I understand the bolded part. Would local dues vary THAT much from year to year? Would parlor fees, for example, go from $2000 (random number) to $4000 in one year?

I'm not even sure if all orgs are required to report their specific costs to Panhellenic. So I doubt they'll have any more accurate info than is available on the website.

On the University of Alabama campus there is one accounting firm that handles almost all of the sororities and fraternities, Greek Resources. The OP or any other interested party should call them. While I doubt they will give out GLO names, they will be able to provide far more accurate info about costs than probably any of us. Their contact info is even listed on the UA Greek Life website "Parent's Guide".

This could happen if a new house was built or if a new suite was opened or something. Or if major renovations were planned.

Makes sense. Thanks.

/hijack

The apprehension lies in the perceived attitude, "If you have to ask you can't afford it and we'll cut you because we think you can't afford it". Plus, many of the actives don't actually know how much their dues are because mommy and daddy foot the bill.

I don't know why each chapter doesn't fully disclose their dues and what those dues cover (whether they are all inclusive or what they include/what is extra). Without disclosure of finances before recruitment, I am sure every chapter gets new members who end up dropping because they decide they can't afford it. That hurts the chapters too.

I'm suspicious that the OP has so blatantly instructed GCers to "either tell me what XYZ's dues are or don't post" and that she "would like her daughter to avoid the high ones". She has the high and low figures, so why does she need to know which is which unless she plans on telling her daughter not to pledge the high ones?

I dunno. Sometimes I think what's wrong with this country is that parents are doing the work -- like getting all of the details on the costs of sorority membership --- that their "young adult" children should be doing. If we're talking about teaching life lessons, I think I learned a lot more when my parents said "You get all the details, tell us what they are, and then we'll talk about what we're willing to pay for and what you'll have to pay for yourself if you want it."

Am I the only one who thinks having Panhellenic give a stated range for fees is acceptable? I know there is a large difference between the high and low, but if you just budget for the high, you should be able to afford anything below that amount, right? College is expensive, and so is Greek life, but if one grand is seriously going to break the bank, maybe joining a sorority should be reconsidered.

This is not meant toward the OP, but just to the disclosure discussion in general.

Yes, although I think a range (sorority dues range from $200 to $800 per semester) rather than an average (sorority dues average $500 a semester) is preferable. Too many people see the latter and think "oh, they all cost $500" and freak out when that isn't the case. Of course that isn't what we all learned in grade school math about averages but many of us were sleeping through that unit, I think. :p

Maybe it's reverse and she really wants to know what the expensive ones so her daughter can strive for the more expensive = more elite houses :rolleyes:

If that's the case....if you have to ask which are elite, you have probably already been cut. :cool:

She said:

If so, what would be wrong with that? A high school senior should definitely inquire about the exact costs of the colleges she's considering, and it's her right to expect it. It is very common, and smart, to take into account the net cost of each college and to factor that into the decision-making process.

All of you who think it would be undesirable to consider costs when ranking sororities, do you also think it's wrong to consider costs when choosing a college? If not, why not?
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ShaggMyPussy

Why is it a poor comparison?

Here's what I'm hearing on this thread: On pref night, a student might have two options. Either one would be OK, but ultimately, she has to choose which one to rank first. Lots of pros and cons might enter into this decision, but relative cost cannot be one of them.

Similarly, a student might have two college acceptances. Either college would serve her needs adequately, but ultimately, she needs to decide which one is her first choice. Lots of pros and cons might enter into this decision, and relative cost should be part of the calculation.

Why? How come pragmatic considerations don't belong in one decision process, but they do in the other?
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SweetyPussycat

Yep. Most campuses use a system that makes it very hard for girls to cut groups. They just get to rank them low. The system is designed to yield one bid to each girl.

I think that each group should furnish information about lifetime estimated costs to each pledge before initiation and that a girl could justifiably chose not to be initiated into that group it if cost too much.