Scared about rushing as a sophomore for competitive recruitment HELP!
 

Hey everyone, first off I absolutely love love love GC!

Anyways, I am going to be rushing this fall at a competitive SEC school and I am super nervous, almost scared! I have been pouring over GC for months now and preparing almost obsessively for rush but I'm still worried about my chances. I am a sophomore transferring in and after reading GC, I'm worried I will get cut almost immediately

Now before you ask: I have gotten recs for all but 4 of the sororities (2 are pending), and some I even have 2 going in, my GPA is barely under a 3.0 but I've been very involved in high school and college, I've been shopping and working out like crazy to look the part, and practicing my conversation skills until I'm blue in the face. I rushed at my last school and wish I had known about GC, I COMPLETELY did everything one shouldn't do and ended up dropping out from not getting invites to the ones I wanted. Now I honestly will be happy in any and all the sororities at my new school.

Any other advice you can give me, or thoughts? Also, rush is coming up soon and I promise to post my story live for all you happy GC'ers (I know how much I love them!). Thanks

My favorite advice this year is to relax. You seem to be doing everything right, see if you can get recs for those last 2 chapters and then RELAX.

That's all I've heard to do too, as well as be yourself but that's a given. :)

If you've been doing your research, you'll be just fine! I'm sure you've seen threads about what to wear, what to talk about, etc.
I'd make a point to mention that you'll be there for more than four years!

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the advice given! I welcome anymore :]

Besides mentioning the four years, what else can I do to prove that I can be a valuable member of their sorority? I was thinking mentioning my age, but idk. Also how should I talk my away around my gpa? I'm guessing that they will already know it from the recs going in

There isn't any way to "talk around" your low gpa. If it doesn't meet a chapter's minimum, you'll be dropped and there isn't anything you can do about it. Don't take it personally. You'll be competing with freshmen with much higher gpas. Just concentrate on the things you can control at this point.

It's great that you seem to be aware about the importance of keeping an open mind. However, your comment about "shopping and working out like crazy to look the part" suggests that you are harboring stereotypes about women in sororities.

You are making changes that, while can be positive - looking your best and dressing appropriately, can also come across as trying too hard. If you are changing things about yourself because you think that you have to be a certain way, you are cheating yourself, as well as others from knowing the "real" you.

I do hope that the changes are a enhanced version of you, and not a facade. I wish you luck during recruitment. As for the grades, you can't do anything to change it, so try to focus on things you can control - get enough sleep, wear comfortable shoes, and keep your heart and mind open.

I agree with all the above, but I want to add....

Please be aware that your chances at a school like that are very slim, especially with an abysmal GPA. Make sure you've prepared yourself for getting cut from all houses. It's never good to get one's hopes up too high.

But those are high school grades. I'm guessing/hoping that a GPA actually from college is looked at differently. I mean, 2.9 at Harvard is a lot more impressive than Mary's 3.97 from a HS reputed to be notoriously easy. Not only that, Mary might come to college and without her helimom breathing down her neck, promptly pull a Blutarsky-esque 0.0.

But she has recs and just because she's a transfer doesn't mean she's gone far far away. She might actually know more people at her new school. (ExcitedPNM, do NOT clarify this, I don't want you to out yourself ;) )

I'm not blowing sunshine but I think to say that the reason sophomores get cut is primarily GPA is a little silly. They get cut because that's one less year of dues the sorority will get (theoretically).

Not to mention this is an SEC school where it normally takes superlative everything for a non-freshman to get a bid.

With some - if not the majority - of houses requiring a minimum 3.0 GPA, chances are good that the cuts will be early and large. That does NOT mean you will not get a bid from a house. It only takes 1. But it's probably not going to be an in-demand house. Keep your mind open, as they say, and remember the "house reputations" that everybody gossips about are just gossip. At most competitive SEC schools, all the houses are good. And sisterhood is found at small as well as large houses.

Good luck to you!!;)

Ok thank you everyone, I again very much appreciate it. In response to the previous post, I must have been to vague (my apologies), I'm working out like crazy for my own personal benefit to be the healthiest I can be before going off to school and I shop frequently anyway haha :]
From reading GC, I decided early on not to read about any reputations on gossip blogs or ask around and to make it my goal to find a place full of wonderful girls that fit me (and I fit them). Thanks to all who have posted enough that I could confidently come to that decision, and it's true...all I need it one!

