SCARED OF RUSHING

[juniyah08]

I am a hs junior, and i REALLY REALLY REALLY want to rush, but i just found out about being cut because of yor GPA...and that has been hard for me for a number of personal reasons...i feel i have so much more to offer as well and i really don't want this to affect me....is it really going to be that bad? being in a sorority is a REALLY big factor for picking a school (some of my fave schools i might disregard b.c of no greek life)...so will i really be wasting my time?? i am very social and warm, engaging, and outgoing... i am also very involved....please say that it's not all over for me!!!

You go to college to get an education, not to join a sorority.

You're a junior in high school. Improve those grades because you know what? Warm and outgoing, social and engaging won't get you into college.

I know I sound harsh, but you should be scared about not getting into college -- not rushing.

[smiley21]

First of all, relax. There is no need to get so stressed now. When picking a college, don't let greek life take priority over getting an education. You are going to go crazy if you are using your energy worrying about being greek instead of picking a college.

Yes, having a good GPA is one of the requirements needed to join a sorority. The minimum GPA needed depends on the particular chapter.

My advice for you now? Calm down. Be concerned with graduating with the highest grades you can get and be involved with school activities. Although I dont necessarily think there is anything wrong with choosing a college with a strong greek system; however, it should not be your top reason. Joining a sorority is not a definite for every girl who goes through recruitment. That is why you should choose a college that best suits your academic needs, because guess what...that is why college exists in the first place.

So relax and enjoy the time that you have left in high school.

[OmegaPDPrez]

Id like to say that you must really use your head when it comes to joining a sorority. Since there is so much dedication and effort put into becoming a sister it can be EXTREMELY over-whelming. It's recommended for women to have a strong GPA because it sort of proves that you are capable to balance the heavy workload college can be and mix the the workload of being in a sorority.
If you are in so many activities now and your GPA may not be wher you'd like, try focusing on fewer activities and more on your grades. If you graduate with at least a 3.5 and your are able to successfully complete all your other programs you shouldn't have TOO much diffculty balancing recruitment.
Also, some schools require that PNM be a full time student for at least one semester before RUSH. This is to help you adjust to college life and have opportunity to gain an understanding of how you might handle a full course load and being a part of Greek life.
Didn't mean to be so lengthy...
Hope this helps~

[EGAOPi]

Excellent points made by both of the previous posters. Sorority life is a wonderful piece of the college experience, but it's not what college revolves around. Having a great personality is a wonderful attribute, but you're not the first person going through recruitment to have one. Grades are a big factor--more so for some chapters than others (and this really varies by school)--because the reason you're at college in the first place is to do well and eventually graduate and get a career. Being Greek is something that can help you along that path, but it's not for everyone.

If you're having difficulty keeping your grades up as a high school junior, you're going to be in for a shock when you get to college because, I hate to break it to you, college is a hundred times more difficult. I went to a school for the "intellectually gifted" and now I'm in a state college and I find it way more challenging, grueling and time consuming than high school. Being Greek can offer some opportunities in regard to academics, but it can also be very difficult to juggle if your grades aren't solid and you're constantly struggling.

School must always take priority over extracirics and this includes Greek life, no matter how important it may be. We always push that and remind people of that (because it is often forgotten). We need to remember why we're here in the first place.

Work on raising your high school grades first. Crack down and learn some time mangement skills. Once you master that, then move on to college. Go through recruitment and see how it goes. You may want to consider waiting a semester (or going up early to takes classes over the summer) to see how you handle the stresses of college classes before making such a big commitment.

Like it has already been pointed out, don't pick a school based on Greek life. Go where you feel you will benefit and learn the most...pick based on your intended major, your desired location, etc. If there's Greek life at the school of your choice, fantastic--go for it! It's an incredible experience that I wouldn't trade for the world. But please, please be realistic and set the correct priorities and goals.

Calm down for now and start putting your energy into your studies. It's good to be planning early, but face this when it's time.

[juniyah08]

interestingly enough, every graduate from my high school said that college was ten times easier than junior year at our school...so i dunno....

[icicle22]

That reminds me...
I was thinking of rushing too, although I'm already in college as it is...do the sororities look at your high school grades as well as the grades you're getting in college right now?

[mystikchick]

interestingly enough, every graduate from my high school said that college was ten times easier than junior year at our school...so i dunno....

that may well be the case for them, but that doesn't mean it'll be the same for you, and it also makes me wonder (no offense) about the quality of institution they're at. I would be very surprised if they were (for extreme comparison's sake) at an institution like Harvard and making those claims.

Yes, college is slightly easier in terms of the fact that you don't have the same class each day, and my activities schedule isn't as jam-packed as it was in HS, but I still have a lot of work to do, a lot of meetings to attend, jobs, reading, etc. I can only imagine how much more insane life would be if I also had the time committment required of Greek life.

I breezed through high school. I could never say I breezed through college.

