<p>I’m sure there is a forum regarding costs at various colleges - can anyone direct me as to where to look? Thanks.</p>
<p>Greekchat will give you some ideas, however, it really varies wildly. If you live in, it’s going to be far more expensive than living out. If a chapter has a brand new mansion, it will likely be more expensive than one that is older and paid for. Generally speaking, the first semester is the most expensive, especially for sororities.</p>
<p>My daughter’s in a stereotypical sorority. I’m not sure how she ended up there but that’s another story. It’s at a large SEC school and many of the girls in the sorority come from very wealthy families.</p>
<p>Your school should have a panhellenic link which will talk about the basic costs like dues. On top of that there are big and little sister expenses, philanthropy obligations, t-shirt purchases, formal dresses and dinners, outfits for theme parties, etc. There is also a bit of a “keeping up with the Jones’s” mentality as far as clothes, bags, coats, etc are concerned. The girls have to live in the house as sophomores, which is slightly more expensive than the school’s regular room and board. In addition, the meal choices are not as extensive and there are no meals during weekends so we are spending more on food.</p>
<p>Obviously every school is different but this should give you an idea.</p>
<p>It really will vary based on the school. At DS school costs are lower than living in the dorms and they also keep party costs to a minimum. The school only allows t-shirts for their “big party”. His friend at a Big Ten school pays a lot more for housing and related cost of their social life. </p>
<p>I also recommend Greekchat. Individual school sites are very helpful, as are active members.</p>
<p>My D lives in her sorority house and it is cheaper for us than paying room and board. The cook doesn’t cook on weekends so that is an added expense. Dues is another matter :(</p>
<p>For me at least, living in my chapter house was cheaper or equal to living in an apartment (depending upon which apartment you’d compare it to). Our chef was in house M-F and then also did Sunday morning brunch…and he also used to be the chef at the Playboy mansion, so the food was to die for. Dues were relatively inexpensive ($500/year), but the added social costs can add up. However, you learn as you go that you don’t need every tshirt, fanny pack, hat, pair of sunglasses, or whatever, and you can swap formal dresses with your sisters. We didn’t have a ‘keeping up with the Jones’ ’ mentality, but some chapters do. It really varies by school and by individual chapter.</p>
<p>First semester expenses for sororities are higher across the board, as you’re paying parlor fees (the ability to eat meals at the chapter house without living there), you want cute sorority gear, initiation fees, and you have to purchase your pin.</p>
<p>Thanks, I will try greekchat. I had been told that at some schools it was less expensive to live in the house than in a dorm. Another person told me that they were spending more on their daughter’s sorority expenses than on her academic expenses (she is on a partial scholarship).</p>
<p>Don’t try greekchat. This is a question that is specific to the school and fraternity/sorority. Any info that isn’t specific is worthless.</p>
<p>My Ds, non sorority types, saw very different expenses at their schools. One went to rush for the free food, was asked to join, went along till she saw the costs, and then backed out. She knew it would be on her own dime. It was a nationally organized sorority.
The other, at another LAC, joined, as her friends were in a small, non affiliated, not very expensive sorority. I was shocked, as she is not the type. But she enjoyed her experience, though avoided living in the house, as she preferred the campus house associated with her major.</p>
<p>Costs are what kid is told at rush…times 3 :rolleyes:</p>
<p>You can call the Panhellenic Office and ask for a breakdown for each house. I don’t know where gosmom child goes to school, but that misinformation is very atypical. No house wants to lose new members based on finances. </p>
<p>I can say that my girls’ school has a huge range…from low 2,000 live out to over 5000 for liveout. And the dues are NOT related to the popularity of the house. </p>
<p>GreekChat has some good general information/advice. But if the question is about a specific house and/or sorority…generally people can’t or won’t answer the question.</p>
<p>GosKid heard amount for DUES–took that as cost. Did not realize how quickly the “extras” add up: formal, semi-formal, luau, theme parties, philanthropy fund raisers, Greek weekends away, pins, rings, etc. Throw in a few unexpected items–damage to Greek house, memorials for member who died, and I’m guessing a cocktail or two, etc. </p>
<p>We knowingly warned GosKid to budget 2 to 3 times the figure given at rush–especially since we do not consider Greek life an educational expense, and thus do not fund. First year proved Mom and Dad weren’t quite as clueless as thought. They learn.</p>
<p>That being said, Greek life has mostly proven to be a fabulous experience and I’m sure lifelong friends have been made. All worth it…</p>
<p>Greekchat is full of people who take being Greek entirely too seriously, and I think it’s cringeworthy. Really, I made my best lifelong friends through my house, currently hve a “little sister”, have great memories, and my son joined my H’s house, but come on now – the discussions on there are heavily weighted to the southern and over-the-top houses, not the lower key systems.</p>
<p>At my D’s school, the cost of living in a sorority (including dues) is less than living in the dorm …and you get a lot more (and better) meals living in the sorority, plus snacks, free laundry, etc. Only downside is no meals on weekend, so that may increase the cost more toward living in the dorms.</p>
<p>A lot of the costs that gosman is discussing are included in my D’s dues. Costs of theme parties have been minimal - either $5 or $10 each.</p>
<p>I have been pleasantly surprised by all this. The sorority house is gorgeous and to be able to live there for less than living in a dorm certainly works for Mom and Dad.</p>
<p>Whenever something is going on at the sorority, I ask my D, “You have to pay extra for this, right?” and she keeps replying, “No, it’s covered by our dues” (except for the minimal fees associated with theme parties, etc.).</p>
<p>This is a northern school, not one of the southern schools, where it sounds like costs may be more.</p>
<p>My kids currently attend the same university. DS is living in a Greek house with a chef. DD is in a dorm. Costs billed by the university and fraternity management company for DS son in the frat house are $1350 per semester more that for DD in a dorm. We also are fully funding tuition, room and board and not a penny more. So DS is paying $2700 per year to live in the frat house (and more out of pocket for extras). He thinks it is worth every penny and works his summers for his frat bill. Like gosmom said, it has been a great experience and lifelong friends have been made.</p>
<p>I think it really varies by school and by chapter. My son belonged to a fraternity and his monthly dues covered living in the house (he had a large private bedroom) and all of his meals as well as his social dues–and the cost came out about $2700/year LESS than he would have spent living in a double room in an upper-class suite in the dorm, with a middling meal plan. In his fraternity house, the kitchen was always open, with snacks in a designated refrigerator and pantry. Laundry also was free–there were 3 washers and 3 dryers. Each member did about 2 hours/week of labor to keep the house somewhat maintained (there was a posted schedule). The house manager was an older retired gentleman who cooked and otherwise ran the house…he lived off premises but he seemed to be there an awful lot.</p>
<p>My oldest daughter was in a sorority. She lived in the house for 3 semesters and it was significantly cheaper than the dorm.</p>