Dear Linda,

I really want to be in a sorority but I am worried about the financial obligations that I will incur during pledging and after. My parents do not support the idea of joining a sorority so I will be paying for the entire thing myself. Do you think that I can manage to pull this off even if I’m on a tight budget? Also, my roommate is thinking about pledging a different sorority than me and we’re really close. I can’t decide if I should split up with her or not.

-Torn

Dear Torn,

To pledge or not to pledge? That seems to be the big question around campus, especially these past few weeks. With rush going on every day, it seems impossible to avoid hearing about greek life constantly. However, pledging a sorority involves a lot more than partying. It’s costly and there are many factors that should be considered. When you join a sorority, it can become pretty expensive. The dues themselves can be up to $300 a semester, and plenty of money has to be spent during pledging as well. However, if pledging is something that you feel strongly about, you can work something out with your pledge class, or talk to the treasurer of the sorority you choose about setting up a payment plan.

In regards to the situation with your roommate, I know you want to stick with her, but you should really just choose the sorority that you feel most comfortable with. If you don’t, you will regret it, because these are girls you will spend a lot of time with over the course of the next 3 1/2 years. If you make a true friend in college, although you may choose different paths, you will still remain friends if you both put in the effort.

Linda Spiro is a sophomore psychology major.