Sophomore rush & so nervous- help?

[meganopp277]

Hi ladies! I'm so beyond anxious about rush this fall, I'm in need of some advice. I transferred spring semester of my freshman year to a really REALLY big state school. I went to a state school before that was smaller, and I really just did not like it. I got great grades fall semester and ended up with a 3.7 GPA. Second semester, I got all Bs and one B-, so I had a 2.97 GPA. My school takes grades from transfer credits but it does not count towards your GPA. It sucks.
I had a 3.3 GPA in high school, I went to a private school and got a 27 on my ACT. I feel okay about my grades from high school and first semester freshman year, but I'm really stressed about my second semester grades. My friend who is in Pi Phi said that this year Pi Phis aren't taking sophomores with less than a 3.0. I'm super disappointed, and even more nervous because I'm guessing that other houses have standards similar to this. I was really involved in high school, and I'm involved in 2 different clubs at my college. I love the school, but it's so big that I had a hard time finding a really good group of friends first semester. It was hard to transfer middle of the year. I wish I would have figured something out sooner for my grades, there's no excuse for getting under a 3.0 and I'm not trying to cover up for that at all. I'm just wondering what houses are looking at most when considering sophomores. Any input? Even if it's harsh?
Oh and this isn't a huge greek school. I don't think it's a super competitive rush process, but honestly I don't know for sure...

[AXOmom]

Don't want to step anywhere I shouldn't, but I'm confused - if you had a 3.7 first semester and a 2.97 your second semester then your cumulative GPA will be above a 3.0 (assuming you took the same number of credits both semesters). Other than going through recruitment as a sophomore, what is your concern about the grade?

[meganopp277]

Originally Posted by AXOmom

Don't want to step anywhere I shouldn't, but I'm confused - if you had a 3.7 first semester and a 2.97 your second semester then your cumulative GPA will be above a 3.0 (assuming you took the same number of credits both semesters). Other than going through recruitment as a sophomore, what is your concern about the grades?

Right, I know it's kind of hard to understand...my school does not count your transfer credits towards your GPA. They only count credits that you have earned at the school for your GPA. So, at my new school I had 3 Bs and 1 B-, which left me with a 2.97. My grades that I earned from the other school are on my transcript, but they do not count towards your GPA. It's kind of ridiculous and really annoying

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by AXOmom

Don't want to step anywhere I shouldn't, but I'm confused - if you had a 3.7 first semester and a 2.97 your second semester then your cumulative GPA will be above a 3.0 (assuming you took the same number of credits both semesters). Other than going through recruitment as a sophomore, what is your concern about the grades?

I believe the concern is that the 3.7 didn't transfer from the first college, so her GPA is technically only 2.97 (at her new school).

OP - You can't change your grades at this point. Just make sure everything else is in place for you to have your best foot forward (recs if you need them, attitude, conversation, appearance, etc...) and hope that they notice your GPA from first semester. Good luck!

[Eightisgreat]

I understand what you are saying, but your new school GPA is 2.97 and your "old" school is 3.7....even though the new university does not "average" those, if I were in your shoes I would calculate what your actually Freshman year GPA is and put that in your "GPA" box on your application. Frankly, I feel looking at your overall Freshman year GPA is better than just Spring Semester GPA because it is a better "picture" of your Freshman year. I think the fact that your new University does not use that transfer GPA in THEIR calculations, does not mean you should not use it. JMO

[Barbie's_Rush]

Originally Posted by Eightisgreat

I understand what you are saying, but your new school GPA is 2.97 and your "old" school is 3.7....even though the new university does not "average" those, if I were in your shoes I would calculate what your actually Freshman year GPA is and put that in your "GPA" box on your application. Frankly, I feel looking at your overall Freshman year GPA is better than just Spring Semester GPA because it is a better "picture" of your Freshman year. I think the fact that your new University does not use that transfer GPA in THEIR calculations, does not mean you should not use it. JMO

Bad idea. That's not the GPA that the college will report to the sorority. So she will look like a liar.

[AXOmom]

Originally Posted by meganopp277

Right, I know it's kind of hard to understand...my school does not count your transfer credits towards your GPA. They only count credits that you have earned at the school for your GPA. So, at my new school I had 3 Bs and 1 B-, which left me with a 2.97. My grades that I earned from the other school are on my transcript, but they do not count towards your GPA. It's kind of ridiculous and really annoying

Gotcha. Most schools don't count the previous college GPA (just the credits), but I thought you meant you had earned both GPA's at your previous school and you were going to be transferring this fall. Sorry - I didn't read carefully.

