rush at the University of Washington
 

Hi,
I am planning on rushing this fall and was just wondering how competitive is the University of Washington's greek life. I know that it is competitive in the south but am unsure it at UW. Also I was wondering how important letters of reccomendation are at the UW. If anyone could answer my questions, that would be awesome.

Thanks, Peardoll

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...threadid=16511

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...threadid=19767

http://students.washington.edu/%7Epanhell/

Hey there, Peardoll..you should definitely check out those threads that my sister Cutiepie posted, they're all about rush at UW. And the Panhellenic website is also excellent if you haven't visited it yet. I remember last summer when I was excited for rush, it was a great resource.

Thanks for putting links on that last post.... It was very helpful!!

You're welcome and good luck with Recruitment!

Recruitment at UW
 

Hi! I'm an Alpha Xi Delta at the UW, and I can tell you a little bit about recruitment and the Greek system. There are 16 sororities and 27 fraternities at the UW, and while recruitment isn't anything near the event that it is in the south, formal fall recruitment does get quite a few girls going through. Last year there were over 700 girls! Recruitment IS competitive at the UW--the sororities here usually have between 60 and100 members and get about 30 (give or take) new members during each recruitment. In the past, the statistic was that 98% of girls going through recruitment would get a bid if they went to all the "parties" (meaning recruitment events during the week) that they could and generally followed the recruitment rules. This isn't quite true any more, but most girls wind up in a house where they are VERY happy. The UW has a really strong Greek system, and it's definitely a great community to be a part of. Going through recruitment is a great way to meet people and decide whether sorority life is for you...

As for letters of recommendation, they are good things to have, but it isn't required. Each chapter uses them differently, but the UW is definitely not like some of the big south schools where you won't be considered/invited back without recommendations. If you are a legacy to any of the organizations (meaning that your mom, grandma, or sister is an alumna) DEFINITELY make sure that they get in touch with that chapter or the national headquarters so that the chapter knows that you'll be coming through recruitment.

I know that this is a lot of information, but I hope that it helps. You can PM me if you want other information! And just in case you've watched the show on MTV, being in a sorority is NOTHING like what they show on sorority life...

Hey, I heard that the new members of a sorority there move in to the house immediatley! Is this true, and what is it like? I can't imagine being freshmen and moving right into a sorority house, living with all these girls in a house versus a dorm. However, it maked me kinda jealous that I don't get to experience a real "house".......i bet the bonding is great...:)

Yep, it's true! Sunday of Recruitment Week is Bid Day, and when the girls get their bids they run out into a large open field (called the "quad") and meet the rest of their pledge class and some sisters. They go to the houses right away, and usually the sororities have activities planned for that week ("welcome week") and the girls move in all that week at their convenience. I was mostly all moved in by Sunday evening, but I made a few more trips home to get forgotten things.

ooh that sounds really cool... I am very jealous! What kinds of activities did the house girls plan for the new girls? I am living with the house manager at my school this coming year, and we are trying to think of cool little things to do for welcome back for the girls moving in in August (no new members...just actives).......?:)