VTMom

[VTMom]

no longer wish to post

[AChiOhSnap]

Originally Posted by VTMom

OK -- All this talk about $$$$$$$$$$$$$ sent my back to the Va Tech Panhellenic Website. I have read the information several times now. Each group seems to have different amounts of money they require. But the parents' guide wants me to ask "What are the costs, including bid acceptance dues, pin fees, new member fees, member dues, and parlor fees?" (What in the heck is a parlor fee?) Usually, what is the total cost per semester? My husband and I are not millionaires for sure. We have saved for college, so that is not a problem, but all the extra this may cost may be a bit taxing. Who do I ask about this before hand? And the same site encourages my daughter to "to research the chapters to find a good fit. Help her decide which chapter would provide the greatest degree of opportunities." I have pretty much exhausted the Va Tech site and have looked at each sorority's individual web site (I could only find 13, and one sorority Pi Beta Phi did not have a working local website) All the groups seem like they have such pretty, happy girls all involved in such worthwhile things! But how does she research them? Can she visit with them when she gets to college? I learned from the Va Tech website that they have their recruitment in the spring semester. So can she meet them in the Fall? I know I probably sound silly to all of you, but this is so foreign to me!!

During recruitment, your daughter should be asking the sororities (if this information is not automatically presented by the Treasurer/VP Finance) about the dues. This is not a rude question and the sororities are prepared to answer it. There is no "general" amount of money per semester, but suffice it to say, it seems like your daughter should be prepared to pay several hundred dollars ($500-900) the first semester and a few hundred dollars every semester thereafter. Your daughter can also ask whether or not the fees are all inclusive, or if there are extra costs she should be aware of.

Unless there is some specific clause on the VATech campus that precludes freshmen from going, sororities will often have open houses or something of that ilk in the fall. Sororities host tons of philanthropic events, this would be a good way for your daughter to support a good cause and meet the soroity women before recruitment. Panhellenic will also sometimes sponsor philanthropic/social events with all the sororities, these are another good option. And of course, your daughter can try to meet sorority women in her classes, athletic teams, campus events, etc. This is the best "research" your daughter can do to familiarize herself with women in the various chapters.

Your daughter can research the sororities by going to the various national websites. On the national websites she'll get information like the sororities' various mission statements, philanthropies, etc. All of this information could be potentially useful.

You're doing everything right already. Your daughter will be getting more of this information in time, some of this stuff she won't know until she's actually on campus. You probably don't need to figure all of this stuff out in advance. The best thing you can do is to just be there for your daughter... you can best help her by listening and counseling her through what can be a crazy, sad, exciting, stressful process. Have fun!

[UGAalum94]

If I'm not mistaken, "parlor fee" is a fee that members who don't live in the house pay for house maintenance.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

If I'm not mistaken, "parlor fee" is a fee that members who don't live in the house pay for house maintenance.

Yep, that's what it is - I come from a smaller chapter (when I was there, we had 7 girls living in a 4 bedroom house) and we asked everyone in the chapter who didn't live in to pay parlor fees to help cover the electricity, cable, internet, and incidentals around the house since they were often there and using them. Our parlor fees also included laundry privileges at the house.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by GeekyPenguin

Yep, that's what it is - I come from a smaller chapter (when I was there, we had 7 girls living in a 4 bedroom house) and we asked everyone in the chapter who didn't live in to pay parlor fees to help cover the electricity, cable, internet, and incidentals around the house since they were often there and using them. Our parlor fees also included laundry privileges at the house.

Be sure to get clarity on this one, because it can be a recurring expense that you pay every semester you are not living in the chapter house, or it can be a one-time fee. On my campus, it was the latter for most groups.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

I think in the south recs seem to be more important. But I agree with an earlier post that you might want to ask a Greek alum about recs, and see what the local attitude toward them is. My mom was like you, doing everything before hand, but she had it a little easier because she was Greek...but your daughter will have a much easier recruitment for it! I really think I had it easy when I went through because my mom worked on it so hard. Good luck to her!!!!

[NUBlue&Blue]

I would advise getting as many recs as possible, even though the website says they are not necessary. My daughter goes to an ACC school, and in my opinion, it never hurts to have your name known before you get there. It's easy for great girls to fall through the cracks if they walk in totally unknown--not that they won't get a bid somewhere, but why not take the time to maximize your options if being greek is something that you really want to do?

Yes, it does take a lot of time to gather recs--I spent a good part of the summer getting together recs for the 6 GLO's at my daughter's school, but I surely don't see it as a waste of time.

