Rush as a sophomore?

I regret not rushing in the fall of my freshman year, but I'll be rushing in September. I am a Chi Omega legacy with 3 recommendations for my school's chapter, and my current college GPA is a 2.64. When I registered for rush, I included the activities of dance, involvement in my campus TV station, and a prior leadership role in the residence hall committees (I also have several volunteer experiences but I didn't list them...). After I registered, I read the Statement of Expectations for my university's Greek life, and it recommended that all Greek members and new member classes should have at least a 2.75 GPA (although some members I know in Greek life don't have that). In high school, I was very involved and my cumulative GPA was 3.5. But now that I'm rushing as a sophomore, is there a big chance that I won't get into the sorority I want because of my college GPA? And should I have mentioned my volunteer experiences when I registered?

[AlphaFrog]

We cannot tell you what your chances are, we simply don't know.

Yes, your sophomore status and GPA WILL hurt you, but we can't tell you if it will impact to the point of not getting a bid.

You should get recs for ALL chapters, not just ChiO, and not get your heart set on anything. At the end of the day, you'll most likely have to ask yourself if you want to be Greek bad enough to accept ANY bid that you're given, not just your top choices.

[justgo_withit]

Originally Posted by ramgirly37

But now that I'm rushing as a sophomore, is there a big chance that I won't get into the sorority I want because of my college GPA?

It depends on your school, but sorority members are going to look at your GPA and think "If this PNM could only get a 2.64, how is she possibly going to improve while also going through our involved new member process?" Many (if not all, but I don't want to speak for others) NPC sororities highly value academics and take pride in scholastic achievement, as we are first and foremost in college for an education.

Regarding your sophomore status, you mentioned in your intro thread that during your first recruitment you got a bid with the group that "gave everyone a bid" and you turned it down. What will make this recruitment different for you? You can't just go into it again and do the same things, this time with a lower GPA, and expect different results.

Originally Posted by ramgirly37

And should I have mentioned my volunteer experiences when I registered?

Yes.

[AZTheta]

friendly advice: delete your legacy affiliation and other identifying information ASAP. You'd be easy to pick out of any sized crowd.

Do some searching using the terms GPA + sophomore recruitment (here and on google). You'll learn that (a) we can't tell you your chances of receiving a bid (b) your current college GPA isn't going to help your chances, due to the field of PNMs you're competing with (c) there are always exceptions to every rule, so see (a) in this list (d) what GPA current actives have doesn't matter, because they are in a chapter and you are not (e) your registration has been submitted, no point second guessing what you should or shouldn't have included.

Good luck!

ETA: dang I type slowly, thanks to my panhell sisters for the great advice, above ^^^

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by ramgirly37

I regret not rushing in the fall of my freshman year, but I'll be rushing in September. I am a Chi Omega legacy with 3 recommendations for my school's chapter, and my current college GPA is a 2.64. When I registered for rush, I included the activities of dance, involvement in my campus TV station, and a prior leadership role in the residence hall committees (I also have several volunteer experiences but I didn't list them...). After I registered, I read the Statement of Expectations for my university's Greek life, and it recommended that all Greek members and new member classes should have at least a 2.75 GPA (although some members I know in Greek life don't have that). In high school, I was very involved and my cumulative GPA was 3.5. But now that I'm rushing as a sophomore, is there a big chance that I won't get into the sorority I want because of my college GPA? And should I have mentioned my volunteer experiences when I registered?

Grades are very important. Once you have a college GPA established, your HS grades cease to matter.

A 2.64 is low. I'd worry less about getting "the sorority you want" and more on keeping an open mind, especially with grades like that.

Also, if that is the recommended GPA for new members at your school, I would seriously question whether you even have the grades to be extended a bid in the first place.

Every chapter has a minimum GPA requirement, and women who fall below that should expect to be cut by that chapter. I would look those up. I'm not sure what they are for your campus, but I've seen some GPA requirements start at 2.75. If that is the case for the chapters at your school, you may seriously have a difficult road ahead of you.

