How A lot Does It Value To Rush? (Based mostly On Actual Bama Numbers)

As somebody who spent her freshman yr on the College of Alabama (UA), I do know firsthand how pricey merely attending two semesters of lessons may be there. Add to that the expertise of Greek life, and your social circle isn’t the one factor that out of the blue expands.

Sorority hashtags and content material exploded on social media in August 2021, as universities eased Covid-19 restrictions and let college students resume fall recruitment actions. This was very true for UA, which is commonly used because the benchmark for recruitment throughout the nation as a result of its measurement and funding.

Earlier this yr, Max (previously HBO Max) launched a documentary that examines UA rush by means of a magnifying glass. Whether or not you’ve seen the documentary, enthusiastically adopted the #BamaRush pattern, otherwise you’re merely curious concerning the worth that’s paid for Greek life, this text is an efficient start line for studying concerning the true prices of sorority recruitment.

I’ll break down the frenzy course of, level out its most important monetary elements, and weigh the professionals and cons of taking up Greek life.

The aim of Greek life on campus is noble sufficient: These organizations carry like-minded folks collectively and permit them to discover new alternatives, give again to their neighborhood, and bond over shared commitments and duties. Many discover that the Greek system helps them construct an id on a big campus and, on the identical time, type deep relationships with those that are in the identical stroll of life.

Additionally known as “recruitment,” speeding is the journey that potential new members (or PNMs) embark on to fulfill with and be recruited by sororities within the hope that they’ll ultimately be chosen by one to affix. Throughout rush, PNMs meet with all collaborating sororities on campus to, basically, be interviewed for a way effectively they match with the group. The time period “speeding” comes from the notion that sororities are speeding to indicate themselves as the perfect on campus and appeal to the perfect members.

Recruitment sometimes happens within the fall and spring for a lot of universities, with fall rush being the largest recruitment interval annually, primarily as a result of it’s the beginning of the educational yr. Some colleges host recruitment a number of weeks previous to lessons beginning, whereas others maintain it shortly after lessons have began. Both approach, the everyday rush cycle occurs someday between August and October annually. 

Throughout rush week, you’ll expertise a number of themed rounds as you get to know every sorority and vice-versa. Rounds are sometimes shorter initially of the week and longer close to the top, as sororities slim their lists of PNMs and invite them in for a extra intimate have a look at their sisterhood. Likewise, the variety of homes a PNM visits lessens every day, as you additionally rank every sorority after interacting with them.

Here is what your week may appear like:

• Day 1, Convocation: PNMs meet and study every sorority on campus. Be aware that sororities vote on their prime candidates on the finish of every spherical.
• Day 2, Philanthropy: PNMs study every chapter’s volunteer work and neighborhood involvement. This theme can generally lengthen for multiple night time.
• Day 3, Sisterhood: PNMs get to know chapter members higher by means of one-on-one conversations. These conversations are intently noticed by different chapter members.
• Day 4, Choice Night time: PNMs go to one to a few of their favourite homes. This night time is commonly the longest and most severe spherical, during which a chapter makes its ultimate evaluation of a PNM’s qualities, curiosity degree, and compatibility.
• Day 5, Bid Day: That is the ultimate day of recruitment. You’ll discover out which sorority you matched with on Bid Day!

Everyone knows sororities are assessing you based mostly on what you carry to every go to. However what does that actually imply? What’s most vital to them? As you learn by means of this record, remember that it’s simply as vital that you simply assess how every chapter suits with your personal pursuits.

Listed below are some pattern questions you’ll need to be able to reply:

• The place are you from?
• Why did you select this faculty?
• Why are you curious about Greek life?
• What’s your main?
• What actions have been you concerned with throughout highschool?
• What actions do you intend to get entangled with on campus?
• What do you hope to get out of becoming a member of a sorority?

Whenever you reply these questions, take into consideration how your solutions convey your private qualities. Among the prime qualities sororities are concerned with are:

• Dedication to highschool, revealed by your grades and faculty entrance examination scores
• Dedication to your neighborhood, which can be demonstrated by previous volunteer expertise
• Management capability, which can even be exhibited by previous volunteer expertise
• Positivity, evidenced by the tone of your dialog
• Curiosity in being concerned, indicated by earlier extracurriculars and future plans to remain engaged on campus.

