GPA Requirement to get into a Sorority

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by Zillini

I wasn't talking about her chances of being successful in Recruitment or even whether she might make a good member. I was referring to her ability to remain an enrolled college student and not be kicked out of the University for failure to achieve their minimum GPA requirements. The OP is already on Academic Probation. It would be one thing if she said last semester was a struggle but she's she's doing a bang up job this spring. That's not what she said, rather she hopes she'll earn a 2.3. While no longer probation level that still sounds like struggling to me.

Is it wise to add the time demands of a sorority (chapter meetings, new member meetings, sisterhood activities, Panhellenic speakers/events, philanthropy events, social functions, etc.) on top of that? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for going Greek. I wouldn't be an advisor if I wasn't. But just because someone wants something doesn't mean it's the best thing for them. We can never forget that the primary purpose of going to college is to get a good education.

I misinterpreted what you said, thinking that you meant that sophomore status and involvement in only one activity would be two "strikes" against a PNM at any school, so I wanted to clarify that those wouldn't be "strikes" at JMU like they would at an SEC school like Bama.

I absolutely agree with everything else you just said.

If the OP could miraculously get 4.0s the next three semesters, she might have a shot at getting a bid as a junior (though she'd have fewer chapters from which to choose). She'd almost certainly have a better chance than she would as a sophomore with a *hopefully* 2.3.

[elleyk5187]

i know a lot of sororities require a C+ GPA to be considered for membership & a lot of schools require one to have a 2.5 (like everyone else said) in order to register. some schools are higher, some are lower...it all depends.

having a low GPA definitely limits which house you're able to become a new member at.

i was in your same situation. my first semester of college was one of the hardest times of my life. it was my first time being away from home, i had a terrible roommate, a horrible situation with a boy (i know i shouldn't allow it to screw with me, but it did!), & to top it off, my grandma ended up passing away after a sudden stroke. i only managed a 2.0, which did not reflect my intelligence or my ability in the slightest bit (i was in the top 10% of my high school class). i ended up getting a 3.6 GPA my second semester & that only brought my GPA up to a little over a 2.6. so, to even begin to bring your GPA up (since you're on academic probation i assume your GPA is under a 2.0), you'll have to get way higher than a 2.3.

some schools are changing their system to allow anyone, regardless of GPA, to register for recruitment and to leave it up to the chapters. for example, at IU someone can write an excuse to why their grades aren't higher (i.e. death...or you had an extremely hard class that brought down your GPA) but that didn't even help me much.

granted, your education is the reason why you're in college...not for the greek life or activities. buckle down & raise your grades first, then think about recruitment. after all, future employers will look at your GPA & if you're competing with someone that had a higher GPA, they'll probably get chosen over you.

a way to start fresh is to transfer schools. i did, so i didn't have a GPA. i went through recruitment right away & couldn't imagine myself anywhere else.

good luck!

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by elleyk5187

so, to even begin to bring your GPA up (since you're on academic probation i assume your GPA is under a 2.0), you'll have to get way higher than a 2.3.

I think the OP meant that with the grades she thinks she can/will get this semester, her cumulative will go up to a 2.3.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by elleyk5187

a way to start fresh is to transfer schools. i did, so i didn't have a GPA. i went through recruitment right away & couldn't imagine myself anywhere else.

good luck!

If you are telling her to transfer schools so that you dont have a GPA just to go through recuitment.... uhhh... yea.

[smiley21]

Originally Posted by elleyk5187

a way to start fresh is to transfer schools. i did, so i didn't have a GPA. i went through recruitment right away & couldn't imagine myself anywhere else.

good luck!

Even if you transfer, don't you still have a college GPA that the sororities will see? (The answer would be yes.) I transferred schools and still had to put my college GPA on my recruitment application.

I am not sure about your situation with 'not having a GPA after transferring', but I think this is bad advice to give to other people. No sorority is just going to believe that you don't have a GPA if you transfer after the first semester of freshman year.

Originally Posted by smiley21

Even if you transfer, don't you still have a college GPA that the sororities will see? (The answer would be yes.) I transferred schools and still had to put my college GPA on my recruitment application.

I am not sure about your situation with 'not having a GPA after transferring', but I think this is bad advice to give to other people. No sorority is just going to believe that you don't have a GPA if you transfer after the first semester of freshman year.

Not only that, but it pains me to see anyone suggest transferring schools just to be Greek.

If a girl wants to transfer schools, let it be for valid academic reasons...not because she might have a better chance at recruitment.

I agree with smiley. That's some bad advice up there.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by OTW

Not only that, but it pains me to see anyone suggest transferring schools just to be Greek.

If a girl wants to transfer schools, let it be for valid academic reasons...not because she might have a better chance at recruitment.

I agree with smiley. That's some bad advice up there.

I agree... but the poster who suggested that appears to have a small history in suggesting transferring schools in order to be greek

[sunnyhibiscus]

I don't mean to butt in (just because I'm not in a sorority), but I need to say something about your GPA, polkadotpink. I'm passing a very good advice from a very good professor on to you. My sociology professor said that your undergraduate GPA is vital once you graduate. Having a low GPA will kill you.

For example, many of the grad schools that I'm browsing at (I understand that grad school is not for everyone, but I'm using it as an example) require a 3.0 overall GPA and/or a 3.0 GPA from the last 60 semester hours (or last 2 years). Plus, the average GPA is around the 3.2-3.3 range. Sorry to sound harsh, but if you plan to go to grad school and if you have a GPA like that (even with the schools that don't have a set GPA), then expect schools to send you thin envelopes with a rejection letters.

Also, one of my business professors said that if you apply for a job, and you have that kind of GPA, and the next person has a 3.4 GPA and you both have the same amount of experience and great personalities and attitudes, then the boss will choose the person with the 3.4 GPA.
*On a side note, some internships have a required GPA. Something to think about because internships are a necessity.

In closing, you need to shape up your grades, and yes, please retake the courses. I've retook Calculus and it boost my GPA. Your GPA and education are important for important things later on in life (i.e. landing a job or post-undergraduate studies). Plus, you'll be taking upper division (or level) courses where I've heard it would be much harder and intense if you don't adapt good study skills now. I'm sorry for the long post, and please don't take anything that I have said too hard, polkadotpink.

This message should be true to not only polkadotpink, but to anyone who currently has a low GPA.