How A lot Does It Price To Rush? (Based mostly 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 may 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 usually used because the benchmark for recruitment throughout the nation on account of its measurement and funding.

Earlier this yr, 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 development, otherwise you’re merely curious in regards to the value that’s paid for Greek life, this text is an effective start line for studying in regards to the true prices of sorority recruitment.

I’ll break down the frenzy course of, level out its foremost 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 folks collectively and permit them to discover new alternatives, give again to their group, and bond over shared commitments and duties. 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.

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 finally be chosen by one to hitch. Throughout rush, PNMs meet with all taking part sororities on campus to, primarily, be interviewed for a way properly they match with the group. The time period “speeding” comes from the notion that sororities are speeding to point out themselves as one of the best on campus and entice one of the 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 faculties host recruitment a couple of weeks previous to lessons beginning, whereas others maintain it shortly after lessons have began. Both means, 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 slender 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 study every sorority on campus. Notice 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 prolong for multiple night time.
• 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, Choice Night time: PNMs go to one to a few of their favourite homes. This night time is usually the longest and most severe spherical, during which a chapter makes its ultimate 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 convey to every go to. However what does that actually imply? What’s most necessary to them? As you learn by means of this record, take into account that it’s simply as necessary that you just assess how every chapter suits with your personal pursuits.

Listed below are some pattern questions you’ll need 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 have been you concerned with throughout highschool?
• What actions do you intend to get entangled 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. Among the prime qualities sororities are keen on are:

• Dedication to highschool, revealed by your grades and faculty entrance examination scores
• Dedication to your group, which can be demonstrated by previous volunteer expertise
• Management capability, 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:

Should 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 in an effort 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 gadgets 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 night time of recruitment. The mixed price of rush clothes might come to about $450 for the week, assuming you borrow some gadgets from associates and hold new purchases on the cheaper aspect.

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

Bills you need to count on on an annual foundation embody chapter charges in addition to room and board in the event 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. Notice that some chapters have scholarships or grants for members based mostly on monetary want or tutorial benefit, although these are sometimes obtainable for present members solely.

Desire a breakdown of prices? See the monetary price range 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.

Notice that dwelling in a chapter home can doubtlessly be costlier than sharing a dorm or home with roommates elsewhere. Nonetheless, dwelling in-house additionally has the additional advantage of being on or close to campus, which creates ample social alternatives. And, maybe most significantly, it provides you almost all-day entry to freshly ready meals due to 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 sometimes nonetheless required to pay for the chapter’s meal plan every time period.

Don’t overlook 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 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 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 the event you resolve to reside within the chapter home and reduces barely in the event you select to proceed dwelling exterior it. Don’t overlook, these averages are on prime of the price of attending your college.

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 gives. Nevertheless it’s necessary to rigorously contemplate 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 ready on speeding, I like to recommend a minimum of making a price range forward of time to consciously plan your spending. In spite of everything, whereas Greek life could also be a great funding in your self, there’s no want to enter vital debt for it.

In case your sorority dues exceed your college’s price of attendance, you may’t use federal or institutional monetary help to cowl the hole. So, if wanted, analysis scholarships that is likely to be obtainable to you based mostly in your tutorial profile. And attain out to see if the sorority gives its personal inner scholarships or gradual fee plans. Additionally, contemplate different methods you might be able to lower your expenses elsewhere as a pupil, like splitting the prices of streaming providers, reducing your mobile phone invoice, and shopping for gadgets 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 it’s possible you’ll find yourself strolling away from.