Sorority Recruitment Info · Fall 2026

Join a Community & Find Your Home

Sorority Recruitment at the University of Washington

Come learn what freshman year could really look like: living in the sorority house from day 1, built-in mentorship, career connections, and a community — all before classes even start.

Plus, learn about cost savings compared to dorms and how sorority GPAs are higher than the UW average.

Get Involved

Whether you're ready to sign up or just want to learn more — start here.

Scroll to explore housing, academics, myths & more

↓
🏠 Housing & Cost 🎓 Academics & GPA ⏰ Why Join in Fall 🌙 Daily Life 💰 Aid & Scholarships 💡 Myths vs Reality 📋 How Recruitment Works 💬 Connect Before 📝 Registration ❓ FAQ 🎙 Q&A Sessions
UW Recruitment · 2026–27 Rates

The Real Cost of Living at UW

A breakdown of typical sorority vs. dorm costs at UW. Chapter costs vary — see the PHA chapter finance sheets for per-chapter details.

Save $1,000–$2,200+ per quarter
Sorority housing gives you chef-prepared meals, professional housekeeping, and community — for less than a dorm + meal plan at any level
Sorority House
~$5,100
typical per quarter — all-inclusive
Range: $4,000 – $5,700 / quarter
Includes room, meals, and everything below. See PHA chapter finance sheets for per-chapter costs.
What's included
  • ✓ Furnished room
  • ✓ Chef-prepared meals daily (3 meals)
  • ✓ Snack bar available all day
  • ✓ Live-in House Manager
  • ✓ WiFi & internet
  • ✓ All utilities included
  • ✓ Professional housekeeping multiple times per week
  • ✓ One price, no surprises
Plus chapter life
From weekly sisterhood nights to themed formals, philanthropy events, and chapter socials — a full calendar of traditions and memories, all built into your membership.
All-inclusive living
Apples-to-Apples Comparison
Dorms — 3 Meals/Day
$7,311
per quarter — room + Level 6 meal plan
Room: $4,396/qtr (double, private bath)
+ Level 6 dining plan: $2,915/qtr
Closest to the sorority experience — 3 meals/day
What's included
  • ✓ Furnished room
  • ! Dining plan — meal plan is a balance (deducts meal swipes and on-campus grocery/snack purchases, not unlimited)
  • ✓ WiFi & internet
  • ✓ Utilities included
  • ! Housekeeping in common spaces only
  • ! Snacks not provided between meals
$2,200+ more per quarter
Dorms — 2 Meals/Day
$6,052
per quarter — room + Level 3 meal plan
Room: $4,396/qtr (double, private bath)
+ Level 3 dining plan: $1,656/qtr
~2 meals/day at dining halls
What's included
  • ✓ Furnished room
  • ! Dining plan — meal plan is a balance (deducts meal swipes and on-campus grocery/snack purchases, not unlimited)
  • ✓ WiFi & internet
  • ✓ Utilities included
  • ! Housekeeping in common spaces only
  • ! Snacks not provided between meals
$1,000+ more per quarter
Sorority House
  • Chef-prepared meals daily (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Snack bar stocked all day by the house chef
  • Sit-down meals with your sisters
  • No budgeting or tracking — included in your housing cost
Dorm Dining Plan
  • Breakfast combo: $9.50
  • Lunch combo: $14.50
  • Dinner plate: $17.00
  • All 3 meals = $41/day, but Level 3 only gives you ~$22/day
Dorm rates from UW Housing & Food Services 2026–27 (Board of Regents approved March 2026).
Dorm room: double w/ private bath ($4,396/qtr). Dining plan mandatory for most residence halls.
Mid-tier = Level 3 ($1,656/qtr). Full = Level 6 ($2,915/qtr). Sorority costs are typical estimates; actual chapter costs vary — see PHA chapter finance sheets.

See Inside a UW Sorority Home

Every chapter has its own personality, but they all have what makes a house a home: late-night talks, shared meals, and the people who become your best friends.

@uwpanhellenic $4500 a quarter, with chefs, cleaners, and homey living spaces? Sign me up! ♬ original sound - UW Panhellenic
Video: @uwpanhellenic
Formal living room with chandelier and fireplace
Formal Living Room
Dining room with round wooden tables
Dining Room
Sleeping porch with bunk beds
Sleeping Porch
Study room with long tables and shelving
Study Room
Elegant hallway with patterned wallpaper and lamps
Entry Hallway
Outdoor patio with string lights and bistro tables
Outdoor Patio
Grades & Academics

Academics & GPA

One common concern people have about joining is how a sorority will impact their academics. Here's what the data actually shows.

