This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Sewanee chapter.

In my last article, 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before My Freshman Year at Sewanee, I gave a run-down of questions and answers I wish I had known before starting my journey on the Mountain. At the end of the article, I offered a link to a form where you can anonymously submit a question or questions that you have that I didn’t answer in the article. I’ll keep updating this article as I get more questions, so keep ‘em coming!

* Check out these two great articles we just wrote in response to some of y’alls questions!*

1. Hi! I’m an incoming freshman and really loved your 7 Things list. What’s the dating scene like at Sewanee, are the boys friendly/is there interracial dating?

If I’m being completely honest, the “hookup culture” that seems to be the hallmark of us Millennials is alive and well at Sewanee, just as it is in the rest of the country, so don’t be discouraged if you aren’t asked out on a date immediately. But please, if you’ve got your eyes on a cute boy in your calc class, don’t wait for him to ask you out – do it yourself! Guys are just as nervous about asking girls on dates as girls are about asking guys, and most of them love when a girl makes the first move. That’s one of the things that makes Sewanee boys better than state school boys (in my opinion) – they love a girl with confidence and intelligence. So channel your inner Beyoncé and go for it, girl. (P.S. There aren’t a whole lot of ‘conventional’ date spots in Sewanee, like nice restaurants and movie theaters, but there are 13,000 acres of some of the most beautiful backdrops for picnics and conversations. You can check out my top 5 favorite here!)

In terms of interracial dating, the general atmosphere of open-mindedness and acceptance for everyone makes “interracial” dating and “same-race” dating pretty synonymous. I know that sounds king of cheesy, and something that a pamphlet might try and tell you, but I’m dead serious. One of the greatest things Sewanee will teach you is that a person’s character trumps everything else, so labeling a couple as “interracial” doesn’t really happen here—they’re literally just a couple, like any other same-race couple. Same thing goes for LGBTQ+ relationships. Homosexual and bisexual relationships are totally normal here, and many of the greatest student leaders are openly gay or bisexual. (You can read more about the LGBTQ+ community here!)

So, in short, dating at Sewanee is just as nerve-wracking/terrifying/exciting/incredible as anywhere else, but there’s no better place on earth to learn all about it than here!

2. Thanks so much for writing this article. I think it’s really helpful as I’m coming into my freshman year at Sewanee! What are the fraternity formals like? As in where I they held? Also, what are the sororities like since they’re local? As in what sort of activities go on in a typical Sewanee sorority?

Frat formals are relatively frequent. There’s maybe one every other weekend (different frats of course), except during Fall Party, Spring Party, Christmas time, and end-of-the-year time, when there are multiple per weekend. The formals are held at the respective fraternity’s house. They’re invite-only for the first two hours, during which time there’s an open bar for the frat members and their dates to enjoy. After that, usually at 9:00pm, the formal opens up to everyone, regardless of whether or not you’ve been invited. There’s almost always a band or a DJ that rocks the house until about 1:00am.

In terms of sororities, 10 of the 11 are local (Kappa Delta being the exception). You can read snippets about all of them here! Since local sororities don’t have national charters or PanHellenic rules, they’re totally not as intense as national frats and srats. The biggest thing that separates local srats from national srats, especially at Sewanee, is that the sorority you’re in does not define you. For example, I’m a Theta Pi, but I have tons of friends in other sororities, and I feel just as comfortable going to parties at their houses as I do at my own. None of the local srats have ridiculous hand signs, rules about not wearing Abercrombie flip flops (cough cough, UGA), or rivalries with other sororities. A lot of sororities host formals as well, like PKE’s Bowling Ball (yes, held in a bowling alley down the mountain), Theta Pi’s Wine & Whiskey, and ADT’s Mi Casa Formal (held at the finest Mexican restaurant in Monteagle). Since most of the casual weekend parties take places at frat houses, many pregames take place at sorority houses. As freshmen girls (aka potential pledges!) you’ll constantly be invited to hang out at different houses on weekend nights to get to know the sorority! But still, even though we’re more low-key compared to national srats, the bonds you form with your sisters will be some of the greatest friendships you’ll ever make.

