GPA Question *tricky*

[Miss{BooperDoo}]

Ok...regarding GPA requirements for rushing, I know when you transfer schools your GPA does not carry over. This is my story

*HS...not so great GPA 2.0 graduating...but not sure if they will need H.S. transcript as I graduated 2004 and have had college work since then)

Attended community college-GPA 3.4

Transferred to State School-GPA plummets due to working 40 hours to pay for classes that I couldn't attend because I was working to pay for them (yay for shitty financial aid advisors who don't know what they are doing and stick you with a huge bill that MUST BE PAID...should note here I was trying to go the "no student loans" route...so I did shoot myself in one foot, while FIN AID shot my other) and not dropping hte classes, just ended up failing them. (Yay for shitty advisors who were never available and schedualed appointments to become "no shows" leaving me waiting for AN HOUR before giving up...ok sorry mini rant)

*GPA plummeted to point of academic probaton

Went back to community college- GPA 3.2

When transferring down to School out of state, will they look at just the college I transfered from, or both?

[MTSUGURL]

When I transferred and intended to go through recruitment at MTSU that fall, I had to put my current GPA on the application.

[UGAalum94]

I think that if you want them to consider anything other than your official school GPA, you're going to have to provide it. It seems like it would be in your best interest to try to provide the transfer plus current average if you can.

I don't mean to jump topics, but are you sure you want to take on additional financial responsibilities and time commitments right now?

If you are talking NPC groups at a competitive campus, it sounds a little like your GPA might be an issue, and if you get a bid from someone you like, it will be a time commitment and a financial one, as well.

[RoseBuddy]

I work at a state university that counts all previous transcripts in the GPA. We accept some students who are on academic probation or suspension from their previous university, on condition that they have demonstrated a change in purpose and have a plan for success.

Some students are concerned that the low GPA will keep them out of consideration for grad school employment. Grad schools and employers both appreciate the wisdom that is gained from being sidetracked and figuring out a way to return to school and be successful.

I would think that a sorority would give you the same consideration, particularly if you have leadership experience or other qualities that they look for in their members.

RoseBuddy

[kddani]

So let's get this all straight.

You're going to U of Southern Alabama, a Southern, traditional, fairly competitive school. You're not transferring until next spring.

You're older (currently 22, may very well be 23 or 24 by the time you rush), have a rocky academic past of various schools and either pretty good or terrible grades, and possible financial issues (you're still going to have to pay for school, and sorority dues, which aren't cheap).

These do not bode well at all for your chances at sorority membership. It really doesn't appear that you have the responsibility and drive that sorority membership requires.

Though I'm sure some things were out of your control, most of them were well within your control. Failing classes is your own fault- no one else's. Trying to work to pay for school full out instead of taking out loans like the rest of the world is a poor choice that you made. You don't seem like you're in much of a hurry to get back to school and get finished with your degree. I see a heck of a lot of blame on other people in your post and no acceptance of any fault on your own part.

ETA: I also think that a sorority would be a bit wary because it seems like you haven't been able to stay at one place in one school for very long at all. Why should they go through all the cost and expense of recruiting someone and taking them as a new member, only to have them drop out of school or otherswise disappear at the end of the semester?

[jwright25]

I saw a similar situation last fall. A PNM listed her HS GPA (3.2) and that she was transferring in 18 college credit hours (2.8). The chapter I was working with considered HS GPA if the PNM had less than 12 college credit hours and considered college GPA if she had 12 or more. (That's a LOCAL rule - don't assume everyone does it that way.) Additionally, we NEVER trust what a PNM tells us her GPA is - we go by what the Greek Office confirms on the application. Turns out her college credits were 12 hours at a 2.0. Released her first night.

What I'm saying is that what will really matter is what the University says you have. I suggest asking them what credits will transfer and count toward your degree and what the Student Information System on campus says your GPA is. That's what the Panhellenic Advisor will be confirming anyway.

If it is low, you can offer up the explanation. I see about five of those every fall. And I can tell you honestly that they don't mean a hill of beans - the PNMs are released anyway. That's harsh, I know. But it's true. We'd rather see a PNM get a solid year of University coursework under her belt and earn a good GPA than take a chance on someone who hasn't proved herself in the past. This particular campus isn't SEC-level competitive, and we have a separate quota for juniors and seniors so that they have the same chance for placement as the younger PNMs.

ETA: I haven't read your other posts to see where you are going, so I don't know what else might affect recruitment for you....

[UGAalum94]

If it's not too private, can people say what there approximate GPA cut off really are/were?

Greek life will usually give a minimum, but I have the feeling that it's the minimum used for girls who are directly descended from founders, organized the entire Relay for Life in her hometown last year, and currently presides over both the BSU and the cheerleading squad at college.

It's hardly the minimum that Average Jane PNM will need to avoid being cut for grades.

If you don't want to give the range, how about just noting what percentage of girls ever get bids who don't have at least a 3.0 in college or a 3.5 from high school.

[AOIIalum]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

If it's not too private, can people say what there approximate GPA cut off really are/were?

