Sororities and Money...

 

So I know you've probably already seen the tips for recruitment and outfits that I suggested, but I decided I needed to back up a little bit, and talk about some things you need to think about before taking the leap. Going through recruitment is a serious decision, one that will impact you in a lot of ways, and joining a sorority is just as serious.

The first area I'll discuss is...

 Finances (cue the lightning strikes, thunder, and scary music)

 I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but sororities do cost money. And at many of schools, they cost a lot of money. I'm not trying to scare you, but it's something that the sororities will undoubtedly talk to you about during recruitment, after recruitment, and even after the new member period. The exact number differs greatly from school to school, sorority to sorority. For instance, at my school, the new member dues (a one time sum you pay up front when you first start), range anywhere from $500-$1000. And for regular dues (the amounts you will pay once initiated, every semester) also range from $350 to $950. See, the range is huge. The sorority that is $950 has larger Parlor fees (it basically is the cost for you to come over and spend time in the house), mostly because they pay for a maid service. When considering costs in dues, consider these things (great question to ask during recruitment by the way):

Is the sorority all inclusive?

Meaning, is formal included in the dues, required shirts, activities, socials, etc. As often as sororities say this (that they are all inclusive, I mean), watch out. They usually aren't. Be prepared to drop at least another $100 or so on stuff that isn't included in dues.

Are there discounts?

My sorority offers discounts for things such as paying early, living in the actual sorority house, and paying with a check instead of debit/credit card. These discounts can either come straight away, can cover the costs of shirts not covered by dues, or a pin upgrade.

 Do they have a pay plan?

Unfortunately, it just sometimes hard to drop $500 or more just at one time, so see if you're sorority can offer you a month to month way to pay off your bill. This is helpful especially for those that want to pay their own sorority dues.

Are you paying for it? Or your parents?

My parents pay my sorority dues. Say what you want, but that's how it is. If you are going to work, you need to first, make sure you have job, and second, make sure it will be enough to cover dues plus all your other sorority expenses.


Can you/do you want to live in the sorority house?

Most houses require you to live in the house at least one year. Can you afford to live in the house? I know for me personally, it's the cheapest option. That's because the rent is only $2,100 a semester. They serve you dinner five nights a week, they do all the grocery shopping, and utilities and all that jazz are included. Plus, the member dues are discounted by $200. So yes, I'm actually saving money. Every sorority is different, though, so be sure to ask them during recruitment/new member period about living in requirements and the costs.

 If things get rough, how can they help?

Once again, if you find yourself, for whatever reason, unable to pay dues, find out what they can try to do to help. My sorority offers girls the chance to go on "status" meaning that they aren't truly active in the sorority, but they remain in. Others might be able to work with financial aid of some sort. But be sure you talk to the treasurer about this. They have all the answers.

Not only are sororities a time commitment, but they are also a huge financial commitment. But here is the thing: it's not paying for your friends. You are paying for experiences. Don't let anyone discourage you about going Greek with that stupid saying. Any club you join will require you to spend some sort of money, and this is no different. However, at most sororities, the cost includes fantastic things like life-time subscriptions to their magazines, your pin, formal, sisterhoods, socials, mixers, Mom's Day, Dad's Day, and other cool stuff like that. To me that's not paying for your friends. That's paying to have make the most out of your college experience.

Sorority Recruitment Fashion Inspiration

Hey!

So the last post I talked all about some sorority recruitment do's and don'ts, so I was thinking today I would touch a little bit more on recruitment fashion. Now, first I must say that every college is completely different. That is entirely true. Many competitive schools in the south dress up every day, and I'm sure the clothing choices down there are much different the choices at my non-competitive college in Colorado.

However, I thought I'd share some outfits that reminded me a lot of what most of the girls wore last year when I went through recruitment. Just to let you know, at my college the first three days (Getting to Know You, House Tours, and Philathrophy/Chapter Emphasis Day) are all casual. My school's site describes attire to be "casual...nice top, jeans, and flip-flops." The fourth day of recruitment is Preference Tea, where dress is "nice attire...dresses, skirt and blouse, or pants outfit." And Bid Day is supposed to be the dressiest of all (though in my personal opinion Pref should be more dressy...save your best for that night!).

For the more casual days, these are some outfits I found (via Pinterest because I am incapable of understanding how the heck Polyvore works haha).

{Source}

I like the above outfit because it is simple, classy, and so pretty. I doubt it would be cold enough here to wear longsleeves, but I like the idea. One thing to take note, I wouldn't wear distressed jeans, since they don't always scream classy.

