Questions about GPA Requirements and PNMs

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

I can remember not too many years ago when chapters posted their minimum gpa requirement on their webpages.

A lot of schools list the chapter's minimum GPA requirements in their recruitment guidebook things (the thing that the PNMs get over summer.)

[AOII Angel]

Towson for years did nothing. PNMs listed no GPA and Panhellenic did not verify a GPA. We couldn't even get a semester GPA report from the Greek Life office for years so we had to start mandating members turn in their grades at the first meeting of the semester. Let me tell you, nothing is more disheartening than pledging quota only to find out half your new class has below a 2.0!

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

The PNMs fill in their GPA on the recruitment enrollment form. They give permission to Panhellenic to verify their grade info. That info. is passed on to each chapter.

I found this on the Florida State Panhellenic website concerning grades:

"Although there is no minimum grade point average required for registration, it is STRONGLY recommended you have at least a 2.8 high school and/or college grade point average. Please note that meeting this minimum does not guarentee membership in a sorority. In Recruitment 2010 the average high school grade point average of women receiving bids was a 3.710, and the average college grade point average was a 3.430. All submitted academic information will be verified against official transcripts on file with Florida State University, and academic information will be updated to match University records."

I can remember not too many years ago when chapters posted their minimum gpa requirement on their webpages.

I think this is a reasonable way to do it; not to have a "rule", per the Green Book, but to be realistic. In my mind, "don't rush with a 2.0" is like "you must get your own recs".

[Old_Row]

This is what Alabama has to say.

The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) does not allow the UA Panhellenic to set a minimum GPA to participate in Recruitment, however, it is highly recommended that potential new members have a high school or college GPA at or above a 3.0. If you have additional questions about individual chapter requirements, you can inquire further about GPA requirements during Recruitment. This year as a courtesy to the PNM's going through recruitment, minimum high school and college GPA's for each sorority at UA will be listed in the 2012 Recruitment Guide on the individual chapter informational pages.

I think a lot of people familiar with more competitive admissions schools would be shocked at how low the GPAs can be for schools where the standards are much lower.

[Titchou]

That's when recs come into play!

[KSUViolet06]

^^^^The average competitive school's GPA CHAPTER requirements START at 3.0, no?

I've seen some chapters have GPA requirements for incoming freshmen as high as 3.4/5.

[HQWest]

^^^^ That is my observation as well.
A highly competitive chapter at such a campus would obviously be even higher. A way to get an idea would be to look up the median high school GPA of incoming students. Most schools have this on their website, but is also on wiki or Princeton Review websites. Some schools have this listed as the "middle 50%" - i.e. 25-75%. If you are below that range - you probably are overcommitting if you join a sorority as a freshman. If you are not at least in the middle of that - you might be looking at cuts from those chapters with higher GPAs.

There are are always exceptions. There may be some reason you had a tough time in high school. That's where a good letter of recommendation can help you.

[KSUViolet06]

^^^I dunno. I feel like even if you have recs, if you have a low HS GPA, and you're in a pool of people who are FAR beyond the minimum, your chances may be slim.

Maybe it's not as big of a deal if maybe you're an in-house legacy and you have a 3.49 (and the min is a 3.5.) but an unknown PNM with 2 recs and a low GPA is a hard sell.

[HQWest]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

^^^I dunno. I feel like even if you have recs, if you have a low HS GPA, and you're in a pool of people who are FAR beyond the minimum, your chances may be slim.

Maybe it's not as big of a deal if maybe you're an in-house legacy and you have a 3.49 (and the min is a 3.5.) but an unknown PNM with 2 recs and a low GPA is a hard sell.

An example was a girl with a significant health problem one semester. If you took that semester out and redid her GPA, it was much higher. All the other indicators were there - dance team, SGA, active with her church, etc. Based on a good rec. and meeting her, the girls took a chance. She ended up president.

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by HQWest

An example was a girl with a significant health problem one semester. If you took that semester out and redid her GPA, it was much higher. All the other indicators were there - dance team, SGA, active with her church, etc. Based on a good rec. and meeting her, the girls took a chance. She ended up president.

Couple of years ago I wrote a letter of reference on just such a girl from my parish church. Not one chapter here carried her beyond second round. She was and is cute, creative and academic, active hands on volunteer, with lots of friends. Heart breaking.

[AOII Angel]

No recs are used at Towson. They are completely unheard of.

[AUAZD2001]

A little off topic, but there are some people who go through sorority recruitment to meet people on campus and not necessarily to join a chapter (although I will admit they are probably a SMALL minority). If the campus Panhellenic set a minimum GPA they might shut out women who just wanted a chance to meet others on campus.

Just a little anecdote... in college I took a job search/resume writing/networking course, and one of the tips the professor gave as great practice for learning how to network and overcoming a fear of speaking in small groups of strangers was to go through sorority/fraternity recruitment.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

No recs are used at Towson. They are completely unheard of.

If they are having the problems you spoke of, I suggest they start using them!

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Titchou

If they are having the problems you spoke of, I suggest they start using them!

It's Maryland. Starting the use of recs isn't that easy. The alumnae don't even know what they are.

[Titchou]

Bama's web site and the other one mentioned - FSU? - do it the right way. Tell them that one really needs a high GPA but doesn't go listing everyone's requirements. We all know that some folks get in that don't meet the chapter's requirement because of a lot of reasons. And recs are the way to get the information you need to make those decisions. And if your alumnae don't know how to do a rec and you aren't inclined to teach them, well, you're going to get what you are going to get.