All the preparations, outfit choices, and inner workings of sorority recruitment led up to the moment when the prospective new members, PNMs, ripped open their manila envelopes to see which sorority they would be joining on Sunday, August 18, at Bryant-Denny Stadium. After what was known as the “run home,” they were then greeted by their “big” (their assigned “big sister”/mentor) and the new sorority sisters while being showered with T-shirts, hats, and other items bearing the sorority’s Greek letters.

Bid Day marks the end of Bama Rush Week, but for these young women it is just the beginning of their studies as members of a sorority.

The Bama Rush obsession is real: Insights into the phenomena of OOTDs, sorority recruitment

Why is #BamaRush a big deal?

Women have been rushing at the University of Alabama for years, but in 2021, the process went mainstream thanks to TikTok. Back then, outfits of the days (OOTDs) ahead of rush week events caught the attention of users obsessed with the young rushers’ style and fashion choices. It’s the kind of online phenomenon that keeps social media abuzz every year. It even inspired a documentary called “Bama Rush: Acceptance Is Everything,” which premiered on streaming service Max in May 2023.

Sororities at the University of Alabama

So which sororities did these young women want to join? They are the following:

• Alpha Chi Omega
• Alpha Delta Chi
• Alpha Delta Pi
• Alpha Gamma Delta
• Alpha Omicron Pi
• Alpha Phi
• Chi Omega
• Delta Delta Delta
• Delta Gamma
• Delta Zeta
• Gamma Phi Beta
• Kappa Alpha Theta
• Kappa Delta
• Kappa Kappa Gamma
• Phi Mu
• Pi Beta Phi
• Sigma Delta Tau
• Sigma Kappa
• Zeta Tau Alpha