Right here’s a breakdown of every space you need to be able to spend cash on in your first yr of sorority life:

Should you’ve determined to undergo recruitment, I hope you’re able to get “glammed to the gods.” Sorority OOTD (Outfit Of The Day) movies gained loads of traction on #RushTok in the course of the fall 2021 recruitment interval, highlighting the lengths some PNMs go to to be able to stand out.

The favored clothes manufacturers worn by PNMs throughout recruitment come at a worth. And belief me, you’ll really feel pressured to be seen carrying the identical manufacturers as your friends. Favourite objects embody Altar’d State tops (about $35 to $80 or so); Kendra Scott jewellery ($40 to $200); Lily Pulitzer floral-print attire ($100 to $300); and Steve Madden footwear ($50 to $350).

Keep in mind these rush themes I discussed? That is the place they begin to hit your checking account, since you are additionally anticipated to play the half and curate a themed outfit for every night time of recruitment. The mixed price of rush clothes might come to about $450 for the week, assuming you borrow some objects from mates and maintain new purchases on the cheaper facet.

All members pay dues every semester, although these charges fluctuate by the chapter you select.

Bills it is best to anticipate on an annual foundation embody chapter charges in addition to room and board should you select to dwell within the chapter home. One-time new member charges for pledging, initiation, and receiving your sorority pin improve first-year prices.

Common new member dues at UA for the 2023-2024 educational yr are $4,165.59. Be aware that some chapters have scholarships or grants for members based mostly on monetary want or educational advantage, although these are sometimes obtainable for present members solely.

Need a breakdown of prices? See the monetary finances beneath for one of many top-rated sororities at UA.

No matter whether or not you reside within the chapter home or off campus, housing prices will add a considerable quantity to your first-year bills.

Be aware that residing in a chapter home can doubtlessly be costlier than sharing a dorm or home with roommates elsewhere. Nonetheless, residing in-house additionally has the additional benefit of being on or close to campus, which creates ample social alternatives. And, maybe most significantly, it provides you just about all-day entry to freshly ready meals because of your chapter’s non-public chef.

Nonetheless, charges for residing in-house throughout UA’s 2023-2024 educational yr common $7,355.82 every semester. Examine that with the price of residing out-of-house, which averages $3,696.35 every semester. Must you select to not dwell in-house, you’re sometimes nonetheless required to pay for the chapter’s meal plan every time period.

Don’t neglect that there’s usually a one-time, nonrefundable payment simply to register for recruitment. At UA, that payment is $375, and it covers the price of recruitment publications, use of campus services, transportation round campus, and some recruitment T-shirts.

Including up all of the above bills results in an alarming end result. All in all, you’re an common new member price of about $4,166 every semester, or $8,332 on your first yr. After your first yr, that complete will increase should you determine to dwell within the chapter home and reduces barely should you select to proceed residing outdoors it. Don’t neglect, these averages are on prime of the price of attending your college.

You’re a mean new member price of about $4,166 every semester, or $8,332 on your first yr.

Loads of college students gravitate towards the ample alternatives that Greek life gives. Nevertheless it’s vital to fastidiously take into account what you need out of this potential chapter in your life and if its related bills are price its advantages.

In case your coronary heart is about on speeding, I like to recommend no less than making a finances forward of time to consciously plan your spending. In any case, whereas Greek life could also be a very good funding in your self, there’s no want to enter vital debt for it.

In case your sorority dues exceed your faculty’s price of attendance, you possibly can’t use federal or institutional monetary assist to cowl the hole. So, if wanted, analysis scholarships that may be obtainable to you based mostly in your educational profile. And attain out to see if the sorority gives its personal inner scholarships or gradual cost plans. Additionally, take into account different methods you could possibly get monetary savings elsewhere as a pupil, like splitting the prices of streaming providers, slicing your mobile phone invoice, and shopping for objects used as a substitute of latest.

Keep in mind: Going by means of recruitment doesn’t promise you a bid on the finish. So take time to actually take into consideration whether or not you’re prepared to speculate your cash upfront in one thing chances are you’ll find yourself strolling away from.