Grade risks
 

From what I understand, unless you are descended from a founder or come from a family that gives oodles of money to the sorority, minimum GPA is set in stone.

I'm a recruitment advisor and, speaking from my own personal experience, most/all grade risks are immediately cut. With recruitment as competitive as it is, chapters have the ability to be selective. Keep in mind that the posted requirements are just a jumping off point. Many chapters choose to raise their GPA requirements for a particular recruitment in order to boost the overall chapter GPA and thin out their numbers more quickly.

All of this being said, there are always exceptions and girls who squeak by, but they are the exception-not the standard. There are so many gray areas of recruitment and grades are really the one big black and white.

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Depends on if the groups on your campus really stick to the grade requirements. I know that with chapters I've worked with, you don't have the grades, no matter how close, you're more than likely to get cut. When you're working with release figures, and it comes time to cut your list, it's the first reason for someone to go.

Is there any chance of you taking some units during summer school and bringing that GPA up over the minimum?

To my understanding, a "grade risk" is a girl whose GPA hovers right at or above the minimum (and thus could fall at any time). I believe that minimums are pretty much set in stone.

Your rec writers can include it, but probably won't make a difference. Sorry to be blunt, but if you're an upperclassman w/ a lower GPA, just know that there will be at least 50 other sophs/juniors with a higher GPA... Plus, the chapter already has their own risks with initiated members who have lower GPAs.

But if you have major activities - such as varsity cheerleading or dance squad or theater (in college, not high school) - that might have some bearing.

We occasionally took grade risks in my chapter, but...

It was generally for someone who already had friends in the chapter who were really pushing for her. It generally was via COB vs. formal recruitment. And, we were a smaller chapter on campus that generally had a few spots available.

I would say that on a very competitive campus, you might not have the same luck. Especially if you're not open to joining one of the smaller chapters and have your heart set on one of the groups that typically always takes quota+ and always is at or above chapter total.

Hey, that is the case at my school. Grade risks are cut immediately. The posted min. GPAs at my school are really a joke w/ most being between 2.5-2.9. They change every year. Honestly, the avg. GPA in our greek system is a 3.4-3.6 out of 4.0 (as seen by posted GPA). Most places will drop you like a stone if you have less than a 3.1 unless you are a legacy/rich/beautiful/VIP in campus. I went through it my freshman year with a just below avg. rush GPA as an engineer and was told that my major was too high risk by a few places. I did end up average in the end, but dropped myself out before the last night due to being freeked out by events at those two houses (bad conversations involving really bad behavior on their parts). I have since learned that the exception is not the rule, that girl was more of a renegade of that group. The other girl was just really weird, found out later that she had some recent mental issues.

Informals are really the way to go in your case.

If Informals are an option, I would consider it. Groups tend to be more lax at that time with that sort of thing.

You will very likely be cut first round from every sorority whose minimum GPA you do not meet. You may also be cut by those who technically you are ahead of their minimum GPA- you still must have pretty low grades.

You are a transfer and won't know people on campus, you are a junior, you don't have any other outstanding activities to set you apart, you've rushed previously at a different school and got cut heavily and did not maximize your options with those houses that did invite you back.

Harsh, but that's the reality that you're looking at. If I were you, I'd really try to figure out a few big selling points to overcome your grades - and honestly, a transfer that hasnt' had the chance to get involved in anything yet isn't going to have a lot on the surface to offer.

Oftentimes, too, the sororities have separate GPA requirements for new members outside of the all-chapter required GPA. IE: The all-chapter min is 2.7, but the cut-off at recruitment is a 3.0. The only time we took grade risks was if the member had a sister active in the chapter or perhaps had a major campus leadership position/athlete. And even then, it wasn't a given. Upperclassmen are at a disadvantage, and with lower grades, even more so.

Just go into recruitment with an open mind and know that early cuts are due to grades and class rank. You may want to take formal recruitment as a chance to get your name out and then pursue informal recruitment.

You're rushing at UCF, right? Unless things have changed since I've graduated, PNMs who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement are usually cut the first day. Juniors are cut more heavily. There are extenuating circumstances but they are rare. Hate to say it but freshman with a low GPA are given much more leeway than a junior with a low GPA. Most chapters can only take a certain number of PNMs that are juniors or who are under the required GPA.

Like adpiucf said, go in with an open mind. There is a good chance that you will be cut heavily the first day so try not to "fall in love" with the chapters whose minimum GPA you do not meet.

This is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. If they come through recruitment with a 3.5 gpa and an engineering major, you'll just drop them anyway?
My old roommate was a tri delt who rushed as a freshman first semester, double-majored in environmental science and engineering and kept a 3.5 (at least!) gpa at all times while being super-involved in her chapter. And the programs were really tough.
I understand the grade risk but automatically cutting girls because of their majors is total bull.

