<p>eyemamom: If your daughter were heading to Alabama, I could definitely help since my older son is a former president of his fraternity, and he knew tons of sorority girls/presidents when he was there. He could have asked any for recommendations for her.Yes, the process is insane. Every year, Alabama has more than 1000 girls rush. My older son even went to bid day with some of his fraternity brothers. It really is wild.</p>
<p>Make sure you also check into costs. My older son said some of the fraternities at Alabama could run $10K a year. His was under $1000 a semester, and each guy received a kickback depending on grades/leadership positions. For example, my son got a check for $250 last summer. He was president of a couple of campus organizations and had straight A’s. </p>
<p>One recommendation is that your daughter check with her teachers to see if any were in sororities. Also, talk to some ladies at your church. If nothing turns up, let me know. Maybe my son has some ideas.</p>
<p>That said, Son’14 wants to go Greek, but his brother’s fraternity will not be available to him, as it is not on his campus. That’s all right. There are others. He plans to speak with some of the guys on the track team who are in fraternities. We also told him he is responsible for the cost, which is not out of bounds. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, outdoor track season has begun. Son '14 ran six miles Thursday (after missing three days of school because of snow) ans seven miles Friday. Then, he announced that he had a hot date with 24 problems for AP Physics B. That should keep him busy this weekend, along with writing some scholarship apps. He also needs to attend a six-hour class to renew his youth soccer referee certification. And we have a birthday dinner tonight – mine. So it will be a very busy weekend.</p>
<p>Just checking in to say hello and sending out warm hugs & smiles. Has anyone started buying college dorm items yet? I need to get started. Such a huge list…I can’t imagine tackling the whole thing in the summer.</p>
<p>Happy Birthday @Momreads!! Sounds like you have a busy weekend! </p>
<p>My S was in a frat at Clemson and dues were nowhere near 10K. Dues were not comprehensive, however, so there would be extra charges for T-shirts, cabin weekend, formals, etc. along the way. Be sure to ask about those incidental costs. I haven’t started on LORs. One school D is strongly considering has mainly local sororities so I’m not sure how I would even go about getting those. </p>
<p>@NewHavenCTMom - Good morning! I agree it’s a lot to buy at once. I think we are going to hold off, however, until D has dorm assignment and can coordinate items with roommate. </p>
<p>Auburn doesn’t have sorority houses so there isn’t that expense like at Alabama and Ole Miss for example where you live and eat there. Many times that 10k includes housing and meal plan. The shopping is another thing d isn’t crying too hard over. </p>
<p>Summer pre-rush events? What the heck is that? She’s going to orientation at the end of May where she registers for recruitment but eegads this is exhausting. But my handy dandy college excel skills really helped keeping track of all of this.</p>
<p>Good Morning to all and Happy Birthday to Momreads!</p>
<p>Shopping for the dorm took all of 45 minutes at Bed Bath & Beyond for S11 and me. I made a couple of other trips on my own and he was given a few items as graduation gifts. We still brought too much to his dorm! In my opinion the suggestions on many lists can be pared way way down.</p>
<p>I guess many girls enjoy decorating their rooms but my guy and his college friends were happy to limit decorating to the free college football schedule posters handed out to all. 3 years later his is using the same bedding originally purchased.</p>
<p>Average cost of sororities at Auburn, from the Panhellenic website:
Sorority facility fee: $150 each semester (paid directly to the university)
Pledge fee: $100.00 (paid to the sorority)
Initiation fee: $160.00 (paid to the sorority)
National dues: $184.57 yearly (paid to the sorority)
Semester dues: $1097.30 <a href=“paid%20to%20the%20sorority”>$548.65 per semester</a>
Possible additional costs per semester: $230.00 (paid to the sorority)
Total cost of first year: $1,900.00 (includes $300 facility fee)
Total cost of each other year: $1,700.00 (includes $300 facility fee)
Please remember that a sorority’s actual cost will vary from the above numbers and are within 15% of these estimates. Also, please be aware that each of our sororities offers payment plan options.</p>
