costs of sororities at university of alabama

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by 33girl

National ASA (or KD or KKG or whoever) dues are the same at every chapter - the difference here is in the local chapter's dues and housing costs. There are probably NPC groups whose national dues are higher than other groups, and who have different sorts of payment plans, but that's not really what's creating the issue here.

I understand the bolded part. Would local dues vary THAT much from year to year? Would parlor fees, for example, go from $2000 (random number) to $4000 in one year?

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by kiteflyersmom

I can understand how you would be apprehensive about calling the Greek Life office and asking in the middle of rush. However, in this economy I don't think you would be the only one.

I'm not even sure if all orgs are required to report their specific costs to Panhellenic. So I doubt they'll have any more accurate info than is available on the website.

On the University of Alabama campus there is one accounting firm that handles almost all of the sororities and fraternities, Greek Resources. The OP or any other interested party should call them. While I doubt they will give out GLO names, they will be able to provide far more accurate info about costs than probably any of us. Their contact info is even listed on the UA Greek Life website "Parent's Guide".

[ForeverRoses]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I understand the bolded part. Would local dues vary THAT much from year to year? Would parlor fees, for example, go from $2000 (random number) to $4000 in one year?

This could happen if a new house was built or if a new suite was opened or something. Or if major renovations were planned.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

This could happen if a new house was built or if a new suite was opened or something. Or if major renovations were planned.

Makes sense. Thanks.

/hijack

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Also, couldn't someone ask a current member how much they were charged in dues (ex. I walk up to a KD active and ask if she could let me know approximately how much dues are)? Or is that taboo?

The apprehension lies in the perceived attitude, "If you have to ask you can't afford it and we'll cut you because we think you can't afford it". Plus, many of the actives don't actually know how much their dues are because mommy and daddy foot the bill.

I don't know why each chapter doesn't fully disclose their dues and what those dues cover (whether they are all inclusive or what they include/what is extra). Without disclosure of finances before recruitment, I am sure every chapter gets new members who end up dropping because they decide they can't afford it. That hurts the chapters too.

I'm suspicious that the OP has so blatantly instructed GCers to "either tell me what XYZ's dues are or don't post" and that she "would like her daughter to avoid the high ones". She has the high and low figures, so why does she need to know which is which unless she plans on telling her daughter not to pledge the high ones?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by margretlee

However, I personally think it is very irresponsible to teach a kid (or in this case a young adult) to enter into contractual obligations prior to even knowing what those obligations are - perhaps that is part of why our country is in such a mess today, due to the fact that too many people have the notion that it doesn't matter what something costs, as long as you want it badly enough.

I dunno. Sometimes I think what's wrong with this country is that parents are doing the work -- like getting all of the details on the costs of sorority membership --- that their "young adult" children should be doing. If we're talking about teaching life lessons, I think I learned a lot more when my parents said "You get all the details, tell us what they are, and then we'll talk about what we're willing to pay for and what you'll have to pay for yourself if you want it."

[cbm]

Am I the only one who thinks having Panhellenic give a stated range for fees is acceptable? I know there is a large difference between the high and low, but if you just budget for the high, you should be able to afford anything below that amount, right? College is expensive, and so is Greek life, but if one grand is seriously going to break the bank, maybe joining a sorority should be reconsidered.

This is not meant toward the OP, but just to the disclosure discussion in general.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by cbm

Am I the only one who thinks having Panhellenic give a stated range for fees is acceptable? I know there is a large difference between the high and low, but if you just budget for the high, you should be able to afford anything below that amount, right? College is expensive, and so is Greek life, but if one grand is seriously going to break the bank, maybe joining a sorority should be reconsidered.

This is not meant toward the OP, but just to the disclosure discussion in general.

Yes, although I think a range (sorority dues range from $200 to $800 per semester) rather than an average (sorority dues average $500 a semester) is preferable. Too many people see the latter and think "oh, they all cost $500" and freak out when that isn't the case. Of course that isn't what we all learned in grade school math about averages but many of us were sleeping through that unit, I think.

[Nanners52674]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

The apprehension lies in the perceived attitude, "If you have to ask you can't afford it and we'll cut you because we think you can't afford it". Plus, many of the actives don't actually know how much their dues are because mommy and daddy foot the bill.

I don't know why each chapter doesn't fully disclose their dues and what those dues cover (whether they are all inclusive or what they include/what is extra). Without disclosure of finances before recruitment, I am sure every chapter gets new members who end up dropping because they decide they can't afford it. That hurts the chapters too.

I'm suspicious that the OP has so blatantly instructed GCers to "either tell me what XYZ's dues are or don't post" and that she "would like her daughter to avoid the high ones". She has the high and low figures, so why does she need to know which is which unless she plans on telling her daughter not to pledge the high ones?

Maybe it's reverse and she really wants to know what the expensive ones so her daughter can strive for the more expensive = more elite houses

[cbm]

Originally Posted by Nanners52674

Maybe it's reverse and she really wants to know what the expensive ones so her daughter can strive for the more expensive = more elite houses

If that's the case....if you have to ask which are elite, you have probably already been cut.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Nanners52674

Maybe it's reverse and she really wants to know what the expensive ones so her daughter can strive for the more expensive = more elite houses

She said:

Originally Posted by margretlee

We can defintiely afford a sorority, especially one of the "average" cost ones. However, we would prefer to stay in that range, so that she will have plenty of money for clothes, tshirts, etc. . . .

[Low C Sharp]

why does she need to know which is which unless she plans on telling her daughter not to pledge the high ones?

If so, what would be wrong with that? A high school senior should definitely inquire about the exact costs of the colleges she's considering, and it's her right to expect it. It is very common, and smart, to take into account the net cost of each college and to factor that into the decision-making process.

All of you who think it would be undesirable to consider costs when ranking sororities, do you also think it's wrong to consider costs when choosing a college? If not, why not?
________
ShaggMyPussy

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

If so, what would be wrong with that? A high school senior should definitely inquire about the exact costs of the colleges she's considering, and it's her right to expect it. It is very common, and smart, to take into account the net cost of each college and to factor that into the decision-making process.

All of you who think it would be undesirable to consider costs when ranking sororities, do you also think it's wrong to consider costs when choosing a college? If not, why not?

Recruitment functions MUCH differently than college accpetances.

That's a poor comparison.

[Low C Sharp]

Why is it a poor comparison?

Here's what I'm hearing on this thread: On pref night, a student might have two options. Either one would be OK, but ultimately, she has to choose which one to rank first. Lots of pros and cons might enter into this decision, but relative cost cannot be one of them.

Similarly, a student might have two college acceptances. Either college would serve her needs adequately, but ultimately, she needs to decide which one is her first choice. Lots of pros and cons might enter into this decision, and relative cost should be part of the calculation.

Why? How come pragmatic considerations don't belong in one decision process, but they do in the other?
________
SweetyPussycat

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Recruitment functions MUCH differently than college accpetances.

That's a poor comparison.

Yep. Most campuses use a system that makes it very hard for girls to cut groups. They just get to rank them low. The system is designed to yield one bid to each girl.

I think that each group should furnish information about lifetime estimated costs to each pledge before initiation and that a girl could justifiably chose not to be initiated into that group it if cost too much.