Will not get initiated into fraternity because of grades, I have a few questions

[slugger33]

I am a plegde right now, and initiation is just a few weeks away. I was informed by my Pledgemaster that I will most likely not be initiated because of grades, because our school requires you to carry a certain GPA to be in social groups. I told him that I will do what I can to improve my GPA by initiation, however, I do not think it is mathematically possible at this point. Here are my questions:

1. Will I be able to re-rush this fraternity next time around? If yes, would I have to wait a full year or could I rush in the spring as long as my grades were up to par?

2. If I check out other groups next fall, would I be looked down upon because I was once a pledge for another group, but didn't have the grades to make it at the time?

3. If I did recieve a bid from another group, would my friends that I have made in the first group that I pledged think of this as betrayal?

[Jill1228]

Originally Posted by slugger33

I am a plegde right now, and initiation is just a few weeks away. I was informed by my Pledgemaster that I will most likely not be initiated because of grades, because our school requires you to carry a certain GPA to be in social groups. I told him that I will do what I can to improve my GPA by initiation, however, I do not think it is mathematically possible at this point. Here are my questions:

1. Will I be able to re-rush this fraternity next time around? If yes, would I have to wait a full year or could I rush in the spring as long as my grades were up to par?

2. If I check out other groups next fall, would I be looked down upon because I was once a pledge for another group, but didn't have the grades to make it at the time?

3. If I did recieve a bid from another group, would my friends that I have made in the first group that I pledged think of this as betrayal?

QFP
question: will they hold you over a quarter/semester so you can get the GPA up? ask about that. Just a suggestion

[itb2a]

It's going to depend on the fraternity you are in and how they handle this.

Making grades used to be a major component of initiation, but with the shorter new member / pledgeship cycles, I thought this became a non-issue.

If a pledge has grades enough to stay in school, then I think that is sufficient. I think we all lose when we or the school set artificial levels. Some of the most loyal brothers I know made the minimum GPA in school, graduated, and became successful.

[slugger33]

Originally Posted by Jill1228

QFP
question: will they hold you over a quarter/semester so you can get the GPA up? ask about that. Just a suggestion

I do not believe this is an option, as I know of other former pledges that did not have the grades and didn't get initiated. Can someone input on my other questions?

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by slugger33

I am a plegde right now, and initiation is just a few weeks away. I was informed by my Pledgemaster that I will most likely not be initiated because of grades, because our school requires you to carry a certain GPA to be in social groups. I told him that I will do what I can to improve my GPA by initiation, however, I do not think it is mathematically possible at this point. Here are my questions:

1. Will I be able to re-rush this fraternity next time around? MAYBE If yes, would I have to wait a full year or could I rush in the spring as long as my grades were up to par? They could take you back whenever they wanted.

2. If I check out other groups next fall, would I be looked down upon because I was once a pledge for another group, but didn't have the grades to make it at the time?Probably

3. If I did recieve a bid from another group, would my friends that I have made in the first group that I pledged think of this as betrayal? Yes

So someone answered your questions. I'm sure you could have answered those on your own, they're pretty self explanatory.

[FSUZeta]

In the same vein as Jill's question.... find out if the fraternity will hold you over as a pledge another semester. Back in my day, sororities and fraternities were allowed to do this-for one semester only. the holdover then worked his/her butt off to make the required gpa so that they could be initiated.

You will have to speak to your pledgemaster in order to get your questions answered.

As to the friends in the fraternity feeling betrayed if you joined another group, surely they would understand. I take it that you would like to stay a pledge of this fraternity, if that is an option.

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by slugger33

Here are my questions:

1. Will I be able to re-rush this fraternity next time around? If yes, would I have to wait a full year or could I rush in the spring as long as my grades were up to par?

2. If I check out other groups next fall, would I be looked down upon because I was once a pledge for another group, but didn't have the grades to make it at the time?

3. If I did recieve a bid from another group, would my friends that I have made in the first group that I pledged think of this as betrayal?

#1 - You need to ask your pledge master. None of us (that we know of) are on your campus or members of that chapter. Your pledgemaster knows the answer.

#2 - Depends on the campus and the reason you depledged/didn't initiate. If it is known that you didn't get initiated into ABC because of grades, it's going to look like you are fraternity shopping; i.e., you just want letters, you don't care which ones.

