grades

we usually just go off GPA

Yes. A high school 2.9 will get you released from all the houses emphasize grades (mostly the top ones). Be sure to keep all your options open and be happy with whichever house you get. You might also have an explanation (if there is one) for your low grades.

What is the lowest Gpa you can have that won't get you dropped early from most houses? How much does ACT scores matter if its mainly Gpa that's looked at? And...are recommendation letters really helpful?

I have a friend that had a 3.7 Gpa, 24 ACT, 3.5 concurrent Gpa, involved in high school and community activities and had all her reommendation letters and is a pretty and sweet girl but was still cut by most houses the first round. I also know of many legacies with high gpa's that got cut early on. I'm not sure what they really go by so i would suggest keeping an open mind and for sure not get your heart set on what they say are the "top houses" because every single house has both good and bad things about them. You need to look at each house and really decide if you see yourself living with those girls and not just wanting to be there because of the name. Rush week is very hard. All the houses are great! Don't let anyone tell you different!

True. When you get here you will learn that there is no top house. Most all the houses love each other and have fun together. There are a couple of bottom houses that don't do as much usually but even they are stepping it up.

There are top houses, but they are all different and recruit for different things.

If you're rushing as a Freshman.... 2.9 is pretty low, your booklet you get will tell each chapter's required GPA!

Perhaps the people who write your recs can explain if there is a reason (if you had health issues one year and had low grades that affected your gpa, etc.)

Hey honey, im a delt at OSU. we are well respected on campus so if you need help in getting in a sorority just send me some pics first and ill get u what u need

2.9 will get you cut by almost every house. DO NOT write a letter to the office of Greek life. They 1)won't care, and 2) can't do anything about it.

I also would not use diabetes as an excuse. Since it isn't curable, it means the problem still exists and will likely affect your grades at OSU. It makes you even more of a grade risk imo.

Rec letters are pretty much mandatory. While having them doesn't always carry much weight, NOT having them is an automatic cut in many chapters.