Alabama Sorority Costs...Can anyone help?

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek?

I think the thing a lot of parents lose track of when wanting the best of everything for their kids is that sometimes you simply can't afford to give them everything you want to give them. Sororities are a luxury, not a necessity. Even the supposedly bargain priced ones (which may be less expensive only because the quoted fees don't include things like activities, events, formals etc.) come with hidden costs ... clothing for all kinds of events, road trips, football games, spring break etc. If anything above the "average" cost is a stretch for you, it sounds like your money may be better spent elsewhere and Greek Life at Bama isn't financially feasible without a great deal of sacrifice.

Amen to this....

And OP, I'm 66 years old so I hope to God I'm not going to be having any more children! Yikes! And since I've volunteered locally and nationally with my group for over 35 years and my son is national president of his GLO, I think I have seen your situation more times that I can count. Trying to see that your daughter only "falls in love with" a cheaper group is like trying to nail jello. You just can't do it. You let the horse out of the barn when you let her sign up for recruitment. And without having each chapter's budget in hand, which you will never get before being a member as that is private information, you really can't ever know exactly what is covered in each group's fees. It just isn't possible. PH tries to get that information and give you and
"idea" of the costs. Because different groups charge different things in different ways, you are comparing apples and oranges. I'm sorry if this reality is hard for you, but we are trying to be honest and you are trying to makes us give you information we just don't have as you don't have all 17 groups represented here with someone from each group ALSO being from Alabama. Sorry. I don't know what else to say about it.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Titchou

Amen to this....

And OP, I'm 66 years old so I hope to God I'm not going to be having any more children! Yikes!

That was the best part of this thread - you and I being mistaken for youngsters. OMGZ R U going to the One Direction concert with me? If so we have to go get some sparkly glitter makeup to wear.

Hartofsec, you know what I mean. Dissecting posts is silly. If you're trying to say "she could join a cheap group and get the same experience" - then you're clueless as well. You cannot, in rush at Alabama, pick and choose which groups to return to. The groups are cutting you. If all she has left is more expensive groups, that's all she has. PERIOD.

jll, sorry if your older daughter's experience misled you, but I am assuming that you knew your younger daughter wouldn't have the same type of wardrobe, living costs, or travel expenses to school attending Bama vs. a small Midwest school. Why on earth would you think that the sorority experience would be the same?

[KillarneyRose]

Originally Posted by 33girl

That was the best part of this thread - you and I being mistaken for youngsters.

Well if YOU are old, then that makes ME old as well and I simply refuse to accept that!