EEEk this is horrible news for my daughter. I think she'll not rush now as she is a science engineering major (incoming freshman) at a highly competitive school. I was also a science major and maintained a 3.75 average at UT. Oh well...Her GPA is only 3.6 not great... but I always told her I was ok with anything above a 3.5.:( I was more into it than she was, but without going through and seeing for yourself, you won't ever "get it."

PLEASE do not let the words of ONE poster convince your daughter not to rush. Maybe that's what they do in her chapter (and if it is, she really shouldn't be telling the world that - have we heard of discrimination suits people) but as for the other chapters on the campus, she has NO IDEA why a girl was cut.

Good luck to your daughter!!!

I had an average GPA for recruitment, not a 3.5. More like the one I stated earlier.
As far as the cutting goes:
Before I even joined a sorority, I was at a friend's sorority house and they were talking about future recruitment stuff. The most shocking comment they made was:"Alright, we really can't take anymore engineers. Their GPA always drops after freshman year and we cannot afford that. Let's limit the number in this pledge class to 2-4 this year."

I wish that wasn't the common comments I have heard while being at other friend's houses, but it is. That sorority that the above comment was heard has one of the largest number of engineers. The numbers are different from house to house, but most have 3-8 total. The houses here are around 120-130 ppl. Engineering majors account for appx. 1/4th of the university and 26% of those are female. I might add that avg. GPA in the engineering school is a 2.7.

Policies may be different at other schools, in fact I am sure of that. It would have been nice to be prepared for the worst. I will say that it is getting better as houses are realizing more and more that diversity in majors makes for more fun ideas/converstations.

The fact of the matter is that certain houses will draw heavily from certain majors or schools. House GPA is a really big deal here because all the houses are striving to be the top chapters in their sororities. It is a major concern for them and any sort of risks are not taken by many groups.

I would really like this to change. It is a shame that people are judged before the person even gets to know them.

I will site one conversation that I had during recruitment:
"Oh, so your an engineer. We have one of those. She couldn't be here tonight, she is studying at the library."

The other thing to consider is that if someone does not understand your major, it will be harder for them to relate. Some people will change attitudes completely when you tell them your major and basically end the conversation.

Hey, we are girls too. I do my nails and hair, put on a nice outfit and go to class. There are girly girls in technical classes, but some people just don't see that.

If your daughter has a 3.5, go through it. You never really know until you go through it. There are houses that like science majors and those that don't. For the ones that don't, she wouldn't want to be a part of them anyway.
It is just nice to be prepared for the worst. Those houses I got cut from first were ones not science friendly. There were still houses willing to look past that, a little over half.

Your daughter has a 3.5 in engineering - AMAZING!!!! You should be incredibly proud of her and I would love to see more engineers and science majors in sororities! More women are joining these fields and it would only make sense that houses would grow in that capacity too.

Tell her to go through it. Even if she ends up dissappointed, she will never wonder about "what if?" and that can be very important.

Don't let my comments discourage you, but do let it give you a better idea of what she may or maynot be getting herself into.

According to her rush thread, she decided to transfer to another Florida school and will rush there.

ZTAngel's advice is still pretty true for the major Florida schools with competitive Greek recruitments, though. Good luck, ocalagirl! Like we said-- open mind!

If you do not have grades to pledge, you will be dropped. We simply can't take people who don't have grades, even if they're just slightly under, because it's not allowed. It has nothing to do with what we WANT to do, we simply can't do it.

ZTA zetahunny: If your daughter has a 3.6, she will be JUST FINE. That is very high, so respect the fact that your daughter had to work very hard to get those grades. Our minimum GPA is a 2.5 at my college, and nationally it is a 2.3. We, of course, take the higher..but she is over that by over an entire grade point.

ChildOfTheHorn: I've seen that a lot here, too. I go to a liberal arts school, and I am the ONLY science major in my sorority. Over half the sorority is PA/PR or Hospitality and Tourism Management. Here, however, they were happy to expand their interests a little and shoot for people of different majors.

Don't Worry...
 

I had a 3.4 when I went through recruitment. Not only was I in Junior standing because of how many credits I had (I'm a double major in History and Sociology with a minor in Information Systems Statistical Analysis) but, I had just returned from my deployment to Baghdad, Iraq. I was really worried about how people would view me. I really hated bringing it up that I went away for the military but, thought I had to explain when girls would question why I waited to go through recruitment in my Junior year. Needless to say-I know my Army involvement was what got me cut from some chapters while others really embraced it. It was nice to see that some girls really appreciated my service and my sorority actually said that my military service was one of my distinguishing factors that got me a bid. Don't NOT go through because you think you may not get a bid....I went through will all that on my plate and was preffed by all three of my top choices, Phi Mu, ADPi and AXiD...not because they were the best on campus but, because they were genuine and made me feel like they really wanted me around-but, keep in mind EVERY chapter is unique and great in their own way.....I preffed all three chapters and in the end I became "Les Sous Fideles".....Good luck!!!:)

Unless you're Greek at the OP's new campus, I'd caution anyone to advise her with "don't worry." Ultimately we want the best possible outcome for her, but at the same time we need to be realistic and not sugarcoat things. Judging from her posts, she seems like she knows what she's getting into.

