Scared about rushing as a sophomore for competitive recruitment HELP!

[gee_ess]

It is my understanding that the min gpa requirements often differ between an entering freshman and a sophomore. I wonder if the OP's gpa is her college gpa. That could make a big difference.

OP - best of luck to you. You sound like someone who is really maximizing her experience and whose main goal is joining a sisterhood. Keep an open mind, smile, make friends. Definitely read the threads on here about others who did that and ended up finding a home.

Keep us posted!

[BleedOrangeBlue]

Just wanted to add my two cents, even though all the GC "big dogs" I so admire have given some great feedback to the OP. I don't want to discourage you from rushing again, but you really need to be prepared for heavy cuts, and almost all due to your GPA. Your 2.9 may not be below minimum but I went to UF, and I can tell you it most def is below pretty much every chapters average. Look at it this way, right upfront we know you're going to bring down our chapter GPA, and so we're already thinking about how we'd have to take someone with a 4.0(and these PNMs are not hard to find) to balance you out. In general, most chapter's will look at that as a risk they just don't want to take, and this is maybe the one instance in rush that is totally NOT personal. You will have an uphill battle this fall. Now, given all that, you really need to shine. You'll need to prove that your amazingness and all the great things you have to offer the girls far outweigh the concerns about your academic performance.

[Barbie's_Rush]

Just in case I haven't made myself clear enough:

The likelihood of any chapter taking on a pnm with a gpa lower than its minimum requirement is basically zero at a super competitive school. GPA cuts are the earliest, easiest and fastest cuts to make. You either make the cutoff or you don't. No amount of sugar coating will change this simple fact. A pnm, particularly one that is anything but a freshman, needs to be prepared for heavy heavy cuts for grades in the first round. This is something that is completely out of the pnm's control once they have earned thoose grades.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by BleedOrangeBlue

Just wanted to add my two cents, even though all the GC "big dogs" I so admire have given some great feedback to the OP. I don't want to discourage you from rushing again, but you really need to be prepared for heavy cuts, and almost all due to your GPA. Your 2.9 may not be below minimum but I went to UF, and I can tell you it most def is below pretty much every chapters average. Look at it this way, right upfront we know you're going to bring down our chapter GPA, and so we're already thinking about how we'd have to take someone with a 4.0(and these PNMs are not hard to find) to balance you out. In general, most chapter's will look at that as a risk they just don't want to take, and this is maybe the one instance in rush that is totally NOT personal. You will have an uphill battle this fall. Now, given all that, you really need to shine. You'll need to prove that your amazingness and all the great things you have to offer the girls far outweigh the concerns about your academic performance.

And do it the first round.

BTW..thanks for coming on GC for the personalized UF feedback, BleedOrangeBlue.

[ExcitedPNM]

Ok, its a little tough to hear but sadly it is the reality. Thank you all for your input. If I may ask your advice on one more thing, when should I address my grades? I'm guessing that since the recs have been sent it, the chapters (even the ones above my gpa) will know about my gpa, so should I bring it up casually in the first round with an explanation or wait until later in the week and stick to dazzling them in the first round? Any feedback on this would be great

[Drolefille]

Don't bring it up. If you're specifically asked about it, talk about what was going on that caused your grades to be lower and what you're doing to fix it. Odds are it won't get brought up directly.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by ExcitedPNM

Ok, its a little tough to hear but sadly it is the reality. Thank you all for your input. If I may ask your advice on one more thing, when should I address my grades? I'm guessing that since the recs have been sent it, the chapters (even the ones above my gpa) will know about my gpa, so should I bring it up casually in the first round with an explanation or wait until later in the week and stick to dazzling them in the first round? Any feedback on this would be great

Don't bring it up. They already know about it. When it comes down to it, you want girls to be able to take more from your conversation than "I don't remember too much about her, she talked about her GPA the whole time."

[Barbie's_Rush]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Don't bring it up. They already know about it. When it comes down to it, you want girls to be able to take more from your conversation than "I don't remember too much about her, she talked about her GPA the whole time."

