The sorority cost/money/financial thread.

[DubaiSis]

To answer the question about asking about costs during a party, it is recommended that you don't. One reason is because talking money is kind of frowned upon in polite circles. But really, more importantly is if you aren't speaking with the treasurer, you can't guarantee the information you're getting is accurate. I have no idea, seriously at all, what sorority membership cost me. I know it was not a lot and our house was in line to a little cheaper than others, but the costs were all on my u-bill, which my parents paid (don't be too stoked for me.... I paid the student loans for about FOREVER). So if you'd have asked me during rush I'd have had to him and haw and desperately try to get someone's attention who could answer you. Conversation comes to a screeching halt... BAD party.

If your school is good, they lay it all out in a spreadsheet for every sorority and there are no questions. If you are at a bad school (where it applies to this), do the best you can to figure it out, and then once you are an active member, get yourself on Panhel and get that fixed!

[TiareNoire]

My school's recruitment guide only list the monthly chapter dues and housing costs but nothing else, like the new member fees and such. Also, I emailed the Greek Life office and only received an estimate for a new member about $750-900 pertaining to the whole year. I supposed since it wasn't listed in detail as it is for the other two major schools in my state, it would just be best to see how it is, if it is, mentioned during recruitment. I just wondered as I found a chapter site for one of the sororities on my campus and they have a "questions to ask during recruitment" guide on their page and the financial commitment was listed as a possible question to ask. Hmm.

[DubaiSis]

I would start by asking your rho chi (or whatever they guides are called at your school). They are usually the ones to disseminate the information. If they can't help you, then by day 3 of rush, it's time to ask during a party. Since you can't take paperwork (or ANYTHING) away from a party, it's pretty tough for the sorority to share much with you.

[amanda6035]

In my experience, the matrix listed above wouldn't work at a small campus with only 2 or 3 chapters because then you run into a situation of one chapter appearing to be more affordable than another, but yet on another campus with more chapters, you don't want to be known as the "cheap sorority" either.

I don't know if this is a problem anymore, but a few years ago on one campus I work with, it was like pulling teeth to get accurate, fair information to provide to PNMs. One chapter on campus was reporting the bare minimum to panhellenic, and NOT telling the PNMs about how they fined out the wazoo (which is why they were able to afford listing their dues so low). My chapter preferred to list our dues as all inclusive, but finally had to pull a few things out and list as separate "optional charges" just to appear more financially competitive. Again, I don't think this is an issue anymore... but it definitely used to be, and it was a complete nightmare and a headache.

Recruitment strategy should not stoop to being dishonest about financial obligations

[lilabelle]

Originally Posted by amanda6035

In my experience, the matrix listed above wouldn't work at a small campus with only 2 or 3 chapters because then you run into a situation of one chapter appearing to be more affordable than another, but yet on another campus with more chapters, you don't want to be known as the "cheap sorority" either.

I don't know if this is a problem anymore, but a few years ago on one campus I work with, it was like pulling teeth to get accurate, fair information to provide to PNMs. One chapter on campus was reporting the bare minimum to panhellenic, and NOT telling the PNMs about how they fined out the wazoo (which is why they were able to afford listing their dues so low). My chapter preferred to list our dues as all inclusive, but finally had to pull a few things out and list as separate "optional charges" just to appear more financially competitive. Again, I don't think this is an issue anymore... but it definitely used to be, and it was a complete nightmare and a headache.

Recruitment strategy should not stoop to being dishonest about financial obligations

This is EXACTLY the situation my chapter is currently in, and why I posed the question. Panhel only lists "total cost per year" prices with no explanation and does not provide an opportunity for PNMs to ask about financials or for chapters to provide a breakdown of where the money goes except during recruitment parties. We have been taught how to discuss financials should they come up during a party, but it makes us look bad (we chose to go all-inclusive as well, and nobody else has even though that's the price we were asked for) and frankly, it sucks to have a party full of awesome women who you want to join your chapter who have already decided they wouldn't accept a bid because your number is so much higher, even if it actually isn't that different from the others in the long run.

It's definitely a Panhel issue, I agree 100%. It's just frustrating and wanted to get opinions from others on whether PNMs asking was a good idea or not (as on, encouraging rho chis to tell the PNMs to ask at houses or not).

I apologize for the slight hijack of the thread and all of the typos. I'm not so great with my new phone yet and was trying to type way too quickly.

[MaryPoppins]

Originally Posted by amanda6035

In my experience, the matrix listed above wouldn't work at a small campus with only 2 or 3 chapters because then you run into a situation of one chapter appearing to be more affordable than another, but yet on another campus with more chapters, you don't want to be known as the "cheap sorority" either.

I don't know if this is a problem anymore, but a few years ago on one campus I work with, it was like pulling teeth to get accurate, fair information to provide to PNMs. One chapter on campus was reporting the bare minimum to panhellenic, and NOT telling the PNMs about how they fined out the wazoo (which is why they were able to afford listing their dues so low). My chapter preferred to list our dues as all inclusive, but finally had to pull a few things out and list as separate "optional charges" just to appear more financially competitive. Again, I don't think this is an issue anymore... but it definitely used to be, and it was a complete nightmare and a headache.

Recruitment strategy should not stoop to being dishonest about financial obligations

The way you make them honest is by sharing what they turn in with their headquarters. HQ ought to know the finances of the Chapter.

[DubaiSis]

That's why I think it's an issue for Panhel. There needs to be a consistency. In addition (as an example), at Iowa there were rules to what things could cost (no more than the dorms and meal plan), so nobody could be WAY more. The preferred result for everyone listing full and fair accounting is the rushees would say, OK, I got it. They all cost give or take X number, and I'm cool with that. When you have girls choosing chapters based on cost, all hell can break loose.

[Titchou]

When I was our regional housing director, a particular chapter kept telling me that they were more expensive than everyone else because of house corporation and that it was hurting them in recruitment. PH published the numbers the chapters gave them. it took me THREE years of asking to see the numbers before I got all the information. PH sent a form to the chapter PRESIDENTS (what? why not the VP:Finance???) and she filled it out. Well, our president was filling it out incorrectly every year because she didn't understand the form...which really did attempt to make it apples to apples. When I completed the form, their fees - according to the layout by PH - were almost $1000 less than they had been reporting. I think it's very important that the numbers are computed by someone who really understands the form and the fees and that PH publish it correctly. While all chapters are supposed to discuss fees during recruitment (according to NPC), the PNMs really just cannot absorb it all in that environment.

[Leximarie]

Just wanted to submit UCF's cost sheet for last year - I think it's a good example of how things should be laid out. http://fsl.sdes.ucf.edu/docs/pan/Pan...er%20Costs.pdf

[FSUZeta]

That is good Leximarie.

[FSUZeta]

I remember that we got financial forms from each of the sororities that we attended on house tour day and we were allowed to take them with us. I also remember that we were not allowed to take anything else out with us on any of the other days.

[dukedg]

Thanks, you all, for the great info. I'll let our recruitment team know to get in contact with our AA about getting to keep the sheets.

[Sciencewoman]

This is from my daughter's school. It's very helpful. It was printed in the rush guide booklet last year, but I notice it's not in this year's. But the link is quite obvious on the Greek Life home page.

http://www.wlu.edu/Documents/student...bligations.pdf

Just to put it in perspective, here's the fraternity version. Yikes.

http://www.wlu.edu/Documents/student...bligations.pdf

[KSUViolet06]

Important topic for all the PNMs out there. Bumping.

[KSUViolet06]

Money is so important. Bumping!