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What Is A Sorority Rush Consultant, & How Much Does One Cost?

Ready to run home? Millions of women decide to rush a sorority as part of their American college experience ever year. Sorority recruitment can be a super intense period of time that any potential new member (PNM) in Greek life has to experience with their new sisterhood. Rush week is a 24/7, weeklong ordeal where you have to see whether you fit the mold to be accepted into your top house. Sounds stressful, right? Well, that’s where rush consultants come in.

During sorority recruitment, PNMs have to market themselves to Panhellenic chapters month(s) before rush even begins. Students are required to provide resumes, essay responses, headshots, recommendation letters, and videos, among other things. Each day during rush, PNMs will also dress up in themed outfits, all with the hopes of being picked by their top house. 

Sorority rush coaching company Hiking In Heels states on its website, “At some schools, 15-20% of PNMs will go home empty-handed.” Fortunately, there are now several consultant groups such as Hiking In Heels, Getting The Bid, and Sorority Prep being created to help PNMs get accepted into their dream sorority. 

What is a sorority rush consultant?

Sorority rush consultants are sorority alumni who coach young women on how to be prepared for rush events at their university. Rush consultants provide step-by-step guidance for PNMs on what to wear, where to get recommendation letters from, how to curate their social media pages, and what to expect during recruitment. Pat Grant, the founder of Rushbiddies in Birmingham, Alabama, told Town & Country in 2017 that she tells her clients they must abide by what the sorority expects them to be like. “Maybe back in high school cowboy boots were your signature. But here, you don’t have a signature. You have to meet what’s expected until you’re established,” she said. 

Sessions may include activities such as rewriting your resume or participating in mock rush rounds. The goal of the practice rounds is to understand what elements of someone’s personality should pop out and others the PNM should steer clear from promoting during their recruitment process. 

How much does a sorority rush consultant cost?

Sorority consultants can be expensive. Coaching company Getting The Bid has a program available for PNMs for $649. Sorority Prep offers one three-hour class for $500. According to a 2021 Fortune article, Hiking In Heels offers two packages to PNMs —  one premium package for $1,496 and another elite package for $2,975. 

Although it’s expensive, it’s nothing compared to the money PNMs are paying to actually rush. Between the fees, clothes, dues, and more, the Bama Rush documentary on HBO Max, which premiered on May 23, 2023 valued rushing at the University of Alabama to cost $8,300. So, if you’re thinking twice about spending the money on a sorority rush consultant, you may want to think about whether rushing is something in your budget, too. Hiking in Heels co-founder Stacia Damron told Elite Daily, “The sorority views recruitment as an investment … if someone is going through [college] on full scholarship and plans on working the entire time they’re in college, recruitment might not be something that they’re seeking out.”

Lila Bartolomeo

Virginia Tech '24

Lila Bartolomeo is National Lifestyle Writer for Her Campus. She oversees the latest trends and pop culture as well as gives advice on how to land important roles as a college student. Beyond Her Campus, Lila has her own video production and photography company, where she designs and performs content production for diverse public and private events. She has written for Valnet covering traveling tips and must-see destinations. She has interned at the U.S. Department of State, United Legwear, Linking Lives, and Linking Lives Rwanda. Lila is about to embark on her next internship as a documentary intern at Virginia Tech. She is also the co-founder of Let’s Build A Rink Ice Hockey Campaign, where she is working on building an ice rink on campus. She is currently a senior at Virginia Tech, majoring in International Relations with a concentration in Spanish with a double minor in International Business and Marketing. In her free time, Lila plays ice hockey at Virginia Tech and serves as the vice president of her team. Other sports that she enjoys include lifting and surfing. Besides sports, Lila enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. So far, she has been to 19 countries and hopes to continue to travel more. Her goal is to take a road trip throughout the United States one day.