Dues?
 

I think at one point someone mentioned that their school required sororities to put dues on the flyers they handed out at information sessions. Does anyone know if Purdue or Ohio State has that policy?

I might be paying for my own dues, or at least part of them, and I will be paying for the majority of college costs, so I don't want to rush only to find out I can't afford to join a sorority.

Also, if dues increase when you live in the house, about how much of an increase is there? Like, twice as much? A couple hundred dollars more?

Another matter to consider is how many months of the year for which you would be required to pay dues. If the sorority houses are university owned, they tend to charge only for the months of the school year. Those houses completely owned by the sorority tend to charge for the entire year.

The sororities at my school made little half-sheets available during formal recruitment. These half-sheets detailed semester dues, initiation/badge fees, parlor fees, and rent for the chapters that had houses.

If nothing else, you should be able to get ballpark figures from the Greek Life office or your recruitment counselor.

Your new-member semester will be the most expensive (leaving out room and board if you live in the chapter's house). You will have to pay initiation fees and buy a badge. You will also be tempted to buy a bunch of lettered items - you can find any number of lettered t-shirts, sweatshirts, keychains, car stickers, tote bags, glasses, etc.

Also, if you live in-house, yes, you will have to pay for room and board, but you have to pay for that anyway, whether you live in-house, in a dorm, or in an off-campus apartment. Living in-house may work out to be less expensive than living in a dorm.

Yeah, that's why I was wondering. I want to avoid having to drop, assuming I get a bid, if I can. Or at least have some sort of idea about how much it will cost me so I don't go into the situation totally blind.

At Ohio State, the average per quarter is $555 out of house $2284 in house. The average for new member quarter is $728.

http://osugreeks.com/pha/09viewbook.html

Thanks, I hadn't thought about that.

Yeah, that's what my dad told me. He said it's approximately the same in a dorm or in the house, maybe less, maybe more. He also said that room and board at the house could be covered by a loan, just like for a dorm, so that would be helpful.

That's definitely a lot less than what I had been thinking, lol, and should be feasible. Thanks!

The linked website has some great information. Try it.

Living in IS more expensive yes, but in most cases in my experience, it actually works out to be cheaper than living in the dorms AND paying dues. In fact when I lived in my chapter house, both the room and board AND dues combined were a few hundred less than if I had lived in the dorms.

One thing that may or may not be included in the dues information that Panhellenic gives you is whether or not a sorority's dues assess or are inclusive.

If a sorority assesses, it has one amount for dues, but then you pay throughout the semester or year for various other things (events, shirts, etc).

If the dues are inclusive, you pay one amount which covers everything -- your chapter and national dues, as well as the various other things.

Generally, there isn't much difference in the total amounts you will pay, whether a sorority assesses or has inclusive dues. It's a matter of whether that amount will be paid up front or over the course of a term.

Good to know for financial planning...

And many groups require you to live in the house, at least as some point during your college career.

This is one of the main reasons I wished my chapter had a house when I was in college! It would have been so nice to live with my sisters, pay my dues, and save money on rent at the same time!!!

I didn't know dues could be paid two different ways, thanks. I try to be very careful about spending my money, so this is helpful, thanks.