<p>I'll be a freshman in September and was just curious as to how much I should expect to spend in Lexington, How much do you think the typical student would spend in a year? and if you sort of have a breakdown of what you spent money on that would be helpful? I'm not looking to spend as much as possible or to spend as little as possible either just the typical stuff, fraternity dues (an average is already in the handbook), fancy dress, foxfield, ocassionally not eating in the dhall, anything else the typical student spends money on. Thanks</p>
<p>I have no idea how much boys spend (fraternity expenses are handled very differently from sorority expenses), but here's the breakdown for girls:</p>
<p>There's not a lot of shopping in Lexington, but what there is is very expensive -- dresses at pumpkin seeds run around $200. You'll probably make somewhere around 4 big expeditions into a city (Roanoke or DC) to shop. Since you'll be pretty shopping-deprived, you tend to buy a lot. You may find yourself shopping online more.</p>
<p>Sorority dues are explained in the handbook you'll get (and vary by sorority), but it's a little more complicated than that. Fall term, you'll probably go on at least 2 Rush dates. Since upperclassmen are not allowed to spend any money on freshman girls, you will have to pay for your own coffee/dinner/whatever. However, since upperclassmen do go on so many rush dates, we try to make things as cheap as possible (i.e. no dinners at Southern Inn). Also, if you end up pledging, realize that you will have to shell out for things like T-shirts and formals (sometimes these fees are waived for new members, but not always). That's usually somewhere around $10-15 a pop.</p>
<p>Fancy Dress: Tickets are ~$60, but your date might pay for that and dinner. Girls often end up wearing their high school prom dresses and doing each others' hair and makeup. I think freshman year i spent a grand total of nothing on Fancy Dress, but don't count on it.</p>
<p>Foxfields: i paid around $40, but it really depends on what organization you go with. (Some do their own cars, some hire a bus, some have a plot, etc, and the prices vary).</p>
<p>Dining: Excluding rush dates, freshman year I probably ate dinner outside of d-hall twice a month. Dining in Lexington varies from moderate to expensive. There's no fast food within walking distance (excluding Dominoes, which delivers). Anytime you don't eat in d-hall, you get $4.50 on your swipe card to use at the co-op (but it runs out at midnight).</p>
<p>You will drop a lot of money at Walmart buying necessities and junk food.</p>
<p>Other notes: You will need costumes. Theme parties are huge at W&L, especially the eighties. Luckily, Walmart is pretty good for that sort of thing. (Freshmen often don't need to dress up, but it's fun.)</p>
<p>You will need cocktail dresses and sundresses. During fall term, you will have at least 4 separate occasions to wear a cocktail dress: 2 nights of Homecoming Weekend and 2 nights of Xmas weekend. You will wear sundresses to class and football games. You will need another a nice sundress for Foxfields, and a formal dress for FD and probably several more cocktail dresses for winter term formals. You should not repeat cocktail dresses during freshman year. However, don't be daunted! There are several ways to get by without spending huge amounts of money:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Go shopping at department stores in August. This is the end of the summer season, and offseason for prom, so sundresses and cocktail dresses are cheap. I make it part of my going-back-to-school ritual to stop by Dillards and pick up dresses. These dresses are often discounted by anywhere from 25-75%. I got my all-time favorite sundress for $6, and several cocktail dresses for $15 each.</p></li>
<li><p>You will be living in the dorms, and you will find all sorts of people who wear your size. My friends and I regularly traded wardrobes, and my dress collection quadrupled. So even if you only own 2 dresses, you can still find plenty to wear. The same goes for everyday clothes. I never met anyone who was unwilling to share their closet.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>IMPORTANT TO BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS: do get a fake ID. you will not need it. It is an honor violation to be in possession of a fake ID (you don't even have to use it). The parties are free and open to everyone, there is no reason to have to buy alcohol. If you really, really, think you need it, you can get an upperclassman to get it for you, but I would seriously not advise that. It is an automatic strike to have liquor in your dorm rooms, and they're serious about it. There's really no reason to have alcohol in the dorms. That's what a lot of schools do (parties in the dorms) but W&L culture simply doesn't work like that.</p>
<p>I think that's everything. Questions?</p>
<p>What is foxfields?</p>
<p>Foxfields is a horse race in Charlottesville. It's mid-April. Everyone goes, wears pastels and doesn't watch the horses.</p>
<p>It seems to me like the main thing for girls is to wear sundresses, pastels, bermudas, ect...</p>
<p>what about during the winter?</p>
<p>oh, v-neck sweaters, scarves, jeans, the usual. in the winter, it's not as important because everyone is cold and tired. and the boys all wear suits.</p>
<p>Men should be prepared to spend whatever they saved being hosted at the frats during Fall term -- and more -- during pledge period. Budget accordingly.</p>
<p>When does it get warm again in Lex?</p>
<p>mid march, generally.</p>
<p>Could you explain this "being hosted at frats" thing? what does it entail and how much is it going to cost me? I thought everything for guys regarding frats during fall term was fairly unorganized and for the most part free.</p>
<p>during fall term, you will not pay for anything regarding frats. the parties are free and the liquor is flowing. they will take you to dinner, strip clubs, nascar races, anything to win your love. after tear night, you will be paying for everything.</p>
<p>What's the general perception of Abercrombie and HOllister? </p>
<p>My friend from VA said that it's considered slutty in VA...True?</p>
<p>I think those types of clothing companies are viewed as very "high school." Most people "mature" to Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, etc...</p>