[pinksequins]

These are all good suggestions. Another one, before the excitement and stress of recruitment begins, is to run some of the budgetary numbers now. You don't want to be stressing about numbers during recruitment. Instead, if you do as much budgetary homework now (and earmark a dues fund for your savings), you can present your best possible self during recruitment. Since the dues structures can vary (extras included/extras paid separately), it can be a bit of comparing apples and oranges. LSU's Greek Life Office can be one of your best resources for fee information. We won't have it for LSU specifically.