dues

loreli2 · #1 01-18-2003, 07:04 PM

I've heard that sororities can be pretty pricy. I'm sure dues are different for different chapters, but could anyone give me a general idea of how much to expect to pay per semester?

Also, would that be tacky or inappropriate to ask during rush?

Thanks!

ChiOqt · #2 01-18-2003, 07:33 PM

Generally, potential new members ask this question quite often during rush. College students are always concerned wtih money..or lack there of. You can generally get a good idea of the costs of each organization, as they vary from chapter to chapter. Also, if you school is anythign like mine, you may get a detailed chart of the costs for each house at the start of recruitment. Hope this helps a bit!

sugar and spice · #3 01-18-2003, 08:25 PM

It all depends on the school. A lot of schools print out a sheet with the expected financial commitments for all sororities that every rushee gets -- I know mine did. At some schools it's considered tacky to ask about dues, but at most it's probably not going to be an issue. Usually the best plan is, if you're going through formal rush, to ask your Rho Chi or someone in Panhellenic. If you're not going through formal it's probably all right to ask somebody in the sorority that you're rushing -- I'm sure that they're used to answering the question and most of them won't find it tacky.

Dues differ a lot from campus to campus as well. At some schools with very competitive Greek systems, huge houses and tons of elaborate social events, dues can run as high as a couple thousand dollars per semester; at campuses without houses they can be under a hundred a semester.

sherbertlemons · #4 01-18-2003, 09:17 PM

Also, you might want to keep in mind that the first semester can be pricier than the rest. You have a lot of one time fees- initiation, the cost of the badge, ect. It wouldn't be a bad idea to set aside a little extra money.

Also keep in mind that most houses will work with you as much as they can. Many have some sort of payment plan availible.

Angels&Arrows · #5 01-18-2003, 09:19 PM

Costs vary from school/chapter-to-school/chapter! Penn State sororites do not have houses, which does help keep the cost down!!!

I assume you know this... but here are a few wonderful links to Penn State's Greek Life.

http://www.greeks.psu.edu/panhellenic/index.htm

http://www.sa.psu.edu/greeks/

http://www.sa.psu.edu/greeks/SP01PHC.shtml

There are 21 Panhellenic Chapters at Penn State... Which almost covers all the members... Each chapter is represented here on GC and I can comfortably speak for all.. We are here to answer any questions you might have!!!!!!!!!!!

Glitter650 · #6 01-18-2003, 09:31 PM

Dues are VERY different from school to school and organization to organization... although at most schools most org's dues fall with in a few hundered dollars of each other... at my school.. (which has a decidedly small greek system with no houses) my dues are only about 400 dollars a year... but I know my friend who goes to UCLA pays a couple thousand to live in... so it all depends... most orgs will give you a break down of the dues at one of their parties. Asking about money is different from chapter to chapter and school to school... I mean, I personally don't think anyone from my chapter would think a PNM was being rude or tacky by asking about the money, nor would we think she *probably* couldn't afford dues if she was asking, but I know there's probably some chapter somewhere that may think it tacky. Keep your eyes and ears open, if you feel uncomfortable asking maybe someone else will ask and you can listen in on the answer, or they may have a info sheet out somewhere that has all the info you need. If these tactics do not work and you are still clueless, suck it up and ask, becuase there's nothing worse than a financial suprise after you've fallen in love with a house you can't afford to join.

japhir · #7 01-18-2003, 10:45 PM

The biggest differences will come in whether or not the chapter you join has a house. My dues were only a couple of hundred dollars a year, but we didn't have a house. I know some of our sisters nearby who have a house pay more than 3 times that much. I'm sure most chapters will work with you about a payment plan.

Little E · #8 01-19-2003, 12:40 AM

Our dues are fairly low. (comparativly) We have a house, but the college owns it. When you live on college owned property, at least at Beloit, your financial aid is higher because the know your room costs. Houses that have independent houses seem to pay a lot because they'll also have to pay for upkeep on the house, which in my case, the school takes care of. I don't know if it would work, but you could try to ask the greek office for info on dues,they might have stuff, not sure though.

