Balancing

Tink16 · #1 06-12-2002, 12:53 AM

Hi i'm a PNM and I was wondering if anyone had a hard time balancing their Greek "commitments" with academics and work. I'm a little concerned about this and don't want to let my grades slide or go crazy.

NoShame_Gamma · #2 06-12-2002, 02:20 AM

Hi Tink16!

The Learning Center on my campus has various workshops and counselors to help you out with problems from academics to time management. I started meeting a time management counselor twice a week and had a weekly/monthly planner with everything penciled in from my classes to my soap operas! It really helped me out especially since I was active in 4 orgs and had 5-7 meetings a week! Look into it. But honestly, just having a calendar helps a lot! Make a schedule of your classes, study time, meetings, tv, and STICK TO IT! Believe me, it WILL make a difference!

I hope this helps! Good luck!

Tink16 · #3 06-12-2002, 02:27 AM

Hi NoShame_Gamma,

Thanks for the advice. I've found the learning center to be quite helpful, i'll be sure to remember that

Kevin · #4 06-12-2002, 08:20 AM

Tink, no worries. I like most people do a balancing act between my job and several very time consuming campus activities. You'd never believe how much time there is in a day if you don't waste it!

If you just want to look at statistics though most members of GLO's have GPA's well above the average for those that are not in a GLO. We ALL have to do a little bit of time management... I can tell you though it is completely worth it!

LHT
Kevin

AOX81 · #5 06-12-2002, 08:51 AM

You CAN fit it all in! I worked two jobs, had 4-5 classes, and usually held between 2-4 chairs. I made time for everything. It's all about using your time wisely and making the most out of each day.

DZTUBAGIRL · #6 06-12-2002, 10:22 AM

Tink,
If you are worried about being in a GLO take away from your academics you don't have to worry at all. I didn't do too good my first 2 years of college and this semester I joined a GLO and i did the best I have ever done. One reason is that I knew that I needed to have atleast a 2.5 to stay on good terms with the sorority. Another reason is that alot of the organizations make the members do study hours every week so this made me go study even when I didn't want to. Also I think that my big sister really helped me because we studied a lot together. We have study groups with the other members. As long as you area motivated person and want to do good you will.

Anne Marie

DWAlphaGam · #7 06-12-2002, 11:59 AM

Tink,
My chapter was (and still is!) full of women who managed to maintain high GPA's and commit to jobs, offices within the organization, and many other activities. I have found that the key to success is to learn about your own abilities and limits and not to push yourself beyond them. Take some time to determine what is most important to you and what you can commit to so that you don't feel like you're stretching yourself too thin. Also, every GLO has scholarship requirements and ways for ensuring that their members meet them, whether they are incentive programs, tutoring programs, study files, etc. And, once you join, there is always someone around to study with.

You should also bring up your concerns during rush to get a feeling about each individual chapter's attitude towards scholarship and employment. Best of luck to you!
~Donielle

Betarulz! · #8 06-12-2002, 12:54 PM

Tink...

Statistics continually show that Greeks almost always have higher GPAs on campuses across the nation and Canada. I don't think I've heard of a campus where the all-Sorority average and all-fraternity average are not above the all-female/male average.

As other GC'ers have said many groups have study hours for their new members, as well as things like quality test files, special rooms for studying in the chapter house, as well as the fact that you can go and ask older members for help. You can also take courses with people from your house and have an automatic study group.

My main advice would be don't let the required study hours feel like a chore. I know many new members who just despised the fact that they had to walk to their house and were "forced" to study for a couple of hours. I actually found that once my pledge class started doing study hours I had MORE time available during the day, b/c I knew that from 6-9 on Tuesday and Wednesday I was going to have an uninterrupted period to study.

Tink16 · #9 06-12-2002, 06:05 PM

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! I just wanted to be reassured that things can be balanced.