<p>I know there are dues for the fraternities. How much are those? Also, how much more does it cost for the trips and the formals? And other events, parties? If I go to Vanderbilt it will be on financial aid. How does everyone afford the Greek scene?</p>
<p>As quoted by Vanderbilt, $800-1400. There are new/less social fraternities that may be cheaper though (Phi Psi, DTD). The yearly formal trip for fraternities is probably $200-300. It costs more than that in reality but part of the price is subsidized by your dues.</p>
<p>Everyone affords it in their own way. I know plenty of kids that are basically getting a full ride through financial aid and are still in fraternities. They use money from summer jobs and their job on campus to pay dues. If you work full time in the summer, you can make $3500+. Add that to a 10/hr a week job on campus and you have plenty to pay for your fraternity. And of course, other people just have parents with the $$ to pay for it (probably much more common).</p>
<p>What is the yearly formal trip exactly? Where do they go?</p>
<p>Last year when my son was a junior, I posted three semesters of his payments to his fraternity in a thread entitled “frat dues.” Just look at my other posts, and you will get an idea of the cost of being in a fraternity. </p>
<p>You will see that $280 each year goes toward the spring formal held in NOLA and Panama City Beach alternating years. I don’t know much about the trips; I don’t think guys share such things with their mothers. I do know I have cooler build-up in my storage room since each year the dates decorate coolers according to themes that have to do with New Orleans or PCB and present them to the guys. (Yes, these are the coolers mentioned in the “traditions” thread.) At midnight on Thursday, his fraternity and dates will leave on a bus headed for PCB. (He does not have Friday classes, so I am pleased he won’t miss any.) He loves both venues, but NOLA wins out since he loves the cuisine. I think “formal” may be a misnomer.</p>
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