What is the cost of sororities these days?

[Anonymous]

I was chatting w a friend who has a freshman daughter at Virginia Tech and thinking about rushing.

Does anyone have a sense of what total fess are?

[Anonymous]

Well, there's a lot of fees: pledge fee, house corporation board contribution fee, live-out fee if you choose not to live in-house, initiation fee, etc. then you have to pay into a slush fund for social exchanges & football block. If you want to attend formal or walk-out to another chapter, that costs money too. All told, it's pretty comparable to standard room and board if you don't want to participate in every little thing but you're going to want to participate when you are a pledge and especially when you are a full-fledged new member.

[Anonymous]

I can't actually tell you about Greek costs at Virginia Tech, except that Greek Life is not big there. I can tell you that the sororities and frats at George Mason univ. are much more like social clubs that meet on Sunday nights and go somewhere for dinner. No big Greek scene, fees, or even houses. Very refreshing.

[Anonymous]

My kids are both in Greek life (not at VT). It's about $800/year for one, $1500 for the other. More if you live in the house of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, there's a lot of fees: pledge fee, house corporation board contribution fee, live-out fee if you choose not to live in-house, initiation fee, etc. then you have to pay into a slush fund for social exchanges & football block. If you want to attend formal or walk-out to another chapter, that costs money too. All told, it's pretty comparable to standard room and board if you don't want to participate in every little thing but you're going to want to participate when you are a pledge and especially when you are a full-fledged new member.

Would you add in 1K - 2K for the 1st 2 years

[Anonymous]

Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs are sororities and fraternities) may average $2000 the first year. This includes the induction ceremony, pledge activities, chapter and national dues and a regional or national conference. Members do not live in houses.

[Anonymous]

It's really specific to each campus and each chapter. Women going through recruitment should be given a full rundown of costs for each sorority.

From the VT Panhellenic website:

"What are the costs associated with joining a chapter?
• Dues associated with joining a chapter, including semester dues, initiation fees, and possibly parlor fees, vary widely. New member dues can range anywhere from $600 to $800, while sister dues can range anywhere from $300 to $500 per semester, depending on the chapter’s national and individual costs. Your student should ask chapters they are interested in what fees new members pay when they accept a bid and when they become initiated, and what they will need to pay as a member. Some chapters include all expenses in their fees, while others may charge extra fees for every event. Lastly, your student should inquire if members are required to live in the chapter house and what the related costs would be."

If my daughter wanted to go through recruitment at VT, I would estimate $1000 for annual dues, plus another $500-$1000 for miscellaneous fees. Costs for living in house should be about the cost of living in the dorm or somewhat less.

[Anonymous]

DD is in a sorority at UVA and dues for first semester were between $1500 and $1600. This included 5 meals a week at the house and almost all expenses except tickets for the parents' formal (a date function where daughters invite their parents). Living in the house is an additional cost but includes even more meals per week and comes to less than living in a dorm or an apartment. The house is not big enough to accomodate a full pledge class, so girls have to apply to get in. Additional costs - gifts for big sister/little sister, some event t-shirts. You can pay up front or in installments. HTH.

[Anonymous]

I think at MD the cost for me to be in one and live in house still worked out to be equal to dorms. Long time ago, but still.

[Anonymous]

Just one's dignity, that's all.

[Anonymous]

Sorority-life was the best part of college. The experience is priceless. My business partner, the godmother to my children and my best friends are sorority sisters.

[Anonymous]

"Sorority-life was the best part of college. The experience is priceless. My business partner, the godmother to my children and my best friends are sorority sisters."

Nice to have a positive comments on sororities. I feel the same. Great friends and great memories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Sorority-life was the best part of college. The experience is priceless. My business partner, the godmother to my children and my best friends are sorority sisters."

Nice to have a positive comments on sororities. I feel the same. Great friends and great memories.

3rd!

[Anonymous]

your soul

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:your soul

I take it you have no direct experience with sorority life.