Rush at OU - Page 8

srmom · #**106** 12-01-2008, 03:46 PM

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The kids who usually fail are girls from Dallas/Fort Worth who come into his office hours and cry because they've never really been forced to do their own work before and skated by as student council president or head cheerleader or whatever. And the guys who go Greek.

I just have to do a quick shout out for the guys who are Greek at UT.

Every one I know, or know of, is doing extremely well - the cumulative GPA for my son's pledge class was around 3.4, with many pulling 4.0's. Most of the guys that my son hangs with in his fraternity are in the business school, and are either in business honors or are applying/accepted into the MPA program - so no dummies there.

I'm not arguing that going Greek won't be a detriment to some, but it isn't always the case. Kids who know how to manage their time and take care of business will be fine, those who don't will struggle (whether they are Greek or not).

Work hard/Party hard is the tried and true method for success!

breathesgelatin · #**107** 12-02-2008, 04:23 PM

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Originally Posted by srmom

I just have to do a quick shout out for the guys who are Greek at UT.

Every one I know, or know of, is doing extremely well - the cumulative GPA for my son's pledge class was around 3.4, with many pulling 4.0's. Most of the guys that my son hangs with in his fraternity are in the business school, and are either in business honors or are applying/accepted into the MPA program - so no dummies there.

I'm not arguing that going Greek won't be a detriment to some, but it isn't always the case. Kids who know how to manage their time and take care of business will be fine, those who don't will struggle (whether they are Greek or not).

Work hard/Party hard is the tried and true method for success!

I don't mean to diss all UT Greeks. I have had some outstanding Greek students and plenty who fell in the middle. I've also had some who were total screwups. The major thing that annoys me about Greeks who are screwups in my class is that they seem to be more likely to think that pulling connections/threatening me with Mommy and Daddy's wrath is going to make me magically change my grade.

I also think the difficulty of being a business major is way overrated, but that's an entirely different conversation I guess.

Elephant Walk · #**108** 12-02-2008, 04:49 PM

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Originally Posted by srmom

Work hard/Party hard is the tried and true method for success!

I would enjoy you as a mom.

srmom · #**109** 12-02-2008, 06:12 PM

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I also think the difficulty of being a business major is way overrated, but that's an entirely different conversation I guess

You know, what I've heard is that it is ridiculously hard to get into the business school, have to be top 3% or so, but that once you're in, the classes are graded with generous curves

. Gotta Love It!

But, I totally get your point about the Mommy/Daddy threatening thing. That would certainly turn me off in no uncertain terms!!

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I would enjoy you as a mom.

Thanks

em_adpi · #**110** 12-02-2008, 11:46 PM

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Originally Posted by AXOrushadvisor

Ladybugmom-

Are you in Texas? Did she attend any of the summer camps there? My daughter went to Camp Mystic and loads of the counselors were greek. They were always asking her where she got her AXO t-shirts from. Of course, I have a new supply every year because of being around during recruitment. If she has the camp ties that may help her to be on common ground. Just a thought.

I didn't go to Camp Mystic myself but some of my best friends have been counselors there for a few summers.

Sorry, just got excited to see a little something familiar.

srmom · #**111** 12-03-2008, 04:07 PM

em, I also know tons of counselors at Mystic! I LOVE HUNT, TEXAS!!!

When I was growing up, my family owned a house on Old River Road on the way to Mystic, and I spent many summers there. I wish we still had it!!

My boys all went to La Junta, they were lifers, attending from 6 to CIT. My youngest was a junior counselor last year, but is taking next summer off. He hopes he can go back and be a counselor after he graduates next year.

AXOrushadvisor · #**112** 12-04-2008, 01:56 PM

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Originally Posted by srmom

em, I also know tons of counselors at Mystic! I LOVE HUNT, TEXAS!!!

When I was growing up, my family owned a house on Old River Road on the way to Mystic, and I spent many summers there. I wish we still had it!!

My boys all went to La Junta, they were lifers, attending from 6 to CIT. My youngest was a junior counselor last year, but is taking next summer off. He hopes he can go back and be a counselor after he graduates next year.

My boy went to Camp Stewart. Actually made Chief his last year. He started at age 9 as did Madison. We LOVE Hunt! I'm hoping that Parker will go and be a counselor when he is a Sophmore in college. That is the youngest they take them.

Munchkin03 · #**113** 12-04-2008, 05:40 PM

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Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Because we have the HOPE grant which gives a full tuition scholarship to any kid who graduates from a Georgia public high school with a B average, as long as the kid maintains the B average in college, at some high schools a B is almost the default grade. However, there's no way that kids at some of those schools are really doing B level college preparatory work. So, from a high school perspective, you just want to respond to the complaining about the lack of preparation with, "yeah, you admitted that kid with the data about how other kids from that high school fared in your program; how can you possibly try to blame the high schools generally for your failure to make tough admissions decisions?"