I know some schools list the chapter's grade rankings on their Greek Life or PHA site. I've seen lists broken down between new member GPA, active GPA and overall chapter GPA and others than just rank chapters in GPA order. If this info is available it'll give you a better indication of "real" GPA numbers versus the "2.0-2.5 minimum GPA" usually listed in recruitment materials.

[FSUZeta]

the florida state individual sorority websites state the minimum gpa requirement for a pnm. it varies from sorority to sorority. i would imagine that the minimum gpa panhellenic requires to be eligible for formal recruitment is stated either on the panhellenic page , in the recruitment rules and/or the greek life booklet that is online. maybe usa has something similar-take a look or call the greek life office.

[AchtungBaby80]

Our minimum GPA requirement was officially a 2.8, but notice I said officially. In actuality, things were a bit different...I'll just say that it would be a good thing for a PNM to have at least a 3.0.

Also, I'll add that some sororities are very careful about taking PNMs that they consider to be a "grade risk."

[EGAOPi]

You don't have to worry about providing your high school transcripts at this point. While your grades in community college are good, you also need to take into account that each school sees ALL college grades, so that includes community college AND the grades you earned in your state college. The Greek organizations get your academic information from the school--since they will have your records and go by ALL earned grades in college, they will see it all. However, it depends on how your current college calculates your GPA. It will likely be an average of all classes and if your state college GPA was below a 2.0, which is traditionally what it would have to be to be placed on academic probation, it could be very difficult for you to be extended a bid. That's not to say it's impossible, but it could be harder for you (especially considering your class standing, as well).
I know that advisors and financial aid can be hard to work with, but we all have to go through this. It's annoying, but sometimes you just have to work things out on your own.
As far as the struggle with finances and grades, focus on those before you go Greek.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by AchtungBaby80

Our minimum GPA requirement was officially a 2.8, but notice I said officially. In actuality, things were a bit different...I'll just say that it would be a good thing for a PNM to have at least a 3.0.

Also, I'll add that some sororities are very careful about taking PNMs that they consider to be a "grade risk."

This is what I was getting at. I think the groups publish what is technically the minimum, but it doesn't mean much because you really need something higher.

Looking at the new member average is probably a good idea if your school publishes it for transfers (at least you would know how high yours would have to be to seem high), but it doesn't probably tell a high school girl what they're looking for out of high school.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

the florida state individual sorority websites state the minimum gpa requirement for a pnm. it varies from sorority to sorority. i would imagine that the minimum gpa panhellenic requires to be eligible for formal recruitment is stated either on the panhellenic page , in the recruitment rules and/or the greek life booklet that is online. maybe usa has something similar-take a look or call the greek life office.

Is it your experience that Zeta at FSU considers everyone above the posted average as being "good"? (That'd be cool.)

I know people are pretty forthcoming about what the absolute minimum is, but what they don't say is that someone with the minimum will need to be amazing in all other areas to compensate, or even that if you don't know anyone in the chapter already and aren't a legacy, being at the official minimum would be way too low.

[KSUViolet06]

It depends on the school's policy which GPA they will consider.

Panhellenic will have a minimum required GPA to participate in recruitment. But each individual sorority will have different minimum GPAs (that they will require you to have in order to receive a bid). For example, Panhellenic might require a 2.0 to rush, but XYZ sorority has a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Sororities take their academics very seriously. Every sorority on my campus always competed to be "#1 in grades". Sorority GPA requirements are often nationally required (and non-negotiable). So they pretty much have to cut anyone who is under their GPA requirement, even if they are stellar in other areas. And even if they have the option of taking a "grade risk", they won't because it would jeopardize the sororities' overall GPA.

Bottom line, your grades are really important (in recruitment and in school in general). Low GPA is one of those factors that will get you cut faster than anything else.

[AChiOhSnap]

Originally Posted by EGAOPi

The Greek organizations get your academic information from the school--since they will have your records and go by ALL earned grades in college, they will see it all. However, it depends on how your current college calculates your GPA. It will likely be an average of all classes and if your state college GPA was below a 2.0, which is traditionally what it would have to be to be placed on academic probation, it could be very difficult for you to be extended a bid. That's not to say it's impossible, but it could be harder for you (especially considering your class standing, as well)

I'd go as far to say that, due to your class standing and age, the way USA calculates your GPA is going to be crucial in how competitive you are during recruitment. Your GPA really has to be stellar. If your GPA ends up being, say, a 2.6, that's only going to hurt you when you're competing with 18 y.o. PNMs coming out of high school with near perfect GPAs. Like, really, REALLY hurt you.

I will say that my chapter looked at the transfers' college GPAs very critically. If we were to bid a transfer, we wanted to know that she had the skills and drive to do very well in college. If she had a low college GPA (i.e. anything below about a 3.0) it was an enormous strike against her.

I'm sorry to sound discouraging because I know you're excited about recruitment...but it looks like you've got an uphill battle ahead of you. Best of luck to you, I hope everything works out.