3.55
Sorority Cumulative GPA
UW sorority members maintain a higher cumulative GPA than both the all-women's undergraduate average (3.509) and the all-undergraduate average (3.479) at UW.
3.55
Sorority
Cumulative GPA
3.509
All Women
Undergrad Average
3.479
All Undergrad
Campus Average
~65%
On the Dean's List
About 2 in 3 UW sorority women make the Dean's List each quarter — averaged across Fall 2024, Fall 2025, and Winter 2026
3.55
vs. 3.479 All Undergrad
Sorority women consistently outperform the overall campus GPA — quarter after quarter

Chapters provide study hours, academic resources, tutoring, and a built-in network of women who've taken your classes. Sorority life doesn't take away from academics — it adds structure and support that helps women succeed.

Source: UW Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life Academic Reports — Fall 2024, Fall 2025, and Winter 2026. Cumulative GPAs reflect sustained academic performance across all quarters; Dean's List percentage is weighted across the three most recent quarters.
Don't Wait Until After

Why Join Primary Sorority Recruitment in the Fall

Recruitment happens before Fall quarter starts for a reason — it's the only path where everything lines up. No double costs. No locked-in contracts. No starting school alone.

2025 Primary Recruitment Outcomes
99% of women receive a bid
94% accept and join their chapter — the other 5% have options but choose not to take them.
Source: UW Panhellenic 2025 Primary Recruitment statistics
💰

One Cost, Not Two

When you register for Primary Sorority Recruitment in the fall, your UW dorm contract is automatically canceled and your $500 deposit refunded. But if you choose to join after recruitment ends, your dorm contract is already locked in for the full year — so you'll be paying for both your UW dorm and live-out chapter dues. That's typically $5,000+ more per year, for less.

🏠

The Only Way to Live In

Primary Sorority Recruitment in the fall is the only path to moving into your chapter house on Bid Day — a full week before classes start. Join afterward and you can't move in at all; your UW dorm contract blocks it. You'd be part of a community you can't actually live with.

👭

Meet Every Chapter

Only during Primary Sorority Recruitment in the fall do you visit every one of the 17 participating chapters and see the full range of communities. After Primary Sorority Recruitment ends, you can no longer meet the full community — and you'd be limited to whichever chapters still happen to have open spots, with far fewer ways to find your fit.

✨

Join With Your Member Class

You go through Primary with a close-knit member class of new sisters (typically 25–35 women), move in together on Bid Day, and form your strongest friendships right at the start. By the first day of classes, you already have a built-in community walking to class with you — not a friend group to break into later.

What it actually costs to wait
Based on 2026–27 UW dorm rates and live-out chapter dues from UW chapter financial transparency forms.
Primary Sorority Recruitment
~$15,000
per year — all-inclusive
  • Chapter housing (private room, furnished)
  • Chef-prepared meals + snacks
  • Utilities, WiFi, housekeeping
  • All chapter events & membership dues
  • Live-in House Manager
vs.
Wait & Pay Both
~$20,000–$25,000
per year — for less
  • Full-year UW dorm + dining ($18K–$22K)
  • Live-out chapter dues (~$2,700/year on average)
  • No bedroom or personal space at the chapter house
  • No chapter-included meals or housekeeping
  • Paying membership dues either way
Waiting to join after Primary Sorority Recruitment can cost $5,000+ more per year — and you get less.
Primary Sorority Recruitment figure reflects typical all-inclusive chapter housing (range $4,000–$5,700/qtr). Live-out dues figure is the ~$2,700 average annualized across UW Panhellenic chapters with chapter housing, based on 2025–26 financial transparency forms. Actual costs vary by chapter — see PHA chapter finance sheets.
Did you know?
500 students
try to join the UW sorority community after Primary Sorority Recruitment ends each year.

Most of these women cannot move into a chapter house because they're already locked into a full-year UW dorm contract — and they end up paying for both the dorm AND sorority membership dues. Primary Sorority Recruitment in the fall is the only way to avoid that.

A Day in the Life

Daily Life in the Chapter House

A common worry: "I'll be surrounded by 100 girls 24/7." Actually it's the opposite — with so many rooms in the home, you get more alone time than you ever would sharing one dorm room with a roommate 24/7. It feels more like a home than a dorm ever could. Here's what your day, your space, and your sisterhood actually look like.

