Sunday, December 19, 2010

GPA....Is it really that important???



In a nutshell....YES! I felt the need to address this subject because I have received tons of emails from prospective members who are interested in joining XYZ org but do not have the grades. I have heard everything from, having a low GPA due to family problems, death in the family, having to drop out of school to support their siblings and/or parents, or they partied hard freshman year, etc.... Look, I understand, we have all have or have had our problems in life. However, if the gpa is a 2.5, 2.75, or a 3.0, then THAT is what you need to have to be considered for membership. It doesn't matter if you have thousands of hours of community service (which is awesome by the way) have leadership roles, or have "seen the errors of your ways."

So, in order for you to qualify for membership for any organization, you MUST have the minimal gpa. For my organization you have to have a 2.75, not a 2.5, 2.60, 2.749999 but a TWO POINT SEVEN FIVE!!!!! The only reason why I had to put that in caps because you won't believe how many people have asked me if we would make any exceptions to this rule. And although they came up with some compelling reasons such as....

1. I didn't realize the grade requirement till after I decided I wanted to join.
2. I did horrible my freshman year and I can't boost my gpa up to recover from it.
3. I graduated over 6 years ago, and I don't feel its fair that I am still being punished.
4. They feel we are missing out on a good member b/c they are not allowed to join due to the gpa requirement.

and so on......

Here are a few tips on how you can boost your gpa:

If you have a lot of C's or a couple of Ds or Fs then RETAKE those classes. Most colleges and universities give their students the option of GRO other wise known as Grade Replacement Option. The way this works if you retake a class, and if you get a higher grade, then they will recalculate your gpa with the higher grade. Both grades will appear on your transcript, but only the higher grade's gpa will be calculated on your transcript.

If you have graduated from college with a less than stellar gpa and are either attending or have attended grad school, then your undergraduate GPA is not applicable.

So my advice to you,,,, Concentrate on your classes if you do not have a stellar GPA. That can include retaking classes or you have the option to use your Grad-School GPA if that's applicable.

My BEST advice?? I think joining an organization should be far from your mind if your gpa is really low. Remember, the main reason why you are in school is to get an education....

Ciao for now!

50 comments:

  1. GOD WILLING "IF & WHEN" THE TIME DOES COME I WILL DEF OWE YOU A BIG THANK YOU. YOUR BLOG HAS BEEN SO HELPFUL & IVE LEARNED SO MUCH. YOU HAVE MADE MY PREP SO MUCH EASIER.
    __JOHNNYQUEST

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  2. Actually part of what you said is incorrect. Delta Sigma Theta (not sure about any other BGLOs does NOT accept graduate school transcripts for membership unless you have OBTAINED a MASTER'S degree. This is the current policy as of 2010.

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  3. Dear Anonymous

    You are correct; Delta Sigma Theta does NOT accept graduate school transcripts for membership unless they obtained a Masters Degree. This is why I never specified Delta specifically, and also why I stated "IF APPLICABLE" meaning there could be other BLGO's that may use this method.

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    1. I have a question. I was a transfer student. When i pledge do they just consider my current school gpa or do they take into account my old school gpa as wel. Ive been at the school i was to pledge with for only 1 semester. Do they calculate cumulative gpas with current and past college gpas?

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  4. I love your blog. Since I was a little girl I have awaited my time to finally get my chance to submit my application for membership. My father was a Que and my mother never went to college but I was surrounded by a lot of women on my father's side who were friends that I looked up to and ultimately help me when I decided I wanted to be a Delta. However upon my fathers passing my GPA fell from a 3.2 to a 2.56. I thought I was still "good to go" in regards to the application process, boy was I wrong. I did not realize that the GPA requirements were raised after their last convention in which the requirements went from 2.5 to 2.75. I was devastated to say the least, not only did my father miss his chance to see his only child graduate college he also would never get see my join an organization in which I believed in and hope to join since I was very young. I had to withdraw from school in order to support my family after he died and I am just getting back to finish my undergraduate studies ( stat 130 is standing in my way, lol). However I know that I will not be able to raise my GPA by May of this year but I hope that I will be able to turn things around during Grad school. Hopefully I will be able to submit via a Grad chapter. Either way your blog helps me stay focused in my quest and I hope to one day be able to greet you as a sister. Until then please keep up the great work on your blog.