This also applies to your legacy chapter. 3 recs and being a legacy do not matter if you don't have the grades for them to bid you, especially in a situation where you're a sophomore and there are freshmen available (and probably some legacies) with better grades.

Sorry to be harsh, but grades are one of those basic things that you need to have in order to be considered for membership.

[AOII Angel]

Being a legacy does not guarantee you a bid. You may want to ask you family members for more information and to assure that you are a triple legacy for that group because I'm pretty sure that only daughters and sisters of members count as legacies. If you are any other relation, it doesn't count. Make sure they send the appropriate paperwork needed for you. The 2.64 GPA may be a real issue depending on the campus. Go in realizing that you may face heavy cuts.

[DubaiSis]

Just asking a question, not replying to the OP. Could she take 1 summer class and get an A and have it count toward her GPA for rush? Having just one year of college behind her, one class can at least help. I personally wouldn't recommend 2 unless you are 100% sure you can get A's on both. And I believe that class would have to be at the school you attend the rest of the year. An A at a CC isn't going to help. Right?

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

Just asking a question, not replying to the OP. Could she take 1 summer class and get an A and have it count toward her GPA for rush? Having just one year of college behind her, one class can at least help. I personally wouldn't recommend 2 unless you are 100% sure you can get A's on both. And I believe that class would have to be at the school you attend the rest of the year. An A at a CC isn't going to help. Right?

Only if the class is taken at her campus. If it's taken at another school, then the credit hours transfer but not the GPA.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Being a legacy does not guarantee you a bid. You may want to ask you family members for more information and to assure that you are a triple legacy for that group because I'm pretty sure that only daughters and sisters of members count as legacies.

She didn't say she was a triple, she said she had 3 recs.

It seems that her mother or sister should have prepared her a bit better, or if they didn't know how (i.e. if they went to a very laid back school and she's going to an SEC school or something) they should have done a little bit of research to help her out.

Thank you so much! I read all of the feedback, my questions have been answered and I appreciate the honesty. And DubaiSis, I took a summer course and scored a B, but it does not go towards my cumulative GPA.

Recently, I got another rec from an alum from this chapter, too, so now that's 4! I'm not going to worry now whether I make it or not, I'll just go through the recruitment process with an open mind and hope for the best. Whatever happens, I'll make the best out of it! Thanks again.

[FleurGirl]

Originally Posted by ramgirly37

I regret not rushing in the fall of my freshman year, but I'll be rushing in September. I am a Chi Omega legacy with 3 recommendations for my school's chapter, and my current college GPA is a 2.64. When I registered for rush, I included the activities of dance, involvement in my campus TV station, and a prior leadership role in the residence hall committees (I also have several volunteer experiences but I didn't list them...). After I registered, I read the Statement of Expectations for my university's Greek life, and it recommended that all Greek members and new member classes should have at least a 2.75 GPA (although some members I know in Greek life don't have that). In high school, I was very involved and my cumulative GPA was 3.5. But now that I'm rushing as a sophomore, is there a big chance that I won't get into the sorority I want because of my college GPA? And should I have mentioned my volunteer experiences when I registered?

Question for some of the more experienced GC'ers, but if your GPA is below the Greek life office's cutoff, are you even eligible for recruitment or to receive a bid?

[DubaiSis]

I think the rules vary by school.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by FleurGirl

Question for some of the more experienced GC'ers, but if your GPA is below the Greek life office's cutoff, are you even eligible for recruitment or to receive a bid?

Didn't we just recently have a discussion about this?

Maybe someone can find it. I'm having a hard time tracking it down...

ETA: Nevermind.. found it

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...d.php?t=127092

[33girl]

Originally Posted by FleurGirl

Question for some of the more experienced GC'ers, but if your GPA is below the Greek life office's cutoff, are you even eligible for recruitment or to receive a bid?

Statement of Expectations =/= Minimum GPA to sign up for rush and/or get a bid. The first is for a group, the second is for an individual. Also, the first is a recommendation, not a requirement.