HELP! I'm a foreign exchange student wanting to rush a sorority!
 

Hi,

I've just finished my first year at University in England and in mid August, I'm due to be starting at UC Berkeley for an (EAP) exchange year. I'm really excited and can't wait to go. I've been researching all about student organisations/greek life/everything I can get involved in when starting in the fall and I've decided I really want to rush a sorority.

I want to rush a sorority for several reasons. I was initially attracted to the idea because I want to have a "typical American college experience" and there are no greek organisations for 'college' students in the UK. It's truly something different. After looking at the general 'cal greeks' webpage, and then individual sororities webpages I then got further excited by the idea of 'belonging to a sisterhood,' getting to do lots of volunteering, the range of social events on offer, and the academic support on offer.

It just looks like they have a really great time and that it would be a unique experience!

So, the question is - How easy/difficult is it to get involved, how do I stand out, what do I need to know before filling in the online application. So far, all I've got to go on is the 'stereotypes' in films, and information on various websites, so as you can imagine I'm a little worried - I don't want to put my foot in it!

So here's a little info about me:

I'm 19, and will be entering the 'Junior' year when I go abroad. I've been heavily involved with student organisations at my home uni: I write for the student newspaper, play in the concert orchestra, go kayaking and do Canoe Polo and am part of the History Society (I'm studying History as my major).

I come from a small village, would describe my self as middle class and am well travelled. I'm not dead skinny but I'm not obese either (although I notice a lot of the girls on the sorority websites are on the skinny side and very pretty). I'm no beauty queen but I don't regard my self as hideous either. I previously had glasses/acne/braces (all the typical teen problems etc) so lacked confidence around those who I felt were intimidating for many years. However, I got contact lenses, just before starting uni last year, my acne's pretty much cleared up, and my braces came off a couple of years ago - my confidence has soared this year (mainly due to the contacts).

I'm a very chatty, love a good challenge, can be bossy when I need to be and friends would describe me best as 'friendly,' 'clever' and 'honest' (although my one friend says I'm a bit uptight as I get sensitive about people judging me by my looks before getting to know me properly. I also don't warm well to people who have no aspirations in life-apparently I've become a lot more laid back since entering University).

I also wanted to ask about this GPA thing - I have no previous GPA as we don't have them in the UK - but I assume entering freshmen won't have a college GPA either yet? I've been getting mid 2.1s (that's good in the UK) for essays and got AAA at A Level. I'd hope the fact that I got on a very competetive exchange scheme (that requires equivalent to a 3.0 GPA for entry) a marker on my good grades and reflective of my involvement in activities at my home university.

Sorry this is such a long post, but I don't really know what to ask - I'm a complete foreigner to the experience (lol).

Also, with letters of recommendation - I know no one who went to an American university (nor do my parents/extended family/friends), thus my chances of getting a letter from any Greek Alumnae are slim. On the individual sorority websites, it says recs aren't necessary - but after discovering this website, I'm now worried that my chances of getting into a sorority are greatly diminished!

Also, is my foreign background (British) likely to go against me? I know a number of the sororties at Cal said they had members on study-abroad programmes similar to mine - I'd hope they'd be fairly welcoming?

Hope you can help (if you make it to the end of this post :D)! This site is really insightful by the way!

Thanks xxx

A lot to read so I'll give a quick comment- if you are only there for as an exchange student for one year, yes that could hurt your chances. Even at my school which was not very competitive, we would've thought twice about extending a bid to someone who wouldn't be around for very long. You would essentially be treated like a senior in that regards- seniors can but do not frequently receive bids unless they have a lot to offer the group. They aren't out to ensure you have the most typical American college experience, they are looking for women who they want to call sisters and will influence the direction of the chapter. It's hard (though not impossible) to do that in less than one year, especially when also adjusting to a new country, new school, new customs, etc. You may want to reach out to the Greek life office and/or the school's exchange program liaison to ask some of these questions, although you may or may not get a response considering you've waited until they're on summer break to reaise these.

Regarding whether your nationality will affect your chances, there are a lot of threads on that topic. Search is your friend.

Thanks for your swift reply. I know I'm disadvantaged as I will only be there for a year - but I hope I will be able to show the greek community, that that means I'm even more eager to get involved quickly and have something to contribute! I know of two guys who got into a UC fraternity so I know there's a possibility...

Sorry about the 'search' thing too - I did type in exchange student into search a few hours ago but nothing came up - now I've found a couple of threads!