3. What are the biggest dos and don’ts of freshman year at Sewanee?

Woah, loaded question. Being an English major I would most likely end up writing an entire essay if I tried to answer it in paragraph form, so to make your life easier I’ll give it to you bullet point style:

Take your freshman year classes seriously. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but the grades you make freshman year will follow you all the way to senior year, grad school, and beyond. College is fun, but never forget the real reason you are here.
That being said, you’re a freshman in college, so live it up while you can. Though academics need to be your #1 priority, your freshman year will probably be one of the most memorable (and not-so-memorable) times of your life. So make poor decisions, have some regrets, take one shot too many, and pray you forget.
Start making (and crossing things off) your Sewanee bucket list as soon as possible.
Get to know the names of all your cleaning ladies, the McClurg workers, and the Pub workers, especially Margaret.
Take initiative. Just because you’re a freshman doesn’t mean you have to be a follower. If there’s something you’re passionate about, or an organization you’d like to see come to Sewanee that isn’t already there, make it happen. Freshmen leaders who initiate positive change in the community are well-respected – just check out this profile on Kathleen Kelso, a freshman this past year who started the Sewanee Women’s Rugby Team!
Learn and embrace Sewanee traditions! That means wearing class dress, belting out “DOWN WITH THE HEATHENS!” at the top of your lungs, and tapping the roof when you enter/leave the gates. (If you have no idea why that’s a tradition, check out this video.)
Take at least one class that’s entirely out of your comfort zone. Just do it. Trust me.
Make friends with upperclassmen, don’t just stick to freshmen!

DON’T

Step on the seal.
Overdo it on the alcohol. Yes, it’s college, and yes, freshman year is fun because you’re away from your parents and alcohol is readily available – but don’t overdo it. Blacking out, throwing up, and/or going to the hospital for alcohol poisoning is not only unhealthy and unsafe, it’s also unattractive, can get you in trouble with the admins, and possibly prevent you from going through rush. Drink in moderation or don’t drink at all.
Narrow down your top sorority choice before you go through rush. Stay open-minded and go to all the pre-rush events fall semester.
Stay glued to your cell phone as you walk around campus. Save Sewanee is very real.
Hang around with the same small group of people every single night of every single week. It’s cool to have a good group of close friends, but make every effort to expand your friend network as much as possible!
Be afraid to expand your horizons, make yourself uncomfortable, or do something you’ve never done before.

4. What did you do your first weekend after you started classes at Sewanee?

There’s a rule that freshmen can’t attend frat parties for the first two weeks of school. The idea behind that is to help y’all slowly acclimate to life on the Mountain and not get caught up in the party scene too quickly. Though this may sound like a bit of a bummer at first, the first two weekends as a freshman will be some of the best weekends of your Sewanee career. Most freshmen get together and have small parties in dorms all over campus; though a rager in a 15’15 sized dorm room doesn’t sound all that appealing, trust me, you get to know your fellow frosh very well.

5. After doing some Facebook creeping, it’s obvious there are theme parties quite often. What kinds of costumes (if any) should a freshman girl bring to campus? Will there be enough notice to go out and buy things beforehand?

Theme parties don’t happen as often as “normal” parties, but when they do, most people definitely like to go out. The most anticipated theme parties off the top of my head are Heaven & Hell at Fiji (wear white to be in “heaven” upstairs, and red or black to be in “hell” downstairs), Aprés Ski at SAE (dress up in ‘80s ski outfits, like windbreakers), Old School Rap at SNU (think Fresh Prince and Destiny’s Child), State School at SAE (big SEC jerseys and/or camo), and Viking at ATO (umm…loin cloths, fur, and ‘Merica stuff?) But, seriously, these theme-parties are not super intense and you don’t need to spend tons of money on outfits for them, and I would’t pack for any of them beforehand. In fact, for most theme parties you can just throw together random things you already have in you or your roommate’s closet. But, there’s also a killer Goodwill in South Pittsburgh, about 30 minutes down the mountain, where you can spend $5 and get anything you need for whatever ridiculous theme party is that night. Pro tip: While we’re on the subject of costumes, a big question I had when I was frosh was about Halloween: do Sewanee girls go more along the lines of Regina George or Cady Heron? I think there are definitely more Cadys than Reginas, but hey, it’s Halloween at Sewanee, anything goes.

P.S. I took way too many pics freshman year, so add me on Facebook and feel free to add/stalk me if you want visuals!

6. So this isn’t like a super deep question about college life but what sort of shoes do people wear to class and what sort of bags do people carry? Thanks!

No worries, any and all questions are welcome! It’s weird how the not-so “super deep” questions are the ones that most people wonder about, so please ask anything you want to know. In terms of what shoes to wear to class, I’ll break it down by season:

Fall (August to mid October): Rainbows, Tory Burch flats and sandals, Chacos, Jack Rogers, Wallabies
Winter (mid-October to early March): Frye boots, cowboy boots, Bean Boots, Wallabies, flats, Hunter boots
Spring (March-May): same as Fall!

