costs of sororities at university of alabama

[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.

[AnchorAlumna]

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

?????
Usually it's the opposite - the "elite" houses have mega-numbers of members to spread out costs, while the smaller houses have fewer members with whom to share the burden.

[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.

[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.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Coming from a campus where girls WILL drop a chapter based on whether or not they can afford your dues, we make it very clear on philanthropy night what the dues are.

Dues should never be some huge chapter secret. A range that was published may not work if you have a cap of X amount and it really is important. Why even look at XYZ if all you can afford is LMN? And why should they look at you if you're not an option for them either?

I can not imagine a chapter NOT telling the PNMs what dues are. Most chapters (that I know of anyway) have new members sign papers saying they'll be financially responsible for dues if you are 18 or older and will face collection agencies if they do not (although apparently some have parents co-sign regardless ). I'm wondering if girls at these chapters ever see those papers or if they only need a parent signature.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

Coming from a campus where girls WILL drop a chapter based on whether or not they can afford your dues, we make it very clear on philanthropy night what the dues are.

Dues should never be some huge chapter secret. A range that was published may not work if you have a cap of X amount and it really is important. Why even look at XYZ if all you can afford is LMN? And why should they look at you if you're not an option for them either?

I can not imagine a chapter NOT telling the members what dues are. Most chapters (that I know of anyway) have members sign papers saying they'll be financially responsible for dues if you are 18 or older and will face collection agencies if they do not (although apparently some have parents co-sign regardless ). I'm wondering if girls at these chapters ever see those papers or if they only need a parent signature.

The issue isn't that chapters don't tell members; it's how much information is given to potential members and how much they are able to act on it.

When you talk about girls dropping chapters, are you talking after bids are given out? If it's during recruitment, how do the PNMs cut chapters if they aren't invited back to more than the max?

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

The issue isn't that chapters don't tell members; it's how much information is given to potential members and how much they are able to act on it.

When you talk about girls dropping chapters, are you talking after bids are given out? If it's during recruitment, how do the PNMs cut chapters if they aren't invited back to more than the max?

I was referring specifically to the time during recruitment. (I thought I was clear-sorry for the mix up, it came out kinda funky). If a girl has the option, at my school she will definitely rank certain chapters lower based on what she can afford or drop out altogether and I really wouldn't blame her. If she can't pay for those she has left then there are no other options. Also, two of the more popular chapters are considerably less expensive than the ones that are not as popular. That doesn't help.

[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?
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SweetyPussycat