Fraternities and grades

SiKeS · #1 01-21-2004, 06:58 PM

Hey!
First I just wanna say thanks everyone who has helped me and responded to my previous questions... I've learned so much from this board and I'd be completely lost without it.

Okayyy onto the question!

How much emphasis do grades and GPA have on rushing FRATERNITIES?
I've read many many threads about grades concerning girls rushing but havn't ran across too many dealing with the guys..

A little info about me --- I'm currently a senior in HS. To be completely honest, I havn't always put 100% into grades... Actually... thats even quite the understatement. BUT this senior year, I've busted my butt and gotten the best grades of my life taking a full load of classes... (2 englishes, a math, a chemistry, spanish, an art and marketing)

I've also gotten the opportunity to hang out with a couple fraternities I'm interested in at the beginning of this year...

I totally feel like fraternity life is the life for me, since many of my friends have or have planned to pledge fraternities, I love to be *involved* and I love sports.. I also like the concepts of brotherhood and respect...

I'm just pretty afraid that my *extremely* low cumulative GPA will burst my bubble.

I'm sure this semester's grades will help a little bit, but whats been done has been done. I understand that grades reflect on motivation and effort -- so other than the results from my senior year, I have no real way of showing that I have changed and am no longer a lazyass..

Alright, I'm babbling on lol... Back to the initial question.. Are these bad grades going to slap a red flag on my back in the eyes of a fraternity? As far as I know, my campus has no minimum GPA for guys rushing...

Any opinions, comments, questions will be greatly appreciated...

Thx much,
-Matt

ATOtnBetaTau · #2 01-21-2004, 07:19 PM

As far as I know, most fraternities have a minimum GPA requirement for Initiation (ATO definitely has one). If your grades are not up to that par, you will not be initiated.

Concerning your GPA, can you explain your situation a little more. Do you mean to ask if your current high school GPA will hurt your chances at receiving a bid or if your current collegiate GPA will hurt you chances at receiving a bid?

If you feel your high school GPA is what may bring you down, remember that in college life, you can get a fresh start with that GPA. However, a student who does poorly in high school may or may not be motivated enough to do better in college. You may have to prove that you will have that motivation.

If it is your collegiate GPA that is low, you have a different situation. I am personally wary about pledging someone who will not be able to make the GPA requirement to get intiated. I would imagine other fraternity men are as well.

Keep in mind that most fraternities can help you with grades through study halls, library hours, older brothers' experience, etc.

Hope this helps a little.

Jason

SiKeS · #3 01-21-2004, 07:28 PM

My bad, should have been more specific.. My highschool grades freshman through junior year are horrible.. senior grades are good... I'm planning on keeping up the good trend in college... It just took me longer than it should of to realise the imporance of grades.

So yeah, I'm asking about if my HS GPA will hurt me during rush...

Thanks a lot for the input, helps a lot.

-Matt

ATOtnBetaTau · #4 01-21-2004, 07:41 PM

Hey, no problem. I probably read too quickly and was not paying attention.

I would think that if I saw someone would did poorly early on, but made the effort for improvement, it would look good in my book(especially since it is the high school GPA). You've got a clean state coming into your freshman year of college, and good motivation from your senior year of HS to back it up.

I personally believe your high school GPA can help during rush, but of course, if it is all you have to show (i.e. no personality, leadership ability, athletic ability, etc.), it will get you no where. To answer your question, yes, grades are important, but they are definitely not the one and only thing that will get you a bid.

I'm sure you'll get some good advice from other GC'ers. This is just my humble opinion from a smaller school with a smaller Greek system.

Jason

Rudey · #5 01-21-2004, 07:43 PM

I honestly have never heard of a guy in a fraternity getting in trouble for grades. I know there are minimums but have any of you ever actually seen someone get cut or kicked out for this?

-Rudey

ATOtnBetaTau · #6 01-21-2004, 07:46 PM

I have - only once. ATO does not allow us to keep a member as a pledge for more than an academic year. If the yfail to meet the grade requirement two semesters in a row, we have to drop them. Of course, they can re-pledge later... and pay the fee again.

Jason

James · #7 01-21-2004, 11:44 PM

Only if the kid was a tool or someone had a grudge.

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
I honestly have never heard of a guy in a fraternity getting in trouble for grades. I know there are minimums but have any of you ever actually seen someone get cut or kicked out for this?

-Rudey

BSUPhiSig'92 · #8 01-23-2004, 10:18 PM

There are also plenty of universities or IFCs that have minimum grade requirements. My undergrad was pretty strict about it. At my current school, I'm pretty flexible about it, but our requirement isn't that high.

James · #9 01-23-2004, 10:54 PM

Well yeah ., . but its basically passing . . a 2.0 or 2.5

absolutuscchick · #10 01-24-2004, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rudey
I honestly have never heard of a guy in a fraternity getting in trouble for grades. I know there are minimums but have any of you ever actually seen someone get cut or kicked out for this?

-Rudey

Haha...me neither. I had friends who got like less than a 1.0 and were still in their houses...

Tom Earp · #11 01-24-2004, 05:48 PM

Once again, not to step on Toes, but Yes, LXA has a GPA restriction! It is ours, not the school or NIC!

We had a President who did not make his grades! He was out of Office. He was out of the Chapter, suspended until he got Grades to the regulation.

Are Grades Important, Da, what the hell are you there for? Well, To Graduate.

Oh, and it helps your Chapter to have a high GPA on Campus. Does Award sound faniliar?

Make you look good to The Un. and Your National?

++++'s do count!

The_Nash · #12 01-25-2004, 06:24 AM

your more likely to get thrown out of my school for grades than get thrown out of a fraternity here for grades

Kevin · #13 01-25-2004, 12:00 PM

We will not initiate someone if they don't exceed all-men's GPA. That's like a 2.6 or so. Not a difficult thing to get really...

Your HS grades are not important to any but the most selective chapters (don't exist at my school). After you pledge just make sure to go to class and study. Then, you should be fine.

Tom Earp · #14 01-25-2004, 05:44 PM

As ktsnake said, Make Your Grades! HS Grades dont mean S**T! It is a different Ball Game!

When you join an Orgaization that depends on you, that is just what it means, Depends on You!

Why are you in School anyway? Da, To Graduate. To Graduate, you need Grades!

So, The Thing Is, do you make your grades and help Your Greek Organization out or be a butt?

The only one who gets Hurt is You!

ThetaPrincess24 · #15 01-25-2004, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom Earp

So, The Thing Is, do you make your grades and help Your Greek Organization out or be a butt?

LOL! I'll have to remember that line when I talk to my chapter now as scholarship advisor.