in here and say that you have been given very wise advice from people who can really base it on experience with sororities. However, you will NEVER know until you try. Remember that.

As for being Hispanic... South Florida is as diverse as it gets, and many So. Fl. kids of many backgrounds attend UF. This is not 1950. In fact, one of the presidents of a strong sorority chapter at UF grew up here in South Florida, attended very diverse schools, and had friends from all backgrounds. Good luck! Please let us know how it goes.

ETA- The president I know is not a Theta, although I am sure Theta is diverse, as well. Just wanted to bring up a situation I am familiar with to make a point and make you feel more confident.

Yes, study your butt off to get that GPA up. You may have just had a rough transition from high school to college-- that first semester away from home can be hard on people. That GPA is going to be the biggest problem area, but you have control over it as you head into finals. You might also want to do a few summer classes/online classes where you can bump up your GPA (not only for sorority recruitment, but for internships).

I agree with adpiucf^^, do try and take two courses at UF this summer and get that GPA up!

You also need to think of how to project yourself to the ladies when you go through recruitment. You need to figure out how you can "sell yourself" (meant in the most positive way) and what makes you a fine choice over freshmen.

Do research on every single sorority and make sure you know key facts about them that you can talk about/ask questions about. I have always felt when you present yourself with knowledge of the sorority it really makes a strong statement.

I could ramble on and on about UF, but I won't - it is an amazing school! I loved it.

Follow all of the advice given and plan for this recruitment. Do not miss one step and you should be fine.

Best of Luck!

Thank you everyone!!!
Everyone's advice is very helpful. I'm so excited for next semester, especially since I'm rushing.

Here's another question....

If there's one piece of advice you wish someone would've given you before you rushed, what would it be. I'm sure you can come across epic curve ball or two during rush. If you have such a story, what kind of advice do you wish someone had given you before rush?

What NOT to do or say: http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=30758

General advice: http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=54403

Ha, thanks. Yeah, I'm slowly but surely reading as much as I can here on the forum ^_^

2 pieces of advice.

1) The screaming/singing as you first enter is INTENSE. Nothing can quite prepare you for it- personally, it scared the heck out of me when it first happened.

2) On pref night, some sisters you encounter in the rounds may push you to disclose your preference. Have an answer ready that is classy, but doesn't lean in any specific direction. Let it be known that you're keeping your options open.

wow, I didn't know there was screaming involved O.O That sounds pretty epic. Yeah, the more I read the more excited I get about this. Even if my chances are slim I just wanna go into this already. I think I might actually take an online course this summer to try to boost my GPA some more. We'll see how this goes ^_^

Hey GatorGirl. I'll be a sophomore going through UCF recruitment in the Fall! I'm just like you all nervous/anxious/excited/impatient! So I just wanted to say Hi and good luck!!

Good luck to you too!! ^_^ I really am incredibly nervous and I think I just want to go home and start shopping and doing my application. It feels like this semester will never end!!! >.<

Another question just occurred to me. During Rush, do sister's ask you about your recommendation writers if you have any. I might be able to snag some recs from my sister's coworkers but I don't really know them too well. Would I get drilled on my recommendation writers to test out the legitimacy of my recommendations?...

If you haven't already guessed, I really AM trying to prepare for the worst :D

No. Those are to be sent in to the chapters PRIOR to recruitment. They won't ask if you have a rec or who wrote it because they'll already know that info.

This does not make it sound like you are planning on following the advice given. This rest of this semester is the best time to work on grades and cultivate your friendships with the sorority members that you know. There is still some time to get involved with activities which may boost your resume. Yet all you want to do is end the semester and go home and shop.

This summer is also the perfect time to be taking a few extra courses and acing them, as advised. Don't blow it by romanticizing about recruitment and shopping. (however much fun that is)

No, I really am studying a lot. I've actually had a very stressing week filled with un-responsible group partners for this Japanese project -_-. And I've already registered for an online course for the summer that should boost my gpa some more. Trust me, I'm taking all this advice seriously. It's just that this has been a long and hard semester and I haven't gone home since spring break, so I'm really starting to get homesick and tired >.<

hey gatorgirl! im about to be a sophomore at UF too (: i went through recruitment last spring but was released from recruitment. i can say this i wish i would have waited until my sophomore year to rush because i can honestly say i have grown so much as a person since coming to college that had i actually been in a sorority before hand i wouldn't have made the changes ive made now. its good to see someone else here from gainesville thinking about the same things.

oh and my advice is definitely bring water, umbrella (it rains EVERYDAY at 3:00 during the summer) and one of those battery powered personal fans because a gainesville summer is BRUTAL without one lol

hey shelly, again! lol question, was the walking A LOT? I can walk in heels for a long time, comfort isn't a problem, but sometimes my skin peels and that of course isn't attractive >.< i think shoes are what's freaking me out the most as far as outfits go. wow, i sound superficial XD

also, to all the ladies there. i'm taking summer courses now and if i do well i think i can get a 3.25... do you think that's pretty decent. i also had a 3.66 in high school and i'm praying that that might impress but i'm happy that i did well enough on my finals to bring up my gpa -_-

Even if they still ask for it on the recruitment application. I was surprised even rank and SAT scored were asked, and it didn't even say for only Freshmen to complete those portions of the application. I'm hoping someone at least sees that.