A typical weekday

7:30 AMWake up and get ready for the day in your room with your roommates — borrowing each other's sweatshirts for class
8:00 AMBreakfast in the dining room with your big sister — chef-prepared avocado toast, yogurt bowls, and coffee
8:45 AMWalk to your 300-person lecture at Kane Hall with 10 girls in your grade — all in the same class, all walking together
11:00 AMLeave class and head to your shift at the coffee shop on the Ave
3:00 PMHead back to the house — grab your late plate from the fridge, chef saved you chicken caesar wraps and a smoothie from lunch
3:30 PMStudy for your midterm in the study room with friends prepping for the same test — an upperclassman who took it last year drops in to help
5:45 PMDinner in the dining room — chef-prepared chipotle-style bowls and tacos with the girls in your member class
9:00 PMMovie night in the living room with your sisters — eating popcorn & chips from the snack bar
10:30 PMGetting ready for bed — catching up with your friends in the bathroom before you go to sleep
🍽️

Meals — three a day, on your schedule

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served in the dining room — typically breakfast from 7:30–9:30 AM, lunch from 11:30–1:30, and dinner from 5:30–6:30. You can either sit down and enjoy your meal in the dining room with sisters or grab a to-go box and take it with you, whatever fits your day better. In between meals, the snack bar is stocked all day with bagels, popcorn, and granola bars. Every meal comes with a salad bar and dietary options so you can build it exactly the way you want. Chefs accommodate gluten-free, vegan, and allergy needs — just let them know. And if you miss a meal entirely because of class, extracurriculars, or a work shift, your chef will save you a "late plate" — a to-go box in the fridge ready for you for when you're back home.

🌙

The sleeping porch — what it actually is

Some chapters have a sleeping porch — a dedicated sleep room with bunk beds, separate from your day room. Most chapters' sleeping porches are 24/7 dark and quiet. The big advantage: you have a room dedicated entirely to rest. If your roommates are studying or hanging out in your day room, you can go take a nap in your bed anytime without disturbing anyone. Sleep separated from social life means you actually rest.

Current first-year members say the same thing — they were nervous at first, then loved it. "I was super scared of the porch when I found out that was a thing. And I love my porch — you sleep so well, trust me," says Catherine. "I thought I was going to hate it at first — but it's so nice to have a totally quiet space to rest," says Morgan.

👚

Storage & your room

Most chapters give you a desk, dresser, and closet all in your own room. Many chapters also have out-of-state lockers and basement storage areas for off-season clothes, ski gear, sports equipment, or anything that doesn't fit in your everyday space — a huge perk for members coming from far away.

📚

Finding your own space

A lot of incoming students assume living in a sorority house means being surrounded by 100 girls all the time. The reality is much more relaxed. The houses are huge — with so many different rooms and quiet spaces, finding your own time alone is easy. Unlike a dorm where you and your roommate share one room, you're sharing a whole home with women who all have different schedules and busy lives. You'll find yourself with the couch to yourself, the study room empty, or the sun porch all yours more often than you'd expect. It actually feels more like a home than a dorm ever could.

👟

Walking to and from class

Almost every member walks to campus with sisters from her chapter — same majors, same general direction, same morning. You're never crossing campus alone, and there's something grounding about starting (and ending) the day with someone you live with.

📖

Study culture & built-in academic support

Chapters have study hours, quiet study spaces (study porches, libraries, dining rooms after meals), and — most importantly — a network of older sisters who have already taken your classes. Need help with a Chem 142 problem set or want to swap notes for ECON 201? There's almost always someone two years ahead who can show you the way. UW sorority members consistently outperform the all-undergraduate GPA for a reason.

💖

Sisterhood — traditions & events on the calendar

Beyond living together, chapters have a calendar full of traditions: Big/Little reveals, themed sisterhood nights, philanthropy events for chapter causes, formals, date functions, and house socials. There's always something happening — and never any pressure to attend all of it.

🎉

Weekend life

Game days are a tradition — throwing on your chapter's custom Huskies football merch and walking to the stadium together. Weekends also bring brunches, philanthropy fundraisers, sisterhood retreats, and trips downtown. If you'd rather have a quiet weekend in, there's always someone who will want to join you too!

🏡

Coming home after a hard day

One of the things members say they didn't realize would matter so much: after a long day of classes, walking back to a house full of people who genuinely get it. Need to vent about a hard exam, decompress on the couch with company, or just want a quiet bowl of soup the chef made? It's already there waiting for you.

