As somebody who spent her freshman 12 months on the College of Alabama (UA), I do know firsthand how expensive merely attending two semesters of lessons may be there. Add to that the expertise of Greek life, and your social circle isn’t the one factor that immediately expands.

Sorority hashtags and content material exploded on social media in August 2021, as universities eased Covid-19 restrictions and let college students resume fall recruitment actions. This was very true for UA, which is usually used because the benchmark for recruitment throughout the nation on account of its measurement and funding.

Earlier this 12 months, Max (previously HBO Max) launched a documentary that examines UA rush by means of a magnifying glass. Whether or not you’ve seen the documentary, enthusiastically adopted the #BamaRush pattern, otherwise you’re merely curious concerning the value that’s paid for Greek life, this text is an effective start line for studying concerning the true prices of sorority recruitment.

I’ll break down the push course of, level out its fundamental monetary components, and weigh the professionals and cons of taking up Greek life.

The aim of Greek life on campus is noble sufficient: These organizations convey like-minded individuals collectively and permit them to discover new alternatives, give again to their group, and bond over shared commitments and tasks. Many discover that the Greek system helps them construct an identification on a big campus and, on the similar time, kind deep relationships with those that are in the identical stroll of life.

Additionally known as “recruitment,” speeding is the journey that potential new members (or PNMs) embark on to satisfy with and be recruited by sororities within the hope that they’ll finally be chosen by one to affix. Throughout rush, PNMs meet with all collaborating sororities on campus to, basically, be interviewed for the way properly they match with the group. The time period “speeding” comes from the notion that sororities are speeding to point out themselves as the perfect on campus and appeal to the perfect members.

Recruitment sometimes happens within the fall and spring for a lot of universities, with fall rush being the largest recruitment interval annually, primarily as a result of it’s the beginning of the tutorial 12 months. Some faculties host recruitment a number of weeks previous to lessons beginning, whereas others maintain it shortly after lessons have began. Both method, the everyday rush cycle occurs someday between August and October annually. 

Throughout rush week, you’ll expertise a number of themed rounds as you get to know every sorority and vice-versa. Rounds are sometimes shorter in the beginning of the week and longer close to the tip, as sororities slender their lists of PNMs and invite them in for a extra intimate take a look at their sisterhood. Likewise, the variety of homes a PNM visits lessens every day, as you additionally rank every sorority after interacting with them.

This is what your week would possibly appear like:

• Day 1, Convocation: PNMs meet and study every sorority on campus. Observe that sororities vote on their prime candidates on the finish of every spherical.
• Day 2, Philanthropy: PNMs study every chapter’s volunteer work and group involvement. This theme can generally lengthen for multiple evening.
• Day 3, Sisterhood: PNMs get to know chapter members higher by means of one-on-one conversations. These conversations are intently noticed by different chapter members.
• Day 4, Desire Night time: PNMs go to one to a few of their favourite homes. This evening is usually the longest and most critical spherical, wherein a chapter makes its closing evaluation of a PNM’s qualities, curiosity stage, and compatibility.
• Day 5, Bid Day: That is the ultimate day of recruitment. You’ll discover out which sorority you matched with on Bid Day!

Everyone knows sororities are assessing you based mostly on what you convey to every go to. However what does that actually imply? What’s most vital to them? As you learn by means of this listing, take into account that it’s simply as vital that you simply assess how every chapter suits with your personal pursuits.

Listed here are some pattern questions you’ll wish to be able to reply:

• The place are you from?
• Why did you select this college?
• Why are you curious about Greek life?
• What’s your main?
• What actions had been you concerned with throughout highschool?
• What actions do you intend to become involved with on campus?
• What do you hope to get out of becoming a member of a sorority?

If you reply these questions, take into consideration how your solutions convey your private qualities. Among the prime qualities sororities are inquisitive about are:

• Dedication to high school, revealed by your grades and faculty entrance examination scores
• Dedication to your group, which can be demonstrated by previous volunteer expertise
• Management capacity, which can even be exhibited by previous volunteer expertise
• Positivity, evidenced by the tone of your dialog
• Curiosity in being concerned, indicated by earlier extracurriculars and future plans to remain engaged on campus.

