Expense for sorority Recruitment?
 

I am not sure this is true, but I have heard that it can be very expensive to rush at some schools. Dues aside, I have heard that certain types of apparel are generally accepted during different rounds that can run into considerable expense for a girl, especially if she was self-financed.

Any legitamacy to this? I believe the girl that first brought it to my attention was from Penn State . . .

James,

The "my advice to sorority rushees" and LSU threads in this forum talk about this a little. At some schools you need to have a cocktail-type dress for the pref parties (and your big poofy h.s. prom dress does not cut it). It all depends where you go to school. But even if you do have to buy some new things for rush, you are buying classic-type clothing - things you will definitely wear again. It can be a big investment at once but you will eventually get your $$$ worth.

Some money is invested in new apparel before Fall Rush starts, but the cost of brand new shirts stays within the double-digit range. 33 is right...these are the lettered tops and shirts that we'll wear over and over again.

Sometimes we'll have to buy extra things for the rush events...like a pair of capris and a cheap pair of tennis shoes from Payless for a 50s sock hop..or a $5 sarong from the flea market for the AGD luau. Our recruitment chair is great with prices, and usually she refers us to the stores with the lowest prices.

I guess it just depends on where you go to school and how your chapter's like.

------------------
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Women are not supposed to snore, burp, sweat or pass gas. Therefore, we must b!+ch or we will blow up.

Where I went to school, rush was about a week long. Rushees paid about $75 to rush. Clothing needed was-- at least 3-4 nice dresses--that would be worn again and again once you pledged. I had 4, and that suited me fine.

For the gilrs already in the houses--mostly all we were required to provide was a black cocktail dress for preference. All the "matching" outfits we wore on the other days/skits, etc was provided for in our dues. But the dues at my school were and still are, I believe, amongst the highest in the country.

At my school, it doesn't cost to Rush. The expenses of Rush (ie, the booklets) are covered by our Greek Council and probably our Residential Life system (hey, if you're paying obscene amounts for tuition/room & board, shouldn't Rush be free?). There aren't any required outfits, with the exception of Pref, which is "semi-formal" attire, no color specified. Of course, I don't go to school in the South, but I'm from the South, and I prepared for Rush in the South. So, before I started school, I bought clothes that my friends at LSU, UF, etc, were buying for their rush. So, I was overprepared (to say the least).

As an active, it doesn't really cost to Rush that much, either. We're pretty laid-back (both my school and sorority), and we have a general dress code based on theme, but we don't do matching clothes.

At my university, the cost for Recruitment is $10. It pretty much goes directly to Panhel. Things like buying brand new wardrobes is highly discouraged.

Cost to Rush at LSU is about $65 if you live on campus (because you have to move in a day or two early). Its a bit less if you don't live on campus.

Clothing-wise, I went out and bought a few new outfits each time, and worked with other stuff I had. The suck thing about our Rush is that Round I takes 2 days and Round II takes 2 days - that's 4 dresses/outfits for 2 rounds of parties. Sure, Round II is "casual" but despite the fact they tell you its okay to wear jeans or shorts - its really not :P

I just asked because it seemed like a deterrant to girls with less disposable income or limited sharing ability (I have heard women share clothing at times. . .)

Unless its designed that way as a possible weeding out of girls . . . if you unable, unwilling or can't afford to go out and get new gear, how can you commit to, or afford the sorority?

At my college RUSH cost about $65 because all rushees were required to stay in the designated Rushee dorm the entire week, and ate together in the cafeteria. The fees were mainly to cover the cost of room and board for the week. This was the week before school started, before anyone but us Band members, the resident assistants, and a few others had moved onto campus.

for the rushess the cost is $30-40 this year. This covers some sort of token (I think this year they wanted to do umbrella's for everyone who sign's up), as well as a t-shirt given out after pref to wear before bid's are opened so we are all one in panhellenic. Also the cost of the rentals of the tents (we break ground on our houses this semester!!!!!!!!!!)As far as looking real nice, our rush is in August in Florida outside....we just want them to be comfortable, the only day they really dress up is pref in a black dress.
For sisters, we have already spent $25 on 3 shirts to wear all week long, one is a staple for every year black v neck with our letters embroidered over our heart, and 2 other t-shirts specific to this rush, one of which being the bid day shirt. Yet to be determined is the cost of the other clothing we will need to wear, last year the sisters had to buy a jean skirt, khaki capri's and one other item (can't remember) so while that may get a little pricey--those are all items that you will wear again day-to-day.

For rush at my school the cost is $35. I wore dresses that I already had (GASP!!) because they were in great condition. I had some suit type dresses, some floral dresses and some spring/summery dresses. We had four nights to go to (3rounds) and I was fine. It was really hot though, I remember that (TAKE POWDER!!!). As far as being active, my chapter uses khaki skirts for the first round parties and a stitched shirt that costs about $17.00. We bought shirts for the second round, too and they were $9.00 and then we are wearing black pants with them (kinda the "sorority pants" but not elastic) and then for pref we are all wearing black dresses. These are things that we reuse all the time, though. The dress for pref I wear to meetings and stuff and the shirts I wear to classes or out with friends. I wear the skirt all the time and the pants I already had.
It isn't too bad.. the expensive part is pledging. You have a pledge fee (anywhere from $50 to $100 at my school) and initiation fee (anywhere from $100-$250 at my school) and you have to pay for your pin/badge (our cheapest is $28 and our most expensive is $228 I think). So that costs the most. You also have to pay dues every month (some are $600 a semester, ours is $50 a month!). So that is about how it breaks down here!