[VTMom]

gone

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally Posted by VTMom

AchiOSnap -- Thanks for some excellent and eloquent advice. I am the type of person who needs a handle on everything -- especially where my daughter is concerned. And especially on something that can seemingly be so rewarding and at the same time (as these recruitment stories tell me) hurtful. Of course such is life. As I speak, my daughter has taken a break from homework and is reading this website with me. It seems like a journey she wants to take, so my next step is contacting the local Panhellenic chapter for recommendations. And I am sure I will have many more questions stored up to ask the office of Greek affairs this summer when we go for orientation. Thanks for your help. It is deeply appreciated.

The local Panhel might also have some recent graduates who could answer some general questions for you as well.

[FSUZeta]

please check you pm's.

[Xylochick216]

Just wanted to say good luck to your daughter. About half of the people from my graduating class went to Tech, and many of them joined sororities. They're all really happy they did because they said it gave them a community within the school since the school is so huge. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions

[violetpretty]

Does your daughter know anyone who is a collegiate or alumna member of a sorority at VA Tech? They could give her a good perspective on joining sororities at VA Tech.

A few women who I went to high school joined chapters at VA Tech as sophomores, and I could be wrong because I am not particularly close with either, but I highly doubt they had any recs. I would do some research on the campus greek culture about recs before you dive in. They could end up being useful and worth the time or they could turn out to be a HUGE waste of time. Some people will say "oh, recs never hurt, get them anyway," but at some schools recs would be seen as an annoyance or arrogant like "why do alumnae think they can choose my sisters" sort of attitude.

I know that many women at my campus (Maryland) register hours before the deadline (i.e. they're not gathering recs) and still end up with a bid. Some chapters don't have a reference chair, and the ones that do generally joke about it not being an actual position. Now I am not saying that just because Maryland and VT are both ACC schools that the greek culture is the same. But I can guarantee you that you are not dealing with a school like UGA where a potential new member would be dead without recs.

[mppVT08]

I go to VT so feel free to PM me any questions you may have. In the fall, panhellenic has Go Greek interests events that PNM's can go to to leave about going greek and sometimes a single sorority hosts it and sometimes its 2 or 3. Outside of those, the greek women aren't allowed to talk to pnm's about their particular sorority (from my understanding and what was told to us by our vp-r) but just going greek. Also, with these events, they get a "passport" and if they attend an event hosted by all 13 phc sororities, they get a discount on the registration fee for recruitment so thats a nice incentive.

Originally Posted by AChiOhSnap

During recruitment, your daughter should be asking the sororities (if this information is not automatically presented by the Treasurer/VP Finance) about the dues. This is not a rude question and the sororities are prepared to answer it. There is no "general" amount of money per semester, but suffice it to say, it seems like your daughter should be prepared to pay several hundred dollars ($500-900) the first semester and a few hundred dollars every semester thereafter. Your daughter can also ask whether or not the fees are all inclusive, or if there are extra costs she should be aware of.

Unless there is some specific clause on the VATech campus that precludes freshmen from going, sororities will often have open houses or something of that ilk in the fall. Sororities host tons of philanthropic events, this would be a good way for your daughter to support a good cause and meet the soroity women before recruitment. Panhellenic will also sometimes sponsor philanthropic/social events with all the sororities, these are another good option. And of course, your daughter can try to meet sorority women in her classes, athletic teams, campus events, etc. This is the best "research" your daughter can do to familiarize herself with women in the various chapters.

Your daughter can research the sororities by going to the various national websites. On the national websites she'll get information like the sororities' various mission statements, philanthropies, etc. All of this information could be potentially useful.

You're doing everything right already. Your daughter will be getting more of this information in time, some of this stuff she won't know until she's actually on campus. You probably don't need to figure all of this stuff out in advance. The best thing you can do is to just be there for your daughter... you can best help her by listening and counseling her through what can be a crazy, sad, exciting, stressful process. Have fun!

[vtsigk]

Hi! I am in Sigma Kappa at Virginia Tech and am also the Contiuning Membership Chairman (informal recruitment chair) I would love to answer any of your questions- e-mail me at aspark05@vt.edu and I'd be happy to get back with you! Best of luck with your daughter! (She'll LOVE Tech)

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by vtsigk

Hi! I am in Sigma Kappa at Virginia Tech and am also the Contiuning Membership Chairman (informal recruitment chair) I would love to answer any of your questions- e-mail me at aspark05@vt.edu and I'd be happy to get back with you! Best of luck with your daughter! (She'll LOVE Tech)

Hey, welcome! Come introduce yourself in the Sigma Kappa forum

LISK!