Your Sorority Recruitment Survival Bag: A Complete Checklist

Sorority recruitment is an exciting whirlwind—but staying fresh and confident all day is key. You’ll want to feel like your best self during the last round of sorority recruitment, just as you did when the day started. Recruitment days can mean long hours, plenty of walking, and unpredictable weather—whether it’s sweltering August heat in Oklahoma or snowy January in Upstate New York. You’ll want to pack your bag with everything you need to look and feel fresh and put together for the whole day. We asked our team and sorority friends about their recruitment bag must-haves and compiled them all here for you.

This post will cover your survival bag and what to put in it to help you have the most successful recruitment experience you can! Bookmark this page so you can revisit when you’re packing for the main event!

What Bag Should I Bring?

It might surprise you to learn that you won’t be bringing your bag into any recruitment parties. There will be a designated place for bags and coats just outside of the party and your PNM group’s Rho Chi will keep an eye on your stuff while you’re inside. Even though they’re watching, we don’t recommend using your favorite Louis Vuitton Neverfull—go for a sturdy, lightweight tote or backpack.. The good news is that since you’re not bringing your bag inside, it doesn’t need to match your outfit, so you can use the same one for the whole recruitment process.

The Essentials: Must-Haves for Every Round

Your Schedule and Map: Printed or on your phone. Save your schedule to your notes app in case you don’t have great service, and don’t rely on your Rho Chi to have it. Similarly, after the first round, no one has the same schedule so you’ll need to find your way on your own.
Your Questions & Topics: It’s a good idea to make a list of questions you’d like to ask to help you get to know chapters, as well as the points you want to make sure to get across in your conversations. You can print it out or save it on your phone. Again, make sure you’ve saved it offline.
Your Phone (on silent, please): You won’t be bringing your phone in to the party, but you’ll use it between rounds for so many things: taking notes, looking up IG accounts, snapping photos of the house exteriors to remind you which was which, referencing any notes you saved, or making a voice recording of your experience. And if you have downtime, you might want to scroll, make calls, or play games, though between-rounds is also a great time to meet fellow PNMs who may end up your sisters or as friends in other chapters, which is really nice to have. We don’t, however, recommend talking with other PNMs about your impressions, favorites, etc., keep that close to the vest and only talk about it with your inner circle that’s not participating in the experience. More on that later!
Extra Phone Battery: Start the day fully charged (in every way, really ;)) and don’t count on finding a spot to charge. We’ve all been there where you forgot to close Uber or Snap and your battery is unexpectedly low in the middle of the day.
Water Bottle: Self-explanatory! Your party hosts (aka sorority members) will offer water to you, but you don’t want to walk in parched!
Snacks: At most schools, there’s no food at recruitment events, so you’ll want sustenance. You might get a lunch break, but just in case, pack energy-boosting snacks like trail mix, protein bars or drinks, a banana, etc. Avoid carb-heavy snacks like chips and cookies that zap your energy. Don’t pack anything messy like chocolate that can smear or a juicy orange that can stain your perfect outfit.
Pen and Notebook: Of course you can take notes on your phone, but we find that actual writing better preserves our impressions in a different way.
Comfortable Shoes: if you’re not planning to wear shoes that are comfortable standing all day, with lots of walking, in the relevant weather, bring a pair of sneakers or other comfortable shoes to change into for the walking portion of the days. You’re welcome.
Hand Sanitizer: You’ll be shaking a lot of hands.

Your Beauty Kit: Stay Fresh & Composed

To be honest, these feel essential to us, too.

Sugar-Free Mints or Gum: For fresh breath for every conversation. DO NOT chew gum inside the party, though. (Sugary mints actually feed the bacteria that cause bad breath, even if they temporarily freshen things up!)
Tissues: For makeup touchups, sneezes, or (we hope not) tears.
Hairbrush: And whatever else you might need to keep your hair in check. You might want to pin your hair up for the hot walk between houses or to keep it dry in hot weather. (Our founder Lizzy went through recruitment on a snowy day and said she wrapped her hair in a silk scarf before putting on a hat to avoid frizz and static.)
Makeup: We hope your makeup lasts all day, but if you’re wearing lip gloss, stick, or liner, we expect you’ll need to re-apply. In addition, you might want to add a little powder, touch up concealer, or refresh wandering eyeliner. If you use them, blotting papers are nice to have, too.
Eyeglass Cleaner: By the end of the day, our glasses can look a little grubby. Keep yours looking squeaky clean.
Tampons or Pads: Even if you don’t think you’ll need them, it’s better to be safe than sorry—plus, you might save the day for a friend!

Weather Protection

We wish we could promise you that every recruitment event would have perfect Southern California weather, but the reality is that August/September is really hot at a lot of schools and January/February can be brutal in the North.

Warm Weather Defense:

Sunscreen: No one wants a sunburn and the sunscreen you diligently applied at the start of the day is not going to last all day. We suggest re-applying throughout the day, and there are a lot of options that won’t mess up your makeup. There are both aerosols and powders designed to protect you from the sun and that will also help make your makeup last longer—a win-win!
Sunglasses: Protect your eyes while you’re running around—we suggest avoiding heavy glasses that leave marks on your nose.
Mini Rechargeable Fan: If it’s really hot, this could be a lifesaver.
Umbrella or Rain Hat: If there’s any chance of rain, better safe than sorry.

Cold Weather Defense:

Warm Shoes or Boots: You might not want to wear these to the parties if they don’t work with your outfit, but you’ll be grateful to have them when you’re trudging from to house.
Hat or Hood: If it’s windy or snowy, you’ll want to cover your hair.
Hand Warmers: Disposable or rechargeable, these can make all the difference in how comfortable you are all day, especially at the end when the sun’s gone down!

Extras for The Over-preparers (i.e. Us!)

Handiwipes: Even if your snack isn’t inherently messy like Cheetos, trail mix can still leave your hands a little greasy—and you don’t want to get that on your clothes or shake hands like that.
Band-Aids or Blister Pads: Even the most comfortable shoes might rub you wrong after a full day (particularly in the heat) and foot pain is the worst.
Throat drops or Spray: If you start to lose your voice over the course of the day, you’ll be glad you have these!
Stain Remover Pen: coffee spills, a dropped pen, or a lipstick smudge—any of these could mess up your look. Be prepared!

Stay Fresh, Confident, and Ready to Shine!
Recruitment is an unforgettable experience, and a well-stocked bag is the key to staying stress-free. These essentials will help you stay fresh, comfortable, and confident from the first round to the last. Remember to customize your bag to fit your weather, style, and schedule—and despite this long list, try to keep it light so you’re not weighed down!

Have a friend going through recruitment? Share this checklist with them! And if you have any questions or think we missed something important, message us—we’d love to hear from you. Good luck—you’ve got this! 💖