What to Wear

The most popular question leading up to Formal Recruitment week would undoubtedly have to be 'What do I wear?!' As women, we like to be dressed to impress. And this is the same for sorority recruitment! The sincerest tip we can give regarding dress is to be comfortable and be yourself. There are guidelines, but there is no actual dress code during recruitment week and at any given event you will see quite a range of outfits. Dress to your personal style because if you're not comfortable it will show, and you won't have as pleasant of an experience. Finally it is absolutely not necessary for you to purchase a new wardrobe in order to participate in the sorority recruitment process.

Tip #1: PLEASE wear comfortable shoes! We strongly advise you not to wear a brand new pair of shoes. You will be doing a lot of walking, sitting, and standing; therefore, you will want to be comfortable. Bring a pair of flip flops to walk in-between the sorority chapters if you are at all worried your shoes are going to give you trouble.

Tip #2: Seattle weather can be unpredictable in autumn; keep this in mind when deciding what to wear. An umbrella is always a good idea! 

Tip #3: You may bring a bag or purse, these will be left outside of the chapter house when you are inside for events and will be looked after by the recruitment counselors.

To give you a better sense of what to expect, a few of the Panhellenic Executive Board officers have outlined some of the types of outfits we generally see throughout recruitment week...

Orientation is casual and comfortable.

Panhellenic Days, or Open House Days will involve a lot of walking, so you will want to wear something comfortable. Clothing worn during this round is usually casual, such as nice jeans or shorts, which will complement the all-Panhellenic T-shirt you will be given at orientation. We understand that you may want to personalize the t-shirts provided for you. If you choose to do so, make sure the shirt is still appropriate!

House Tour Days are business casual. A dress, skirt or nice pants with a blouse will work well. Please keep in mind the length of your skirt or dress, you will potentially be walking up a lot of stairs. If you plan on wearing heals or wedges, which aren't advised for this round, be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes or flip flops for walking between events.

Philanthropy Day is slightly more formal, and a dress or nice skirt outfit would be a good choice. Many outfits at this round are those that would be worn to a luncheon or church service. If you plan on wearing heals or wedges, be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes or flip flops for walking between events.

Preference Day is the most formal event of the week with both potential members and sorority women dressing up. Typically, women wear a nice evening or cocktail dress; however, rhinestones, sequins, or formal gowns are not appropriate. If you plan on wearing heels or wedges, be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes or flip flops for walking between events.

Have a great time picking your outfits, but remember that at the end of the day it's not about what you are wearing, it is about the conversations that you have with the sorority women and the connections that you make. Enjoy the experience, and hopefully this info will help you come dressed with a boost of confidence!

What to Pack

A popular question among incoming college students, not just those interested in joining a sorority, is What do I bring? Well, sorority life is not that much different from life in the residence halls regarding living arrangements, i.e. you will be provided with a bed, a dresser, a closet, and potentially a desk. But here are a few extra things that will make your time in your sorority a little more comfortable, well organized, and will also make you the best roommate around:

First, it is important to understand that every sorority is set up differently. You may find you require some items in one, but do not in another - and none of these items will you need right when you move in (besides bedding, of course!) There will be plenty of time during your first week and throughout the first quarter to pick up what you need, and at that point you will know the space that you will be working with. 

**Note: If you are staying with us in the Residence Halls during recruitment week, there are some specific things you will need to bring. Those are bedding (size twin will work), towels, and then all other personal supplies like toiletries and your outfits for the week! Keep an eye out for a detailed post on outfit planning next week :)


1. Twin size bedding
Sororities have twin size beds, not twin XL like many of the residence halls. A few additional bedding specifics that can make your sorority bed a little cozier are a mattress pad, and heating blanket for those cold Seattle winters! And yes, of course your favorite stuffed animal can come along...

2. Hanging shoe rack/ organizer
When you're potentially sharing closet space, having your shoes de-cluttered up off the floor makes a much neater space for everyone. Even if you have a closet to yourself, you'll appreciate the organization!

3. Stackers/ plastic drawers
You will be provided with a dresser or place to keep your clothes, but what do you do with those extra things that your clothes simply can't make room for, such as your toiletries or the entire medicine cabinet that your mom forced you to bring? (Don't worry, it happened to all of us and it actually does come in handy). Stacking plastic drawers are great for those additional necessities, and they are easy to store and don't take up much space.

4. Jewelry organizer
Of course you can't leave home with out your favorite accessories, and this includes jewelry. Whether you go free standing and place it on your dresser or desk, or hanging to de-clutter your space, having your collection displayed can even double as fun decor for your room - plus your new sisters will know exactly where to go when they want to borrow a piece, and so will you!

5. Mirror
Every room needs a mirror, and when you have multiple women getting ready in one room it can never hurt to have two or three! Long ones go great on the back of the door, or you can get a small one to hang above your personal space for your use each day.

And then finally,

What NOT to bring:

1. Microwave or mini-fridge

Most sororities do not accommodate these. There is usually a large fridge in the chapter house for members to keep their personal food items if need be, and often multiple microwaves for use!

2. Desk

... right away. As a college student, of course you will want a desk. But we recommend that you do not bring your desk on move in day at least, because sororities are so variable with these! Many sororities offer desks for their new members to use for their first quarter or entire first year in the study room, and some sororities even have built in desks in member's rooms. It is typically easier to wait and see what your sorority will provide you with.

3. Your ENTIRE closet

It is understandable that you will want to begin college prepared for every situation, and with that  every outfit situation. But realistically, in a sorority you are going to have multiple roommates with whom you have to share your living space. Sometimes, this even includes closet space. Be considerate and do your best to pare down your closet a bit, or do what many sorority women do and switch out your clothes for the appropriate season at the end of each quarter! You will quickly learn what you wear often and what you don't, and if the day comes that you really do need one specific clothing item that you left at home - don't worry, you have 100 new sisters from whom you can borrow ;)

Below are some pictures of sorority rooms here at the UW, so you can get acquainted with a few of their different styles!

Check out individual chapter websites and Facebook pages for more room pictures and descriptions, you can find the links at our website www.uwpanhellenic.com

Happy packing ladies, can't wait for you all to move in in the fall!