Recs + Low GPA??

[pinapple]

Coming from a Big 12 school perspective, GPA is important and releasing girls for not making minimum GPA is a black and white cut.

[apollo_artemis]

So in short, focus my energy on the three houses that I'm qualified for, but don't exclude any other house that might want me back. I have joined a few clubs my freshman year, plus many activities I did in high school, and I know/have made friendly conversation with girls in various sororities. As much as waiting a semester or two might help me, I really want to rush now. I have four more years ahead of me in school (because of my major&minor) and I want to make the most of them in a sorority.

[adpiucf]

Focus your energy on EVERYONE of them, but each day is a new day and focus your energy on where you've been invited BACK. Good luck! Please stick around and feel free to ask any more questions! The link in my signature is an ongoing compilation of past recruitment threads and advice that may be helpful!

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

The link in my signature is an ongoing compilation of past recruitment threads and advice that may be helpful!

A ver thoughtful and helpful young for PNMs

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by apollo_artemis

So in short, focus my energy on the three houses that I'm qualified for, but don't exclude any other house that might want me back. I have joined a few clubs my freshman year, plus many activities I did in high school, and I know/have made friendly conversation with girls in various sororities. As much as waiting a semester or two might help me, I really want to rush now. I have four more years ahead of me in school (because of my major&minor) and I want to make the most of them in a sorority.

Don't focus on any particular chapter. Treat them all the same. As someone else pointed out, word travels fast around the Greek community. If you act rude, uninterested, indifferent, etc. at one chapter, another chapter may find out about it. Girls gossip and talk. This is nothing new.

Also, consider the fact that you might not receive a bid this semester. So maybe you turn things around, improve your GPA, and end up being eligible to join any chapter (grade-wise) during the next recruitment period. What happens that next time around? Will the chapters remember you in a positive light or a negative one?

Or what happens if you do receive a bid, but now you're on the outs with the majority of other sororities because of your attitude during recruitment?

Again, stop worrying. Just be yourself and put your best foot forward... at every chapter.

[Old_Row]

Originally Posted by apollo_artemis

So in short, focus my energy on the three houses that I'm qualified for, but don't exclude any other house that might want me back. I have joined a few clubs my freshman year, plus many activities I did in high school, and I know/have made friendly conversation with girls in various sororities. As much as waiting a semester or two might help me, I really want to rush now. I have four more years ahead of me in school (because of my
major&minor) and I want to make the most of them in a sorority.

What you did in high school isn't relevant. It's all about your college stuff now. Friendly conversation is not the same as having relationships with members who will stand up and fight for you. I'm not trying to be mean, I'm trying to give you very realistic expectations.

You may very well be completely dropped after the first or second round and that will be it for you for the rest of college. Be prepared for that and truly make sure you will be ok with it because saying you will be and actually experiencing that kind of rejection are two different things.

Also I think you need to ask yourself how you plan on getting a decent GPA with all the time and fun distractions of a sorority when you couldn't do it without one.

[apollo_artemis]

Let me clarify. By "focus my energy" I mean finding more recs, really looking into their philanthropies/philanthropic work the chapter itself has done, seeing where each house excels, etc. I will try to dazzle every house I visit during round one, even though I know I will be cut from most of them. I want to have a good reputation with every house, even if they only know me as "the sophomore we cut first round because of low GPA".

adpiucf I'll definitely read your linked post about recruitment!

[FSUZeta]

Good luck AA. Please let us know how it goes.

[AZTheta]

You're getting great advice and suggestions, and everyone is being positive as well as realistic with you. No one enjoys rejection and hurt.

Sororities highly value scholarship. Please accept and understand this fact: the first, immediate release of PNMs after Open House Rounds is IN PART almost always typically based on grades (and there may be other factors which most definitely ARE super secret Membership Selection information and I am not going there). This fact is black and white. The chapters have to develop their invitation lists and must somehow reduce the number of women they will invite back.

You know that your GPA is not competitive. This is a fact. I am with the other posters who have suggested that you defer another year and improve your GPA significantly as well as developing friendships with current sorority women.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the very best.

[KSUViolet06]

Point of info re: taking grade risks. There are NPC groups whose HQs do not allow them to take on grade risks. Meaning that if you are below the minimum, there are NO exceptions.

Depending on the group. you could have a room full of friends who just love love love you, and it would not matter because they are not permitted to take anyone below that GPA.