It is my understanding that the min gpa requirements often differ between an entering freshman and a sophomore. I wonder if the OP's gpa is her college gpa. That could make a big difference.

OP - best of luck to you. You sound like someone who is really maximizing her experience and whose main goal is joining a sisterhood. Keep an open mind, smile, make friends. Definitely read the threads on here about others who did that and ended up finding a home.

Keep us posted!

Just wanted to add my two cents, even though all the GC "big dogs" I so admire have given some great feedback to the OP. I don't want to discourage you from rushing again, but you really need to be prepared for heavy cuts, and almost all due to your GPA. Your 2.9 may not be below minimum but I went to UF, and I can tell you it most def is below pretty much every chapters average. Look at it this way, right upfront we know you're going to bring down our chapter GPA, and so we're already thinking about how we'd have to take someone with a 4.0(and these PNMs are not hard to find) to balance you out. In general, most chapter's will look at that as a risk they just don't want to take, and this is maybe the one instance in rush that is totally NOT personal. You will have an uphill battle this fall. Now, given all that, you really need to shine. You'll need to prove that your amazingness and all the great things you have to offer the girls far outweigh the concerns about your academic performance.

Just in case I haven't made myself clear enough:

The likelihood of any chapter taking on a pnm with a gpa lower than its minimum requirement is basically zero at a super competitive school. GPA cuts are the earliest, easiest and fastest cuts to make. You either make the cutoff or you don't. No amount of sugar coating will change this simple fact. A pnm, particularly one that is anything but a freshman, needs to be prepared for heavy heavy cuts for grades in the first round. This is something that is completely out of the pnm's control once they have earned thoose grades.

And do it the first round.

BTW..thanks for coming on GC for the personalized UF feedback, BleedOrangeBlue. :)

Ok, its a little tough to hear but sadly it is the reality. Thank you all for your input. If I may ask your advice on one more thing, when should I address my grades? I'm guessing that since the recs have been sent it, the chapters (even the ones above my gpa) will know about my gpa, so should I bring it up casually in the first round with an explanation or wait until later in the week and stick to dazzling them in the first round? Any feedback on this would be great

Don't bring it up. If you're specifically asked about it, talk about what was going on that caused your grades to be lower and what you're doing to fix it. Odds are it won't get brought up directly.

^^This^^

I agree with everything people have said above. Nothing you say will make the GPA seem better anyway. Everyone with a low GPA has a story for why it's low. Sob stories will just make you seem like Debbie Downer, anyway.

Wow definitely glad I asked then! Thank you everyone (also for your swiftness in answering my thread questions).

I wouldn't discuss your grades at all. If a chapter is going to cut you for grades, they'll do it after the first round. Just be prepared for potentially heavy cuts after that round.

But as another poster stated, it only takes one. :)

Yeah don't bring it up. The last thing you want to do is point out your flaws. Even if you were to give an explanation, if you are below the cutoff, Nationals won't let them keep you past the first round. It doesn't matter how much they like you. The minimum grade requirements may be different for sophomores (I honestly don't remember what it was when I was in school). Sometimes, a current member can write you a grade petition if they want you bad enough, but those not only require documentation as to why your GPA is low, they are usually only done for girls who already have friends in that particular chapter. And they are rarely ever accepted anyway. Any chance you could take an easy summer class or 2 to bring your GPA up a tenth of a point?

However, some chapters only require a 2.5 or a 2.8, so it may be a non-issue for some houses. Some of the houses post the requirement on their chapter website (I know they do at Ole Miss). As long as you are above the cutoff, your GPA usually isn't considered much past that point(good or bad). So, I would try to get recs for ALL houses if you can (info only recs don't count at a lot of houses at SEC schools) and keep an open mind. You'll be cut from some, but don't let it discourage you completely.

And I know people said that the "working out and shopping to look the part" isn't smart because you aren't being your true self, but I would keep it up! Not to "look the part," but you'll feel better about yourself and self confidence always helps.

There are I think 4 or 5 sororities that have a 2.75-2.8 minimum, but I heard (and saw from above) that they will still cut me even though I am above that. I still have to get a rec for one of them (that I really would like to be in if I am limited to 4 or 5!) and am desperately scrambling to do so. Hopefully, one will take me despite me being a "risk".

I heard that sometimes sororities make exceptions to the GPA rule and would just put that new member on academic probation. Is this a rumor, or is there any merit to that statement?

There is no chance of me taking a class at this late date, I tried registering for one earlier in the summer but they were all full.