Thanks so muchx

About 10 years ago, there was a British student who pledged Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity - and ended up being my (now-ex) husband's little brother. Although she was only in the U.S. for one year, she was welcomed into my chapter with open arms - and it was a great experience for her and for the other Brothers. So, if Greek life (through NPC organizations) doesn't work out, don't hesitate to check out service/professional organizations. No matter where you find your (temporary) home while in the U.S., you will be able to experience what it means to be a part of a greek-letter organization.

Try terms like "foreign" or "international" as well... the exchange student idea isn't as common (at the college level) as international students are.

Hello, Sunshine! I don't believe that you'll need recs for Cal, but perhaps a Cal alumna can chime in. (If you want to try for a rec to help you stand out, I know that there are some alumna groups in London and perhaps the greater U.K. as well.) From what you wrote, your biggest impediment to getting a bid will be that you're only going to be here for one year. Sororities tend to prefer women who will be around for as long as possible.

In spite of that, I'm cheering for you. Enjoy recruitment. You'll be seeing a uniquely (North) American phenomenon!

You will be asked to submit your grade point average, or GPA. If you put 2.1 without explanation, that will hurt you. Be sure to put your grades in context so that the chapters have a clear idea of where you stand as a student.

You're going to love Cal. Have fun, and let us know how things turn out for you.

Someone beat me to it, but I was going to suggest a service based sorority. You'll still be in the greek community and will get to experience sorority life so to speak, but it's far less competitive as NPC recruitment would be...but it would be just as enjoyable I would think.

The thing is, as much as I support service organizations, it really isn't the same thing.

Right, it's not exactly the same thing, but if she doesn't recieve a bid during recruitment because she will only be there for 1 year, it would be a way for her to get involved with a greek letter organization.

I say definitely go through recruitment and see what happens, but there are other ways to get involved and meet people while you're in school if you don't end up with a bid. :)

Unless things have changed in the last few years, Cal doesn't have a service sorority, or at least one that markets itself as such. (If there had been, I probably would have joined that instead of Alpha Phi Omega...) Cal does have a great APO chapter. Not that I'm biased or anything. :p There are also some multicultural sororities that might be interesting if NPC recruitment doesn't work out.

It never hurts to go through recruitment. Even without a bid, you're no worse off than when you started! :)

It's not the same thing. She may not have the competition to get a bid, but not everyone who pursues membership in a service GLO is successful in that pursuit (as opposed to NPCs where it's almost impossible to kick out a pledge). Also, service fraternities/sororities don't really dig it when members pledge and then leave either.

It's something for her to check out, and who knows, she might like it and its mission better than a purely social GLO, but service Greeks are not to be used like Splenda.

33girl ftw!

If you decide to go through recruitment it might be helpful to visit the Student Life office and ask who is in charge of Greek Life on campus before submitting an application. You'll have to make adjustments for your grades, for instance. (You'll have to find a way to explain the grading system in the UK or find out what the equivalent would be in American GPA terms). They can also help you find recs if they think you'll need them.

Keep in mind that because you'll only be there for a year you might not get as much consideration as other girls. Don't take it personally.

Hi there. I'd suggest first sending a message to the Greek Life office at Berkeley to ensure that you are eligible for recruitment in the first place. I'm assuming you will be since you will be considered a "full time" student, but it's best to make sure.

If you are eligible, I'd be more than willing to talk to you more in regards to a reference letter for Delta Gamma. I live in Gloucestershire and would be happy to meet up for lunch or coffee (as long as you don't mind my 1.5 year old in tow!) if you are willing to travel.

In any case, best of luck...you'll have a blast in CA!

Apparently service Greeks are the new AI.

Firstly, I'd just like to say thanks to everyone who has replied and offered advice - you've all been really helpful.

I tried to get in contact with the Greek Life Office but can't find any contact details for them. However, I have emailed the VP of Membership and the Head Recruitment Counsellor who were listed on the FAQs recruitment page as the people to get in contact with any specific questions. They both gave me very positive responses and didn't seem to think I'd be disadvantaged by only being there a year as long as I showed the women I wanted to get involved both in a chapter and on campus!

To those who suggested, Service Fraternities - I've done a bit of research on them and Alpha Phi Omega seems a possibility if recruitment doesn't work out but then again, if their "recruitment" period falls later, I don't want them to think "Oh, well she's only here for a year..."

I'd would be happy to meet with you for lunch/a coffee and talk more about sorority life - it would be lovely to meet a person who's been through the whole process - knows the pros/cons of joining a sorority etc. It's all quite new from me.