{Source}

One thing that I love about this outfit is the pop of color! The sororites are going to see hundreds of girls, so try to have a statement piece in your outfit everyday! (Btw...I'm not too sure about that headband...)

{Source}

Basically, Lauren Conrad always looks amazing. And this outfit is so darn cute! I know in the descriptions my school listed jeans as acceptable, my the days are so hot, the wearing a skirt is not a bad idea. Just remember, on Philanthropy Day you are probably going to partake in a craft project, so sitting on the floor is possible! (Although looking back on it, I sat on the floor everyday during the first three days, so make sure your skirt is long enough to sit on the floor without showing anything!)

{Source}

So I love this. I'd wear it every day of my life if I could. Just remember, try to stay away from distressing...


As for the more dressy nights, I remember being told that sundresses are the way to go. Remember, usually sororities dress all in one color this night. My school dresses all in black, so try at all costs to avoid the color black. I've heard some colleges dress in white, so just in case, don't wear that either (however, your Rho Chis will probably warn you, so don't worry).

{Source}

I know what you're thinking...this is not a sundress. However, I like it because it's a fun, fashionable outfit, but it's also somber enough for Pref Tea. At my school, it's an incredibly touching night, that usually involves lots of tears and hugs.

{Source}

I love this floral dress! It's super cute!

Let me just say, anything from Spool 72 is perfect. They have absolutely perfect sundresses. 

{Source}

Finally, I love this dress! The color is so beautiful (gem tones can be so flattering!).

I hope these outfits help you in your search for the perfect recruitment wardrobe. Just always keep in mind these things:

-Wear things that make you feel good! Even if it is trendy, if it doesn't feel good or look good on you, skip it.

-Remember: You are dressing to impress girls. Not guys. So don't go showing off everything or dress like your going clubbing.

-Recruitment is more about classy pieces then trendy-ness.

 -Keep in mind weather. Check the forecasts. Bring an umbrella just in case. If it's hot, skip the sweater. If it's chilly, don't wear just a tank top.

So there you have it!

Thanks for reading!!

Sorority Recruitment Do's & Don'ts

Hey everyone! Last fall I decided to take the leap and go through sorority recruitment at my college. It was a move that I honestly had never thought about previously, but one that I am so incredibly glad that I took. If you are planning about going through recruitment, I'm sure you are already planning, hoping, and stressing out about it. But my biggest advice, is to just have fun! I must say, recruitment has been my favorite week in college without a doubt in my two years.

So hopefully this tips will help you plan a little more, and ease some of your worry!

Do check out your college's Greek Life page on their website!

This is so important! It tells you when it is, if there are like Meet the Greek events or informational meetings before, what clothes to wear, and most importantly, the organizations at your school! I might be a little bit of a nerd, but I had not only memorized all five sororities at my school (major pet peeve of mine, was girls going through recruitment not knowing which sorority was which), but their philanthropies, how long they had been on campus, and random things like their mascots! You don't have to do this, but I think it helps give you something to talk about. (Some chapters even have their own blogs or websites! It's a great way to see them in action!)

Don't have your heart set on only one sorority!

Seriously, recruitment is a journey. And you can't enjoy the journey if you think you already know your destination. Yes, it's really difficult to not to root deep inside for one house. But keep an open mind. Almost every girl I went through recruitment with changed their mind at one point or another (including me!!).

Do prepare in advance!

Most girls love shopping and primping, so this isn't a super big one, but it's still important. After taking note of each day's dress codes/suggestions, start to plan out what you want to wear each day. That way you can avoid have that perfect top in the dirty clothes when it comes to the big day. It also helps ensure that your outfit will be completely put together.

Don't dress in the colors of your dream sorority.

Yes, this does in fact happen. And yes, people will notice. If you want to join Delta Zeta, please, please please, don't wear pink and green every day of recruitment. It's just creepy! Show that enthusiasm through your personality! Now it's easy to wear red and just so happen to visit Alpha Omicron Pi, but just don't do it on purpose!

Do make sure you have all the necessities in your purse!

Recruitment is a long, grueling process. So to be prepared, I loaded my purse with a survival kit of sorts. I had a few snacks (I actually had biscotti, but granola bars and trail mix are great options because they won't melt if you are in a warm climate!), lip gloss, chapstick, mints, mirror, oil blotting sheets (at my campus, none of the houses have air condidtioning, so when you pack a room full of like 50 girls, it gets hot!), and bandaids! The bandaids came in handy because I had killer blisters!
Just so you know, your purses are not allowed in the houses. Your Rho Chis (every campus has a different name) will watch them while you are in the house.

