Parents of college women aiming to join Greek letter organizations are now investing significant amounts of money into coaching services to support their daughters throughout the sorority recruitment process.
The Wall Street Journal recently highlighted this growing trend, shedding light on various companies across the country that provide coaching services tailored to sorority recruitment. Costs for these services can range widely, with some as low as $150 and others soaring to several thousand dollars.
One such company, Hiking in Heels, based in Texas, offers an exclusive on-call service for clients navigating the recruitment process at a premium cost of $4,000. Meanwhile, It’s All Greek to Me, located in Georgia, provides intensive, step-by-step guidance to college women during rush for $3,500, offering full support and mentor-built relationships throughout the summer and recruitment period.
In Atlanta, Recruitment Ready provides private counseling for almost $1,000, covering various topics including rush week support. Greek Chic, operating out of New York, focuses on guidance for dressing, conversations, and obtaining letters of recommendation, with their “on-call availability” package during rush week priced at $2,000.
For those seeking more affordable options, Recruitment Ready offers a $150 video session, and It’s All Greek to Me provides a $600 training that includes tips on timelines, social media, and makeup.
The rise in demand for such coaching services can be attributed to the highly competitive nature of sorority rush, prompting an increasing number of firms to offer support and guidance to women undergoing the recruitment process.
The format and duration of recruitment events vary across universities, with rush lasting anywhere from a few days to a week. The process culminates in Bid Day, when selected women receive invitations to join a sorority chapter.
According to data from the National Panhellenic Conference, in 2022, over 125,000 women participated in sorority rush. However, a significant percentage, reportedly between 20-25%, either did not receive a bid or withdrew from the process altogether.
Over the past couple of years, videos documenting the experiences of college women during sorority rush have gained immense popularity online, especially those featuring the University of Alabama. It’s noteworthy that approximately 43% of female students at the University of Alabama belong to a sorority chapter, as reported by U.S. News & World Report.
The percentage of women involved in sororities varies from campus to campus, with Sterling College in Kansas boasting the highest proportion at 87%, while other institutions such as the University of Richmond and Lehigh University have a smaller sorority presence, with only 25% participation.
As the desire to join sororities continues to grow, so does the investment parents are willing to make to ensure their daughters’ success during the competitive recruitment process. These coaching services provide personalized support, enhancing the chances of securing a spot in the sought-after sisterhoods, making it a lucrative industry in the higher education landscape.
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