Will not get initiated into fraternity because of grades, I have a few questions

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

In the same vein as Jill's question.... find out if the fraternity will hold you over as a pledge another semester. Back in my day, sororities and fraternities were allowed to do this-for one semester only. the holdover then worked his/her butt off to make the required gpa so that they could be initiated.

This is how it worked when I was in school.

Slugger33, you said you were not sure if this was an option. I advise you to ask your pledge trainer or another officer for a definitive answer on this question as it pertains to you. Every time a pledge is ineligible for initiation there are any number of variables in play that have to do with the school, the chapter, that chapter's national fraternity and the pledge himself. Please don't make assumptions based on what happened to past pledges- find out where you stand.

As for your questions,

1. If you are a pledge in an NIC fraternity, there are no formal obstacles to you rushing again somewhere else if you depledge. Your realistic options depend on the Greek community at your school and your particular circumstances. I answer this question in the context of NIC because that is the realm where I can offer first hand experience.

2. See above- with the caveat that at your particular school grades may be taken more seriously. At the schools where I have direct knowledge, the observance national fraternity and college rules on GPA levels for initiation vary widely. Some chapters take it seriously and some do not.

3. Impossible to predict- and not really relevant at this point. If you cannot get initiated in that chapter, then it does not matter what your pledge brothers think when you make future plans.

One other thing- now is a good time to look at your current GPA standing if you are not a freshman, what your grades are likely to be, and what GPA you need in the next 3 semesters to have the overall GPA you need each semester to not have a problem with rush and initiation.

Here is a hypothetical for you,

1. You think you will get a 2.0 this semester on 15 hours and this is your first semester in school.
2. You need a 2.5 to get initiated and remain in the fraternity.
3. You will need a 3.0 on 15 hours in the spring to get initiated if you can hold over or if you want to rush next fall.
4. You need to average a 2.5 every semester thereafter.
5. Ideally you will do much better so you don't have to worry about and so you have better job prospects on graduation.

Do the math- figure out what you think you will get this semester and what it will take to have a solid GPA going into future semesters. That will give you all you need to know about the very specific objective obstacle you face right now.