USC social scene not for middle class?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
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<p>1800-2100 depending on the house. houses that include food in their dues are in the 2000+ range while houses that don’t are in the 1800 range. lambda, phi psi, sigma chi which most view as top houses are all around 1900-2100. i believe lambda is roughly 1900, phi psi is around that 2000, and sigma chi is around 2000. it all depends on the house but i just used those as an example. housing typically costs 500-800 to live in the fraternity house and some houses make your dues cheaper if you live inside the house. hope this helps.</p>

<p>edit: these dues are per semester. and also, dues during pledging and dues after you become an active are slightly different.</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot for those estimates they helped a lot! How much would you think that dues for a fraternity that includes meals are? Also, how much would you say dues are for active members? How much would you say total costs are for semester/year for living in a fraternity, eating in one, and social dues would be? Is it that much more than the standard $12,500 for room and board first year? Would brothers in fraternities/top tier fraternities look down on you during rush if you ask about costs/payment plans and therefore lower your chances of receiving a bid?</p>

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<p>dues for a fraternity that includes meals goes anywhere from 2000-2300 depending on the house. dues for active members are all around that amount per semester. depending on the house again, living in the fraternity + dues + social costs could range from anywhere between 5,000-6,500 per semester. it’s similar to the standard costs of dorming with a meal plan and this INCLUDES dues. and no, i’ve asked countless times about how much dues and housing costs were and they didn’t mind at all.</p>

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<p>You seem to be set on joining a fraternity. What if you don’t get invited? Or not to the one you want? As a transfer, isn’t it a bit more difficult? I get the feeling that you want to be a part of the “flash”, and that is the primary reason for wanting to transfer there. and your questions are to gauge how difficult and affordable it is to ge in on the scene.</p>

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<p>i hope you guys are good looking if you’re hoping to get into these top fraternities. a lot of guys come out of high school or transfer into usc thinking they’re top fraternity material and are very confident about their chances, but you find out soon enough that the top houses only accept guys who fit into their stereotype whether its being athletic, good looking, having that surfer look, etc. choose the house where you fit in personality wise and not just the house that has the best reputation.</p>

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<p>^ Does that go with sororities too? lol</p>

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<p>Back in 2009, my son rushed the “socal surfer boy fraternity.” He did not consider any of the others. Worked out okay for him because he fit the mold. Fast forward four years, he sees friends thriving in many houses, several of whom he’d be happy as a brother. He’s backed away from the hard party mindset, but finds the social skills he learned invaluable. He’s graduating in May with multiple honors and a job in hand so I’ll call it a good investment.</p>

<p>Now to the parents: We made him pay for the fraternity costs minus normal college expenses (frat dues included meals, so that was backed out.) He did some of the extra social stuff on his own dime … Vegas trips, the weekender, an odd assortment of sorority events that somehow alway needed a t-shirt or some odd costume. The kids on a budget learn to shop the local goodwill and resale stores.</p>

<p>As for the sororities CuriousJDG, we just went through that with our youngest at a different college, but will second jamesbball911 on looking for a match. Sometimes it’s different than your expectations…</p>

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<p>i go to BC and am from california. i also would like to transfer to USC. i know several people who go to USC who are middle class and did not like it at first because of the “snobs” but if you find a good group of people it shouldn’t be a problem. in addition, california is much much more open minded than BC. that’s one reason i don’t like BC. but i would agree that the social scene obviously does not center on middle class students (hence why my two friends were really unhappy at first)…but you will have no problem finding people similar to you at such a school. i know someone who isn’t in a sorority and still loves it.</p>

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<p>I would strongly advise you to think twice about your desire. You mention you would like to ‘try something new’, which is commendable, but on that same token you want to experience ‘better nightlife’. I’m going to be a negative-Nancy and share my two cent on the issue revolving nightlife/scene.</p>

<p>It is one thing to pursue a well established school for the reason that their alumni network, employment rate, et cetera has undeniable merit to your, for instance, career, but it is quite another thing to consider its surrounding nightlife as a factor that has as much bearing on your decision as it currently does; I am not sure of the weight of the nightlife scene on your decision. Which one do you value the most? Is it nightlife or your education that will stick with you until the end of your time?</p>

<p>I openly admit my questionable history with drugs. I am not up to par with current synthetics, like 2CB, 2CI, DAB, but I religiously administered MDMA, good ol’ cocaine, psilocybin, mescaline, DMT, and of course pot and alcohol. In the midst of this phase, not surprisingly, I was hoping to attend a school with a ‘great’ party scene, such as UCSB. Years later I realized what grave danger the combination of my former personality and UCSB would have been. I have grown wiser since, effectively realizing that it is foolish to sacrifice for the temporary if I have goals that test my endurance. </p>

<p>I want to clarify the reality of partying for you, just in case I shed light on a new angle. Greek life, per se, doesn’t magically bring value to most people’s lives. I will not deny the fact that you will network at parties, or the possibility that a blue-eyed boy will offer you an opportunity to work for his father’s Fortune 500 company. I began partying the day I started junior college, which was at the age of 15; I’m 22 now. I have seen ‘miraculous’ job offers given to students by student who’s parents happened to looking for interns, or employees. These things are possible, and presumably, you value these things; but which atmosphere will foster what you want the <em>most</em>? If you genuinely think it’s parties, knock yourself out. Heck, I’ll even party with you and introduce you to my friends. Is this the ideal way for you in particular, to invest in your life? Maybe. </p>

<p>I am also unaware of how USC’s culture is ‘different’, beyond minute, negligible differences that immediately come to mind; can you please explain this?</p>