legacy with low gpa

Bottom tier won't even take that low of a GPA. Grade cuts start at 2.8, most houses are above 3.0. Top houses are 3.2 and up. Doesn't matter if your a legacy or not. Grades cuts are made first.

Being a legacy doesn't mean that much in top tier houses. it only means that if you meet their standards and they life you a lot that you will be in the top half of their bid list if you make it to the last party. i would set my sites much lower. A 2.6 is not really working in your favor.

I hate to say this, but perhaps you should be concentrating more on studying than social stuff. With a 2.6 you would have trouble getting into lots of the specialty schools, like journalism and nursing, and just a plain old liberal arts degree doesn't prepare you for much. And if you are struggling academically you won't be able to have much fun because even if you get into a house you will likely be on academic probation and the scholarship chair will be keeping tabs. Sorority life isn't for everyone.

My house is considered middle tier and we make the same grade cuts as top tier houses. It depends on the chapters goals for the year and national rules. I know my house wouldn't take a 2.6 (I'm sorry) and thats true for most houses. Grades aremore important and every house has those standards, even though their recruiments are each a little different.