Alabama Sorority Costs...Can anyone help?

[Hartofsec]

Hi jll,

I just lurk, but was a little surprised by how you have been treated on this thread. It might not be a good idea for your daughter to ask about costs during the parties -- but I hope your daughter isn't worrying about this reality in addition to the stress of this exhausting week!

I know a number of parents who have greek daughters there currently, many in chapters you listed, and $2400 sounds about average (certainly not at the low end) per semester for the first year.

I have never heard of any dues approaching 4K per semester -- ever -- from any other parents. I'm not sure what effect new construction has (or will have) on member costs -- though I'm sure this hasn't doubled costs for the actives.

Now fraternities there are a different matter -- according to my friends who howl about those house bills -- the costs do far exceed the sororities. Has any of your information has come from parents of guys?

Good luck to your daughter. I think you will be okay.

[bamamama14]

My daughter's dues run about $3500.00 per semester easy!! That includes $300.00 per semester slush fund for zaps and t-shirts. Freshman year was even more, at least $4000.00 per semester. I told her if she wanted to go abroad in the future, to quit buying t-shirts.

$1500.00 a semester meal plan
$800.00 house fees
525.00 dues
$300.00 10k gold and pearl pin
$300.00 shirts and zaps
a lifetime of memories and friendship... priceless

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by bamamama14

My daughter's dues run about $3500.00 per semester easy!! That includes $300.00 per semester slush fund for zaps and t-shirts. Freshman year was even more, at least $4000.00 per semester. I told her if she wanted to go abroad in the future, to quit buying t-shirts.

$1500.00 a semester meal plan
$800.00 house fees
525.00 dues
$300.00 10k gold and pearl pin
$300.00 shirts and zaps
a lifetime of memories and friendship... priceless

Wow!

If you don't mind me asking -- is this living in-house or elsewhere?

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by bamamama14

My daughter's dues run about $3500.00 per semester easy!! That includes $300.00 per semester slush fund for zaps and t-shirts. Freshman year was even more, at least $4000.00 per semester. I told her if she wanted to go abroad in the future, to quit buying t-shirts.

$1500.00 a semester meal plan
$800.00 house fees
525.00 dues
$300.00 10k gold and pearl pin
$300.00 shirts and zaps
a lifetime of memories and friendship... priceless

Doesn't the meal plan kind of wash out with what someone would pay for the university meal plan? Non-Greeks have to eat, too.

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by bamamama14

My daughter's dues run about $3500.00 per semester easy!! That includes $300.00 per semester slush fund for zaps and t-shirts. Freshman year was even more, at least $4000.00 per semester. I told her if she wanted to go abroad in the future, to quit buying t-shirts.

$1500.00 a semester meal plan
$800.00 house fees
525.00 dues
$300.00 10k gold and pearl pin
$300.00 shirts and zaps
a lifetime of memories and friendship... priceless

What dorm/living costs will the $1500 and $800 eliminate? And I would hope the badge is a one-time cost.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by bamamama14

My daughter's dues run about $3500.00 per semester easy!! That includes $300.00 per semester slush fund for zaps and t-shirts. Freshman year was even more, at least $4000.00 per semester. I told her if she wanted to go abroad in the future, to quit buying t-shirts.

$1500.00 a semester meal plan
$800.00 house fees
525.00 dues
$300.00 10k gold and pearl pin
$300.00 shirts and zaps
a lifetime of memories and friendship... priceless

So if they are paying for a meal plan at the house, do they get their money back from the university for that meal plan? Or are they buying two meal plans? Just curious. Because that makes a big difference. That seems less than what you pay for a dorm meal plan (at Hypo's school anyway). And, you wouldn't really count that as "sorority fees" if you have to pay it to *someone* either way. If you're paying it twice, that's a different story.

If you don't count the meal plan, got a cheaper badge (you could always upgrade it as a graduation gift or something), and reduced your shirts and photos, you could get by paying considerably less.

[UGAalum94]

I think that in our comments to the OP, some of us maybe be letting our frustrations show with all the folks that signed up for greek life, pledge and maybe got initiated, and then dropped out because of completely foreseeable costs and who we suspected/knew just preferred to spend the money differently after they got a little bored.

However, in this case, we have someone who is trying to figure out in advance if she can honor the commitment that the group expects but she can't figure out exactly what it is.

I do understand the OP's concern, and frankly, I'm surprised that the groups don't all have this published someplace. There would still be some problems because of the difference is what people count as "dues" that might not really be set, with the zaps and t-shirt stuff being one and the meals you'd have to pay for elsewhere if you didn't eat at the house being some of those things. But you could give people ball park costs.

