How A lot Does It Price 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 courses will be there. Add to that the expertise of Greek life, and your social circle isn’t the one factor that all of the sudden 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 consequence of its measurement and funding.

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

I’ll break down the frenzy course of, level out its fundamental monetary elements, and weigh the professionals and cons of taking over Greek life.

Why Go Greek?

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 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, type deep relationships with those that are in the identical stroll of life.

What Is Speeding?

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 ultimately be chosen by one to affix. Throughout rush, PNMs meet with all taking part sororities on campus to, basically, be interviewed for the way nicely they match with the group. The time period “speeding” comes from the notion that sororities are speeding to indicate themselves as the very best on campus and entice the very best members.

Recruitment sometimes 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 educational yr. Some colleges host recruitment a number of weeks previous to courses beginning, whereas others maintain it shortly after courses have began. Both method, the everyday rush cycle occurs someday between August and October every year. 

Rounds Of Recruitment

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 at 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.

This is what your week may appear like:

• Day 1, Convocation: PNMs meet and find out about every sorority on campus. Observe 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 neighborhood involvement. This theme can generally lengthen for a couple of evening.
• Day 3, Sisterhood: PNMs get to know chapter members higher via 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, during which a chapter makes its closing 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!

Qualities Of Curiosity Throughout Recruitment

Everyone knows sororities are assessing you primarily based on what you convey to every go to. However what does that actually imply? What’s most necessary to them? As you learn via this record, understand that it’s simply as necessary that you simply assess how every chapter suits with your personal pursuits.

Listed here are some pattern questions you’ll need 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 propose to get entangled with on campus?
• What do you hope to get out of becoming a member of a sorority?

Whenever you reply these questions, take into consideration how your solutions convey your private qualities. Among the high qualities sororities are concerned about are:

• Dedication to high school, revealed by your grades and faculty entrance examination scores
• Dedication to your neighborhood, which can be demonstrated by previous volunteer expertise
• Management means, 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.

The Price of Speeding

Right here’s a breakdown of every space you need to be able to spend cash on in your first yr of sorority life:

Clothes

For those who’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 lots of traction on #RushTok in the course of the fall 2021 recruitment interval, highlighting the lengths some PNMs go to with a view 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 gadgets 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 sneakers ($50 to $350).

Bear 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 gadgets from associates and hold new purchases on the cheaper aspect.

Member Dues

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

Bills it is best to count on on an annual foundation embrace chapter charges in addition to room and board in case you select to stay 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. Observe that some chapters have scholarships or grants for members primarily based on monetary want or tutorial benefit, although these are sometimes accessible for current members solely.

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

Housing

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 because of your chapter’s personal chef.

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

Miscellaneous

Don’t neglect that there’s typically 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 outcome. All in all, you’re an common new member price of about $4,166 every semester, or $8,332 on your first yr. After your first yr, that complete will increase in case you resolve to stay within the chapter home and reduces barely in case you select to proceed residing exterior it. Don’t neglect, these averages are on high of the price of attending your college.

To Rush, Or Not To Rush: That Is The Query

You’re a mean new member price 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 affords. However it’s necessary to fastidiously 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 ready on speeding, I like to recommend at the least making a funds 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 faculty’s price of attendance, you’ll be able to’t use federal or institutional monetary assist to cowl the hole. So, if wanted, analysis scholarships that is perhaps accessible to you primarily based in your tutorial profile. And attain out to see if the sorority affords its personal inside scholarships or gradual fee plans. Additionally, think about different methods you might be able to get monetary savings elsewhere as a scholar, like splitting the prices of streaming companies, slicing your cellular phone invoice, and shopping for gadgets used as an alternative of latest.

Bear in mind: Going via recruitment doesn’t promise you a bid on the finish. So take time to essentially 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.