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Ninety-nine percent of the articles we read point to a global economic meltdown with the US not coming off much better. Unemployment is nerve-wrackingly high, the gap between the haves and have nots continues to widen (especially if you’re an unmarried mom) and yet moms and their daughters are spending thousands of dollars on a weekend to learn how to get into the best sorority.

Wait, what?

The New York Times published an article yesterday that discussed a growing niche business that helps young women interested in joining college sororities prepare (i.e. choose the right outfits, learn the art of schmoozing and identify the best references) for the rush process.

As someone who was not part of the Greek scene during college (The University of North Carolina, to be exact), I won’t pretend to know the ins and outs of the process, but I cannot remember a single conversation with Greek life-focused friends that started with “my sorority consultant said…” Yes, I remember the scramble to find the right summer dress, but don’t remember thinking it would be worth paying $8,000 for someone to help me choose one. And I’m sure my parents wouldn’t have thought so either.

So I’m left to wonder – what’s going on here? College costs are at an all-time high (and increasing 8% a year), so how can anyone rationalize paying crazy fees for something like this? Can today’s college freshman not handle the growing pains associated with trying out for a club or sorority on their own? And what does that teach them as they enter the (this makes me feel old) “Grown Up World?” Or, maybe I’m making too much out this. You tell me.