✈️

For out-of-state members

Coming to UW from far away is so much easier when you land into a community that already feels like home. Out-of-state members regularly say their chapter became their "home away from home" — a Thanksgiving dinner at a sister's home if you're staying in Seattle, rides to the airport, a sister to grab coffee with when you need to talk. You're not building a community alone — you walk into one.

“
Real Student Story
A current UW freshman, in her own words, on missing Primary Recruitment her first year:

I missed primary recruitment due to a study abroad program last fall. My intended roommate decided to rush, and my only option for last-minute dorming was a four-person room. From the very beginning the dorm living situation was stressful, with four girls in one room with one sink and one shower. Hair dryers waking you up at 8:00 am, the shower running at midnight, and late-night homework sessions with lights on until 4:00 am made it difficult to adjust.

In sorority houses, many have sleeping porches dedicated for quiet times, as well as bathrooms where everyone can get ready together without waking others. My friends in sororities raved about their chefs while the dining halls consistently gave me undercooked food, inaccurate menus, or items containing gluten when I asked for gluten-free.

My friends who joined through primary recruitment described it as finding their home away from home and how they now have a community to go through college with. I tried to join after primary recruitment, but it was difficult to fit in with my busy school schedule and the process took much longer than I expected. Many of my friends spent months trying to join.

At the start of fall quarter, it will be nice to have people in classes to sit with, a group to dress up with and attend football games, and a community to come back to every night. I have decided to do primary recruitment in the fall and am looking forward to a structured, one-week process, where I can meet my future sisters and spend the next four years together.

Abby Jane
UW Freshman, Fall 2026 PNM
Costs Don't Have to Be a Barrier

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Most students don't realize they can apply financial aid, scholarships, and 529 plans toward sorority housing and dues. Here's how it works at UW.

💡
The general rule

If your aid covers off-campus housing, it covers sorority housing.

That includes federal financial aid, 529 college savings plans, and most outside scholarships. Sorority housing is treated as off-campus housing — which means most aid packages apply directly.

— Karen Clegg, UW Panhellenic Advisor

🎓 Federal financial aid & 529 plans

Both apply the same way they would to off-campus housing. If you're on a federal aid package and unsure, ask your financial aid office: "Does my package cover off-campus housing?" If yes, it covers sorority housing. 529 college savings plans cover all chapter expenses from what UW Panhellenic has seen.

💰 Local & outside scholarships

If a scholarship is paid as a check or applied to your student account, you can use it for chapter dues. Often it works like this: scholarship money fills your tuition bill first, and any leftover is refunded to your bank account — from there you pay your chapter directly. Talk to your chapter's VP of Finance early to coordinate timing — they're super accommodating and want to help in any way they can.

📅 Payment plans

Most chapters let you split your dues into monthly installments (commonly 3 per quarter) instead of one lump sum. If you need extra time or extra support, just talk to your chapter's VP of Finance — they want to assist in any way they can and are super accommodating to your situation.

🎁 UW Panhellenic Dues Support Fund

UW Panhellenic itself runs a Dues Support Fund for members who need help. Last winter quarter alone, nearly 100 members applied — and the fund covered spring quarter dues for those who received it. It's an annual opportunity.

Have a specific question about your situation? The fastest path is to contact Karen Clegg, UW Panhellenic Advisor directly — she answers families' questions full-time and can help you understand the process before you commit.

UW Sorority Community

By the Numbers

Here's what the UW sorority community actually looks like.

🏠
17
Chapters
Participating in Primary Sorority Recruitment — 16 with their own chapter house
👭
~1,770
Women in the Community
Across all 18 UW sorority chapters (~100 women per chapter on average)
✨
25–35
Women per Member Class
A typical close-knit class — small enough to actually know everyone by name, not lost in a class of hundreds like big schools
📅
1 week
Early Move-In
Move in on Bid Day — before school even starts
Sorority
All UW

Higher GPA Than Campus Average

UW sorority members consistently outperform the all-undergraduate GPA at UW. With built-in study hours, academic support, and a network of women who've taken your classes — your grades get better, not worse.

🤝

Career Connections

Alumnae networks that span industries — mentorship, internships, and job referrals from women who've been where you are.

🎯

Leadership Opportunities

From philanthropy chairs to chapter presidents — real leadership experience that stands out on a resume.

Let's Clear the Air

Myths vs. Reality

Everything you've heard about sorority recruitment might not apply here. UW does things differently.

