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

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 courses could 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 commonly used because the benchmark for recruitment throughout the nation because of its measurement and funding.

Earlier this 12 months, 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 efficient start line for studying in regards to the true prices of sorority recruitment.

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

The aim of Greek life on campus is noble sufficient: These organizations deliver 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 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,” dashing 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, primarily, be interviewed for the way nicely they match with the group. The time period “dashing” comes from the notion that sororities are dashing to point out themselves as the very best on campus and appeal to the very best members.

Recruitment usually happens within the fall and spring for a lot of universities, with fall rush being the most important recruitment interval every year, primarily as a result of it’s the beginning of the tutorial 12 months. Some faculties host recruitment just a few weeks previous to courses beginning, whereas others maintain it shortly after courses have began. Both approach, 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 in the beginning of the week and longer close to the top, as sororities slim their lists of PNMs and invite them in for a extra intimate have 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 appear to be:

• Day 1, Convocation: PNMs meet and find out about every sorority on campus. Be aware that sororities vote on their high candidates on the finish of every spherical.
• Day 2, Philanthropy: PNMs find out about 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 one-on-one conversations. These conversations are intently noticed by different chapter members.
• Day 4, Choice Evening: PNMs go to one to 3 of their favourite homes. This evening is commonly the longest and most critical spherical, by which a chapter makes its last 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 based mostly on what you deliver to every go to. However what does that actually imply? What’s most vital to them? As you learn by this checklist, understand that it’s simply as vital that you just assess how every chapter suits with your individual 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 faculty?
• Why are you curious about Greek life?
• What’s your main?
• What actions have 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?

While you reply these questions, take into consideration how your solutions convey your private qualities. Among the high qualities sororities are considering 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 potential, 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 need to be able to spend cash on in your first 12 months of sorority life:

When 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 throughout 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 worth. 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 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 price of rush clothes could come to about $450 for the week, assuming you borrow some objects from buddies and maintain new purchases on the cheaper facet.

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

Bills it is best to anticipate on an annual foundation embody chapter charges in addition to room and board when 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. Be aware that some chapters have scholarships or grants for members based mostly on monetary want or educational advantage, although these are usually out there for present members solely.

Desire a breakdown of prices? See the monetary funds 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.

Be aware that dwelling in a chapter home can doubtlessly be dearer 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 educational 12 months common $7,355.82 every semester. Examine that with the price of dwelling out-of-house, which averages $3,696.35 every semester. Must you select to not stay in-house, you’re usually nonetheless required to pay for the chapter’s meal plan every time period.

Don’t neglect 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 services, transportation round campus, and some recruitment T-shirts.

Including up all of the above bills results in an alarming outcome. All in all, you’re a median new member price of about $4,166 every semester, or $8,332 to your first 12 months. After your first 12 months, that complete will increase when you determine to stay within the chapter home and reduces barely when you select to proceed dwelling outdoors it. Don’t neglect, these averages are on high of the price of attending your college.

You’re a median new member price 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 provides. However it’s vital to rigorously think about what you need out of this potential chapter in your life and if its related bills are price its advantages.

In case your coronary heart is about on dashing, I like to recommend at the very least making a funds forward of time to consciously plan your spending. In any case, whereas Greek life could also be a very good funding in your self, there’s no want to enter vital debt for it.

In case your sorority dues exceed your faculty’s price of attendance, you’ll be able to’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 based mostly in your educational profile. And attain out to see if the sorority provides its personal inside scholarships or gradual cost plans. Additionally, think about different methods you could possibly lower your expenses 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 take a position your cash upfront in one thing it’s possible you’ll find yourself strolling away from.