Don't talk badly about houses!

This is the number one problem I saw when I went through recruitment! Girls would stand in line in front of a house and instantly start to talk smack about the house. "Oh that's the nerdy house." "Did you see what they were wearing." "Ugh...I'd die if I went there." That is totally unacceptable in my opinion. Yes, there will be houses that you won't gel with. And there will be houses with spectactular decor, outfits, and other recruitment parties. And there will also, sadly, be houses that don't show well in a formal recruitment setting. However, you give each houaw, each girl respect. They love their sisterhood and they are showing special and important aspects of their life with you. Be polite and nice and get over it. Plus, no one wants to be sisters with someone that is snotty. And those girls in your recruitment groups, could very easily become your sisters. I know there a number of girls that I prayed wouldn't become my sisters on Bid Day. Some actually did become part of my sorority. However, in a strange twist of fate, all of them quit before initation.

Do wear clothes and shoes that are comfortable!

{Source}

If the weather is going to be in the hundreds, please don't wear sweaters! Some colleges have buses that take you to each house. Unfortunately, mine did not. We had 10 minutes to get across campus. Heels were not an option. I was wearing flats and still had to take them off (major blisters running across pavement barefoot. Goodbye pre-recruitment pedicure!!) to run. And then a sprinkler hit the entire group, so we were kind of soggy (good times haha). Wear clothes that portray your individual style (I wore lots of dots and my Toms on the casual days!).

Don't quit just because your favorite house or the "it" house dropped you!

This is incredibly frustrating to me. If you are invited back to houses, go! You never know what connection you'll make to the girl talking to you! Give everything a chance. It's better to see through the entire experience than to cut it short. I've heard a number of girls say that they regretted quiting before Bid Day (this is different than not being asked back). But I've never heard of of someone wishing they hadn't gone through each day.

Do relax and take care of yourself!

Recruitment is super stressful. No doubt about it. The nerves of what houses want you, talking to new people, and it is physically demanding. So when you have down time during recruitment week, relax. I took a few naps (I NEVER take naps), watched a few favorite movies, took long showers, and walked to my University Center for Starbucks and fresh air. Take care of yourself. More than likely, you'll get sick afterward (hopefully not as sick as me, I was one of the only confirmed cases of the flu in my state last year), so eat well and sleep lots. I know I definitely didn't eat as healthy as I should have.

Do know all of your options!

All the sorority talk can be confusing. And every single campus is different. At my school, it is usually not very competitive. Usually everyone finds a home on Bid Day. However, this past fall recruitment was the most competitive in school history. So that meant a lot of girls walked away with broken hearts and tears. At times like that, try not to take it personally. Talk with your Pi Rho Chi, call your mom, and consider your options. If you really want to be in a sorority, usually a few chapters will have an informal recruitment soon after called COB. Lots of girls do this, and most actually prefer it! It's a lot less stressful and much easier to make connections with girls in the house. There is also always Spring recruitment too (sometimes formal, sometimes not), so remember that too. Just try to take everything in stride and have faith in the system, because about 99% of the time, it works.

Do understand the process!

Sorority recruitment is called "mutual selection." Meaning, that both the houses and the potential new members (PNM's) mutually pick each other. However, keep in mind that despite the name, the sororities usually have most of the power in choosing what girls they ask back. Here's a little example:

I attended five parties tonight. I ranked them in the order of favorites: Red, Pink, Green, Yellow, and my very least favorite Blue. I don't want to go back to Blue. However, the next night my slip says that I have parties at Pink, Green, Yellow, and Blue! Why?! I thought I dropped Blue!

The maximum number of houses I could be asked back to are 4. Unfortunately, Red, a house I really liked, didn't ask me back. However, the Blue house does want me back. So the sorority gets the upper hand and can ask me back. When you listed Blue last (or regretted them), you actually weren't dropping them. You were just saying that in case EVERY house wants you back, Blue was the house you wouldn't go back to. Confusing. But that's why there are Pi Rho Chis and Panhellenic and lots of people there to ask. Just know, that in no way are you dropping them.

So I hoped this helped a little. I'll probably post more about recruitment, because it's my favorite thing ever. If I could go back through recruitment, I would in a heart beat. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Thanks for reading!