✗ Myth
"Recruitment is going to be super intense and materialistic — I've seen the Alabama Rush videos and other big schools."
✓ Reality
UW recruitment is Seattle casual. We pride ourselves in our values and community education, and we care about getting to know you as a person — not your outfits or your resume. With 17 chapters to choose from during Primary Sorority Recruitment, there's a home for everyone depending on what they're interested in and what matters to them. It's not a member class of hundreds like a big school — it's a small, close-knit member class (typically 25–35 women) focused on finding your fit.
✗ Myth
"I already signed up for a roommate or have a housing contract — can I still do recruitment?"
✓ Reality
Yes, you can still do recruitment — you'll be shifting your first-year housing to a chapter house. New members move directly into their sorority house on Bid Day, where you'll meet and live with all your new friends in your member class. We know it can be hard to "give up" a roommate you were planning to live with on campus, but hopefully that friend will also join the sorority community — and you'll make friends with their new sorority as well (if you don't join the same one 🙂). If you've signed up for campus housing, that contract will be canceled and your $500 deposit refunded when you register for recruitment. And if you don't join for any reason, you're guaranteed on-campus housing as a first-year or transfer student after recruitment ends.
✗ Myth
"What if I go through recruitment and don't get a house?"
✓ Reality
This is a mutual process — you're choosing chapters just as much as they're choosing you. With 17 chapters to choose from during Primary Sorority Recruitment, there's a home for everyone. Women who participate through the full process and stay open-minded are set up for success. That's what recruitment is all about — finding your fit.
✗ Myth
"Sorority housing is way more expensive than living in the dorms."
✓ Reality
Sorority housing is actually comparable or cheaper. The ~$5,100/quarter typical cost includes chef-prepared meals, WiFi, utilities, and cleaning. Dorms charge $6,052+/quarter for room + a mid-tier meal plan.
✗ Myth
"Being in a sorority will hurt my grades."
✓ Reality
It's the opposite. UW sorority members consistently maintain a higher GPA than the all-undergraduate average at UW. Chapters have study hours, academic resources, and a built-in network of women who've taken your classes.
✗ Myth
"I'm not the 'sorority type.'"
✓ Reality
There is no type. UW's 18 sorority chapters each have their own culture, values, and vibe. Engineers, pre-med students, artists, athletes — nearly 1,800 women across every major and background are part of this community.
✗ Myth
"I'm too introverted to live in a sorority house."
✓ Reality
A sorority house actually has more privacy than a dorm. In a dorm, your only personal space is the room you share with one roommate. In a chapter house, there are dozens of rooms — sleeping porches with 24/7 quiet hours, study porches, libraries, formal living rooms, dining rooms — and members regularly find themselves completely alone in spaces because everyone's at class, work, or out doing things. Sleeping porches in particular separate where you sleep from where you live, which many introverted members say helps them disconnect more easily than a dorm room ever did.
Your Roadmap

How Primary Sorority Recruitment Works

Primary Sorority Recruitment takes place before the quarter begins. It's a weeklong process for PNMs (Potential New Members — the term for women going through recruitment) that starts with a kick-off day and moves through four rounds. Each round helps you and the chapters get to know each other better.

1
🏡 Kick-Off & Move-In
Wed Sept 9 · All PNMs
Move-in day for PNMs staying in recruitment housing, plus a kick-off meeting for all PNMs (including those commuting). You'll meet your Recruitment Counselors, your small group, and get oriented for the week ahead.
👟 Wear: Casual and comfortable — you'll be on the move
2
👋 Community Round
Thu Sept 10 & Fri Sept 11 · All 17 chapters · 30 min each
Your first introduction to every participating chapter. You'll have 30-minute conversations with 1–4 members at each house — it's all about connection, values, and first impressions. This is the only recruitment opportunity to meet all chapters.
👟 Wear: Panhellenic t-shirt (provided!) + your choice of bottoms + comfy shoes
3
💜 Philanthropy Round
Sat Sept 12 & Sun Sept 13 · Up to 12 chapters · 30 min each
Chapters share the causes they support and the impact they make on campus and beyond. This round is about values and purpose — what matters to them and what matters to you.
👟 Wear: Casual and comfortable — sneakers still work great
4
🤝 Membership Round
Mon Sept 14 · Up to 7 chapters · 40 min each
Deeper conversations about the membership experience — financial commitments, time involvement, and day-to-day life in the chapter. For housed chapters, this is when you'll tour the facilities and see where you could be living.
👟 Wear: Casual dresses, skirts, or a step up from your everyday outfit — sneakers still fine
5
⭐ Preference Round
Tue Sept 15 · Up to 2 chapters · 1 hour each
The most personal and meaningful round. You'll visit your top chapters for intentional, reflective conversations and connect on a deeper level. After this, you'll rank your final preferences — and everyone is matched up based on mutual selection.
👠 Wear: Dressier — think a nice dinner or event. Dressier shoes for this one!
🎉

Bid Day — Wednesday, September 16

You open your bid, run home to your chapter, and move into your new house — all a full week before classes start.

