University of Southern California: Non-Traditional Sophomore Admit
 

Post edited to preserve anonymity at 9:30AM January 28th, 2013.

I was worried about my low high school GPA ruining my chances at getting into a sorority (a 2.7), but am starting USC next year by meeting the outlines of my sophomore admissions guarantee! This guarantee asked me to maintain at least a 3.3 to keep my admissions offer, but I now have a 3.9, and will be at USC (Southern California) next year!

Thank you to everybody for your answers and support!

If you have a college gpa your high school information won't apply.

California or Carolina?

Southern California.

Really, DubaiSis? That would be awesome.

OP: please edit your post including removing your name, way too much info that easily identifies you.

good luck with recruitment!!!

Now that you have a college GPA, sororities will not look at high school. Your college 3.9 is what will be reported to them and all you will need to divulge in registration info, so don't worry about that.

So sorry for what you experienced in high school -- I hope you find a wonderful sisterhood at USC!

Posts on Greek Chat are anonymous. Sometimes a post may need a second look.

The Dean of Admissions at USC is a male as is the Director of Admissions. There are many women on the admissions committee, but the two senior administrators are men.

Your college GPA is what will be considered, so don't worry about your high school GPA being a factor. You have worked really hard and you have a great college GPA! You don't need to include your admissions essays in your recruitment application. However, you will need letters of recommendation for the sororities at USC. Please read the link in my signature for some great info on recruitment preparation, recommendations, and what to expect at the events.

I'd recommend that you edit your post to delete your name and test scores/GPA/etc. to preserve anonymity.

Be proud of yourself for coming as far as you have and continue to work on yourself. I wish I could tell you that your story is not unique, but there are a lot of women in college, and in sororities, with similar experiences. I hope you continue to heal and wish you the best at USC and in sorority recruitment!

I posted under a different name. My name isn't actually Christina, because I figured as such, but wanted to come off as friendlier because it was a personal story.

The admissions officer who contacted me and was originally my counselor was Anne Aubert-Santelli, but she recently left the school for another opportunity. I'm now working with another USC counselor who is advising me on my coursework and is male, Mark Rasic, but understand your possible reservations and claiming that this post "might need a second look.". I figured it would be okay to post a few details about myself despite my situation's uniqueness, because the sophomore admissions letter I received mentioned that I was one of 2 dozen students who received this special agreement for the 2012 year. In addition, I wanted to fully explain the nature of this situation and make it clear that I wasn't one of the many USC students accepted for spring admission due to my unusual circumstances. I'm genuinely sorry if I came across as suspicious to you.

Thank you so much AdPiUCF! I just edited my post, and will definitely check the link in your signature. I also responded to your PM :)

Thank you so much for your help, everybody! I've edited my post with a short summary of my problem, and I'm feeling much better now that I know that my college GPA is what will be looked at. I'm very excited to begin the process of rush this coming year :)

Edit:
I was also wondering if it would hurt me specifically at USoCal if I did not have letters of recommendations. I know that at many SEC schools letters are necessary, but I am not sure what the situation is at USC. Neither of my parents or any of my relatives have ever been in Greek life, so I'll be the first in my family. I've asked my mom to ask her friends, but there are only a handful and I am not sure if any of them were even in the sororities that are at USC. I've also asked some high school teachers I've had and a female lacrosse coach, but to no avail. Between being a sophomore and possibly not being able to secure any recommendation letters, will my ability to rush be extremely compromised? Other than those two things, I feel that I am a strong candidate with very good grades, social skills, (style and looks, if it matters), and community participation.

Get recommendation letters. USC recruitment is Very Competitive. You will need to keep an open mind and go into recruitment every day with fresh eyes.

ETA: there are some terrific posts/threads on GC about how to obtain recomendations.

Paging ellebud!!!!! melindawarren!!! and the other USC regulars.

First...you are not a non traditional pnm. SC has spring admits and sophomore admits who go through recruitment and find a house. SC does not have formal spring recruitment so spring admits (who are generally sophomores) and fall admit sophomores go through recruitment.

Note: I am now talking about what MY daughter experienced. Going in she had 3 recs. She did not pledge a house where she had a rec. Would it have been "easier" if she more recs? Perhaps...but she almost had a "perfect" rush. She did know a few girls in a couple of houses and that probably did help.