I only live about an hour or so by train from Gloucestershire, so wouldn't have too much of a problem meeting you. I'm available most days until early August, when I travel to the US. Would you like me to send you a private message to discuss this further?

I'm sure I will have a blast in California - as every day goes by, I get more excited!

Finally does anyone know how letter grades (A, A-, B+, B etc) convert to GPA? I've been given a sheet by my home University saying how they'd translate letter grades into our percentages:

A Berkeley A = 70 or over being a UK First
A- to B+ = 60+ - a UK 2.1
B to B- = 50-60 - a 2.2
C+ to C- = 40-50 - a Third
and D+ to D- =35-40 - an ordinary pass
F = a fail all round.

Using a website for letter - GPA conversion and my University's sheet - I've come out with a GPA of 3.45. Obviously, I want to try to make this as accurate as possible before filling out my application. In the emails I had, the people at Cal said there would be space to explain my grades in the activities box but that it was best to try and work out my GPA rather than putting I got a UK mid 2.1 (which if looked at as a GPA of 2.1 doesn't look good!)

Best line EVER.

3.45 sounds about right based on that conversion chart. You can explain in that box that your GPA is converted from the UK (and you might want to say United Kingdom just to be perfectly clear) system if you like.

Sunshine:

I did it all backwards, I went US to UK, and had to convert my American GPA to a UK equivalent (and then reconvert my UK grades once I got my parchment from Glasgow to something understandable for American employers...try explaining the Scottish MA to an American employer, and why my degree is MLitt not MA), and additionally I had no A levels or anything to add to my transcript, only American high school diplomas and AP grades.

Ask your home uni to give you an explanation of grades. You can likely get this from your registrar's office. It should just be a standard form explaining how your university marks and what those marks mean to the outside world.

Doing the conversion on your own (and 3.45 sounds about right) is helpful, but it couldn't hurt to launch your explanation of grades in there as well.

APO rush at Cal will be September 7-17. There should be a table on Sproul every weekday during that period. Check there for details about rush events. Right now there are some event dates on the chapter's calendar, but I don't know if anything is finalized yet.

When I was active there 5-7 years ago, we had many seniors that pledged--my co-sib (the other pledge in my small family) was a graduating senior, and there were 5 or 6 other graduating seniors in my pledge class as well. Please don't be concerned about only being at Cal for a year! :)

Have a great time!!! Berkeley is an amazing place.

Sounds good. Shoot me a PM. We have no holiday plans in the foreseeable future and I should be available most days. Picking you up from the Cheltenham Station would be easiest. We might consider a weekend day so my hubby can stay at home with our toddler...but we are flexible.

To the OP: best of luck to you this fall, both in your US studies and in your recruitment.

On the subject of exchange students: I have posted this on here before, but I think it would be beneficial for college panhellenics to make a provision about exchange students in that they can be a "free" addition to quota. Some schools have employeed the "one free junior" addition to pledge classes, or the upperclassman quota, with success.

It just seems that this can be a win-win for the chapters and the exchange students. The students wouldn't necessarily be cut heavily for only being around for one year, and the chapter won't have to face using a quota spot for someone who can't be groomed for leadership, live-in, or pay dues for 4 years. In addition, the exchange student would get to experience an aspect of college that so many of us hold dear and the sorority members would get to know someone from a different background. A growth experience for both!

Obviously no chapter would be forced to keep any exchange student during the recruitment process, just as they are not required to utilize the upperclassman quota/free junior if that is their choosing. However, those chapters that do feel a connection with one of the exchange students can place them on the bid list without taking away a spot from a freshman.

While there aren't scores of exchange students going through recruitment each year it does seem that we get quite a few here on GreekChat each summer so clearly there are some out there. The provision could be around for the times that it is needed, as waiting until there is an interested exchange student on campus would make it too late for that student.

Oh, that is good, Blondie! I wonder if it could be proposed to NPC?

The exchange students I've met who are in NPC groups have been huge assets to their chapters.

This is AWESOME and with your permission, I'd like to share it with the University of Arizona Greek Life Office and Panhellenic.

Granted, we might not attract the numbers of exchange students that UC Berkeley does, but what a wonderful proposal/suggestion/recommendation. A unique opportunity and win-win situation for both parties, IMO.

To the OP: I have wonderful memories of Berkeley and hope that you will make the most of your time there. There's a beautiful city across the bay that's worth visiting, too.

No permission needed, especially by you! :)

I put it out there in the hopes that it would be seen and considered. Glad that you are supportive of it.