Sorority formals are like your high school prom, but way more intense. Formal season is the time to redo all the mistakes you made at your prom, like learning which foundation stays on the longest, which heels hurt your feet the least and what kind of date you want to bring. A lot goes into formal, and while it’s always a blast, leading up to the big night is stressful and very time-consuming.

1. The dress

Short or long? Pink or blue? Tight or flowy? With so many options, it's hard to know what the best choice will be. We've all been there- ordering a bunch of dresses online and crossing your fingers in the hopes that one will look good. Finding the perfect dress is an important part of a sorority formal that can make or break how comfortable you feel and how much fun you're willing to have.

2. The preperation

If you're like me, you're used to wearing leggings and oversized t-shirts to class. That's why when it's formal season, it's that much more fun to get all dressed up and look your best. Between the hard to manage spray tans, tedious manicures, and complicated hairstyles, a lot goes into looking your best on the night of formal. Despite it being fun to get all pampered, it can be overwhelming.

3. The date

Finding the perfect date is the most crucial part of going to formal. You want someone that you can have fun with, but also maybe someone you're interested in getting to know in a way that isn't purely friendship. However, it can be stressful to bring someone who doesn't really know your friends or isn't totally familiar with the sorority life. PSA- Don't let a bad date affect your time at formal. This is about you having a blast with your sisters, not about him complaining about wanting to party with his bros.

4. The photos

Putting so much effort into your appearance calls for endless photo opportunities. But there's nothing worse than not being happy with the photos you get after all that hard work. There's the risk of foundation flashback, bad venue lighting, and an unenthusiastic date- none of which does anyone want.

5. The dance

At a lot of formals, people have had a few drinks in an attempt to relax around their dates and let loose on the dance floor. Finding the balance between how you want your formal to go and an awkward middle school dance can be challenging when the dancing portion of the night rolls around. The cupid shuffle can only take someone so far.