Pro tip: Because of the class dress policy, some girls wear wedges and heels. It’s totally not required, and not many girls have the courage to do it, but if you want to wear a shoe with height I suggest some strappy wedges with good arch support. I have a great pair of nude Michael Kors wedges that look great with all my outfits and don’t kill my feet walking to class, so if you have an old trust pair like that, it’s worth a shot.

Pro tip #2: Check out this list of shoes in every Sewanee girl’s closet!

Edit: Sorry, I forgot to answer your bag question! In terms of bags, it’s 50/50 book bags and totes. Most book bags are North Face, and totes vary from Lilly to Louis to Vineyard Vines to everything in between.

8. Easy question: What the heck is “frat sludge”?

Haha, frat sludge is a combination of sweat, beer, mud, rain, and other best-not-named fluids that accumulate in a thin layer on the floors of frat houses during any given party night. It’s really harmless, but it has a tendency to ruin shoes, which is why most Sewanee girls have a pair or two of designated “frat shoes” that are worn specifically for the purpose of not having to worry about getting them ruined.

9. What was the most surprising/shocking thing to you about Sewanee as a freshman?

Lucky for you, Girl That Doesn’t Even Go Here – Sewanee’s the place for you!

This is a toughie, because there were many surprising things to me as a freshman. Sewanee is a strange place (in a good way) because nobody really knows what to expect going into it. But the most surprising thing to me was the sense of complete trust, community, and openness throughout campus. I know that sounds like a cheesy answer, but it’s really something that I wasn’t expecting but came to completely love. You’ll sign the Honor Code at the end of orientation, where you will pledge that you will not lie, cheat, or steal. Sewanee students take that as, if nor more, seriously than the Ten Commandments. For example, most students don’t ever lock their dorm rooms; there’s just this kind of understood community trust that you won’t get anything stolen. In fact, when I lived in Hunter Hall freshman year, we all left our doors wide open all the time and would just meander in and out of each other’s rooms. By the end of the year, our entire hall had a bond form that is just as strong to this day. Students also leave things in libraries, classrooms, and carrels for long periods of time, even valuables like laptops, without having to worry about them missing when they return. Professors often aren’t in classrooms while you’re writing exams or taking tests, because they trust that you won’t cheat by talking to other students. The amount of trust and mutual accountability among students, professors, and community members was definitely the most surprising (in a good way!) thing to me.

10. Did you do PRE? If so, what should I expect?

I did do PRE. You should expect do drive up to PRE and immediately think: “what the heck is going on.” That’s all I’ll tell you, because it’s something you really just need to be surprised with, but trust me, PRE will be one of the greatest experiences of your Sewanee career. You’ll be divided up into co-ed ‘families’, usually of around ten students, and you’ll have a ‘mom’ and a ‘dad’, two upperclassmen PRE leaders. You’ll explore Sewanee for two days and get to know both your family and other freshmen very well through a series of absurd (and intentionally uncomfortable, but ultimately awesome) group bonding activities. You’ll likely remain close to your pre family the rest of your four years at Sewanee.

11. You said that people where nice pants to class and I know not to wear jorts but what about a nice pair of dark wash skinny jeans that aren’t ripped or anything…will I see people wearing those to class?

Yeah those are fine! Nice jeans are a-okay and definitely one of the most popular pant options. I guess I should have been a little more specific when I said “nice pants” – I’m not talking like polyester business-type slacks or anything (nobody wears those, except professors), just anything that’s not cut-off jorts, norts, etc. We wear jeans all the time to class – dark wash, light wash, skinnys, flares, capris, anything denim is fine. Pro tip: some types of jorts are acceptable. Nice jorts, like cuffed ones that are maybe a couple inches above mid-thigh length or longer are fine – it’s really only an issue if your butt cheeks are hanging out the bottom. Also, Lilly shorts, J Crew Chinos, and those kinds of shorts also frequently gracing the derrières of Sewanee girls in class dress.

12. Do girls decorate coolers for guys when invited to frat formals?

Yep. Some go all-out, some could care less, but in general, cooler decorating is a must. Here’s one I did for the Fiji away formal this year:

13. For class dress, what is the typical skirt length that girls wear?

Alright, I hope I didn’t make class dress seem like it’s too strict! There aren’t skirts and shorts police running around with measuring tapes. Just use your best judgment. My rule of thumb: if I would wear it to a club, I wouldn’t wear it to class. Pro tip: One unfortunate and embarrassing side effect of wearing skirts and dresses to class that many Sewanee girls have experienced (including myself) is that when you carry book bags, sometimes the skirts or dresses ride up or get caught in the bottom of the book bag. In my situation, I ended up giving an unintended peep show to everyone down University Avenue for a solid two and a half minutes until some kind soul told me what had happened. So, ladies, if it’s a skirt or dress day, make it a tote day as well.