The blanket advice for SC is have a good gpa, dress appropriately for southern California (I have seen the term Church appropriate here...SC is not that conservative), have questions to start conversations if the sister is out of gas and breath mints. Not kidding./

From what I understand USC is one of those "must have recs" schools. Having a rec or two for each chapter can't hurt, especially since you're a sophomore. Why risk not having them? You've got plenty of time to find them before fall rush.

P.S. Congrats on your stellar GPA!

Okay, that definitely allays my fears. I was just really worried because my high school GPA was super low, although I guess that won't factor into any decisions. That sounds good. It turns out my mom found a lot of people who can write me recommendations. Does getting more than one or two help? And is it okay if not all of the sororities are represented? I've only secured recs for 5 of them so far. How much do recommendations help at USC?

I'm working on it now :). And thank you! Does anyone know when I should have my recommendations sent in? It seems really early to send them now. In addition, do pictures need to be included with them? Because I was planning to lose some weight and take professional photos in the summer and would prefer for those to be attached as to my senior portrait.

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Edit: I was also wondering how much sway current sororities members have. I was in a club with a girl who I know is in a sorority at USC, but I don't think she liked me. She was a little mean. When they receive my application, will they ask other girls in the sorority if they went to my high school and what their opinion of me was? And could that lead to me not getting a bid if things otherwise go well?

"Help" really isn't the word - "necessity" is more the word. Ask some of those women who wrote you the recs for the 5 sororities you have if they know people in the other 5 who can write recs for you as well. It's in your best interest to have a rec for every sorority. Keep asking family and friends!

Yes, they probably will. Yes, it could. Or they could all think she's an idiot and not pay attention to anything she says. Or she could have realized that she was a total beeeyotch in HS and will be your biggest cheerleader. You never know. If what you're asking is "can one girl's vote prevent me from being bid" - that is private membership selection information and not up for discussion here.

No one can tell you the importance of recs, just that it is a variable in a list of elements. The point with the recs is to check that box. I'd say 1 or 2 should be sufficient and since it seems you have a selection from which to choose, ask the women who know you the best and most personally.

Personal, active member references (friends) count A LOT. They aren't everything because when it all boils down, they're still just one vote. But having an advocate cannot be overestimated. That's among the reasons why being active on campus in clubs, study groups, intramurals, etc. is so valuable - you make friends by doing it.

Here is a link to info about recommendations at USC:
http://www.uscpanhellenic.com/letters-of-recommendation

As you'll see, now is actually not too early in regards to sororities accepting recs, but the deadline is August 15. You are off to a great start if you already have five! Someone familiar with USC recruitment is the best one to answer this, but for what it's worth, I send tons of recs to SEC schools as well as some in the ACC and few in the Big 10 -- it's typical to send them in the summer, after PNMs have their final GPAs, whether it's high school OR spring semester if they are already in college, either as a current student or one transferring in. Waiting until summer also allows any end-of-year activities/honors/awards to be included on the resume. (Beginning this year, though, I am making some modifications based on some great thoughts from some great ladies here at GC-- see end of post for explanation, after I've addressed your questions.)

In my part of the country, we advise two good recs per chapter. Yes, you do need to include a photo. A nice head shot or a classy casual shot -- think the style of senior pictures. No Glamour shots, trout pouts or swim suits! You want to present yourself nicely and you want to be recognizable. Sororities don't request a photo to rate you a 1 to 10 ; it's to help them remember you among the big sea of faces they meet during the week.

Finally, you need to provide your rec writers with a resume. Include everything, but emphasize leadership and service/volunteer work whether it is school, community, church or work sponsored. Though college GPA is what counts/is reported in the case of non-freshmen, most of the non-freshman PNMs I do recs for include a blend of college and high school activities on their resumes -- this just gives the sororities an idea of your interests, talents and background.

Hope this sheds a little light for you, but again, someone with direct experience with recs at USC may advise you better.

(Regarding the modifications: though I will still be sending recs in the summer, I plan to contact my chapter early about some PNMs and give them a heads-up that a rec will be coming. 1.) If the PNM is a current student; letting my chapter know that she is already on campus may get her on the radar a little earlier, and 2.) if the PNM is not currently on campus but planning to attend a voluntary pre-recruitment activity, like a Panhellenic Preview/info session in the spring. (Some schools host these). Again, letting them know she will physically be on campus during the event may get her on the radar sooner.)