When I went through rush at UNT and didn't get a bid (sophmore w/ no clue), I didn't even think about getting a refund. Maybe I should have. LOL. But after I had spent so much money on pictures, clothes, make-up etc... The recruitment fee was just a drop in the bucket.
I think big schools need those fees. Especially the schools with hundreds of girls going through. Obviously at those schools the students are pretty familiar with the benefits of our sisterhoods. But at small schools I think it is up to us to foot the bill. The benefits of joining a sorority need to be publicized. And we don't want anything to detract the students from giving greek life a chance.