I know in Florida, which has had a similar scholarship program for a long time, it's not just "get a 3.0, and you're golden." There's a corresponding SAT/ACT score, and there is a list of schools (based on performance) that are not qualified to take students into the scholarship program.

You know what? No one's ever surprised when a kid can't hack it in college and has to come home--unless there's an unforseen problem like homesickness or an illness. My HS teachers said that they could predict who was going to be home after a year.

KSUViolet06 · #**114** 12-04-2008, 05:51 PM

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Originally Posted by Munchkin03

You know what? No one's ever surprised when a kid can't hack it in college and has to come home--unless there's an unforseen problem like homesickness or an illness. My HS teachers said that they could predict who was going to be home after a year.

True. One of my English teachers was pretty good at this. An entire group of 5 girls in my class went away to UVA (after getting 4.0's all through our not too totally academically rigorous HS), and were back at home at U of Akron by spring semester. He predicted it. lol.

FSUZeta · #**115** 12-05-2008, 05:35 PM

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Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I know in Florida, which has had a similar scholarship program for a long time, it's not just "get a 3.0, and you're golden." There's a corresponding SAT/ACT score, and there is a list of schools (based on performance) that are not qualified to take students into the scholarship program.

in addition, they have to contribute a certain number of volunteer hours to charity.

Munchkin03 · #**116** 12-07-2008, 08:12 PM

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Originally Posted by FSUZeta

in addition, they have to contribute a certain number of volunteer hours to charity.

That's great. I did an IB program in high school, so the 200 CAS hours we had to fulfill were my top priority. I went to HS 10 years ago, and so they've probably changed the community service requirements. I don't think they had them when I was in school. Maybe they did, but since I knew I wasn't going to a Florida public school, it didn't matter.

Blue Skies · #**117** 12-08-2008, 10:51 PM

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Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

True. One of my English teachers was pretty good at this. An entire group of 5 girls in my class went away to UVA (after getting 4.0's all through our not too totally academically rigorous HS), and were back at home at U of Akron by spring semester. He predicted it. lol.

If you have good preparation in H.S., you're golden. I went to an academically demanding public H.S., a second-tier public university, and I sailed through. Grad school was likewise no problem. IMO, it often comes down to writing, the ability to research information, and work ethic.

I was stunned when colleagues at work told me that their professors did not require papers in their undergraduate courses.

I had to write at least one or two papers for every single undergraduate course. In grad school, I had to produce 60 pages on ten different topics (with footnotes!) within the first month.

IMO, where you go (either H.S. or college) does make a difference.

TriDeltaSallie · #**118** 12-08-2008, 11:05 PM

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Originally Posted by Blue Skies

If you have good preparation in H.S., you're golden. I went to an academically demanding public H.S., a second-tier public university, and I sailed through. Grad school was likewise no problem. IMO, it often comes down to writing, the ability to research information, and work ethic.

I was stunned when colleagues at work told me that their professors did not require papers in their undergraduate courses.

I had to write at least one or two papers for every single undergraduate course. In grad school, I had to produce 60 pages on ten different topics (with footnotes!) within the first month.

IMO, where you go (either H.S. or college) does make a difference.

I agree completely! I remember how scared I was to start college after hearing the standard "Look to your right and look to your left. Two of you won't be here next year." during orientation.

Yes, the work in college took effort, but it wasn't as overwhelming as I expected, even courses in the Honors College. I think it had a lot to do with how hard I was pushed by some really great teachers in high school. I also think having the ability to write well was key. I always chose the college class that had a final paper instead of a final exam if I had the choice. Writing a paper felt to me like you had total control over your grade. An exam - not so much. But writing a final paper? All the requirements are there for you to read and you can ask for help and guidance as you do it. How much easier can it be?

And don't even get me started on people who don't go to class. If all you do is show up and do the readings, you should be able to pull a 3.0 out of most classes.

oncegreek · #**119** 12-09-2008, 12:27 AM

Thank you, Tri Delta, Sallie! Your post was exactly what I needed to hear. I have been procrastinating,putting off completing my thesis proposal. I am in a Master's program, majoring in English, via distance learning. My grades have been great, and I am a strong writer. I've just had a block, you might say, about this proposal. Your common sense comments have removed my block, and I shall return to work!

srmom · #**120** 12-09-2008, 10:36 AM

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I was stunned when colleagues at work told me that their professors did not require papers in their undergraduate courses. I had to write at least one or two papers for every single undergraduate course. In grad school, I had to produce 60 pages on ten different topics (with footnotes!) within the first month.

EEEK!!! Back when I was in college (in the early 80's), I would drop a course if I found out the final was a paper! I would rather have my entire grade depend on 1 test than a paper. But, there was no scantron (that's how old I am!!), very little multiple choice, so most tests were blue book essay type.

Somehow I made it through, and am now a pretty decent writer. I had no confidence in my ability to formulate a paper.