The primary reason HS grades are so important for an incoming freshman PNM is a chapter is trying to determine if she is capable of achieving their expected GPA at the college level. An upperclassman should be able to prove that she can and has. Therefore her HS GPA isn't usually taken into consideration.

I've seen many Upperclassmen PNMs with lousy HS grades who buckled down and made excellent college grades. Those PNMs shouldn't have their HS grades counted against them because they have proven capable and committed to academics.

On the flip side, great HS grades with lousy college grades makes a chapter wonder if: the PNM hasn't adjusted well to college; hasn't learned time management skills; hasn't been committed to academics; hasn't learned good study habits; breezed through HS and got a rude awakening at college; and the ultimate question if she was not able to achieve the minimum GPA without the demands of being in a sorority, why would she be able to once she is in one?

You are correct that everyone is asked this information regardless of their year in college (and not just freshmen). Why? At UF, these pieces of a puzzle vary differently in importance to each sorority as you go through your recruitment. From my experience, some do find this information still important even though you have been in college and others may not factor this information into their decisions at all. I really do not think any of us can make a blanket statement with 100% certainty how this will work for/against you at UF. Don't stress about it - just complete the form.:)

I know it is soooo hard to get caught up in getting into a top house, and we all put our best face and everything else foward! But make sure you choose a place where you'll still fit in when you are just plain ol' everyday YOU.

To answer your original questions...I am not from UF, but I did attend a Southern school with a large Greek system. I was in what was considered a really great house while I was on campus. Here's how it went at my house for Upperclassmen:

We had GPA requirements for both incoming and upper. If you didn't make this cut, you were not invited back to round 2. In a couple of extreme cases, legacies were cut. We cut my little sister's best friend (I had known her for 12 years) due to grades, and her HS GPA was higher than your college, she had high SAT/ACT and a very good extracurricular resume.

If your GPA was lower than the house average, you would have gotten cut from my house unless you had realy good friends who could convince everyone that you had to be a member OR you were super, extremely involved on campus. And that involvement means at a high level, like on Campus Activities Council or Student Government as an officer, not just volunteering here and there every once in awhile. You HAVE to bring something to the table if your grades won't cut it.

Since the Rush Committee is probably putting together packets and slideshows this summer, your summer grades probably won't be reported in time to make a difference. You need to really work on your resume to show each sorority how you will be a big asset to their house.

GatorGirl19,

Some advice... as I was a sophomore when I went through recruitment... and my gpa was about the same as yours... to make yourself stand out just be yourself... don't try to blend in with all the other girl in the houses, because if you try to fit in then you will always have to put up that same act and if it isn't you then it won't ever be as rewarding as it would be if you are yourself!!! Also when you go into the house smile, and when you find the sorority you are meant to be a sister of you will know, the feeling of belonging and amazement and you will want to talk to EVERY girl!!!

Just like they say "from the outside looking in you can't understand, but from the inside looking out you can't explain it!" soooo true!!!

BE YOURSELF LAUGH and have a good time!!! try not to stress!!!

Thanks everyone for your advice! I'm really trying to put my best foot forward but I tend to worry and stress out about everything so I'm probably getting overly nervous about this >.<

At the end of the day, if I don't make it then I know it wasn't for me. But at the same time, I'm trying my best to get in so that should I not get in, I know that I did everything possible on my end.

It's kinda funny because people always say that college isn't like high school, that it's tough. All of my friends from high school that were in the top ten like me have also had a hard time because we simply underestimated college. So regardless of whether I get into a sorority or not, my goal is to hitch up my pants, bring up my GPA and get over my lousy first year! ^_^

Once again, thanks for all the advice! I think a lot of this makes me feel a little less nervous. I like to research things a lot and the more I know, good or bad, the better I feel. So, thanks! ^_^

Hey everyone!!! So I'm not going to do a rush story because I feel like it would be very generic. But I did want to post here to thank everyone for their support and advice! I can say now that I got a bid at......

Phi Mu!!! ^_^

Thanks again everyone!!!

Congrats! I'm happy it worked out for you!