2.4 GPA and looking to rush at University of Alabama?
 

Hi guys:)

I will be attending Alabama in the fall of 2016, and was wondering if I could get in a sorority with a 2.4. I have one semester left in high school, so I'm hoping I will be able to raise it to a 2.7, but that is as high as I can possibly get it. I got in because they saw my high ACT score and my explanation for why GPA was so low my first two years of highschool, ( mother and grandmother had cancer, I was never at school I was always was with them. When they beat it I focused on my studies, raising my gpa from 1.6 to a 2.4 in two semesters) I am worried that they will cut me, even before they hear my reasons.

Any advice would be super helpful!

That's going to be very tough, not impossible but difficult. I would do everything possible to get the GPA as high as you possibly can. Get good recommendations and put forth your best effort. If I were you though I would wait and work on your studies to raise your GPA your freshman year. Not sure if Alabama offers spring rush or COB but that may be an option too. Keep an open mind if you decide to rush in fall and its possible you may not get your top choices just go into it with positive attitude. Best of luck.

To be very honest, your chances are slim to none. However, several groups there do COB spring semester so waiting to see what your fall grades are would be good. And Alabama also has an upperclass quota so waiting till sophomore year where you could really improve your grades is also an option. A large number of the groups there also utilize the upperclass quota. You will need all your recs for Alabama.

No matter the reason, your GPA is low. Don't waste your money and your time rushing this fall. Pledge the library and devote yourself to getting stellar grades, but leave a little time to get involved with a campus organization. Keep your nose clean. Plan on rushing in the spring providing you have the GPA, or wait until fall formal 2017. As Titchou said, get recs. to all sororities.

If you're insistent on going through recruitment, I would make sure your rec writers know the reason for your low GPA, and that they explain it in the letter, at the least.

Some traditionally strong sororities at Alabama had COB spots this spring due to early graduations, etc.

I would not put myself through formal recruitment in the fall with your GPA. Better to study hard and get good fall grades while trying to get to know as many freshman girls in your dorm and classes with sorority connections...could lead you to COB opportunities in the spring or a strong upperclass rush in Fall 2017.

Can't speak for every NPC sorority, however I venture to say this: very little wiggle room on GPA requirements for consideration as a potential new member. It's the easiest and fasted "cut" made in winnowing out the PNMs (and at Alabama there are a lot of PNMs so the field needs to be narrowed in some fashion, quickly, right out of the gate).

You're getting great advice here from women who truly know Alabama and I would take their advice.

I would have to concur. Potential is very important in rush (perceived grade risks will get cut even if the hard number is there), but there is a hard and fast bottom line that can't be crossed except in the most rare of circumstances. Being a sophomore is not a deal-breaker at this school. Get the grades where they should be, make friends, be involved on campus. It will work itself out later.

I'm glad your family members came out the other end ok. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made and you made a choice to be with family at the expense of your grades. This was undoubtedly the right thing to do and thankfully won't necessarily hurt your long term options. But it will have hurt in the short term.

Have you talked to your school advisor about any way to redeem what must have been a few failing grades? If you could bring back a few of those from the dead and get yourself to a 3.0 along with great recs I would say it MIGHT be worth just giving it a shot. As long as you went in with low expectations about results.

Thank you so much! I also have over 160 community service hours, will that benefit me in any way? Also do you know if they look just at the cumulative gpa, or all of my 4 years? I have some scary growth going from a 1.6 to two semesters of 4.0+.

It will be your cumulative GPA (confirmed by the UofA's records -- you will have a final official transcript sent to admissions after you graduate).

It is possible that sororities would see your transcript if alums include an unofficial copy you provide when they write and submit a recommendation. But I think you would likely still experience heavy cuts after the first round since many sororities would not look much beyond the 2.7. Your community service is a good thing, and you need that regardless, but it won't do much to offset your GPA.

In your case, since you know you are capable of a high GPA, I think your experience through recruitment would be far more positive as a stellar sophomore than it would as a struggling (with GPA cred) freshman.

During your freshman year (aside from killing your courses), you will have the opportunity to become involved on campus and meet/make connections with actives of different chapters.

Kudos to you for helping with your mother and grandmother -- wishing you all the best whatever you decide!

HartofSec and I are both Alabama alums and have worked with our chapters there in recruitment. We are trying to give you the most realistic answer we can. Hope you take our advice.

Again...I do have to echo the sentiments here. See what you can do to raise your GPA as high as possible. My daughter went thru COB this past spring, and she accepted a bid from kappa alpha theta, at an extremely competitive SEC school- as she wanted to really wanted to start strong and missed the cutoff for formal recruitment. I can tell you first hand that they do look very heavily on your grades. In fact, they have to even submit mid-term grades where my daughter attends. Its a big part trust me. I would not put the stress on myself at this point, but rather take everyone's suggestions and study hard freshman year raise your GPA as high as possible and rush in your sophomore year. I truly wish you the best!!

We have a minimum incoming GPA requirement, which is set at the international level. I think this is pretty typical, but the minimum can vary from group to group. The Alabama recruitment guide lists "suggested" GPAs (these may be the international minimum, or they may be a locally set higher minimum). While chapters may have some leeway with locally set higher GPA minimums, chapters cannot extend a bid to you if you do not meet the group's (inter)national minimum. Last year's guide indicates that every group has at least a 3.0 listed, and some are higher. Take these seriously...they are listed to give PNMs guidance in situations like yours.

http://www.uapanhellenic.com/greek-chic.html

You don't want to shoot yourself in the foot by getting released during freshman recruitment due to sub-minimum HS grades...then earning a great GPA and getting involved freshman year, only to have a potentially successful sophomore recruitment derailed because chapters remember you had a low GPA when you went through the previous year. Better to have a fresh start and go in strong sophomore year, in my opinion.

(Thinking about community service and your struggles when your mom and grandmom were ill)

If you were my daughter, I would advise you to direct your energy toward researching campus involvement opportunities (and making a list even), so that you might hit the ground running as a new freshman on campus. If you delay recruitment until 2017 (spring or fall), you will have time to really pursue and invest yourself into some campus orgs and activities.

For example -- apply for Freshman Forum -- you should be able to do this during the summer. On your application (and hopefully during the interview round) you might think of ways to highlight how your experience with service, struggling academically, overcoming adversity, and then recovering academically left you with a unique perspective and experience as you approach college. And how this translates into contributing as a member of Freshman Forum, of course.

You would meet and serve with a lot of freshmen -- including a lot of freshmen in sororities (ETA: not to mention that this would be a real plus -- leadership position -- on your recruitment resume)!

Is 2.4 your weighted or unweighted GPA? Because UA looks at weighted, Panhellenic also looks at weighted. So that might be good news for you.
But if it's 2.4 unweighted, I would not spend the money to sign up for recruitment.
As everyone else has said, spend your first semester or year studying like heck, meeting people, getting involved.
Good luck and
Roll Tide!