On the other hand, folks in the thread are completely correct, jll, that even if you get the info that there not much you can do with other than maybe not accept a final bid, unless your daughter is one of the very fortunate ones who gets invited to all of the chapters.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by AGDee

So if they are paying for a meal plan at the house, do they get their money back from the university for that meal plan? Or are they buying two meal plans? Just curious. Because that makes a big difference. That seems less than what you pay for a dorm meal plan (at Hypo's school anyway). And, you wouldn't really count that as "sorority fees" if you have to pay it to *someone* either way. If you're paying it twice, that's a different story.

If you don't count the meal plan, got a cheaper badge (you could always upgrade it as a graduation gift or something), and reduced your shirts and photos, you could get by paying considerably less.

Yes, UofA offers a greek (reduced) meal plan (which does help offset the cost of the sorority meal plan):

http://bamadining.ua.edu/pages/terms...tions.html#all

So Bamamama14's costs for sorority meal plan and house fees are $2300 per semester -- which includes meals -- other costs appear to be related primarily to one-time initiation (in style), new member national fees (should drop to about $175 thereafter -- annually), and frills.

There are always "extras" for sure (t-shirts for every occasion, formal, etc). But I don't see any way a freshman would need to spend 4k per semester.

[AnchorAlumna]

Originally Posted by AGDee

So if they are paying for a meal plan at the house, do they get their money back from the university for that meal plan? Or are they buying two meal plans?

Students who pledge a sorority or fraternity are allowed to change meal plans to a smaller plan, since they will be eating most meals at the house. You can eliminate it completely, but it does fill in a few of the meals for which the house is closed.

[bamamama14]

Originally Posted by bamamama14

My daughter's dues run about $3500.00 per semester easy!! That includes $300.00 per semester slush fund for zaps and t-shirts. Freshman year was even more, at least $4000.00 per semester. I told her if she wanted to go abroad in the future, to quit buying t-shirts.

$1500.00 a semester meal plan
$800.00 house fees
525.00 dues
$300.00 10k gold and pearl pin
$300.00 shirts and zaps
a lifetime of memories and friendship... priceless

This is out of house, and yes it replaces the university meal plan although freshman have to keep a $300 plan for first year. My daughter loves this sorority and this is just what it cost. It is what it is, can't nickel and dime it. In house is cheaper, but UA houses can't possibly hold all the members.

[FSUZeta]

Many sorority members work nowadays, so your daughter might be able to find a job and help out with some of her college expenses.

[Greek_or_Geek?]

I would guess that if there are truly chapters that would drop her for asking about fees, then they would be among the ones you couldn't afford. The old adage of "if you have to ask..."

Your daughter doesn't get to "drop" chapters unless she's one of the superlative PNMs that everyone wants and has her pick. Try as she might to place the unaffordable chapters at the bottom of her rankings, if the more affordable ones don't want to invite her back she will be seeing those outside of your budget. What happens if she gets to preference and two of the three are more expensive (and she likes those better?) Are you going to demand that she SIP?

I think a more realistic option is to have a conversation with her now to discuss what you can afford and how she will be able to come up with the difference if she ends up in one of the more expensive chapters.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Dare I ask: WTF is a zap?

[bamamama14]

A zap is a photo taken by a professional photographer at the swaps, formals, philanthropy events, etc.

[DubaiSis]

I didn't spend $300 on t-shirts and photos in 4 years of college and I think my pin cost about $50 (it was a long time ago, but still our base pin is under $100). Using the above example of why it's too expensive to be in a sorority is kind of like saying you can't afford a car because you can't afford a Ferrari. Giving your daughter a strict limit on how much she can spend for extras is a reasonable thing to do, but I don't think I've ever heard anyone say living in was more expensive than living elsewhere. The membership fees are well worth it when you factor in food and housing costs.

And, by the way, even if you had the numbers, they're so confusing that they should be disregarded anyway. Some include the pins, some don't. Some include extras like t-shirts and party favors, some don't. If sorority at some level is affordable to you, any of them probably will be; the money might just come at different times and in varying amounts. But I do think this is a good time to start teaching your daughter that STUFF costs MONEY, which she by the way is not making herself. And there are plenty of girls who manage to float the entire cost on their own without parental support. I don't know how, but I saw friends do it, even while holding executive positions and grades-based scholarships. Sorority is a good investment in her future.