I'm worried that I should not even try to rush at this point and try to go through in the spring, I'm getting very discouraged. Also I feel that I won't get to show my true personality to any of them since my grades are the only thing in my way! Its just a bummer...this means everything to me.

First of all, no one above knows that they will cut you even if you are above the minumum!!! That's crazy talk. There's really know way to know that. Your grades aren't that bad. It is still above the cutoff for some and that's all that matters. What was your high school GPA?

I don't know about the academic probation statement. I'm sure a lot has changed in the few years since I left.

Don't go through in the spring. Most SEC sororities don't even particiapate in Spring Rush. And I think it's usually the ones who don't make quota and it's very informal (you have to be invited, etc). I would definitely still go through with it if I were you. I still think you can end up with a good experience! Just don't be crushed if you have your eye on a particular house and they cut you. You could still end up with a great group of girls! I'll put it this way... If I had been in your situation at my school, I would've still rushed. Even if I had ended up in a house that was my dead last choice, it still would have been a great house! And I still would've had a great greek experience! I would've rather get a bid from my last choice then no sorority at all.

True, very true.

Ok thanks hottytoddy, that makes me feel a bit better. I still really want to go through rush (not to mention, I have the perfect outfit for the first round!) so I'm going to ignore what my mother and everyone else says and just DO IT! haha :]

It wouldn't do you any good to round up anyway. They will all require a transcript. Along with your recs, send your high school transcrips and your college transcript, a photo of yourself and an activities resume. I know this may sound over the top, but it is pretty much the standard for SEC schools.

So long as you go in knowing that your GPA will most likely be an issue, there's no reason not to rush. I've said it a thousand times, but I'll say it again: worst case scenario, you don't get a bid, but you meet some new girls and make some new friends.
While it is quite possible that you'll get cut hard early, there may be a few chapters willing to look past some bad grades. Just remember that it's most likely not a personal reason if you do get cut hard early on. Keep smiling and enjoy the experience! Good luck! :)

Yes, you're right. Most all of the chapters will not make exceptions for grades. But if I understnd correctly, there are 4 or 5 that only require a 2.8. Her 2.9 GPA is well within the requirements of those houses. The ones that require a 3.0 will almost definitely not make an exception. If she is a legacy(sister, mother, grandmother) the grade requirement might be slightly lower.

I know last year in my chapter, which has a minimum GPA requirement just a tad below a 3.0, all girls deemed to be an "academic risk" were cut just before Preference round. Sadly, I believe most chapters at competitive schools will be able to also exercise such an option due to the larger pool of PNMs. But, we also did look at if it was high school gpa vs transfer gpa in many cases. I'm not saying the doors are shut to you in any way, just make sure you lat yourself shine past the gpa issue - if it ends up being one.

Thanks everyone! Next time I post will be my recruitment story, so sit tight and I'll post it up live in a month or two :D (i finally figured out how to do proper smiley faces haha) (and Im not giving a specific timeframe just in case ;) )

No. Maybe at a less competitive school. Maybe at a chapter where a pnm is already known and loved by all the members. But not in a situation where you're an unknown transfer at an sec school. Also, just because you meet a minimum gpa doesn't mean you'll automatically pass through to the second round.

Seriously. You just need to relax about this. There's nothing you can do about it or hope for. Just go through recruitment and concentrate on being yourself.

I'm trying not to be a Debbie Downer about it, but this is a situation that's very cut and dry.

Right. Just chill about the GPA thing because you can't change it at this moment.

At least you know one thing you need to improve upon during the coming semesters - bid or no bid. You can focus on your GPA when there's actually something you can DO about it.

I'm still wondering if some of the chapters at her school will have different gpa minimums for college students vs incoming freshmen. It does happen at some chapters. This may be a loophole for her...but I do not know specifically.

Again, I don't want to tread into ms territory, but a low college gpa for transfers and current students is actually a red flag for a future grade risk by the chapters at competitive schools I am familiar with. You've proven that you've had grade trouble without the additional responsibilities of Greek life.

I really wouldn't want to give her, or anyone else in her position, the hope that there might be some "secret" other minimum gpa that could apply to her circumstances. This is the sec we're talking about, not a non-competitive school where there may be more factors that can come into play. For every Lucy Lowgpa, there are hundreds of Tiffany Threepointnines to chose from.

If things turn out differently, then that would be a great surprise for her. But I think it's prudent to be prepared for the worst.