making grades

ZetaLuvBunny · #1 10-28-2001, 09:04 PM

I was just wondering about making grades for next semester, and how my gpa will effect my status as a sister. I have had a difficult first semester of college, being inflicted with first a bad cold, then mono with strep throat (missing a few days of classes because of this), having been given the wrong books for my classes (and having to exchange them), and worrying about finances. I know for sure that I have at least one A out of my four classes.
So, in light of all this, say that I do not make a high enough gpa for the ZTA standards...(what is the required gpa to maintain, by the way?)...would I be completely kicked-out, or is there some kind of probationary period??? I really need to know, but I do not want to ask anyone in my chapter because I'm afraid they'll take it as if I'm assuming that I'll do badly, which I'm not. The semester is only half-way through, anhow. I still have several weeks and several grades (along with finals) to incorperate into those. I am trying my hardest, but I just want to know what will happen if I still don't do well enough. Thanks...

Sorry...I'm just a worry-wart.

ErikaXO · #2 10-28-2001, 11:11 PM

I imagine most chapters are pretty much the same on this one.....in Chi Omega you got a probationary semester, but you were restricted socially until your grades went up. Then after one semester if they were still below where they were supposed to be, you had a personnel to determine if your membership would be revoked.

I might add, your illnesses make it a special circumstance which I would hope would be taken into consideration. Something to think about....if you miss so much school due to illness that your grades are in jeopardy, it is wise to consider withdrawing. This happened to me my 2nd year....I ended up just pulling out of the semester and going home to save my GPA. It is so hard to make up for bad grades no matter how well you do later; your final cum. GPA is going to suffer. If you don't want to totally pull out you can just withdraw from individual classes.

KSigkid · #3 10-28-2001, 11:16 PM

The illnesses should definitely be circumstances that your chapter should understand. Exceptions should be made for that - you weren't just screwing off, you have legit excuses why you didn't make grades. I'd say just talk to your scholarship chair, or whoever is in charge, and explain to them the situation, try to work something out.

Heather · #4 10-29-2001, 01:02 AM

I would really encourage you to talk to you scholarship chair, new member chair, or what ever officer is appropiate for you. Only they can tell you exactly how things happen in your chapter. As a former officer I can tell you that we were much more understanding if a sister approached us first if she had a problem (or potential problem) than if things got really bad and we had to approach her. It showed that she was concerned and taking responsiblity, and we really respected that. Tell your officer(s) what you told us, I'm sure they will be willing to help you out in any way they can. They may be able to help you find a tutor or study partner (if you need them). Each semester we usually had at least one person not make grades and couldn't get initiated. While it wasn't the greatest thing in the world, it wasn't that big of a deal, we just focused on trying to help her bring her grades up so she could get initiated next time! Good luck with the rest of your semester!
PS. The required GPA varies by chapter (at least in my sorority)

BrownEyedGirl · #5 10-29-2001, 12:11 PM

For my ZTA Chapter, all of our new members are initiated immediately following their pledge period, and this is usually a month before final grades are released. For this reason, everyone is initiated but some people are put on academic probation in the spring semester if they don't 'make grades'. I do know that GPA standards vary from chapter to chapter. Here, sisters who are on academic probation have to go to the library for a certain number of monitored and unmonitored study hours, depending on how low their cumulative and semester GPA's are.

Definitely talk to your Scholarship chairperson and let her know about your extenuating circumstances, though. If you talk to her now (before the end of the semester) you will probably be able to see if your chapter has old test files to help you study or older sisters in your major who can tutor you. Hope this helps - good luck!!

kimmykimmy · #6 10-29-2001, 01:21 PM

Something to think about, I was rereading some of your previous posts and I seem to recall that during Derby Days you were "up all night" decorating Sigma Chi's house, etc. NOT to say that you are slacking at all because I understand your first year of college you try to have as much fun as possible.

HOWEVER, you are in college to learn. Maybe you are sick because you are up all night partying and not taking care of your self? I'm not yelling at you, I'm not, just something to think about perhaps.

ZetaLuvBunny · #7 10-29-2001, 03:39 PM

Okay, I overheard some of my fellow new members last night discussing worries about their own grades, and they said that you have to pull a 2.3 or you're on academic probation. This consists of having to do a certain number of study hours each week in order to be able to attend social events such as mixers, etc.

Kimmy---as far as the Derby Days thing goes, I had already mostly recovered from mono at this time, and when I said "up all night" I meant that I got to sleep around midnight. This is late for me. I try to go to bed between 9:30 and 10:30 on weeknights (unless my roommate keeps me up while she watches her stupid cartoons---which happens more often than I can stand!!!).

Anyhow, I will definitely talk to the scholarship chair soon, and see if anyone can help me with History at least...this is the class I'm most behind in, simply because the teacher teaches it as though its a graduate course rather than a freshman course, and because I've missed the maximum number of days in there (3) without grade penalties. I have been to classes many days where I was sick simply because of the attendance policies that say even if you were sick, you cannot miss more than 3 days without your grade being dropped a letter. There is a lot of controversy about this policy right now, however, and there is a chance that university officials might change it soon.

ZetaLuvBunny · #8 10-29-2001, 05:21 PM

Oh yeah I forgot to mention....I cannot drop any of the classes I have now because I have exactly 12 hours (which is full-time at my school)...I already had to drop my three P.E. classes because my doctor reccomended that I not participate in physical activities for a few weeks, and besides that, I needed more time to study.