#3 - Depends on your friends.

[slugger33]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

In the same vein as Jill's question.... find out if the fraternity will hold you over as a pledge another semester. Back in my day, sororities and fraternities were allowed to do this-for one semester only. the holdover then worked his/her butt off to make the required gpa so that they could be initiated.

You will have to speak to your pledgemaster in order to get your questions answered.

As to the friends in the fraternity feeling betrayed if you joined another group, surely they would understand. I take it that you would like to stay a pledge of this fraternity, if that is an option.

I love all my pledge brothers and all the brothers of the fraternity. However, if I do not get initiated, I am unsure if I am able to re-rush again. This is the only reason I asked about joining other groups, because I am still interested in going Greek either way. As far as I know I am well liked among members, only thing that is hurting me is my GPA.

[MysticCat]

Talk to your pledgemaster.

[DrPhil]

Nooooo he needs to talk to GC. We have all the answersssssssss for evvvverythingggggggggg.

[lucgreek]

OP your national organization and local chapter should have GPA requirements for initiation? If you meet those (and maybe not the school's), see if you can get initiated and perhaps go inactive immediately?

But if you don't meet national standards for initiation, the group cannot initiate you period. Like others have said, see if you can holdover while your grades improve.

[shadokat]

Are you a freshman? How can they know what your grades are already?! With shorter new member programs, I thought this went away. And the question should be what is your organization doing to help you find ways to raise your GPA?! I would hope you have some programs in place for new members as well as brothers/sisters.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by shadokat

Are you a freshman? How can they know what your grades are already?! With shorter new member programs, I thought this went away. And the question should be what is your organization doing to help you find ways to raise your GPA?! I would hope you have some programs in place for new members as well as brothers/sisters.

They may be basing it on his midterm grades, which isnt always fair because some professors neglect to even turn in a midterm grade and some grades may be dependent on one test/assignment only. However, if you are doing poorly in a majority or all of your classes, then that would give me reason to be concerned.

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

In the same vein as Jill's question.... find out if the fraternity will hold you over as a pledge another semester. Back in my day, sororities and fraternities were allowed to do this-for one semester only. the holdover then worked his/her butt off to make the required gpa so that they could be initiated.

This is how it worked when I was in school.

Slugger33, you said you were not sure if this was an option. I advise you to ask your pledge trainer or another officer for a definitive answer on this question as it pertains to you. Every time a pledge is ineligible for initiation there are any number of variables in play that have to do with the school, the chapter, that chapter's national fraternity and the pledge himself. Please don't make assumptions based on what happened to past pledges- find out where you stand.

As for your questions,

1. If you are a pledge in an NIC fraternity, there are no formal obstacles to you rushing again somewhere else if you depledge. Your realistic options depend on the Greek community at your school and your particular circumstances. I answer this question in the context of NIC because that is the realm where I can offer first hand experience.

2. See above- with the caveat that at your particular school grades may be taken more seriously. At the schools where I have direct knowledge, the observance national fraternity and college rules on GPA levels for initiation vary widely. Some chapters take it seriously and some do not.

3. Impossible to predict- and not really relevant at this point. If you cannot get initiated in that chapter, then it does not matter what your pledge brothers think when you make future plans.

One other thing- now is a good time to look at your current GPA standing if you are not a freshman, what your grades are likely to be, and what GPA you need in the next 3 semesters to have the overall GPA you need each semester to not have a problem with rush and initiation.

Here is a hypothetical for you,

1. You think you will get a 2.0 this semester on 15 hours and this is your first semester in school.
2. You need a 2.5 to get initiated and remain in the fraternity.
3. You will need a 3.0 on 15 hours in the spring to get initiated if you can hold over or if you want to rush next fall.
4. You need to average a 2.5 every semester thereafter.
5. Ideally you will do much better so you don't have to worry about and so you have better job prospects on graduation.

Do the math- figure out what you think you will get this semester and what it will take to have a solid GPA going into future semesters. That will give you all you need to know about the very specific objective obstacle you face right now.

[excelblue]

Unless the chapter you're at has extremely high standards for GPA, it's to the best of your interests to concentrate on academics instead of trying to rush another fraternity.