How A lot Does It Value To Rush? (Primarily based On Actual Bama Numbers)

As somebody who spent her freshman yr on the College of Alabama (UA), I do know firsthand how pricey merely attending two semesters of lessons could be there. Add to that the expertise of Greek life, and your social circle isn’t the one factor that out of the blue 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 commonly used because the benchmark for recruitment throughout the nation as a result of its measurement and funding.

Earlier this yr, Max (previously HBO Max) launched a documentary that examines UA rush by a magnifying glass. Whether or not you’ve seen the documentary, enthusiastically adopted the #BamaRush pattern, otherwise you’re merely curious in regards to the worth that’s paid for Greek life, this text is an effective place to begin for studying in regards to the true prices of sorority recruitment.

I’ll break down the frenzy course of, level out its major 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 carry like-minded individuals collectively and permit them to discover new alternatives, give again to their neighborhood, and bond over shared commitments and tasks. Many discover that the Greek system helps them construct an id 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 fulfill with and be recruited by sororities within the hope that they’ll ultimately be chosen by one to hitch. Throughout rush, PNMs meet with all collaborating sororities on campus to, basically, be interviewed for a way effectively they match with the group. The time period “speeding” comes from the notion that sororities are speeding to point out themselves as the most effective on campus and appeal to the most effective members.

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

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 initially of the week and longer close to the top, as sororities slim 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.

Here is what your week may seem like:

• Day 1, Convocation: PNMs meet and find out about every sorority on campus. Word that sororities vote on their prime candidates on the finish of every spherical.
• Day 2, Philanthropy: PNMs find out about every chapter’s volunteer work and neighborhood involvement. This theme can typically lengthen for multiple evening.
• Day 3, Sisterhood: PNMs get to know chapter members higher by one-on-one conversations. These conversations are carefully noticed by different chapter members.
• Day 4, Desire Night time: PNMs go to one to a few of their favourite homes. This evening is commonly the longest and most critical spherical, by which a chapter makes its remaining evaluation of a PNM’s qualities, curiosity degree, 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 primarily based on what you carry to every go to. However what does that basically imply? What’s most necessary to them? As you learn by this checklist, needless to say it’s simply as necessary that you just assess how every chapter suits with your individual pursuits.

Listed below 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?

Once you reply these questions, take into consideration how your solutions convey your private qualities. A few of the prime qualities sororities are concerned about are:

• Dedication to highschool, revealed by your grades and school entrance examination scores
• Dedication to your neighborhood, which can be demonstrated by previous volunteer expertise
• Management skill, 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 you ought to be able to spend cash on in your first yr of sorority life:

In case you’ve determined to undergo recruitment, I hope you’re able to get “glammed to the gods.” Sorority OOTD (Outfit Of The Day) movies gained plenty of traction on #RushTok through the fall 2021 recruitment interval, highlighting the lengths some PNMs go to to be able to stand out.

The favored clothes manufacturers worn by PNMs throughout recruitment come at a worth. And belief me, you’ll really feel pressured to be seen carrying the identical manufacturers as your friends. Favourite objects embrace 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 footwear ($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 preserve new purchases on the cheaper facet.

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

Bills you must anticipate on an annual foundation embrace chapter charges in addition to room and board in case you select to reside within the chapter home. One-time new member charges for pledging, initiation, and receiving your sorority pin enhance first-year prices.

Common new member dues at UA for the 2023-2024 tutorial yr are $4,165.59. Word that some chapters have scholarships or grants for members primarily based on monetary want or tutorial advantage, although these are usually out there for present members solely.

Need a breakdown of prices? See the monetary price range beneath 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.

Word that dwelling in a chapter home can probably be costlier than sharing a dorm or home with roommates elsewhere. Nonetheless, dwelling in-house additionally has the additional benefit of being on or close to campus, which creates ample social alternatives. And, maybe most significantly, it provides you just about all-day entry to freshly ready meals because of your chapter’s personal chef.

Nonetheless, charges for dwelling in-house throughout UA’s 2023-2024 tutorial yr common $7,355.82 every semester. Evaluate that with the price of dwelling out-of-house, which averages $3,696.35 every semester. Do you have to select to not reside in-house, you’re usually nonetheless required to pay for the chapter’s meal plan every time period.

Don’t overlook that there’s usually a one-time, nonrefundable price simply to register for recruitment. At UA, that price 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 end result. All in all, you’re an average new member cost of about $4,166 every semester, or $8,332 on your first yr. After your first yr, that complete will increase in case you determine to reside within the chapter home and reduces barely in case you select to proceed dwelling outdoors it. Don’t overlook, these averages are on prime of the price of attending your college.

You’re a median new member value of about $4,166 every semester, or $8,332 on your first yr.

Loads of college students gravitate towards the ample alternatives that Greek life presents. However it’s necessary to rigorously think about 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 about on speeding, I like to recommend no less than making a price range forward of time to consciously plan your spending. In any case, whereas Greek life could also be 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 possibly can’t use federal or institutional monetary support to cowl the hole. So, if wanted, analysis scholarships that is likely to be out there to you primarily based in your tutorial profile. And attain out to see if the sorority presents its personal inside scholarships or gradual cost plans. Additionally, think about different methods you could possibly get monetary savings elsewhere as a scholar, like splitting the prices of streaming providers, slicing your cellphone invoice, and shopping for objects used as an alternative of recent.

Keep in mind: Going by 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 speculate your cash upfront in one thing you could find yourself strolling away from.