<p>I don’t think Auburn does pre-rush events in the spring/summer. I believe that’s a 'Bama thing. </p>
<p>@Minnymom - my son’s room is essentially prison decor. No posters, no rug, same comforter from freshman year. He was annoyed just having to shop and lives a minimalist life with the clothes as well. </p>
<p>My d on the other hand has been dreaming of decorating a dorm room for years. She is also under the impression she’ll be needing a new wardrobe. After my son I started collecting all those bed bath & beyond coupons. The best thing was walking in one store and using the bar code reader to swipe what he wanted and then pick it up all boxed up right by the college. </p>
<p>I wish I could wait, the expense of it all will be far too high if we wait. I will start to pick up the personal items, the ones that can’t be shared…there is a list that her school sent home. Trust me, it’s a BEAST! </p>
<p>@NewHavenCTmom: Does your D know where she will be in the fall? My D asked for some “college stuff” for Christmas, and it will all work no matter where she ends up (backpack, laundry sack, etc.) Some things will have to wait to see where she ends up, especially sheets (XL or not??)</p>
<p>@mimama she received a likely from Dartmouth & an acceptance to Howard U. She still awaits word from about 9 other schools. It’s like waiting the last few weeks of pregnancy…</p>
<p>I won a basket raffle last summer that was a dorm package. The “basket” was a milk crate (like a new store bought one, not the ones we used for everything in college!) and it contained some towels, a power strip, some school supplies, a desk lamp, some Twin XL sheets- there was an incredible amount of stuff in there. It will save S a lot of shopping. I believe he’ll take the quilt his grandmother made him for his bedspread/comforter. He is a minimalist so I don’t expect to have to get much for him. </p>
<p>My D thought this was her first opportunity to truly decorate her own place. Other than some wall decorations and her comforter, the rest of the stuff had to be returned because it didn’t fit in the room. </p>
<p>Yesterday, DS was awarded the Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship. I am still in shock since it was awarded to only 1% of the CV applicants. With this full-tuition scholarship, Vanderbilt is now really high on DS’ list and we will be planning a trip to Nashville soon. I am an extremely grateful mom. </p>
<p>DD is a finalist for the Gates Millennium Scholarship and semifinalist for the Ron Brown Scholarship. We will hear back soon on both…Again, like waiting for the baby to arrive…</p>
<p>Congratulations @4beardolls! That is an amazing accomplishment! Also, congrats to @NewHavenCTmom on the Dartmouth likely letter and scholarship qualifications! You have some impressive kids!</p>
<p>My D also sees going off to college as an opportunity to raid the PB/West Elm catalogs and to buy a new wardrobe (not sure what part of not having two walk-in closets in the dorm room or being full-pay (with pain) she is not comprehending!).</p>
<p>UA (with a lot of OOS and 30% frat/sorority population) has Panhellenic Preview Day today (9 a.m. - 7 p.m.) and OOS gals have flocked in. We got an informative mailer. The sessions on this preview day have topics such as how to prepare for recruitment, what to expect during recruitment week and basic info and expectations. Parents attend sessions too, including financial concerns.</p>
<p>Since my DD has plenty of other social hooks (band, honors), she is not rushing. As an eng student, she will also be active with SWE. There is a co-ed eng fraternity, Theta Tau - not super expensive, so if that would be beneficial down the road…</p>
<p>I know some gals and guys that work really hard on school and frat/sorority. I just could not imagine with everything on DD’s plate…</p>
<p>Friend’s DD rushed at Auburn last fall - didn’t get invite she wanted. Then went to another system and did eventually get in a sorority she wanted.</p>
<p>Hope that helps. At UA, the sorority fee may include meals at the house.</p>
<p>Do not know if AU has a Panhellenic Preview Day. Imagine they do.</p>
<p>DD1 did a pretty good job of coordinating with room-mate on getting their dorm stuff.</p>
<p>DD2 paid attention and has a lot of stuff already. She is also decorating things because she wants to have personalizing without a heavy price tag. DD2 is always working on expanding her wardrobe even with me cutting any funds after she consigned things over my objections (a few items never worn, and a few great items DD1 could have used).</p>