📅

Thursday, September 17 — what happens after Bid Day

  • Move-out: the last day to be out of recruitment housing if you stayed with us on campus
  • Finish move-in: if you didn't bring everything to the chapter house on Bid Day, this is the day to finish settling in
👪

Friday, September 18 — Parent & Family Welcome

An orientation-style session for families, hosted by each chapter at the same consistent time across the community so you always know when to plan for it. A virtual option is available for families who can't attend in person.

  • Chapter intros: meet the president, new member coordinator, treasurer, risk chair, and housing contacts
  • Finance transparency: a full breakdown of dues, what's included, and payment options
  • Philanthropy & involvement: what your daughter's chapter supports and how parents can get involved
  • New member programming: an overview of required Welcome Week education (IPV prevention, alcohol & drug education, hazing prevention)
  • Facility & House Mom: see the chapter housing and meet the live-in housing coordinator. House Corporation alumni often join too.
📦

Move-in roadmap for families

The big move-in day is Bid Day, Sept 16. Everything else on this list is flexibility for families, dates you can use to drop things off, come back for more, or catch up.

🏠
The Move-In Day
Sept 16 · Bid Day
She runs home to her new chapter and moves into the chapter house. This is the day.
Catch-up days for families
  • Sept 9: main drop-off for recruitment week. Send her up with a suitcase and bedding, or bring all her things now if that's easier.
  • Sept 17: finish unpacking or bring anything you didn't bring on the 16th.
  • Sept 18: Parent & Family Welcome day. A natural time to be on campus, and she'll know what she still needs.
  • Sept 20 (Sunday): parking is free on campus, and by this point she has a clear picture of what's missing.
  • Later: a week or two later, once she knows what to grab on a final Target run.

If you can't be there: every new member is assigned a Bid Day Buddy from her chapter who helps her carry stuff in, set up her room, and figure out what she still needs. Older sisters also run Target runs the first few days. She won't move in alone.

“
From a UW Parent
A current UW parent, in her own words, on watching her daughter through freshman year in a sorority:

My daughter is currently a freshman, and she absolutely loves her sorority sisters and the house. She's excelling in her classes and has already taken on some leadership roles as a freshman, which has been amazing to watch.

I'll be honest, I was skeptical of sorority life at first. Like many parents, I had some preconceived notions. But now, I completely welcome it because I've seen the positive impact it has had on her confidence, friendships, academics, and overall college experience.

For us, it truly helped make a big campus feel smaller and gave her a strong support system right from the start. I'm so grateful she took that step. 💜

Mabel
Current UW Parent
Before You Get to Campus

How to Connect Before Recruitment

You don't have to wait until September to ask questions or meet people. Here are all the ways to plug in over the summer.

📚

Advising & Orientation

UW Panhellenic hosts a session during the "How To Husky" breakout at every advising and orientation session. Recruitment vice presidents are there in person to answer questions and connect with you.

💬

DM the PLC or Panhellenic

The fastest way to ask a quick, informal question is to DM @uwplc (current first-year students on the Panhellenic Leadership Council) or @uwpanhellenic (the official Panhellenic account). Real students reply.

👯

Summer outreach from your RC

Once you register for recruitment and Recruitment Counselors finish training, your RC will reach out over the summer so you have a current member to ask informal questions before recruitment week even starts.

📝

Submit a question

Have a specific question you'd like answered at a future Q&A session? Submit it through our Google Form and we'll address it on the next call.

📞

Talk to Karen directly

Karen Clegg is UW Panhellenic's full-time advisor and answers questions from families directly. Especially helpful for parents.

Email: cleggk@uw.edu · uwpanhellenic@gmail.com
Phone: (206) 543-1810

👥

Ask a friend

Anyone you know who's already in a UW chapter is a great resource — Panhellenic members love sharing their experience. If you know someone, reach out for coffee, lunch, or a Zoom this summer.

