The title is way misleading.
Room and board is NOT a cost of being in a sorority. Ya gotta live and eat SOMEWHERE. If she lived in the dorms or an apartment, she’d spend that $10,422 twice a year. That’s about 2/3 of the quoted $30,000 in
sorority fees.
That means it’s costing this girl’s family about $10k a year to be in this sorority. But, again, many of these costs are simply the cost of college life. Going to the bars, throwing parties, etc….it added up.
Now, if she’s arguing that being in a sorority gives her a leg up on the competition across the length of her career, she is right. But this is ONLY insofar as she’s a got an inside track with others in Zeta Tau Alpha. It is possible that a hiring manager who’s a ZTA alum sees her resume, she may get moved to the top of the queue.
However. It cuts both ways. There is a fairly negative stereotype (some would say fact-based bias) against sorority and fraternity members. It is probably MORE likely she’ll get zotted by hiring managers who are anti-Greek system. Now, the hiring manager won’t outright SAY they detest sorority sisters…but it’ll prolly happen.
I would say, however, that living in a fraternity (at least during the Reagan Admin) provided awesome life skills that transcended my major. Negotiating personalities, defusing conflict, working as a team, learning how to conduct a conversation while hideously drunk, taking tests and going to class hung over…I got a lot out of my fraternity experience.
She’s delusional if she thinks this punches her ticket. You are what you make of yourself.
My sister-in-law was in a hard to get in to sorority and got a master’s degree.
Me, I got a lowly associate’s degree and made about twice what she made.
And after she got divorced I rented a house to her for below market rate.
But the Sorority connections never seemed to get her any advantage that i know of.
But mostly I believe that it is her chosen profession that limited he earning power.
She chose to be in social work that requires a master’s degree and pays like an high school drop out.
Nope. She’s quoting $30k a year in fees and $20k a year in room and board. Over four years, that adds up to $200k.
I never stated my fraternal association on any curriculum vitae.
Rather, as a frat-brother, you'll get insider info from other frat-brothers and will be guided by them in the right direction to land a lucrative job. "Philistines" (non-fraternity members) won't even know that you're "connected" - or, at least, they won't know the basis of the connection.
In uncontrolled situations (conferences, job interviews into which you are going "blind," etc.), you'll wear a tiny fraternity pin in your label, and no "outsiders" will be any the wiser. There are also various words one can use that seem quite unimportant, but which will identify you as an "insider" to fellow "insiders." Better than secret handshakes.
Regards,
Most sororities at Bama required 1 year living in the house.