Grades During the Pledge Process

Danka1988 · #1 05-03-2009, 05:01 AM

Just wondering if anyone remembers when they pledged, did their grades slip or not. If so, why? If not, how did u manage the initiation process and maintaining good grades?

baci · #2 05-03-2009, 09:47 AM

I can tell you that when I pledged it was the typical first semester of freshmen year. My grades were actually the poorest of my entire college stay. I can't say if it was because I pledged or just trying to get adjusted to the whole college experience. Yes, I was busy with being a pledge, but I will not say 100% it was because I joined a sorority. I think it may have added to the lower grades, but I look back on it as my getting adjusted in college, being away from home, and just learning how to perform on a whole new educational platform. Now that I am much older I realize the G.P.A is minor in the whole scheme of things. It was much more important back then. I wish I would have taken the opportunity to be a part of more things instead of stressing about grades so much.

PhoenixAzul · #3 05-03-2009, 10:08 AM

The quarter I pledged, I finished with a 4.0, and I was taking maximum courseload and was on the editorial staff of the paper.

It is do-able....but it is stressful for sure. I really benefited from our deferred recruitment, because I already had a quarter of school under my belt and had sort of cemented my study habits by then. My suggestion is to get a planner, a PAPER planner, because it can help you with the visual layout of your time. When you get your syllabus, immediately enter in all of your due dates, all of your project deadlines and all of your classes. Don't worry if they change, but enter the changes ASAP. Enter all of your pledge activities. Enter all your other duties (church, work, exercise, whatever).

Then look at the gaps. You may have an hour, or a half hour, between activities. Use that time wisely. That hour may give you a chance to get your reading done, or to at least get started on writing a paper, or to meet with a professor.

Also: this is going to be incredibly unpopular....but consider getting up earlier. Mornings are quiet, and they are great for quiet reading, or you can take that time to get exercise in, or do whatever work you couldn't get done the night before, or just get a start on the day (shower, etc) so that you're ready to do whatever comes at you. It is essentially "making" time.

And if you're having trouble during pledgeship...speak to your pledge educator and your big, and your professors. Ask for help before you desperately need it. If you feel yourself slipping, that's the time to ask for help, not when you're flat on your face. They want you to succeed, they want you to be a contributing member of their organization, and they (should) be able to work something out to help you be a successful student and member.

lauralaylin · #4 05-03-2009, 10:09 AM

My grades were good that semester. I moved into the house the next semester and had almost a 4.0 for three semesters in a row. As long as you plan ahead a bit and have decent time management, you will probably be fine.

I also wish I had stressed about grades less. I was so concerned about getting A's that I didn't take some classes I would have enjoyed. Although I did get a few interviews out of college based just on my GPA I think.

33girl · #5 05-03-2009, 08:31 PM

My grades improved during pledging.

angelfireusanj · #6 05-04-2009, 09:04 AM

I pledged in my junior year. Grades went up when I started pledging. My chapter had different levels of GPA reqs. 2.5 to be active and 3.0 to not have to do study hours, ect. Not to mention that there was a big focus on time mgmt. As the previous person said daily planners and stuff are great. Even now I use google calander for everything.

Senusret I · #7 05-04-2009, 09:07 AM

I pledged Alpha while I was in grad school, and my grades neither improved nor worsened.

I pledged APO in undergrad and although I remember being busy and not having the energy to study, I don't remember getting bad grades. (Except in physics which I was bad at in the first place)

KSUViolet06 · #8 05-04-2009, 09:20 AM

My grades actually got better during that time (I think that was the semester I went from a 3.5 to a 3.8).

Zillini · #9 05-04-2009, 11:24 AM

Tons of Freshmen get lousy grades the first semester on campus. IMO too much blame is put on being Greek when it has more to do with this being the first time on their own. Mom and Dad aren't their asking if homework is done, enforcing curfew and/or saying don't go out on a school night, making them go to class, grounding if they got a D on the first test, etc. Not to mention the all important fact that if a HS senior doesn't pull a certain GPA s/he may not get accepted to college.

I've seen 1,000s of PNM resumes loaded with heavy time commitment activities while still earning admirable GPAs. It shows these girls (and presumably guys too) are capable of balancing school and busy schedules. Like all things in life it's about commitment, priorities, with the most important thing time management. Grades should not have to suffer just because someone pledges.

honeychile · #10 05-04-2009, 12:10 PM

IMHO, students who were used to juggling a few activities in high school will still try to do so in college. Unfortunately, the stakes are a lot higher, and it can lead to bad grades. My grades dipped while I was a pledge (and a tour guide, etc, etc), but once I moved into the suite, they improved 100%.

It's all part of the college experience - learning to juggle your courses and your activities. I feel strongly that those who can are better prepared for life.

Elephant Walk · #11 05-04-2009, 03:04 PM

Grades generally go up during their pledge processes.

GammaDelt · #12 05-06-2009, 10:06 PM

My grades were higher. I think this is because when I have alot to do, I micromanage my time, and I don't waste any. So I end up getting more done because I KNOW I can't afford to waste any time.

JohnnyCash · #13 05-07-2009, 11:51 PM

Grades usually suffer during pledging in my chapter.

psychdesire · #14 05-08-2009, 11:50 AM

If I can speak on behalf of my close friends who recently crossed into Greek Life, I asked them this question and they stated it did NOT hurt their grades. If anything, they stated they were more motivated to do their work during the process.

libramunoz · #15 05-08-2009, 04:58 PM

My grades actually improved during my pleding process. During that time, I had half of the chapter in the same classess as me so it was virtually impossible to "cat nap" during any part of my classess because of many of my big sisters being in the same classess.
My grades went up from a 3.3-3.5 to a 3.8 during that semester. After the process was completed, they remained somewhere between a 3.4 to a 3.6.