Some school ladies are prepared to go broke to go Greek.
Hopeful undergrads vying for entry into the sorority of their desires usually shell out beaucoup bucks to current themselves as “good” through the recruitment course of, in response to one Massive Apple-based “sorority advisor.”
“Some ladies spend a whole bunch, if not hundreds of {dollars}, on simply speeding their wardrobe,” mentioned Lorie Stefanelli, who owns Greek Stylish Sorority Consulting and featured in HBO Max’s recently-released documentary “Bama Rush.”
She advises girls on their outfits, social media presence and conversational expertise to assist them by the sorority recruitment course of, referred to as the “rush.”
“I’ve labored with ladies who’ve used private consumers at Bergdorf’s and Neiman Marcus” — which may value as much as $200 an hour, minus what one buys through the appointment.”
Some must-have equipment are Golden Goose sneakers, which may value near $700 and belts and enamel bracelets from Hermes, which retail for as much as $800.
The registration charge for sorority rush — a a number of day interval throughout which college sororities hunt for brand spanking new members — on the College of Alabama is $375.
“So [outfits] can get dear, together with sneakers and equipment. And a number of ladies get their hair and their make-up and their nails achieved – and it simply prices quite a bit,” mentioned Stefanelli.
Stefanelli’s hourly charge runs as much as $150 — though she generally presents reductions to ladies who’re in robust conditions.
One time, when Stefanelli came upon {that a} shopper’s father was sick, she stopped charging the PNM — “as a result of my dad died my senior 12 months in school and my [sorority] sisters had been the one factor that saved me sane,” she mentioned.
Beforehand, the woman had been so determined to affix a sorority that she had taken up two jobs over the summer time — one at J.Crew so she might “use her low cost to assist purchase a few of the [recruitment] stuff,” Stefanelli recalled.
Through the rush — “probably the most bodily, emotionally and mentally draining week of 1’s life,” in response to Stefanelli — there’s an expectation for potential new members, or PNMs, to put on sure outfits.
For instance, ladies are anticipated to put on cocktails or “daytime marriage ceremony” apparel on ‘Pref Evening,’ or the final day of rush, when sororities invite PNMs to formal events and make their last calls about who’s getting invited to affix, Stefanelli defined .
For women with little monetary sources, buying the outfits and different requirements to be able to achieve success throughout recruitment means searching for “thrifty” alternate options – like borrowing from buddies and discovering reasonably priced offers, Stefanelli mentioned.
“There are a few ladies who’ve found out how one can do it on the decrease finish, however there are undoubtedly ladies who want a brand new outfit simply to have a brand new outfit,” mentioned Stefanelli, who’s a member of the Chi Omega sorority, which she joined on the College of Texas at El Paso in 1996.
So far as social media profiles are involved: PNMs’ accounts ought to sport pictures of their family and friends, in addition to their hobbies – and nil footage by which alcohol is current, in response to Stefanelli.
“In case your Instagram feed is just you in bikini pics, the sororities are going to assume that there isn’t any substance to you and that you do not have buddies,” she warned.
Through the rush itself, Stefanelli’s “don’ts” embrace chatting about boys, gossiping about particular ladies or different sororities, asking about politics and faith, and oversharing.
“I inform ladies who’re oversharers,'[Sorority girls] needn’t learn about how your boyfriend broke up with you the night time after promenade, or that your drunk uncle ruined your commencement get together,’” Stefanelli mentioned.
As a substitute, Stefanelli recommends that PNMs ask the sorority ladies questions on themselves – and preserve an open thoughts all through the complete course of.
“You by no means know which homes will shock you. The home that you simply noticed on social media that you simply thought was the most effective sorority ever, you may go there and be like, ‘These aren’t my individuals.’
“On the finish of the day, you are trying to make buddies, be energetic on campus and in the neighborhood…And that is what I push greater than the ‘It’s important to be within the prime sorority’ kind of factor,” Stefanelli mentioned .