Good luck!
Lil E

Optimist Prime · #9 01-19-2003, 03:53 AM

Lorelei...do you have long hair? Just wondering cuz your screen name is one of my favorite poems.

aephi alum · #10 01-19-2003, 09:39 AM

As others have said, dues can vary widely. Your first semester will be the most expensive and can top $1000 - you will have dues, initiation fee, badge fee (which varies widely according to how plain/elaborate a badge you get), and possibly a few other one-time fees. After that, it should settle out to no more than a few hundred per semester.

The chapter's treasurer should be willing to work out payment plans. She should also be willing to let you know, at least in general terms, where the money is going.

At some schools, it's considered tacky to ask about dues - the thinking is that if you have to ask, you can't afford it. I suspect PSU is not among them. My school certainly wasn't - PNMs could pick up financial information sheets from each sorority that gave the breakdown of first-semester dues and dues for subsequent semesters.

HTH

Munchkin03 · #11 01-19-2003, 10:37 AM

We have a house, but it's university-owned (like all Greek houses here), and our dues are very manageable. Some houses--not most, but some have a system where you can work out a payment plan--but if they have it, chances are they will mention it. In some cases, being on the payment plan is limited to initated members. Most of the new member fees have to go straight to HQ before initiation, which prohibits staggering of payments.

As a VP-Finance, I can definitely tell you that I am more than willing to work things out with sisters who need payment plans, credit card payments, or whose dues are paid through on-campus jobs, as long as they come to be BEFORE the dues are due. I can't tell you how many times people tell me they can't afford to pay for dues a week after they were due, but they have the newest Kate Spade bags (which, incidentally, are about the cost of dues at my chapter!). Most treasurers and advisors are willing to work with people who are serious about paying dues on time and really need the help. I also publish a breakdown of how dues are distributed (how much goes to social, to recruitment, to HQ, etc). That usually helps out a lot, too.

It's really sad that some groups at some schools consider it tacky to ask what the financial commitment is. Not everyone has Daddy paying the dues, no questions asked. I imagine that's probably the minority at a lot of places. But, the Greek world isn't always the real world...

oceanphi01 · #12 01-19-2003, 11:13 AM

I was the Director of Finance last year. A lot of girls are concerned with money. It really depends on the chapter. The first semester here, the girls pay around $350 to get initiatied. The money also goes towards our house and the chapter for activities. I have heard of some chapters where new girls have to pay around $1000 to get initiated. Don't be afraid to ask because it is a valid question.

Little E · #13 01-19-2003, 12:17 PM

Sorry, we have dues due this week and were talking about it, but you are also legally responsible for your dues. Membership is considered a legal agreement and you can be sued later for past dues not paid. So I would say ask away, chapters should be aware of it and understanding.
ok hope that helps a bit.
Lil e

Tom Earp · #14 01-19-2003, 12:18 PM

Yes, being a Greek can cost you money.

But many times, living in a House can cost less than renting an apartment or the dorms.

It depends on whether the House has a Food service, made by cooks there or catered for x amount of meals.

Being part of a food plan by the school.

We are in the process of building a new House with no cooking facilities as we do not feel we are in the food business.

Now, what do you get for your money joining a Greek Organization:

Not just 4-5 years of freindship and events but a life long relationship to your Sisters and those of other Greek Orgs as you can see on Greek Chat.

I have relations not only with my Chapter but many of the members of the Chapter and those of other Chapters. That can be very important to you and maybe as it is to me.

I know I for one would not go back to my School if it were not for My Brothers.

I know most of My Brother Actives work part time jobs so that they may be part of something that can be very important for the rest of their lives.

You must look and make a decision whether to spend the time and extra money to be a part of something for the rest of your life!

Just check the Alum Thread to see how many Ladies are wanting to or have joined as an Alum.

Many times, cost for being a Greek wash out not being a Greek!

Good luck with any decision you make!!!!!!

astroAPhi · #15 01-20-2003, 02:11 AM

Do not feel weird about asking about dues. We have LOTS of girls ask us this during Formal and Informal Recruitment. Since you will be responsible for the dues, I think you should know a ballpark figure so that you know whether or not you can afford it.

Do not just go for the cheapest sorority, but make sure you don't get in over your head.