As far as the OP's situation, here was what I came up with:

If she's a freshman, it wont matter because she will go in without having a GPA. No big deal. If she's a sophomore, there are two things that can happen.

1). She goes to a school which is not very competitive in Greek Life. Therefore, the sorrities who DON'T have a minimum higher than her GPA could still be willing to take her.

Or,

2). She goes to a super competitive Greek life school, in which case her being a sophomore will hurt her much more than her GPA..or at least as much.

It won't hurt to rush and see what happens.

She's a junior (i think) transfer at a school with a very competitive rush.

I don't go to a super competitive school, but from what I hear..wouldn't that hurt her WAY more than a GPA? Apparently they like people to get their four years in? Correct me if I'm wrong, PLEASE!

Well, it's hard to say what would hurt more... not a good combo at a competitive school. That's why everyone is trying to be pretty honest with her.

I am truly shocked that in this day and age women are automatically cut for majoring in engineering/hard science/cs/math. Even in my day as an undergrad, non-Mickey Mouse major women pledged all the sororities on my campus. Later on in my advising years at several other schools, I know that my org. took girls who were majoring in tough disciplines.

My alma mater had both an engineering institute and a college of math/science (since split into math/sci and now cs). Greek Life wasn't and still isn't a huge percentage of the student body, but it was/is relatively influential. Student Gov leaders tend to be greek, blah, blah, blah. We just never had mandatory meetings on M-Th nights. From what I recall, all GLOs had chapter meetings on Sunday nights and mixers were only on weekends. I know many Ivies and top engineering schools that still do the same.

It would be interesting to hear from members or advisors of chapters at Dartmouth, Stanford, Cornell, Duke, Vanderbilt and a few others where every PNM who goes through has a 3.75 GPA or above with very high SATs.

With all due respect, I think you're stereotyping all the tier 1 schools as the same where ABC is top at all Ivies and XYZ is bottom.

Truth is, "everyone" knows that the Core Four at Duke do not happen to be the same groups at Yale. I can't speak for all (or any) Tier 1 schools or GLOs but as they say, mileage may vary.

PNMs may have different arbitrary cuts other than their hs GPAs/SAT scores. Many of the schools that FootballFan mentions have deferred rush so that fall freshman grades and activities can be added to the evaluations.

Alum,
There was no mention of any "core" sororities in any of the previous posts. I knew those universities had Greek groups and thought it would be of interest to receive comments about recruitment where grades would not be such a major factor. I have no idea what GLOs are even on those campuses. I selected them by taking the page of university rankings from my old copy of U.S. News & World Report and picking colleges I knew had a Greek system. If I missed Yale it was because I was unaware Yale had any GLOs other than fraternities.

Football Fan, Vandy has deferred rush, so they're not going off of high school grades as much as first semester grades. And I'm sure we all know that the first semester can be rough on a lot of folks!

if i'm not mistaken, one of the bush twins was a theta there? they also have pi phi and KKG

sororities play quiet role in Greek renaissance

At UIUC, you apply to a college, not the university as a whole (e.g. engineering, liberal arts and sciences, fine and applied arts), and the requirements were different for each one. In fact, some people would apply to one, get rejected, and re-apply to another. If a PNM came through who was majoring in engineering, we usually thought "great, she must be very smart to get into a competitive college," not "oh, engineering is hard, she will bring our GPA down". I have a feeling that CotH's experience is an isolated one.

To the OP, there may be a chapter or two on your campus that make very few cuts because their numbers are down. If so, those will be the chapters most likely to take a grade risk, because a girl with a low GPA may be better than no girl at all. The question will be whether you are a good fit for one of those chapters.

What are you using as a classifying factor for a tier? The Princeton Review?

Perhaps you didn't mean it the way it sounds, but I find your comment about "Mickey Mouse" majors to be offensive. You could have simply continued your original phrasing and referenced the engineering/hard science majors without using such a pejorative term regarding other programs of study.

As far as top 20 schools go, I think most of them have Rush in the Winter.

The grade issue at some schools may not be an issue if the university does not grade differently from school to school. Here, it is an issue.

no a different undisclosed school.

The problem with grade risks is that if that person continues to make low grades, that one low grade can bring down the chapter's GPA, reducing the effect of the 4.0's.

Don't forget, he/she probably won't be the only grade problem in the chapter.

It can be disheartening when most of the members are trying very hard to keep their grades up and there are a few members who couldn't care less.