Also, make sure to check out the Sewanee Style Blog to see what real Sewanee girls wear to class on a daily basis!

14. I’m super nervous about running out of clothes to wear to class and being forced to be a super outfit repeater! Any recommendations?

Kate Sanders, Queen Bee of Lizzie McGuire’s school:

Kate Middleton, actual Queen of the Universe:

If you have an entirely new outfit for every single day of class, please let me know how you do it! Haha seriously though, outfit repeating should be the least of your worries. I really only have about a dozen staple pieces that I rotate out throughout the whole season, and change it up when different simple t-shirts, shoes, jewelry, skirts, etc. And there are days when I wake up 10 minutes before class, see yesterday’s dress lying beside my bed, say “eff this”, throw it on and go to class. Nobody notices, nobody cares. Also, take a page from Kate Middleton’s book–if you have a cute outfit, don’t be afraid to wear it multiple times!

15. What is rush like? What is each day like? How long does it last? Is there a dress code?

I really advise you to not worry about rush so early – you won’t rush until January. Let us (upperclassmen) worry about rushing you. As freshmen, you have a lot of other things on your plate to focus on – making good grades, making friends with other freshmen and upperclassmen, and figuring out this whole college thing. Still, I understand that the idea of rush is nerve-wracking for any incoming freshman girl, regardless of when it occurs, so if you really want to go ahead and hear some advice, check out this article.

16. So, I’m feeling kind of nervous about fitting in. I may tell myself I’m not concerned about having all of the super cool clothes and shoes, but I am, a little. I don’t have Hunter boots, but I have wellies, I don’t have Chacos, but I’ve got Tevas, all that kind of stuff. How big are people into their brands and such? Is it a big deal? Should I feel as nervous as I do?

It’s all about attitude, not about labels.

The brands I mentioned before were really only meant to be general examples of clothes people wear. Sewanee students could really care less about labels, pricetags, and brands, so please please please don’t worry! There is a kind of Sewanee “style” that most people adhere to, and it’s really kind of difficult to pin down – think Goodwill-meets-Neiman’s-meets-Lilly-meets-hippie-meets-IDGAF. I totally understand the whole wanting to fit in via brand-name clothing, but I think once you get to Sewanee you’ll find that everyone has the same fears you do, and so nobody could care less what the name on the back of your shoes is. You’ll fit in fine, I swear!

17. Are we supposed to dress up for FYP??

FYP wasn’t around when I was a freshman, so I had to consult my good friend Fleming Beaver, C’15, who was an FYP Proctor last year. This is what he said: “They will have classroom and ‘lab’ (outdoor) segments, and they’ll have a schedule telling them when everything is. For lab, wear things they’ll be comfortable hiking in; for classroom, class dress. If they own hiking boots, wear them to lab. Really depends on where they’re going, but they will likely be walking a lot in general. And the professors (esp. Potter) hike pretty quickly up some difficult terrain, so they’ll want good hiking shoes if they don’t have them. Again, boots are a good call.” So, I think Fleming really wants you to wear boots.

18. How do you get asked to Frat formal? Are the frat guys nice?

There isn’t really any kind of formula or set of rules for getting asked to a frat formal. You’ll just get asked by a guy who either has a crush on you, is good friends with you, is actually dating you, thinks you’ll be a fun date, or was referred to you by a girlfriend or one of his friends. It’s not that intense. In fact, often times guys just ask their friends if they know of any girls who want to be their formal date, and a sort of “bat-signal” will be sent out to any girl who might want to go. I’ve been to formals with guys I barely even knew that well. Because Sewanee parties are so open, you aren’t attached to your date at the hip the whole night – everyone kind of mingles with everyone. And guys want to get asked to sorority formals just as much!

19. How do you survive living in a dorm with a hall bathroom?

Definitely invest in a shower caddy and shower shoes. And it wouldn’t hurt to go ahead and start on some flexibility training, because you literally have to be a contortionist to shave your legs in a two-by-one shower cubicle. I managed to avoid hall bathrooms every year so far at Sewanee, with the exception of Gorgas this summer, and although I will say that private bathrooms are definitely preferable, hall bathrooms aren’t as bad as the legends make them out to be. They’re cleaned daily and there are multiple per hallway. And after a few weeks, all the girls on the hall kind of get an unwritten schedule figured out, so there’s a nice ebb and flow to the hall bathroom traffic so you don’t have to worry about waiting in line for showers before your 8am classes.

20. Thanks for creating this blog, it’s great! Many of my friends attending other colleges are quite jealous! Haha quick question: At the frat parties, on a scale of super slutty to super classy, how would you rank girls’ typical outfits?