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  5. I just stumbled upon your blog. Thank you for answering some of these questions. I am aware that DST will accept a graduate transcript upon completion of the "masters" program. However I'm curious about whether they will accept a "juris doctorate" transcript upon completion?

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  6. If your gpa is 2.3 but you have shown improvement and a delta is interested in you can you be a member but be put on probation?

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  7. is the gpa calculated as a group for head quaters or individually?

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  8. I appreciate your blog. However, I feel as though you never made the case of "Why GPA really matters." I work in the HR sector and understand why we ask for transcripts (i.e. verify degree attainment) but we don't worry about GPA because a 4.0 can be just of a dingbat or stellar employee as a person who graduates with a 2.0. So, I guess my question to you is... Will you expound upon why it matters other than to weed people out?

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  9. I just wanted to know. What if you do graduate but still take a few classes at the undergrad level at a community college and maybe transfer the credit if that's possible. Will that be considered as well so they can see your progress

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  10. If you graduate with your bachelor's degree and had a low gpa...will you ever have the chance to pledge DST? If so, what can you do to gain membership?

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  11. To the above poster, you will need to go back to school and earn a Masters Degree. Once you earn a graduate degree, your undergrad GPA is no longer needed!

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    1. Hello! Do you only have to submit your grad school transcripts? Or both?

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    2. If you have a master’s degree do you need to submit both undergrad and grad transcripts when applying to alumni chapter?

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  12. Someone stated a while ago If its been 10 years between graduating with below GPA from under grad. One can still apply to join DST. Is that true?

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  13. Thank you so much for starting this blog I've learned so much and feel better prepared for my journey. I would like to know how the gpa is reviewed. I ask that must I received my associates degree and attended a prior university before the one I'm currently attending and wanted to know if its the combination from all or just from the 4yr universities I've attended.

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  14. i wanted to ask the question if i have a high gpa but some community service can i still have a chance

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  15. Ok, just to make sure I am completely clear. If a person graduates with lower than the required gpa during the undergrad degree, but is attending graduate school, and is being successful (i.e. a 3.0 or higher gpa) than their undergraduate gpa can be "over looked/trumped" by their graduate gpa?

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  16. i went to an informational this year (the first one in about 4-5 years because they were on probation) but did not make it for spring line because of gpa. Since then i have raised my gpa however it is still not at a 2.75. At the informational they said if you are a transfer student they will accept those to add to the cumulative gpa but later i was told they only accept the gpa of THAT school. I spoke with one of the new members of that org this semester and she stated they do accept transcripts if you transferred. My question is, does delta accept transcripts from your previous school or just the one from the attending school?

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  17. Hello,
    Thank you for posting this informative blog as this was my major concern in reference to pledging. Similar to a previous blogger, I too have always wanted to pledge DST but am unable to due to my low undergrad gpa of 2.67 (not going to make any excuses). However, I am elated to find out that once your masters degree is obtained that gpa is used. That being said, what is the requirement for a masters? Currently I am a 3.4.

    Thanks

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  18. After a certain number of years , does the gpa really matter if pledging grad chapter in all sororities?

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  19. If an organization is requiring a C+ average which they say is equivalent to a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, but my school considers C+ to be a 2.3, the grade average is there, however, the point average varies. Do you stand by the point average or the grade average?

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  20. My gpa dropped from a 3.56 to a 2.76. I have an F in one class but cannot retake till Fall. I am taking classes over the summer but when I calculate my gpa it will only go up to a 2.85 if I pass these 2 or 3 4.0 credit classes. My school only has Fall lines and goes every 2 or more years. I am going to my junior year so does that mean I cannot pledge.

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    1. Your GPA as reflected on your most current transcript is what any organization uses. I would defer to the chapter at your university/college for the answering of all questions rather than an unofficial blog.

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  21. What is the gpa for Hampton University

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  22. Is there any way that I can email a question to you?

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    1. Your questions should be directed to the chapter at your school.

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  23. You have a grammatical error in your "about me" section.

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  24. Why won't a 2.7499999 round to a 2.75?

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  25. In the past semester I endured extenuating circumstances in which more than three of my family members passed in a span of two months. I was forced to drop all of my classes (except for one because I was doing extremely well) and tend to my situation at home. This semester, I took on 12 credits to get back comfortable and on my feet however I had emergency surgery which caused me to withdraw from a gen ed class (that is unrequired) because of my absence. I have a QPA of 3.02, a strong community service resume and a background of leadership. I know the chapter at my school is interested in me at the moment but I want to know if these withdrawals will seize my opportunity? This is something I have prayed on forever and desperately want to pursue. I am just very nervous that my opportunity will be taken because of circumstances out of my control. I am currently doing well in my required major courses but I want to know if another W will deduct my opportunity.

