alabama sorority wealth - all you need to know
by: Yep
Copied this cause it NAILED it.......
1. Sororities recruit on "fit" first and foremost. They want to believe you will relate to and get along in the house.
2. There is a LOOSE correlation to wealth and certain tastes, likes and social skills - and a a result a loose correlation to fitting in at certain houses and family wealth. P HOWEVER, there is NO minimum parental income level to which this can be tied at any house.
3. Houses ARE concerned with recruiting girls that won't have issues with paying dues and other financial obligations/expectations. If you are an unknown, they may do some investigation to see if there is reason to believe you can't (afford the dues). But in general, if they think you are a fit, the only issues becomes a belief you can pay the dues!
4. Old row houses may also be concerned if you will be around for four years. This is why they prefer in state girls. An OOS with parents with many zeroes in the back account, may still decide by junior/senior year that there is no reason to "pay the dues". The ' pressure' to stay active is greater for in state girls where 'dropping' has greater social consequences when they return home. As such, it's not only about "money". I just can't stress that enough - it's not about wealth!
5. There are no billionaire children here, or with any statistical significance anywhere! Quit dropping references to such on GR, it makes you sound like an idiot - Its clear your knowledge about money is about what you have seen on TV! You can be wealthy long before you have a billion dollar net worth and even if you live in a "fly over" location. Most wealthy people aren't being talked about on TV!!!!!!!
6. Although there is NO income minimum assigned to being able to fit in as noted above, a visit to campus will show there is no shortage of girls with sorority letters from ALL houses driving German cars, or accessoried Jeeps and new cars. Parents with a nice house, a second house near the beach or on a lake, and a nice car does not set you apart here! Not saying you MUST HAVE these things to 'get in', but it's hardly unusual.
7. "Notable" wealth here, is probably a family net worth of $10 million. That may start to set you apart. And, There is NO house with 400 sority members at or above this level!
Get real ladies!
Commentby: Dear Truth Hurts
Truth Hurts- Show me on the doll where an Alabama local hurt you and stole your boyfriend. You don’t understand basic history. Google Mountain Brook average income. Google Founding Families of Virginia. Google The Great Migration. These Alabama “inbreeding” families are the descendants of whom? It’s true there were a lot of people who are not from that group of second and third son nobility who came to make their fortunes in colonial America but typically their great grandmothers weren’t in college joining sororities. Sorry their descendants beat you out for a spot in Old Row.
- 6
- 5
#3by: Good
This is pretty good.
I would say about half of my rho chi wore different colored Tory Burch shoes each day, along with all the "right" brand name (designer) bags, clothes, accessories, etc.
If you think you are going to come here and "seem rich" by comparison because this is poor ole 'Alabama, think again!
And, if you think that your "in" at the "top" houses is wearing all the "right stuff" think again as well.
I agree that bids are mostly related to social skills,
personality, looks, grades and fit. Thiere is a reasonable "range" of clothes and looks.
Not all the girls in and all the most expensive stuff got the top houses. And some girls who wore nice, but not branded clothes, did get into the best houses.
Come and be yourself. That's the best advice. You can't fake it, and why would you want to? The process does seem to place girls where they fit best, despite what they wear! \n\n\n\n\n
by: Hm
I went OR last year from OOS/in region(ish) -they pay my dues and can afford to, but my parents don’t buy me tori Burch or anything that can’t be found at TJ Maxx. I’ve saved up for a staple purse and pair of shoes. I drive a hand me down year old SUV that I love and I’m grateful for. I sympathize with the girls who can’t afford to join a house bc they can’t t afford dues, but more than anything, I’ve learned that in the right house, money really isn’t everything - it’s just extra sprinkles on a cupcake. What really matters is who you are and who the people you surround yourself with are.
- 13
- 1
by: Hm
Sorry not a hand me down “year old” SUV - I’m not a Kardashian. Eight year old SUV 😂
- 14
- 0
#6by: also
It may be incomprehensible to oos girls, but in Alabama "family money" may not even be from this generation. It might be from your grandparents generation but you are still considered to come from money. Some girls in your rho chi group that don't have all the brand names and get a top house are those girls. They look cute but not expensive which is a sign of old money.
by: OOS
These comments always make me laugh. Do you honestly think only girls from Alabama understand the concept of “family”/“old” money? There are old money families everywhere. Oil families in Texas, Kennedy family in New York, the list goes on. It’s definitey not incomprehensible to OOS girls that not all wealth is Kardashian-esque.
