Alright ladies looking to find your dream house, dig out your biggest, cutest tote-bag, and get ready to lug it with you through the next two weekends of recruitment. The days will be long, the rounds will seem short, and you will need lots of items to get you through the day.
The Basics
1. Mints– For a quick breath refresh, keep a tin of mints handy. The sisters will be popping LifeSavers every chance they get, so you should at least try to do the same.
2. Snack- During the first weekend of house and values and philanthropy, no snacks will be served, and like I said before, the days will be long, and you’ll probably start to get a little hungry. Pack something with protein to keep you full.
3. Water Bottle-The easiest way to stay hydrated is to keep water with you at all times.
4. An Extra Pair of Shoes- Walking in College Park is not the easiest thing to do in heels, save your tired feet, and throw in a pair of flats. If you can fit your UGG boots in your bag, you won’t regret it.
5. Notebook and Pen- Take notes of your experiences at each house you visit. Write down the names of the girls you talk to. It’s the easiest way to remember all this information when it comes to rank.
6. External Phone Charger- Although you should never take your phone out during recruitment, it is a long day, and you can use it to take notes and check the time, since you should not be wearing a watch during recruitment.
7. Reading Material- In the chanced that you have a break during a round or two, it’s always a good chance to catch up on a good book, or some homework. Once pledging begins, you’ll have even less free time than before.
8. Safety Pin- My mother always tells me to carry one with me. It’s so tiny and weightless. It can fix a too-low neckline, ripped hem, or missing button.
9. Umbrella- Check the weather beforehand, but in case the sky starts to tear up, save your outfit and stash some rain gear in your bag.
Beauty Products:
10. Mini Hairbrush- If you spent a solid hour straightening your hair or it just seems to tangle, a brush is a must to tame the strays.
11. Lip Balm- The last thing you want to worry about during this high-pressure weekend are dry lips.
12. Lip Color- Reapply every few hours. If you have space, add any other make up essentials you may think you might want.
13. Deodorant- It may be cold outside, but put 80 women in a chapter room and the temperature will start to rise.
14. Compact- To check your appearance and make sure that nothing is out of place.
Health Products:
15. Hand Sanitizer- We are officially in flu season. You’ll be shaking lots of hands throughout the day, avoid excess germs and discreetly apply once you’re out the door.
16. Feminine Products- Just in case your time of the month makes an appearance.
17. Travel-sized Tissue Pack- Seriously, a woman should always have these on hand in case the sniffles come.
18. Throat Lozenges/ Sucking Candy– All the girl-flirting could cause your throat to start feeling a little scratchy, popping an actual cough drop or even a jolly rancher will help you make it through the rest of the day.
19. Pain Reliever- It will be a long day, and having Advil or Tylenol on hand can only make your day a bit easier when your feet or back start to ache.
20. Band-Aids- In case the new pair of shoes you didn’t break in gives you a blister or three.