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  26. This blog is very helpful. I am the first in the family to go to college and I have been dreaming of becoming a delta since elementary. But I am confused on some of your requirements. With the GPA, is it an calculation of all your past grade point averages?

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  27. I had a 2.3 gpa in undergrad but I'm in graduate school now and have a 3.5 and I want to pledge a fraternity, so will the current gpa override my undergrad gpa?

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  28. I've been invited to pledge the grad school chapter of a sorority. I graduated over twenty years ago with a low gpa. Does the gpa still matter in grad school if transcripts are over twenty years ago.

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    1. Did you make it ? Was your gpa an issue ?

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    2. Did you make it ? Was your gpa an issue ?

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    3. I'm 10 years removed from college w a very close goals and wondering if ill make it.

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  29. I am a transfer student, so I have two GPAs at my university. I Have a GPA for just that particular university and I of course have a cumulative GPA which is every class I ever took. Which GPA is considered?

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  30. Do I need to live in the same area as the chapter to qualify?

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  31. once again blacks keeping blacks down, why is is that white girls are able to join a sorority directly after entering from high school. they don't have 30 hours or a 2.75 gpa but yet they are allowed. black greeks only select about 9 to 10 members after hundreds of applications. I really would like to know why blacks make it so hard to become a member of what yall call a great opportunity if you become a member of your organization.

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    1. The goals and history of NPC sororities ("white" ones) are simply different than that of NPHC sororities. Even if you read about Delta's public history, you'll see that academic achievement was extremely important to the founders and early members and they wanted young women who were scholars and high achievers. It's hard to join because they are exclusive groups! It's not about "holding blacks down" - you won't lose anything professionally just because you're not in a BGLO. It's about selectivity and preserving certain standards. A 2.75 isn't even that high a requirement...that's like a B-. Average.

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  32. Is a 2.75 required at ALL Universities in order to become a Delta

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  33. What if you have a 3.0 gpa and has been out of school for two years and want to join. Is it possible.

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  34. Hello,

    Thank you for posting information for alumnae chapters. Your info helped me a lot. I'm preparing myself for when it's time for a possible rush within an alumnae chapter here in Atlanta. I have a question. I didn't want to post under the video because I wasn't sure how often you check your comments. In the requirements for alumnae, the criteria is to have 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. I have a 2.6. I'm 34 and graduated a long time ago. I was told that I can't re-enroll to raise my GPA since I've already graduated, however, they said that I can take graduate level classes and get a Post Bachelor Graduate Certificate. It's not a masters degree and It won't increase my bachelors degree 2.6 GPA. The GPA will actually start over with the Post Graduate classes and they consists of 5 to 6 classes of my HR concentration in the 500 levels. If I get to the point of submitting for membership, do you think they will look at the Post Graduate Bachelor class GPA or the Bachelor's only GPA? I'm trying to decide on if I want to take up a Masters Degree Program or will the Post Grad Bachelors Cert suffice?

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  35. What about if are going back to college for a second undergraduate degree.? Your first undergrad gpa was low . Are you able to pledge on the undergraduate level since you receiving another undergraduate degree?

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  36. What if you are going back to school for another undergraduate degree, your first undergraduate gpa was low . Can you use the second degrees gpa ?

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  37. Hello. My undergrad degree gpa is not exactly a 2.75 but I have been to graduate school and have high grades can I use the grad gpa

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  38. I transferred last semester from another college. On my transcript i transferred maybe 3 C’s from that school. I have a above a 3.0 gpa. But do you think those C’s look bad?

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  39. I graduated with a BS Degree in 2012, but with a 2.0 GPA...it is now 2023...will the GPA requirement matter now that its over 10 years?

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    Replies
    1. Hello. Did you ever receive an answer to your question? Thanks

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  40. my uni requires a 2.75 to join any sorority on campus but I want to know is it worth still trying or if I stand a chance against someone that might have a higher gpa when I meet right at the requirement or like a 2.85 and not at least a 3.0. If I go to all their events and try to get to know them and get involved on campus Is it still worth a try despite not having a higher GPA but still meeting requirement?

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