- 22
- 0
by: @also
this is so dumb. Where I'm from, if your wealth is from your grandparents it's still considered new money. Then again, no amount of money can buy class or intelligence, regardless of what generation it's from, so if you think the only old money comes from Alabama, your family must not be rich enough to get you out of your little bubble.
There are "old money" Vestavia public school girls, prep school girls from southern cities like Atlanta, and OOS New England/Manhattan prep school girls all in the same house. None are superior to the next. If you fit in, you'll find your home. If you don't, you'll find it elsewhere. It's that simple.
- 16
- 3
by: ^^
Wow. What a nice lot of comments to #6. The way I read the comment was in response to #3 (the last serious comment above her). That girl said that girls with inexpensive, non-name-brand clothes got into top houses. She was just explaining why. And yes, there are states where there isn't a tradition of revering the past like there is here. So stop hating on people who make observations that we all know are true.
- 6
- 4
by: @^^
There's a difference from having old money and "revering the past" - which we all know Alabama's past as a state (if I'm reading your implication correctly) is mired at best. There's also a difference between celebrating girls who aren't brand-crazy and tearing down OOS girls. Let's just all agree that any chapter worth its salt would prefer a classy, kind, intelligent, well-mannered girl who knows how to present herself over someone who only cares about brands and money, regardless of where you're from or what your daddy does. So long as you can pay your dues and you're not a flight/reputation risk, you'll have a good shot.
- 7
- 0
#7by: OP
I'm the OP. This has gotten silly again!
I was mostly trying to post to explain two things:
1. It's not just about wealth. It's about how you fit with the girls at certain houses. Without naming names, we ALL know there is ONE top, old row house that is very brand/money focused (Phi Mu) . A few old row houses that trend In that direction with a bit more focus on money without ostentation (I honestly believe old money is an exaggeration versus simply a more understated style - KKG and KD) and other old row houses that are Christian (AGD) , grades AXO) , and very in-state focused (XO). Some old row houses seem to blend these factors (DDD) in different ways, but for the most part we all know who focuses on what! Again, the point was that old row does not just mean wealth/money and notable brand names.
2. That being said, the other point is that although Alabama is a "poor" state by many measures, the University, and specifically Sorority recruitment, is not a place where if you don't feel wealthy "at home", you can arrive and expect to seem " rich" by comparison. You will find a very large percentage of girls with "all the trappings" - shoes, clothes, bags, dorm decorations, cars, great vacations, family vacation houses and money to travel to away games, fly home at breaks, and buy fantastic clothes for theme parties! Although there are aspects of this in old row (Phi Mu, KKG and KD) this is also true in new row (ZTA, ADP, APhi). More than half the girls here (and a notable number in ALL houses) will have these things. Again, not saying these are must haves or claiming this makes anyone "better or more prefered". Just explaining to girls who ask if a certain income level will seem "rich" here.
I'm not trying to throw shade or be bi!!!ey.
Just trying toe explain how it "really seems to be" to girls not familiar, who ask what family income will set you apart, and want to know if there is a minimal income to get into top houses.
by: OP
I wasn't going to "name names" but decided it would be better for those trying to understand.
- 3
- 0
by: Greta
Since when is phi mu considered old row?? They most definitely were not when I was in school there in the early 2000s.
- 1
- 11
#8by: issy
Wake up, you do realize that there are people out there with money that do not flaunt or buy into designer goods. They totally lay under the radar, but do not openly present wealth. Some do not want their kids to grow up like this. It is really disgusting to hear this talk whether it gets you in a sorority or not. Just stop.
Post Reply
Before you type: Please do not post individual names, defaming content, or spam. Remember, cyber bullying can be considered a crime.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Didn't find your school?Request for your school to be featured on GreekRank.
by: Truth Hurts
To set the record straight. There are NO,ZERO wealthy Alabamans that is an oxymoron. There is NO “Old Money” in Alabama, anyone that becomes wealthy by US ( North and West standards) clear out of that cesspool known as Alabama. Old money or being wealthy in Alabama means your daddy or grand daddy owns the local mortuary or furniture store. INBREEDING has not been kind to Alabamans.
- 13
- 29
Report