[EGAOPi]

Originally Posted by juniyah08

interestingly enough, every graduate from my high school said that college was ten times easier than junior year at our school...so i dunno....

mystikchik is 100% correct. I don't believe you will ever hear someone saying that they breezed through college. I would also take into question their insititution and its credibility. Freshman year in college can be extremely difficult for some (sometimes the classes, sometimes being away from home and friends), but it can also be a lot easier. I see a lot of grades drop as girls go into sophomore year. Junior year at every high school presents challenges with more advanced coursework and SAT/ACT prep. However, wait until you get into your junior year of college. I currently only have class 3 times a week and it is still a million times more stressful than high school ever was. Add to these upper-level, incredibly advanced classes the millions of obligations that come along with Greek life, not to mention other organizations in which you may be involved...plus finding time to go out every once in a blue moon. I hardly find time to eat a well-rounded meal.

Plain and simple: if you're extremely concerned about your high school grades (which it seems like you are), there's no way college is going to be easier for you. Greek life is only going to make you busier and potentially more stressed. It's a lot of fun, but that can be the problem when students have a difficult time with schoolwork (usually for reasons like going out or doing too much that ISN'T school-based in the first place). Like I said before (and like everyone else has been saying), study and improve your time management skills and work techniques. You need to succeed in high school to even have hope into getting into a 4-year college, let alone into a Greek organization.

[EGAOPi]

Originally Posted by icicle22

That reminds me...
I was thinking of rushing too, although I'm already in college as it is...do the sororities look at your high school grades as well as the grades you're getting in college right now?

Icicle-No, if you already have earned college grades (like, if you've been at the school for longer than 1 semester), then no--we only go by your college transcript.

[juniyah08]

Originally Posted by mystikchick

that may well be the case for them, but that doesn't mean it'll be the same for you, and it also makes me wonder (no offense) about the quality of institution they're at. I would be very surprised if they were (for extreme comparison's sake) at an institution like Harvard and making those claims.

Yes, college is slightly easier in terms of the fact that you don't have the same class each day, and my activities schedule isn't as jam-packed as it was in HS, but I still have a lot of work to do, a lot of meetings to attend, jobs, reading, etc. I can only imagine how much more insane life would be if I also had the time committment required of Greek life.

I breezed through high school. I could never say I breezed through college.

well all thoses graduates went to duke davidson brown stanford upenn cornell columbia, etc, so it's not like random state university...basically every graduate says that college was so much easier that hs

[mystikchick]

Originally Posted by juniyah08

well all thoses graduates went to duke davidson brown stanford upenn cornell columbia, etc, so it's not like random state university...basically every graduate says that college was so much easier that hs

they are either exceptional individuals or they're bragging, that's my two cents. but even if it is easy for them, it may not be easy for you, so keep working hard and good luck

[AChiOhSnap]

Originally Posted by mystikchick

they are either exceptional individuals or they're bragging, that's my two cents. but even if it is easy for them, it may not be easy for you, so keep working hard and good luck

Mystickchick is absolutely right. I went to a prettty good college and the only reason I found it "easier" than HS was because I was so engaged and interested in the classes I was taking. I put forth lots of effort because my college work was actually pretty fun. High school was "hard" in that I thought some of my required classes were so boring that I couldn't bother to really try.

Don't be fooled by anyone though, the level of work at a decent college is leaps and bounds harder than any high school (the only case MAY be some freshman year seminar/introductory survey classes that could possibly have overlapping material with really rigorous AP classes. In that case, some of the material in the AP class might be harder.) If you're really interested in what you're studying, you probably won't notice how hard you're working but trust me, college is far more rigorous.

But that's really neither here nor there. You said you're worried about rushing and your GPA. Of course you should focus first on being actually accepted to college. If you really want to know what you should be aiming for in terms of recruitment, the minimum GPA to even be eligible for recruitment is generally somewhere around a 2.5-2.7. That said, INDIVIDUAL chapters might have minimum GPA requirements anywhere from 2.5-3.3 (the 3.3 upper limit is pretty rare though, generally most sororities fall around a 2.7-3.0).

If your grades are lower than that, then I'm sorry to say but you're going to really be limited in terms of Greek life. That's not to say that you can't go to college, bust your ass in school, and try recruitment again after you establish a good college GPA. But don't expect too much in terms of sorority life your first semester if your HS grades are under a 2.7, and that you'll probably be cut from at least a few chapters if you're under 3.0.

Remember, establish good study habits now. If you're allowed to go through recruitment and you receive a bid, you have to keep up your good grades to stay in your chapter. ALL chapters have minimum GPA requirements and if you fall below them, you'll first be put on some kind of academic development plan and then expelled from the sorority if you don't improve. No joke. Lots of sororities take great pride in their chapter GPA, so make sure that your grades reflect that pride in yourself.

Originally Posted by juniyah08

well all thoses graduates went to duke davidson brown stanford upenn cornell columbia, etc, so it's not like random state university...basically every graduate says that college was so much easier that hs

*cough*BS*cough*

[smiley21]

Originally Posted by juniyah08

well all thoses graduates went to duke davidson brown stanford upenn cornell columbia, etc, so it's not like random state university...basically every graduate says that college was so much easier that hs

um no. i don't know who you have been talking to, but i wouldn't take it too seriously. college is hard, period. the school doesn't have to be ivy league for it to be considered hard. if people seriously think that college is easier than high school, then more power to them, although i think that is pure crap. so until you get to college and experience it yourself, don't believe people who say things like "oh high school was a nightmare. college was so easy." if you start believing things like that, then you are only hurting yourself by going to college with no intention of working hard.

fwiw, i thought high school was a cakewalk compared to college.