All About Registration

What's Inside Registration

Everything you need to know about registering for Primary Sorority Recruitment, from what to prepare to what each step of the application looks like.

💵
$65
non-refundable registration fee
⏱️
~20 min
to complete the application
📝
No resume
just type your activities into the form
💾
Save & return
come back to finish anytime

📋 Have these handy before you start

A look at what it actually looks like (3 pages)
Page 1 · The application (25%)
CampusDirector
University of Washington
HUB 236, Box 352238 · 206-543-1810 · uwpanhellenic@gmail.com
25%
Welcome!
Preferred First Name *
Middle Name *
Phone *
Preferred Pronouns *
- Please select an option -
Page 1 (continued) · No resume needed, just type
CampusDirector
Major *
If you do not know/have an intended major please indicate "Undecided".
Extracurricular Activities #1 *
Leadership, service, athletics, work, or any other extracurricular activities most notable in your high school career. List as many as you would like.
Interests
Please list any additional interests here, ex. golf, dance, travel, cooking, video games, professional sports, singing, reading etc.
Page 2 · Upload her photo (40%)
CampusDirector
40%
🖼️ Upload an Image *
⬆
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💾
👤
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Registration Fee Payment Information
Fee Information
Registration Fee $65
Total $65
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Frequently Asked Questions

Still Have Questions?

Here are the most common questions from incoming freshmen and parents.

Does my daughter need a resume to register for recruitment?

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No. The Campus Director application has three text fields where she lists her activities directly: Extracurricular Activities (leadership, service, athletics, work, clubs from high school), Campus Involvement (for returning students), and Interests (hobbies, sports, anything she loves). She just types them in like a list. No PDF, no formatted resume, no uploads required.

How much does registration cost? Is it refundable?

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The recruitment registration fee is $65.00 and is non-refundable. After she finishes the application and uploads her photo, she'll be redirected to re:Members (formerly Greekbill) to pay by credit or debit card.

Is there a time limit on the payment step?

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Yes. Once she clicks "Continue to Payment," she has 30 minutes to finish paying. If she doesn't complete it in time, her registration information will be lost and she'll need to log back in and redo it. Have her credit/debit card next to her before she starts the payment step so there are no surprises.

Can she preview the application questions before logging in?

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The portal itself requires a login, so the questions aren't viewable beforehand on Campus Director. We've published a full preview of the sections and fields on this page (above) so you know exactly what's inside before she creates an account.

Can she save the application and come back to finish it later?

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Yes, up until the payment step. The application form itself saves as she goes — she can log out and come back to finish it. The only place this changes is the payment page: once she clicks Continue to Payment, she has 30 minutes to complete it on re:Members before her info is lost.

What photo does she upload, and what are the requirements?

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The photo is uploaded on Page 2 of registration. Requirements: less than 1 MB, in .jpg, .jpeg, .png, or .gif format. The portal has built-in rotate and crop tools after she uploads. A clear, friendly headshot works best. It doesn't need to be a professional portrait. The photo is shared with chapters on the first day of recruitment (September 10, 2026) so they can recognize her.

Do I choose the sorority, or do they choose me?

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Primary Sorority Recruitment is a mutual selection process. After each round, you rank the chapters you visited in order of preference, and chapters also select the potential new members they'd like to invite back. These preferences are matched together to create your schedule for the next round. As the week goes on, your list narrows to the places where there's a strong mutual fit. By Preference Round, you'll typically have up to two chapters where both you and the chapter have consistently chosen each other.

Is there a GPA requirement to go through recruitment?

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The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) does not allow Panhellenics to set a minimum GPA for potential members to participate in recruitment. Individual chapters may have their own GPA requirements for membership, and these vary by organization.

Do legacy status or letters of recommendation matter at UW?

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Not significantly. UW Panhellenic does not collect legacy information on its recruitment registration anymore, and many chapter legacy policies have changed or been removed nationally — chapters are looking for the women they feel will be the best fit, regardless of legacy. Letters of recommendation similarly don't carry much weight at UW. The advice from UW Panhellenic: if someone in your life genuinely wants to write you a letter, don't say no — but don't spend time hunting them down. Chapters focus on getting to know you through real conversation during recruitment week.

I'm doing College Edge over the summer. Can I do that AND Primary Recruitment?

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Yes, absolutely. UW Panhellenic builds the recruitment schedule to work in harmony with the College Edge schedule. Your individual recruitment schedule will be tailored to your College Edge commitments, so you can attend both. If you're participating in College Edge, you also won't need to sign up for recruitment housing — you'll already be living in College Edge housing. Email Karen Clegg if you have specific scheduling questions. Learn more at collegeedge.washington.edu.