Oh goodness, that’s really a toss-up. It’s impossible to generalize on this one and give you a definitive ranking on a scale because it’s literally all over the board, but I’ll do my best. On ‘regular’ nights, when there’s not any specific theme parties going on or it’s just a random get drunk night, I’d say it’s more super comfy than anything – jeans, a comfy top, and frat shoes or cowboy boots. And then there are other nights – either theme party nights or formal nights – when we’re like, “damn I look good tonight, I’m wearing a short skirt and crop top”, or whatever it is that makes you feel sexy. I’ve gone out in an oversized sweater and leggings and flip flops on one night, jeggings and a tight shirt and wedges the next night, and boot-cut jeans and a classy top the next night. You’ll get the feel of it after a few weeks, trust me! Pro tip: Sewanee girls love their pearls, regardless of the outfit. Make sure to pack a couple of cheap pairs, because the best nights you’ll have are the ones when you’ll lose your pearls. Pro tip #2: By “super classy”, I’m assuming you mean getting super dolled-up, like spending hours in front of the mirror, and wearing expensive clothes and jewelry. The only time you’ll really do that is if you go to a formal! Sewanee nights typically aren’t kind to nice clothes and jewelry unless you’re super careful and/or sober, so don’t expect to have to spend too much time on your appearance for going out. Pro tip #3: Sort of non-related, but while I’m thinking about it, we don’t carry purses very often when we go out. Way too hard to keep up with. If you have an over-the-shoulder side bag–one you don’t have to hold–that’s perfect, or you can just stuff everything in your cowboy boots and not have to worry about it at all!

21. Thank you so much for this post! I was wondering if you could talk a little bit more about frat formals… Like what do you wear to those? Also, what is cooler decorating, I’d never even heard of that!

There are two kinds of frat formals. Regular formals are just events at the frat houses that usually involve a bar and a band or some sort. Girls typically wear cocktail dresses to those. Each frat has maybe around 1-3 formals per semester, celebrating anything from an alumni reunion to a party weekend to a holiday. Away formals, on the other hand, only happen once a year, and it’s where fraternities rent out houses (or multiple, depending on the size of the frat and the amount of people going) at the beach or in the mountains for a weekend. Each frat typically goes to a different place, and most of them happen the last couple of weekends in spring semester. The term “formal” can be kind of misleading, though, because away formals are really anything but. They’re kind of s*** shows, and you’ll trade your cocktail dress for bathing suits and oversized t-shirts, but they’re a lot of fun! Each brother invites a girl to go with him, and in return she decorates him a cooler and puts alcohol in it. Cooler decorating is a thing at all colleges, and it can be as chill or as intense as you want it to be – check out this article for how-to tips and our Pinterest board for inspiration!

22. Can you give us a rundown on what it’s like living in the various residence halls?

Here is my very, very rough estimation, but you can check out THIS brand new article for a more in-detail look at Sewanee dorms!

Benedict: A good dorm to pregame in because of its location to several frats and srats. Small enough to know who lives in each and every dorm, but big enough to go the whole year without ever having to talk to the kid underneath you. Small room sizes, so not a lot of layout options.
Cleveland: One of the best locations, but surprisingly quiet.
Cannon: Will always be known as “that dorm that used to be a gross all-boys dorm but then they renovated it and now it’s co-ed and really nice”. Super small dorm rooms, but cool carpeting?
Courts: Underestimated because it’s a decent walk away from main campus, but layout similar to Benedict and oddly active pregame scene.
Gorgas: No elevators, no air conditioning, and hall bathrooms. Definitely drew the short end of the stick if you got here, but living in Gorgas is sort of a rite of passage at Sewanee. Also, the rooms are pretty big compared to other dorms, so that’s nice.
Hodgson, Phillips, Emory: All on the compound. You will not know where these dorms even are until pledgeship. Don’t worry about them.
Humphreys: Basically a ski lodge. Guaranteed to elicit a “not fair!” if you got this place.
Hunter: Best freshman dorm by far (maybe a little bit biased since I lived there, but still). Cool triples, private bathrooms, and the boy-girl-boy-girl suite assignments make for really fun parties and interesting bonding.
McCrady: Fun dorm, decent location, decent room layouts. Probably the basic b**** of Sewanee dorms.
Quintard: Next to Gorgas, but bigger and creepier. But it has elevators, and cool suites for upperclassmen so a lot of fun seniors live there.
Smith: Will forever be known as “that really nice dorm they built for the freshmen”. Basically a 4-star hotel.
St. Luke’s: One of the newer ones, bigger and nice. Really high ceilings and fun parties. Nice common room and elevators.
Tuckaway: Used to be a hotel. Now it may or may not be haunted.
Johnson: All-girls dorm, centrally located, one of the most fun by far. Always a party, and always girls you know that will be hanging out there.
Elliott/Trez: All-boys dorms. Enough said.