^^This^^

[AOII Angel]

I agree with everything people have said above. Nothing you say will make the GPA seem better anyway. Everyone with a low GPA has a story for why it's low. Sob stories will just make you seem like Debbie Downer, anyway.

[ExcitedPNM]

Wow definitely glad I asked then! Thank you everyone (also for your swiftness in answering my thread questions).

[Blue Skies]

Originally Posted by ExcitedPNM

Ok, its a little tough to hear but sadly it is the reality. Thank you all for your input. If I may ask your advice on one more thing, when should I address my grades? I'm guessing that since the recs have been sent it, the chapters (even the ones above my gpa) will know about my gpa, so should I bring it up casually in the first round with an explanation or wait until later in the week and stick to dazzling them in the first round? Any feedback on this would be great

I wouldn't discuss your grades at all. If a chapter is going to cut you for grades, they'll do it after the first round. Just be prepared for potentially heavy cuts after that round.

But as another poster stated, it only takes one.

[hottytoddy]

Yeah don't bring it up. The last thing you want to do is point out your flaws. Even if you were to give an explanation, if you are below the cutoff, Nationals won't let them keep you past the first round. It doesn't matter how much they like you. The minimum grade requirements may be different for sophomores (I honestly don't remember what it was when I was in school). Sometimes, a current member can write you a grade petition if they want you bad enough, but those not only require documentation as to why your GPA is low, they are usually only done for girls who already have friends in that particular chapter. And they are rarely ever accepted anyway. Any chance you could take an easy summer class or 2 to bring your GPA up a tenth of a point?

However, some chapters only require a 2.5 or a 2.8, so it may be a non-issue for some houses. Some of the houses post the requirement on their chapter website (I know they do at Ole Miss). As long as you are above the cutoff, your GPA usually isn't considered much past that point(good or bad). So, I would try to get recs for ALL houses if you can (info only recs don't count at a lot of houses at SEC schools) and keep an open mind. You'll be cut from some, but don't let it discourage you completely.

And I know people said that the "working out and shopping to look the part" isn't smart because you aren't being your true self, but I would keep it up! Not to "look the part," but you'll feel better about yourself and self confidence always helps.

[ExcitedPNM]

There are I think 4 or 5 sororities that have a 2.75-2.8 minimum, but I heard (and saw from above) that they will still cut me even though I am above that. I still have to get a rec for one of them (that I really would like to be in if I am limited to 4 or 5!) and am desperately scrambling to do so. Hopefully, one will take me despite me being a "risk".

I heard that sometimes sororities make exceptions to the GPA rule and would just put that new member on academic probation. Is this a rumor, or is there any merit to that statement?

There is no chance of me taking a class at this late date, I tried registering for one earlier in the summer but they were all full.

I'm worried that I should not even try to rush at this point and try to go through in the spring, I'm getting very discouraged. Also I feel that I won't get to show my true personality to any of them since my grades are the only thing in my way! Its just a bummer...this means everything to me.

[hottytoddy]

First of all, no one above knows that they will cut you even if you are above the minumum!!! That's crazy talk. There's really know way to know that. Your grades aren't that bad. It is still above the cutoff for some and that's all that matters. What was your high school GPA?

I don't know about the academic probation statement. I'm sure a lot has changed in the few years since I left.

Don't go through in the spring. Most SEC sororities don't even particiapate in Spring Rush. And I think it's usually the ones who don't make quota and it's very informal (you have to be invited, etc). I would definitely still go through with it if I were you. I still think you can end up with a good experience! Just don't be crushed if you have your eye on a particular house and they cut you. You could still end up with a great group of girls! I'll put it this way... If I had been in your situation at my school, I would've still rushed. Even if I had ended up in a house that was my dead last choice, it still would have been a great house! And I still would've had a great greek experience! I would've rather get a bid from my last choice then no sorority at all.

[ExcitedPNM]

True, very true.

Ok thanks hottytoddy, that makes me feel a bit better. I still really want to go through rush (not to mention, I have the perfect outfit for the first round!) so I'm going to ignore what my mother and everyone else says and just DO IT! haha :]