How much does recruitment cost?

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There is a $65 non-refundable registration fee for Primary Sorority Recruitment. If you choose to live on campus during recruitment week, there is a separate housing registration for that as well.

Can I participate if I'm not a freshman?

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Yes! While many participants are first-year students, any undergraduate student enrolled at UW Seattle is welcome to participate in Primary Sorority Recruitment. Chapters are excited to welcome students from all class years — whether you're a sophomore, junior, or beyond, there is a place for you.

What if I want to withdraw during recruitment?

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Going through Primary Sorority Recruitment does not obligate you to join a sorority. If at any point you decide it's not the right fit, you can withdraw from the process. If you're a first-year or transfer student and you participated in the first full round of recruitment, you're still guaranteed a spot in campus housing.

Do I have to live in the sorority house my first year?

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If you accept a bid from a housed chapter, yes — you will live in your chapter house during your first year. This is an important part of the sorority experience and helps build strong community within your chapter. Living-in requirements beyond the first year vary by chapter. The one exception is Zeta Tau Alpha, which is an unhoused chapter — members do not live in a chapter facility.

What is a Recruitment Counselor?

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A Recruitment Counselor (RC) is a sorority member who temporarily disaffiliates from her own chapter to provide you with an unbiased, supportive experience. You'll be placed in a small group with 3–4 RCs who are there to answer questions, offer guidance, and help you navigate decisions between rounds. They're one of your best resources during recruitment.

Is food provided during recruitment week?

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If you choose to live on campus during recruitment, you'll receive a meal stipend that can be used at campus dining locations. PNMs commuting from home can also eat on campus, and there are plenty of additional options near campus on University Ave and at University Village.

Do chapters accommodate dietary needs?

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Yes. Each chapter's chef works to accommodate members with food preferences or allergies. Once you move into your house, you'll communicate your dietary needs directly with the chef so they can accommodate you.

Do I need a UW campus meal plan if I live in the chapter house?

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No. Members living in chapter facilities get all three meals plus snacks through the chapter, so a campus meal plan is unnecessary and most members don't have one. You might still grab the occasional coffee or quick bite between classes on University Avenue, but you don't need to budget for a separate dining plan.

Are alarm clocks allowed in the sleeping porch? What if I have specific sleep preferences?

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Yes, alarm clocks are generally allowed (specifics vary slightly by chapter). Most members use their phone on a small nightstand. Chapters are also flexible about sleep preferences: many group members by preference, so women who like fans or white noise can be together in one part of the porch and quieter sleepers in another. If you have specific needs, tell your chapter early and they'll work with you.

Will the sleeping porch work for me if I snore, talk in my sleep, or have sleep apnea?

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Communicate with your chapter and they will accommodate you. Snoring and sleep talking are common and usually not disruptive (everyone is tired and asleep). For sleep apnea, sleepwalking, or anything that needs a separate setup, chapters can arrange alternative sleeping arrangements so you have your own space. You don't have to sleep on the porch if that's not the right fit.

What programming happens during Welcome Week for new members?

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Welcome Week is the stretch between Bid Day and the first day of classes. It includes three required educational programs run by UW Panhellenic for all new members: IPV (interpersonal violence) prevention, alcohol & drug education, and hazing prevention. Chapters also use this week for sisterhood bonding, campus tours led by older sisters (where to study, how to get to class, the best coffee spots), and university-wide Dog Days events that chapters attend together.
Ask Us Anything

Weekly Q&A Sessions

Hear from current UW freshmen, Panhellenic & OFSL representatives, alumni, and recruitment advisors. No pressure — just real answers.

Every session features current UW freshmen in PLC (Junior Panhellenic), Panhellenic & OFSL representatives, recruitment advisors from multiple chapters, and UW alumni. Ask anything about recruitment, housing, costs, academics, social life, and more. All sessions are virtual on Microsoft Teams.
Sunday
May 3
6:00 PM PT
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Wednesday
May 6
7:30 PM PT
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Tuesday
May 12
4:00 PM PT
Sign Up →
Tuesday
May 12
7:00 PM PT
Sign Up →
Tuesday
June 2
6:00 PM PT
Sign Up →
Tuesday
June 9
7:00 PM PT
Sign Up →
Can't make any of these? Sign up anyway and we'll send you the recap plus invites to future sessions.