Just making note of that. Wouldn't want anyone thinking that any chapter can take on a low grade PNM as an exception if they "really like her and she's really nice."

[DubaiSis]

Originally Posted by apollo_artemis

Let me clarify. By "focus my energy" I mean finding more recs, really looking into their philanthropies/philanthropic work the chapter itself has done, seeing where each house excels, etc. I will try to dazzle every house I visit during round one, even though I know I will be cut from most of them. I want to have a good reputation with every house, even if they only know me as "the sophomore we cut first round because of low GPA".

adpiucf I'll definitely read your linked post about recruitment!

I wouldn't sweat the details to this extent. There is no test during recruitment and how well you can answer questions about ABC or XYZ will improve your odds. It's nice to look at the sorority and chapter websites so you are familiar with them in a general sense, but you don't need to "focus" on anyone's background. And knowing too much or vomiting out facts about a sorority to a member can be creepy and seem stalkery.

I know you already know (or think you know) the grade requirements for all of the chapters. I would do your best to forget all that. There's a lot more to member selection than you think, and you can't control any of it. Go in with a positive attitude and a sparkling personality, wow them with how awesome you are as a person, and then see where the chips fall. If it doesn't work out for you, do your absolute best to improve your grades in the next semester and maybe you can informal rush next spring. But you don't need to worry about that now either.

[Old_Row]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

I wouldn't sweat the details to this extent. There is no test during recruitment and how well you can answer questions about ABC or XYZ will improve your odds. It's nice to look at the sorority and chapter websites so you are familiar with them in a general sense, but you don't need to "focus" on anyone's background. And knowing too much or vomiting out facts about a sorority to a member can be creepy and seem stalkery.

I know you already know (or think you know) the grade requirements for all of the chapters. I would do your best to forget all that. There's a lot more to member selection than you think, and you can't control any of it. Go in with a positive attitude and a sparkling personality, wow them with how awesome you are as a person, and then see where the chips fall. If it doesn't work out for you, do your absolute best to improve your grades in the next semester and maybe you can informal rush next spring. But you don't need to worry about that now either.

Yes and you risk looking like a total creeper if you start chattering away about all the sorority facts especially during early rounds. So not impressive. I would also be seriously offended if I knew the only reason you did so much research on my sorority is because you decided beforehand based on assumptions that we were one of the only ones who might let you sneak in with a poor GPA.

[Old_Row]

Originally Posted by AZTheta

You're getting great advice and suggestions, and everyone is being positive as well as realistic with you. No one enjoys rejection and hurt.

Sororities highly value scholarship. Please accept and understand this fact: the first, immediate release of PNMs after Open House Rounds is IN PART almost always typically based on grades (and there may be other factors which most definitely ARE super secret Membership Selection information and I am not going there). This fact is black and white. The chapters have to develop their invitation lists and must somehow reduce the number of women they will invite back.

You know that your GPA is not competitive. This is a fact. I am with the other posters who have suggested that you defer another year and improve your GPA significantly as well as developing friendships with current sorority women.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the very best.

Hahaha I just noticed your siggy!

[wsucalsigmakapp]

All the above advice is excellent, just a quick thought. Not sure what you are majoring/minoring in, but have you ever thought of trying to grab a summer class or two, if you do well you may increase your GPA. Just a thought, I know many schools have 2-3 summer sessions and you may be able to pick something up either in your major/minor or even a GenEd type course. Online courses are also an option. =) Best of luck!

[apollo_artemis]

Originally Posted by wsucalsigmakapp

All the above advice is excellent, just a quick thought. Not sure what you are majoring/minoring in, but have you ever thought of trying to grab a summer class or two, if you do well you may increase your GPA. Just a thought, I know many schools have 2-3 summer sessions and you may be able to pick something up either in your major/minor or even a GenEd type course. Online courses are also an option. =) Best of luck!

I did look into taking an online summer class at the beginning of the summer. My school only offered GenEd classes I had already taken/don't need or upper level classes way out of my major. I looked at my local university and they had a class that would fill a minor requirement AND that could transfer back to my school. But my 40 hour/week job can be really draining some days and I quickly found when I got home I wanted some me time, not study time. Plus, I wasn't sure, if I did take the class through the local school, if it would transfer/change my GPA in time for recruitment. But thanks for the advice!