Transfer Students
 

Hello! I've just completed my Freshman year at a community college and I'm transfering to a University in the fall. I'm planning on participating in the recruitment process, but I'm a little nervous as to what my chances are considering that I'm a transferring sophomore. This makes me very nervous! I have a 3.5 college GPA and a good ammount of reccomendations. I didn't participate in an activities at my community college because there weren't many to participate in, however I was active in High School. With that information, what do you think my chances are in recieving a bid?

I would first make sure that I used proper grammar and spelling in all of my correspondence. Not being snarky, just letting you know. Even online, and especially in email, these things matter.

Second, there HAD to be at least one activity to join. If there were few activities, maybe you could have started your own? It's too late for that now, but people /may will look upon that unfavorbaly. Yes, a 3.5 is great, but you had nothing else to do besides study. Being in a sorority takes up a lot of time. They will need to see that you can have good grades AND be involved as much as you need to be.

Perhaps you can get involved with something at home or wherever you are living right now - through church, volunteer programs, etc. You need to show people that you can branch out beyond yourself. Even if it's for a month. You can then look at your new school and see if a similar interest or group is already represented on campus. It doesn't need to be 10 hours a week.

That's all the advice I have. Perhaps others can give you some better information. Good luck with recruitment.

May I ask what university you are transferring to? Do you know if they have recruitment in the fall or deferred recruitment in the spring?

GCers will be able to help you more if we have a little more information as recruitment varies from region to region quite a bit.

Umm...her username is BamaGirl. I think that at least gives us the region, if not the spesific uni.

well she could be from alabama but going to school in another state anywhere in the country.

It's possible...but I don't know of too many southen girls who end up WAY out of SEC-land.

Put down your activities from high school. Also, if you have been active with your church youth group, put that down, too, as well as any jobs you've held. If you are going to Alabama or Auburn, remember that recruitment is EXTREMELY competitive. If you set your heart on only 1 or 2 sororities, you are bound to be disappointed. Keep an open mind, and be sure to look at the "smaller" groups. Yes, it is possible to pledge as an upperclassman. In fact, Alabama allows X number of upperclassmen, meaning they don't
count toward the maximum a group is allowed to pledge. At any other Alabama college with sororities, recruitment is not as competitive, and you're more likely to get a bid. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your advice! I'm am positive that I have used proper grammar and spelling on all of my resumes and registrations for recruitment! If I haven't used it on this site, it has been unintenionally. I agree with what you said about how I could've been more involved with activities in college. There weren't any groups that interested me, so I chose not to join. However, I was involved in church and my job. I was sure to put that on my resume. As for showing that I can have good grades and be as involved as I need to be, I maintained a 3.4 GPA in high school while being VERY involved in extracurricular ativities! I guess I should reword my question. If you were to know all of the information that I have told you, and knowing that I'm transferring in as a sophomore, would you even consider me for being in your sorority?

I really don't want to give out too much information over the internet, but I will tell you that I'm going to a university in the state of Alabama and I will be participating in Fall recruitment! I hope that helps!

Probably not the person you're looking for an answer from...she's in a service sorority...:):) Obviously, nothing wrong with a service sorority, it just doesn't seem to be your aim right now.

As alphafrog said, I am in a service sorority. Therefore, we do not discriminate as to who can train to be a member, but not everyone makes it through. Grades are important, but so is the ability to commit to outside interests, AND to the sisterhood.

I can tell you that putting your best foot forward and demonstrating your potential for personal growth goes a long way. There are no exact formulas. Just be the best "you" that you can be.

If you'll be at Bama or Auburn in the fall, being a sophomore may account for some heavy cuts. These recruitments are very competitive.

At the other AL schools, upperclassmen status as a sophomore should not hurt you as much, but you will be cut by some chapters due to your class rank. If you're at USA or a similar school, I wouldn't worry as much about being a soph. Some sorority chapters at some schools have a stronger preference for underclassmen.

This is not a sorority-wide thing; just depends on the individual chapter and their particular chapter needs at that university.

Definitely list out all of your HS activities in detail. One of my close friends rushed as an upperclassman, and had a very competitive recruitment, moreso than many first year students! I am partially convinced that a lot of this had to do coming in with a strong application-- although she was an upperclassmen with reasonably ok grades and a smattering of campus involvement, her high school achievements were really something special. She is one of the few ladies I know who was invited back to every single chapter after the first round of cuts (our school did it that year where PNM's could see all of their invites and then choose which parties to attend).

Keep an open mind and secure recommendations for the sororities at your school. Have fun!

So you were active in your church and held down a job during your first year of college? That counts! You're right, when you go to a community college, there aren't many opportunities to get involved on campus since everyone commutes. People go to class and then they leave. As long as you did something outside of your classes other than study, party and sleep, you were involved.

Given the information, you have a decent chance of getting a bid at Bama or Auburn as long as you keep an open mind (i.e. not getting your hopes up to join the top 2 chapters), because the only thing you have going against you is your class standing. You will be cut from some chapters merely because of your class standing. However, at a less competitve school like UNA or USA etc, you have an even better chance of getting a bid.

if it makes you feel better, i rushed as a junior and a transfer student and i still made it into a chapter. and i wish my gpa was that high when i went through.