23. What is the best way to store beauty/hair products and makeup for people with a hall bath? I use a vanity at home, and I like to sit down at a mirror to do hair/make up…do you have any suggestions on how to crate/organize some way to do this?

You are my freshman spirit animal! I have this thing about having to sit down and do my beauty routine in front of a mirror as well. I compromised by using my desk as a vanity—unless you’re someone who likes to study in your dorm room as opposed to the library or a classroom, most girls actually end up using their desks as makeshift vanities anyways. Get a mirror from Wal-Mart or somewhere and just prop it up on the wall behind your desk! Get those handy drawer-dividers from Bed Bath & Beyond or The Container Store to organize your brushes and such. And make sure to bring one of those surge protector strips with like 5 extra outlets for all your plug-in hair tools, and a lamp with decent lighting to put right on your desk/vanity because the ceiling lights in most dorms are fluorescent (gross).

24. Thank you for writing this blog! It’s so helpful! When I was on campus I noticed a lot of signs about smoking. I’m from the midwest where smoking is limited mainly to e-cigs if anything, so I was wondering if smoking is big on campus?

I wouldn’t say “big”, as in everyone does it, but there are definitely people who smoke in between classes and outside of parties and stuff. It’s kind of a “to each your own” deal.

25. What should we expect during orientation/ what do we wear?

Orientation is packed with events you have to go to every day, so wear something nice but comfy. Like a sundress and flats or nice shorts/skirts and a top. Also expect to have a lot of awkward conversations with people you don’t know, and be prepared to answer the same set of “where are you from? what dorm do you live in?” questions over and over. But the real fun goes down at night, which is when you’ll start getting to know your fellow freshmen off-the-schedule, via crowded dorm ‘parties’.

26. You put quotations around parties for dorms at night during orientation for freshman…so what do you mean by ‘parties’?

I put the quote marks because they aren’t what you typically think of when you think of college parties because, like I said, freshmen aren’t allowed in frat houses for the first two weeks. You’ll have really cramped get-togethers in random dorm rooms that involve a lot of Four Lokos, crappy beer, and music you can’t even hear because there are so many people. But they’re some of the most fun nights you’ll have your freshman year, because you really get to know other frosh really well!

27. OK real talk, should we bring alcohol to PRE?

Hahaha, no. Would YOU want to do trust falls onto drunk people? Seriously though, PRE is alcohol-free, both officially and unofficially. You’ll figure it out when you get there, but you really have so much fun doing everything else that you won’t have time to drink. Your PRE mom and dads are really cool upperclassmen who will make sure you’re otherwise entertained, trust me. The last night of PRE is Casino night, which is like a dance-ish thing with all the PRE families, and there may or may not be alcohol available for you then.

28. Okay, this one wasn’t submitted through the form, but a freshman girl who added me on Facebook asked me this via inbox and I thought it brought up a good point that I should clarify! She said she and her roommate were “freaking out about their lack of slutty frat clothes”, after reading my answer to what to wear to frat parties. This made me realize that I didn’t fully explain something. There are lots of words/terms that have entirely different meanings at Sewanee than anywhere else, and “slutty clothes” is one of those terms. In the real world, it means dressing like Snooki, or state school girls at theme parties, or the Plastics at North Shore High. In Sewanee world, it really just means wearing a shirt that comes up above your jeans and shows off how great your butt looks in them, or a shirt that shows some cleavage, or a backless shirt, or a bandage dress/skirt, or something like that. It’s really just clothes you normally wear with a little bit of edge, if that makes sense.

29. My brother, who is a college sophomore, insists that I will spend next to nothing on alcohol because typically the guys supply it. How true would you find this to be at Sewanee? What do girls spend on average each month on booze? And is it easy to find a hook up(I don’t have a fake) or should we bring some for at least orientation/first two weekends? Thanks!

Sewanee is a little different than other schools in that guys don’t really supply the alcohol for girls. Not to say that if you ask a guy for some beer he won’t give you a can, but it’s pretty much every (wo)man for themselves when it comes to booze, so plan on buying your own. I would say girls usually spend no more than $50/month on alcohol, if even that. But no, you won’t have any problems finding a hookup!

30. How do most freshman end up getting alcohol? From older students? Or do most have fake IDs?

Okay, I’ve gotten this question several times, and I’ve skirted around answering it because, to be clear, underage drinking is illegal and purchasing alcohol for a minor is illegal. I just have to throw that in there. I can only tell you to stop worrying about how you will get alcohol. It’s college–if you want to drink, alcohol will come.