------------------
"...and love her for her womanhood."

It doesn't cost anything to rush at my school. And nobody goes out and buys a new wardrobe. The first two nights of rush are casual (jeans or shorts), and it's REALLY ok http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif The second two nights is no jeans, but not really dressy stuff. Sort of like business casual. The last night is really nice stuff, but not a cocktail dress or something like that. Just dressed up http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

If I had to buy a new wardrobe for rush, I don't think I'd do it!

My schools greek system it cost $15 to rush and goes to panhel. We have 3 sets for rush. It last maybe about 2 weeks. but each set is on 2 days. Cost for the house to do these sets I say is about $100. Our initiation fee was 250. But dues on this campus average from $600-$1400 for your first year and sometimes that doent include social dues which can be 50-150. Room and Board is usually 4,000-6,000 also. Good thing is most of the sororities have budget plans and are willingly to work stuff out. Alot have scholarships too.

My schools greek system it cost $15 to rush and goes to panhel. We have 3 sets for rush. It last maybe about 2 weeks. but each set is on 2 days. Cost for the house to do these sets I say is about $100. Our initiation fee was 250. But dues on this campus average from $600-$1400 for your first year and sometimes that doent include social dues which can be 50-150. Room and Board is usually 4,000-6,000 also. Good thing is most of the sororities have budget plans and are willingly to work stuff out. Alot have scholarships too.

------------------
"Its Great To Be A Mich-igan AGD! :)"

Sororities aren't cheap, and I knew this going in. I pay for everything, tuition, apartment, insurance, a brand new car, but I knew if I wanted to be in a house, I would have to pay for it. Rush was $50, and then there was new member fees which were about $450 including initiation and dues...you don't pay anything else, but the dresses and clothes you need for events add up...in my first year as a Theta, I spent close to $2,500 on dues and event wear, and all the other little things that came about

Here In Miami I go to a commuter school, so in my opinion that makes things slighty different in how they opperate. The cost for potential new members to rush is 15$ which goes to panhell. We dont have new outfits to wear..but the PX's told us what to wear for the next day..first night was nice but casual, second was jeans casual, 3rd was nice but not overdone,and last was dressed nice, classy.I just wore what i had already.But i know a freind of mine who had rushed with me went shopping everyday for something new..I just couldnt do that..i cant shop forsomething under pressure like that

As far as teh cost for rush on a sisters part..im QUICKLY learning how expensive it can be since I am in the process of helping to plan for our fall rush.
Our Rush assesment is 88 dollars,which includes the cost of our tops, any accessory we will all need, and some other stuff..
each party head for each night is given a budget of 15 dollars to spend per shirt..sou really have to bargin hunt around for good shirt deals.
THEN...we have to buy the coordinating pants, whether they be capris, cropped, skirts, etc etc, matching shoes and EVERYTHING
it all adds upalot
LUCKILY..my chapter dues during the summer only are 10 dollars a month..and throughtout the year are only 33.. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif
Being in a sorority is expensive..but I LOVE IT! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
Love, Honor, Truth

Well, since PSU was mentioned here, I might as well tell you what I know. I rushed last fall. This year, if you register before orientation it's $20 and after orientation it's $25. There are 4 rounds, each require a different kind of attire. The first is very casual, jeans or shorts are fine. 2nd no jeans. 3rd-nice pants or sundress. Pref night-black dress or something like that. Most girls own all of that stuff but because of nerves they go out and blow a fortune on clothes, haircuts, manicures, etc. But personally I didn't buy anything new for rush so it cost me $20.
Now that I'm a sister I'm actually going to spend more. I have to buy khaki shorts, black capris, and a black dress. They are all things I'll wear, though. Also, the sister in charge of rush gave us all summer to get our things, so we can hit all the sales. I'm really only expecting to spend maybe $50 and I will wear it all again.

OOPS! Tried to edit for subject/verb agreement! Forgive double post!

At UA, it is $65 to register and that all goes to panhell. im not sure what all it covers, but i know a t-shirt's in there somewhere http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Worriedsenior,
i know that it seems like alot right now.. i know i would freak out if i was rushing and it was that much...
BUT now that im on "the other side" i know that it will BE SOOOOO worth it.. when u find the house that u will call home!
go for it! im sure just the rush expierence will be worth it!
GOOD LUCK!!!

------------------
Love, Honor, Truth

PinkStar, I know you are right. Even if we don't get a bid, or get a bid from one we may not have had "our hearts set on", the experience as well as the people we meet will be priceless!