tngirl01,
There are actually a fair amount of threads on here about UW. This is one:
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=95905&highlight=University+Washin gton
My information on UW is limited to many of daughters friends and family friends' children who went through recruitment there (we lived in Washington for several years and are now in Oregon), so it is strictly 2nd and 3rd hand.
1) UW recruitment is fairly competitive but not cutthroat and not like most big schools in the SEC or midwest at least based on what I've read here about recruitment in those regions. By that I mean that recs aren't as necessary, girls don't prepare for it years in advance, and not many have set ideas about the few sororities they want to join.
2) No idea - question for a woman from that sorority.
3) Recommendation letters - from what I understand- they are a little more common than they used to be and on any campus they would be helpful, but its not a "get 2 or they'll cut you" thing. Most of her friends didn't have them.
4) I doubt anyone could give you odds. You can look at their stats (I think they have them on their website somewhere) and see how many girls started recruitment and how many got bids, but most of that difference reflects girls who dropped out not girls who got dropped. I will tell you that every single one of the girls she knew that went through recruitment got a bid (not always to their first choice but they got a bid). That number included one sophomore. I would guess that if you are a freshman, you have good grades (which I'm assuming you do anyway if you got in), you have reasonable social skills, you're appropriately dressed, you maximize your options and stay open-minded, your odds are very good.
5) Info on how the housing works is here:
http://www.uwpanhellenic.com/join/re...ersity_housing. It does say you have to complete formal recruitment (not sure if that means you can't drop - you have to be dropped or what) and you have to sign up for it before September 1 to qualify.
6) Some of her friends went to Greek Preview week, but most didn't. Of course, they were all in-state girls. I think if you could afford it - its a great way to ask questions, get a feel for Greek life at the school and meet some people, so why not.
7) All of her friends who joined houses really loved Greek life at UW as far as she knows, but she knows people who chose not to go through recruitment who've enjoyed their time at UW too. Its a huge school in a big city so of course you can find plenty to do if you don't join. Her impression from friends is that a lot of the school's social life does occur in and around Greek life. She's been up there (Greek row that is) several times to visit and always really liked the people she met and had a good time. She thinks UW's Greek row is certainly the prettiest in the Pac-12 (and that's coming from a Duck - she doesn't give UW compliments freely
).
8. I would say stay in the dorms only because most girls will and again, even if you decide Greek life isn't for you - it will give you a chance to meet some girls before school starts.
Hope that helps. PS. Bring a rain jacket, but NOT an umbrella.
Hybrid Mode