Right here’s a breakdown of every space try to be able to spend cash on in your first 12 months of sorority life:

If you happen to’ve determined to undergo recruitment, I hope you might be able to get “glammed to the gods.” Sorority OOTD (Outfit Of The Day) movies gained a whole lot of traction on #RushTok through the fall 2021 recruitment interval, highlighting the lengths some PNMs go to as a way to stand out.

The favored clothes manufacturers worn by PNMs throughout recruitment come at a value. And belief me, you’ll really feel pressured to be seen sporting the identical manufacturers as your friends. Favourite objects embody Altar’d State tops (about $35 to $80 or so); Kendra Scott jewellery ($40 to $200); Lily Pulitzer floral-print clothes ($100 to $300); and Steve Madden sneakers ($50 to $350).

Keep in mind these rush themes I discussed? That is the place they begin to hit your checking account, since you are additionally anticipated to play the half and curate a themed outfit for every evening of recruitment. The mixed value of rush clothes might come to about $450 for the week, assuming you borrow some objects from mates and hold new purchases on the cheaper aspect.

All members pay dues every semester, although these charges range by the chapter you select.

Bills it is best to anticipate on an annual foundation embody chapter charges in addition to room and board in the event you select to stay within the chapter home. One-time new member charges for pledging, initiation, and receiving your sorority pin improve first-year prices.

Common new member dues at UA for the 2023-2024 educational 12 months are $4,165.59. Observe that some chapters have scholarships or grants for members based mostly on monetary want or educational benefit, although these are sometimes accessible for present members solely.

Need a breakdown of prices? See the monetary finances under for one of many top-rated sororities at UA.

No matter whether or not you reside within the chapter home or off campus, housing prices will add a considerable quantity to your first-year bills.

Observe that residing in a chapter home can doubtlessly be costlier than sharing a dorm or home with roommates elsewhere. Nevertheless, residing in-house additionally has the additional advantage of being on or close to campus, which creates ample social alternatives. And, maybe most significantly, it offers you just about all-day entry to freshly ready meals due to your chapter’s personal chef.

Nonetheless, charges for residing in-house throughout UA’s 2023-2024 educational 12 months common $7,355.82 every semester. Evaluate that with the price of residing out-of-house, which averages $3,696.35 every semester. Must you select to not stay in-house, you might be sometimes nonetheless required to pay for the chapter’s meal plan every time period.

Don’t neglect that there’s usually a one-time, nonrefundable payment simply to register for recruitment. At UA, that payment is $375, and it covers the price of recruitment publications, use of campus amenities, transportation round campus, and some recruitment T-shirts.

Including up all of the above bills results in an alarming consequence. All in all, you’re an common new member value of about $4,166 every semester, or $8,332 to your first 12 months. After your first 12 months, that whole will increase in the event you resolve to stay within the chapter home and reduces barely in the event you select to proceed residing exterior it. Don’t neglect, these averages are on prime of the value of attending your college.

You’re a mean new member value of about $4,166 every semester, or $8,332 to your first 12 months.

Loads of college students gravitate towards the ample alternatives that Greek life presents. Nevertheless it’s vital to rigorously contemplate what you need out of this potential chapter in your life and if its related bills are value its advantages.

In case your coronary heart is ready on speeding, I like to recommend not less than making a finances forward of time to consciously plan your spending. In spite of everything, whereas Greek life could also be an excellent funding in your self, there’s no want to enter vital debt for it.

In case your sorority dues exceed your college’s value of attendance, you’ll be able to’t use federal or institutional monetary support to cowl the hole. So, if wanted, analysis scholarships that may be accessible to you based mostly in your educational profile. And attain out to see if the sorority presents its personal inside scholarships or gradual fee plans. Additionally, contemplate different methods you could possibly lower your expenses elsewhere as a scholar, like splitting the prices of streaming providers, reducing your mobile phone invoice, and shopping for objects used as a substitute of recent.

Keep in mind: Going by means of recruitment doesn’t promise you a bid on the finish. So take time to actually take into consideration whether or not you’re prepared to take a position your cash upfront in one thing chances are you’ll find yourself strolling away from.