My D is a potential class of 2019 gator and was interested in joining a sorority. I’m tyring to get a feel for the true cost of the sorority, and wanted to get input from any current sorority members or parents. On the UF Panhellenic website’s FAQ, they have the following cost comparison.
Panhellenic
New Member Fees: $334
Chapter Dues: $3,468
Room & Board: $3,603
University
Room & Board: $5,135
Meal Plan: $3,910
I was suprised to see that the overall sorority cost appears to be lower than on campus, but wanted to make sure they are including food in the Panhellenic Room & Board figures. Even if they do, do sorority members still get a meal plan? I would think that if they provide food at the sorority, you still may be buying food on campus if you don’t want to come back to the house for meals all the time.
Thanks for any input. Still trying to wrap my head around OOS rates for UF and some of her other choices.
Hey @dadinmd, I joined a sorority my freshman year and it really made a difference for my social life & academics. I had a great time in college, and am excited to still be a part of it as an alumnus. Your daughter is going to love it!
With that being said, every sorority calculates their dues differently. So, unfortunately there is no accurate amount to give you. In my sorority, a few days after rush they sat the new class down to discuss sorority dues. We had until initiation to pay and make sure our finances were in order. The other thing you can do is email the UF Panhellenic board, and they will give you better clarification.
Also, I had bought the UF meal plan before joining a sorority, and wish I didn’t. I couldn’t cancel and the best I could do was transfer the money to Declining Balance. The food at the sorority is A LOT better than on campus (Sororities have a chef), so I’m sure she will be going there for most of her time. If she finds that she can’t be at the house for most meals, you can also set up a declining balance account. That way she can use it at the Starbucks and restaurants on campus. A lot of sororities also offer “late plates” for dinner, so if she is in class or has a meeting during that time, they will prepare a meal for her to pick up later. Or worst case, she can have a friend make a late plate for her. Whatever she picks, she will not be hungry!
Feel free to message me if you have any additional questions.
Thank you GatorGrad23! I really appreciate the feedback. Great info and exactly what I was looking for! I did e-mail UF Panhellenic last week, but hadn’t heard anything so I figured someone on CC would know the answer.