Recruitment Advice

TiareNoire · #1 07-16-2013, 02:42 AM

Hello all. I was debating on whether or not to post this question since I've lurked quite a bit on here to gather information from you all so thank you for all of the stickied threads on recruitment and related topics! I've done a lot of personal research (Google and my school's Greek life site) and found as much information as I could. However, I am still a bit divided on what action I should take regarding formal recruitment and wondered what you all would advise/suggest.

My question basically is would it make sense for me to try formal recruitment considering my classification (junior) and GPA (2.66) or would my original plan to build up my GPA over the upcoming semester and possibly participate in informal recruitment seem like a smarter plan? Thank you for reading and your advice!

Titchou · #2 07-16-2013, 07:23 AM

Your GPA is a detriment at most schools. Your class standing may or may not be. There's no way for us to know. You might check with your school to see if they have a separate upperclass quota. If they don't, that and your GPA will probably not be a positive for you. If they do have an UC quota, you may squeak by but it owuld most likely be difficult. Now, as to whether you should do either method of recruitment is totally up to you and should be based on whether or not you could handle the rejection. Getting your GPA up to a more acceptable 3.0 for an upperclassman is virtually impossible so I think you are pretty stuck around your current level and the decision should be based on that.

TiareNoire · #3 07-16-2013, 01:06 PM

Thank you for your reply, Titchou. I emailed Greek Life back about the quota and GPA. The reply I received is there is no upperclass quota so the chapters make the determination on if they want upperclass women and how many and varies year to year. Students with all GPAs have been placed before. The sororities typically look for students with at least a 2.5 but students below that GPA, while they have less options, may receive a bid. I guess since my school is mainly a commuter school, recruitment is different than the major school I transferred from. I just wasn't sure on what to do as I'd never heard of a school with no minimum GPA to participate! Again, thank you!

IndianaSigKap · #4 07-16-2013, 01:22 PM

Having been an advisor on a commuter campus, I would agree that Greek life looks much different on a commuter campus than a campus with traditional student housing. At my campus and another in our area, being a junior was not necessarily a detriment. It all depends on you and how you present yourself. Some chapters would rather take a very polished upperclassman than a hot mess, all over the place freshman. Again, depends on the chapter and campus. But pledging as a junior with your GPA is a possibility, but you must go into recruitment knowing that not every chapter on campus will be interested. The lack of interest isn't personal, so don't take it as such. Each chapter will have set goals about its ideal pledge class. One chapter may have high GPA as its main criteria, while another chapter may be looking or leadership, while another may be looking for volunteer hours. We have no way of knowing and neither will you. Give it a try and put your best self out there! Best wishes!

Titchou · #5 07-16-2013, 02:07 PM

You try finding the sororities' GPAs from previous semesters. Those with less than a 3.0 overall are probably not going to be interested in you. You'll pull their average down even more than it is. Those way over may be able to absorb yours better. just try to be realistic about your options and go from there.

TiareNoire · #6 07-16-2013, 03:04 PM

Yes, I do understand that I may have less of a chance to join so I do plan to be as open as possible! On finding the GPAs, there is a link on the site titled "Chapter Statistics" but when I click it, the link just redirects to the home page for Greek life. The only information I was able to find in regards to Panhellenic's GPA is the overall comparison listed in the view book. The all-college women's average was 2.81 for Fall 2012 while Panhellenic's average was 2.94 for Fall 2012.

Hartofsec · #7 07-21-2013, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiareNoire

Yes, I do understand that I may have less of a chance to join so I do plan to be as open as possible! On finding the GPAs, there is a link on the site titled "Chapter Statistics" but when I click it, the link just redirects to the home page for Greek life. The only information I was able to find in regards to Panhellenic's GPA is the overall comparison listed in the view book. The all-college women's average was 2.81 for Fall 2012 while Panhellenic's average was 2.94 for Fall 2012.

Just my opinion -- I don't think that you will be able to raise your GPA so significantly in one semester that this would offset the additional opportunities that fall rush may provide over spring.

And since your GPA is a college GPA, perhaps this will be taken into consideration (I noticed recently that a large university listed different requirements for high school and college GPAs -- high school GPA was higher).

Just do it -- go with what you have, having acknowledged to yourself what the challenges may be. The only way you will never be Greek for certain is to never try.

Hartofsec · #8 07-21-2013, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titchou

You try finding the sororities' GPAs from previous semesters. Those with less than a 3.0 overall are probably not going to be interested in you. You'll pull their average down even more than it is. Those way over may be able to absorb yours better. just try to be realistic about your options and go from there.

I can't speak for the OP's school, but this doesn't appear to be likely in large competitive recruitments like Bama. Chapters on the higher end of GPAs are often also chapters with high return rates, and they are therefore required to release more PNMs through the process. These chapters (in general) are the least likely to carry grade risks (without a very good reason).

I have known girls with less than a 3.0 who pledged chapters at Bama which have at or less than a 3.0 chapter GPA, but I haven't known a PNM with a low GPA who pledged a chapter with a high GPA (I'm sure there are exceptions, and obviously I don't know the GPA of most PNMs).

Just wanted to clarify lest a PNM misunderstand how a low GPA potentially affects consideration by chapters with high GPAs.

Titchou · #9 07-16-2013, 03:38 PM

The Greek Life office may be willing to give you more detailed info but seeing as the PH average is 2.94, there are some high chapter GPAs there.

TiareNoire · #10 07-20-2013, 01:06 AM

Yes, I assumed so! I decided to go ahead and try formal recruitment considering my issues. I won't get my hopes up too high but I will definitely keep a true open mind about everything.

Leslie Anne · #11 07-20-2013, 02:50 AM

I wouldn't bother trying to find out the individual chapter GPAs. That information isn't going to help you during Recruitment. At this point all you can do is present yourself in the best light possible, keep an open mind and hope for the best.

Good luck!

TiareNoire · #12 07-21-2013, 01:20 PM

Thank you for your replies, Leslie Anne and Hartofsec! I have decided to go through formal recruitment to at least better my chances of finding the right fit for me but I am definitely keeping my mind open to all chapters.

Hartofsec · #13 07-21-2013, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiareNoire

Thank you for your replies, Leslie Anne and Hartofsec! I have decided to go through formal recruitment to at least better my chances of finding the right fit for me but I am definitely keeping my mind open to all chapters.

Good luck to you!

TiareNoire · #14 07-30-2013, 10:09 PM

I have another question but wasn't sure where to post it and I didn't want to start a new thread unless it was needed. I recently joined my school's FB group for recruitment which allows us to ask any questions we may have about recruitment. I asked a question about what to wear and one of the panhellenic members stated that the pnms would be able to meet up with our Rho Gammas during our orientation week and such. I am wondering how I should interact with my Rho Gamma when I meet her as to make a good impression with her. Like should I not talk about recruitment with her too much or stay away from recruitment talk? I'm just confused but don't want to say/do the wrong thing!

Titchou · #15 07-30-2013, 10:11 PM

She is your recruitment contact. Talk with her about all things to do with recruitment. That's what she is there for. She has no vote with her group and is supposed to totally be disaffiliated from them. And depending on the campus, she may not even be a member of one of the groups there.