Rushing as a transfer + minority + non-legacy + with no recs

bizarrebunny · #1 11-18-2012, 03:47 AM

Is it impossible?

Currently I attend a small school in upstate NY that isn't right for me. This is my first semester and I am a freshmen. I plan to transfer back to a school near my home (perhaps a CC) and finish my gen ed classes there so I can save money, etc. Then I plan to transfer to either Syracuse, IowaSU, or KSU. I thought about this for a very long time and I no longer want to waste any more time + money at my current university so after a lot of thinking, reflecting, and discussions this is what I'm planning to do. At those uni's I want to pledge for a sorority.

Problems:
- I will probably be a sophomore or junior by the time I transfer to the listed uni's.
- I'm not sure if this is a factor but I am a minority (Asian) and I'm sort of worried about that.
- None of my family members were Greeks.
- I can't really get recs if I have no prior connection with said chapter.
- Currently, I have a low GPA since I have physics and I'm struggling so it's pulling it down. I do aim for a 4.0 next semester (wherever I end up going to whether it be staying or transferring back home), taking summer courses, volunteer and participate in a lot of extracurricular.

In my current school the chapters are local sororities... and I feel like it wouldn't be worth the effort to join them as they do nothing but partypartyparty which is something I'm not that interested in.

Do I have any sort of chance? I feel like joining a national sorority at a bigger school would help with my personal development and will be a chance to network and participate in a lot of things that will help me in the future.

Dunno.

There are a lot of factors that can cut me out almost immediately I think.

Should I be worried?

AGDee · #2 11-18-2012, 06:26 AM

KSU could be Kansas State, Kentucky State, Kent State or Kennesaw State?

I would first suggest that you just focus on getting your grades up and getting those general education courses done. See where you are at that point. Then figure out where you're going to transfer. THEN worry about sorority recruitment. There are many schools where you don't need recs at all. There are schools that take sophomores and juniors. You may change your mind between now and then regarding which school is a best fit for you.

Figure out your educational goals first. Then worry about the other stuff.

AZTheta · #3 11-18-2012, 06:59 AM

+1 to Dee's response. Says it all for me. Priority One: school/education. Priority Two: everything else.

AnchorAlumna · #4 11-18-2012, 12:32 PM

All true.
But it couldn't hurt to start asking around as to who you know that is a sorority member. Write that info down - name, sorority, phone number-e-mail - in case you decide to rush in the future.
And if you do, haul out that info and start requesting those recs.

ADPi95 · #5 11-18-2012, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizarrebunny

Is it impossible?

Currently I attend a small school in upstate NY that isn't right for me. This is my first semester and I am a freshmen. I plan to transfer back to a school near my home (perhaps a CC) and finish my gen ed classes there so I can save money, etc. Then I plan to transfer to either Syracuse, IowaSU, or KSU. I thought about this for a very long time and I no longer want to waste any more time + money at my current university so after a lot of thinking, reflecting, and discussions this is what I'm planning to do. At those uni's I want to pledge for a sorority. At this point, you're putting the cart before the horse, especially since you haven't transferred (or know where you are transferring to), however it's never too early to be thinking about recruitment.

Problems:
- I will probably be a sophomore or junior by the time I transfer to the listed uni's. It depends on the university you transfer to and the chapter.

- I'm not sure if this is a factor but I am a minority (Asian) and I'm sort of worried about that. This shouldn't be an issue.

- None of my family members were Greeks. This shouldn't be an issue either.

- I can't really get recs if I have no prior connection with said chapter. You CAN get rec's. You just have to do your homework and network. Find sorority alumna in your community. Rec's do not need to come from that particular chapter.

- Currently, I have a low GPA since I have physics and I'm struggling so it's pulling it down. I do aim for a 4.0 next semester (wherever I end up going to whether it be staying or transferring back home), taking summer courses, volunteer and participate in a lot of extracurricular. THIS is what you have to work on.

In my current school the chapters are local sororities... and I feel like it wouldn't be worth the effort to join them as they do nothing but partypartyparty which is something I'm not that interested in.

Do I have any sort of chance? I feel like joining a national sorority at a bigger school would help with my personal development and will be a chance to network and participate in a lot of things that will help me in the future.

Dunno.

There are a lot of factors that can cut me out almost immediately I think. The only factor that can cut you out immediately without question are your grades.

Should I be worried?

Hope this helps!

DubaiSis · #6 11-18-2012, 02:31 PM

See below: [QUOTE=bizarrebunny;2189869]
- I will probably be a sophomore or junior by the time I transfer to the listed uni's. Sophomore, probably not a problem; junior you could still have a good result, but you would get heavy cuts based on that criterion alone.
- I'm not sure if this is a factor but I am a minority (Asian) and I'm sort of worried about that. Shouldn't be a problem.
- None of my family members were Greeks. Not at all a problem. It just means you have a learning curve to make up for. Reading and absorbing here will do wonders.
- I can't really get recs if I have no prior connection with said chapter. You don't get recs for a chapter - you get one for the sorority. As stated above, start asking around. I don't think they're critical at any of the schools you listed but they would go a long way to helping them know you, your situation, your goals, etc., before they meet you.
- Currently, I have a low GPA - this is a BIG problem. Even at non-competitive schools a low GPA is a deal breaker. I do wonder what you mean by low GPA.

bizarrebunny · #7 11-19-2012, 07:31 PM

Awesome. I'll work on my grades most definitely

Also, KSU as in Kansas State.

MysticCat · #8 11-19-2012, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizarrebunny

I feel like joining a national sorority at a bigger school would help with my personal development and will be a chance to network and participate in a lot of things that will help me in the future.

Not commenting one way or the other on chances of getting a bid, but do remember that there are lots of organizations that can help with these goals. Depending on why you want to network or what specific benefit you see for the future, there could be other organizations that might be a better fit for those purposes.

Not trying to discourage thinking of going Greek at all; just trying to remind you there are lots of opportunities in college outside Greek life.