[angels&angles]

If I were you -- if there's a place, mention your previous school GPA. IF it comes up naturally, mention that transferring was difficult/big school was different, whatever HONESTLY contributed to your so-so spring GPA. But at this point, there isn't a lot you can do except be yourself, be polite, be personable, keep an open mind to EVERY sorority, & hope for the best.

[AXOmom]

By the way, my daughter had a similar issue but in reverse. Freshman grades were NOT good, but she came home her sophomore year, took classes at a CC and had a great GPA (combination of much easier classes and much better study habits).

When she transferred to her current school and filled out the recruitment paperwork she put an asterisk in the GPA box and said, "See attached letter". She wrote a letter that she made sure (she called the Greek life office several times - to the point that I'm sure they were getting a little annoyed), was attached to her application. She stated in it what her GPA was at her CC.

She also stated the cumulative GPA (freshman year and CC) that appeared on her transcript because as Barbie's Rush stated - they are going to see it anyway, but she used the letter to emphasize her better GPA from the CC and talk about what she had done to change as a student. I have no idea how much that helped her and I don't know if it would help in your case - just a suggestion.



****Posted this before seeing that angels&angles pretty much said it for me. My brain is slow today.

[Titchou]

Some groups will round off your grades so, for some, a 2.97 would be a 3.0. Be that as it may, your grades are what they are and you should not lie about them. If it was that important to a particular group and they found out after your pledged that you had a different GPA, that could be cause to revoke your pledgeship. Just play with the hand you've been dealt.

[Eightisgreat]

My point was there should be a place for her GPA from her previous school and she should report it. When my daughter registered for recruitment, it asked about previous college, credits and requested a transcript if applicable. So in that respect, averaging the GPA's by credit hours is the truth. What would the replys be if her first quarter was the 2.97 and the second semester was the 3.7? I think she would be critized for "hiding" the low GPA.

[Barbie's_Rush]

Originally Posted by Eightisgreat

My point was there should be a place for her GPA from her previous school and she should report it. When my daughter registered for recruitment, it asked about previous college, credits and requested a transcript if applicable. So in that respect, averaging the GPA's by credit hours is the truth. What would the replys be if her first quarter was the 2.97 and the second semester was the 3.7? I think she would be critized for "hiding" the low GPA.

You need to back away from the computer and stop giving bad advice. Concentrate on your own dd's recruitment. You just told a pnm to do something that could jeopardize her recruitment. She is not a transfer at that school. She is a continuing student with an established academic record, no matter how short. There are appropriate ways to deal with this situation as mentioned by angels&angles and axomom.

And no, it wouldn't matter if she had the higher gpa at the new school. If they ask for the previous school information and transcript on the form, you give it to them no matter whether it's better or worse. You let the sororities decide how to handle it.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by Eightisgreat

I understand what you are saying, but your new school GPA is 2.97 and your "old" school is 3.7....even though the new university does not "average" those, if I were in your shoes I would calculate what your actually Freshman year GPA is and put that in your "GPA" box on your application. Frankly, I feel looking at your overall Freshman year GPA is better than just Spring Semester GPA because it is a better "picture" of your Freshman year. I think the fact that your new University does not use that transfer GPA in THEIR calculations, does not mean you should not use it. JMO

Respectfully disagree with your reasoning here. I work at a university and I have heard and seen countless creative ways that people try to manipulate facts. Bottom line: You cannot average GPAs from two very different higher ed institutions. It is simply not done, and that is why the credits will transfer, but not the grades. There is absolutely no way to level the playing field in comparing school A and school B.

OP, tell the truth. Do not lie. EVER. Do not manipulate the facts. The reality is simple: you jumped from a pond into the ocean and it was an adjustment. Plain and simple.

Stop stressing about recruitment. What's done is done. Get your best game on and go out there and play. Good luck!

[meganopp277]

Just wanted to update everyone who posted (thanks again for your input!!)...I went through rush two weeks ago at my school. By the time rush started I had calmed down a lot and was trying to go in with a really positive attitude and an open mind. The first day of recruitment I met and LOVED Delta Gamma, and I was lucky enough to receive a bid from them on bid day!! I feel really fortunate that things worked out for me, reading some stories on GC over the summer I know others weren't so lucky. Overall I had a great experience & I'm loving my new house!! Thanks again everyone for your posts!

[DubaiSis]

I'm glad to hear it worked out for you. Do you feel you were cut by any chapters based on your grades? That's FEEL not KNOW; just wondering.