31. So…… will you buy us alcohol? ;)

Hahahaha y’all are terrible. Y’all will not go thirsty.

32. So will we be having parties with alcohol at them at night during orientation? And is casino night the last night at pre a real party?

Yes to the first question and sort of to the second one. It’s definitely fun, but like most things, the real fun happens afterwards.

33. Thank you so much for these posts, I’ve been reading them religiously! What are some things we should know so as not to embarrass ourselves and look like total freshman – things like not stepping on the seal? Also, could you tell us a bit more about what to expect at PRE? Your cryptic answer about PRE is slightly worrying.

Though I get what you mean by not wanting to “look like a total freshman”, you should understand that being a freshman is really a coveted status at Sewanee. We all love this place so much, so each successive year we’re here means we’re that much closer to having to graduate. Y’all are the lucky ones because you have four more years. Sewanee upperclassmen are really friendly, and we love when people are “total freshmen” because that means we get to give advice and make new friends! That being said, the only thing I can really think of is don’t travel in huge groups everywhere.

As for my ominous PRE answer, there’s really nothing I can say that will fully prepare you for PRE (in a good way). It will be one of the greatest few days in your Sewanee career. Since your PRE staffers understand it’s kind of an awkward time (your first time on the Mountain, meeting new people, etc), they go above and beyond to eliminate the awkwardness. Just go into it open-minded, don’t be shy, and be ready to get outside your comfort zone.

**Sorry for the delay in responses, I’ve been on vacay!**

34. Where’s the cheapest place to buy textbooks? These prices have me freaking out!

Amazon.com! Just copy and paste the ISBN number from the book list into the Amazon search bar. You can get your books here for less than half of what you’d have to spend at the book store!

35. Which sorority are you in? What’s it like and how many girls are in your pledge class?

I’m in Theta Pi! It’s a party all the time, and there are about 15 girls in my pledge class.

36. What’s your best memory from your freshman year?

Shake Day, which is the day in January you get your bid. It’s the most fun you’ll never want to have again.

37. After freshman year how do they assign you dorms?

Room Draw. You’re randomly assigned a ‘lottery’ number as a rising sophomore, and after the upperclassmen pick their rooms, you’ll choose your room based on how high your number is. You’ll have a roommate already figured out by then, so you have two chances at getting a decent room draw number. Still, you’re at the bottom of the pile as freshmen, so your sophomore year room selection won’t be that fantastic, but it gets better as you get older!

38. Do people wear backpacks or long champs style bags to classes?

Both! It’s really 50/50.

39. Do freshmen get asked to the frats “formals”? If freshmen do get asked, do the upperclass girls get upset?

Yes freshmen get asked all the time, and no upperclass girls don’t get upset!

40. Is there a gym that one can workout in? I don’t want to go in guns blazing but I really enjoy working out.

Yep, Fowler has a gym with ellipticals, treadmills, and basic exercise machines that students can use by scanning their student I.D.

41. What is the policy in freshmen dorms with having guys in your room? If one were to get a boyfriend, could he come into your room with no problems?

There aren’t really any rules about boys being in girls’ rooms or vice versa. Having a boy in your room won’t be any problem (even if he’s not your boyfriend)!

42. How does one make a “good impression” to the upperclass men? I want to be friends with them but I definitely don’t want to be that annoying freshman.

Just be yourself! Upperclass men are all really friendly (for the most part) and they love freshmen, so just make an effort to get to know them and make sure to say hey to them by name during the day time or in between classes!

43. This might be a superficial question but what if all my friends, or soon to be friends, get asked by frat guys to their formals and I’m left out?

Please don’t worry about all the “what ifs” of freshman year, especially something like this. There are so many parties on any given night that even if you’re not asked you will have something to do, and because frat formals open up to everyone anyways you’ll be able to go. Being someone’s date doesn’t really mean much, and there’s always something to do at Sewanee so there’s no chance of you feeling left out!

44. Okay this is super random, but someone told me that Sewanee gives everyone an agenda? Is this true, or do I need to get my own planner? Thanks!

If I recall correctly, they stopped doing that this past year for some reason. I don’t know if they’ll start it up again this year, but I would go ahead and invest in a planner anyways. I know I couldn’t live without my good Lilly planners!

45. How about this- what do the majority of people do for fall and spring break?

For Fall break, most people either just go home or stay on campus. Some people who live too far away to go home will go home with friends who live closer by. For Spring Break, most people either do a typical Spring Break beach vacation, a mission trip with the Outreach program, or just go home!

46. Do people go into Nashville or Chatt a lot?

A fair amount. Chatt is more common since it’s about a half hour closer, and students will go there for random dinner nights or shopping trips. Nashville is more of a weekend destination where students go to shop or party. My friends and I typically go to Chatt maybe twice a semester and Nash once a semester, though it varies.

47. What goes on around campus besides frat parties? On Saturdays are most people studying and doing homework or being lazy while trying to cure their hangover from Friday night?

There are various clubs at Sewanee that will hold events on weekend nights to give people an opportunity to do something other than go to a frat house. For instance, the Women’s Center has a “date night” a few times a year that is really fun! And lots of people choose to stay in and study at least one night of the weekend if they’re the type that likes to go out.

48. I have an 8am class MWF is that going to be super annoying Friday morning since Thursday night is a party night? How late do people usually stay out?

Well, we’ve all been there. It is super annoying, but it’s just a fact of life. Lucky for you, Thursday night parties have an 11:00pm cutoff (which means, per University policy, all frats/srats must stop their parties at 11:00pm or risk being sanctioned), which means, though Thursday nights can get pretty wild, they typically end relatively early. It might be a struggle to make it to your 8am on Friday, but trust me, it is possible!

49. How much access to our dorm room will we having during PRE?

You can get into your dorm room whenever you want when you’re not doing activities with your PRE family. I went to mine at least once a day to shower and change, and got ready there on Casino Night.

50. How big of a backpack do we need for PRE? Like what will we be carrying in it for the most part?

I wouldn’t think that big of a backpack. I would keep a spare set of clothes, a water bottle, bug spray, sunscreen, a hairbrush, and a hat/bandana. I just carried my North Face backpack that I used for school and I was way fine!

51. Where does everyone sleep during pre?

You’ll sleep in different places each of the 2 nights. Each family sleeps in a different place, but usually with other families. It varies – during my year, we slept on the practice football field one night (and somebody forgot to turn the sprinklers off so we got a nice wake-up call at 5am!) and the woods the next night. There are 13,000 acres of sleeping grounds on campus, so plenty of places to get rested up!

52. Do AP’s search our dorms or anything like that?

There are room checks at least once a semester, where the dorm matron will go through everyone’s rooms and check to make sure there are no violations (extension cords, handles of liquor, candles, etc). They alert the students that there will be room checks at least a week in advance, though, so you’ll have time to get your room up to inspection. They aren’t allowed to open closet doors, look under beds or in refrigerators, or anything like that, so it’s not that intense. APs and Proctors generally will not do any room checks.

53. Why do people call Johnson the sweaty j?

Haha, I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps because there’s no air conditioning?

54. Since the dorms don’t have cable in the rooms, do you think it’s worth it to bring a tv? My older siblings at college have told me they hardly even used theirs, and they had cable provided in their rooms.

Personally, I would say no. I brought a TV my freshman year, and I ended up just lugging it back home over Christmas break because I never turned it on. However, some technologically gifted students have figured out how to connect Wifi to their TVs, usually through X Box’s or something like that, and can watch Netflix and Hulu via their TVs, so if you know how to do that than it might be worth it. As for me, I’m perfectly content with my iPad!

55. Do all my PRE belongings need to fit in one backpack? Are we camping out every night? Do I just need tshirts and Nike shorts?

I think they tell you that just to discourage you from bringing everything you own up to PRE. You’ll have access to your dorm rooms in your downtime, so I wouldn’t fret too much about fitting EVERYTHING into your backpack. I would definitely just pack a few t-shirts and a few pairs of Nike shorts, as well as some spare underwear and perhaps a rain jacket and/or sweatshirt (it can get chilly on the Mountain at night!). You are camping out every night, but, like I said, you’ll be able to get into your dorm rooms in your downtime or when absolutely necessary.

56. Will we be sleeping in tents during pre or will we be out under the stars? Do people sleep in enos?

You’ll be out under the stars! Every family has a huge tarp that they spread out and all sleep together on. Most people sleep in sleeping bags but Enos will work fine as well.

57. Have you been gowned? What privileges does one get when gowned?

Yes, I was gowned sophomore year. Being gowned means you get to register for classes and select your room during room draw before those in your class who are not gowned, skip class on “no-skip days”, and gown out classes (which is where you can excuse the entire class if a professor is more than ten minutes late, signaling your authority to do this by leaving your gown draped over the classroom door). Plus you get to walk around campus looking like Hermione Granger, which is pretty cool.

58. Is there a dry cleaner in Sewanee?

Yep, there’s one in Monteagle next to the Piggly Wiggly.

Keep the questions coming! It’s all totally anonymous! Ask me here.

Freshman Q&A

We wanna slide into your DMs