More than 2,300 University of Alabama freshmen raced to their new dormitories on the school’s campus Sunday morning as “Bama Rush” of 2023 drew to a close.
The sorority recruitment process, which has become iconic and an online sensation, ended with students running from Bryant-Denny Stadium into the sorority line.
Photos and video obtained by show the moments when excited women received their offers from one of the 17 University of Alabama sororities.
Recruitment plays a large role on the historical school’s campus, with more than 36 percent of students involved in Greek life.
More than 2,300 University of Alabama freshmen raced to their new dormitories on the school’s campus Sunday morning as “Bama Rush” of 2023 drew to a close
The sorority recruitment process, which has become iconic and an online sensation, ended with students running from Bryant-Denny Stadium into the sorority line
According to AL.com, of the 2,549 women who signed up for open house events — the first round of recruitment — 92 percent received offers, or 2,335 women.
That number is down slightly from 2022, when 2,345 women received offers — about 91.6 percent of the women who started the procedure.
Bid Day begins with the students showing up and being handed envelopes containing their prospective homes, which are not opened until officials start the countdown.
After receiving the all-clear, the worried and excited students rip open their envelopes to find out which sorority house they’ve been accepted into.
After the moment of joy – or in some cases heartbreak – the young women begin the short journey to the fraternity room, where their “sisters” welcome them.
In photos from this year’s Bid Day, girls in sheer tops – a requirement for the celebrations – could be seen running to their new homes.
The young women ran and walked together while spectators watched the action from just outside the Tuscaloosa football field.
The students are grouped by their new homes and hold up the Greek letters that identify their homes as they travel to the villas.
The Gamma Phi Beta Mansion on the University of Alabama campus
In photos from this year’s Bid Day, girls in sheer tops – a requirement for the celebrations – could be seen running to their new homes
After the moment of joy – or in some cases heartbreak – the young women begin the short journey to the fraternity room, where their “sisters” welcome them.
Some students have been known to spend upwards of $10,000 on their recruiting outfits
The students are grouped by their new homes and hold up the Greek letters that identify their homes as they travel to the villas
The process became an overnight phenomenon on TikTok in 2021, when promises shared their outfits, “Get Ready with Me” videos, and ultimately their placements.
It also sparked a 2023 documentary on HBO’s streaming platform MAX that explored the ins and outs of the system and the process itself.
The sensation was back in full force in 2023, with pledges giving a behind-the-scenes look at the process for each recruiting day.
The events unfold over a week and involve each woman meeting her future new sisters in different situations.
Each day has a different theme and dress code that TikTok users have been particularly interested in.
shared how some student unions spent tens of thousands of dollars on their outfits to impress officials in the Greek House of Representatives.
In 2021, a number of women attempting to join the University of Alabama’s panhellenic community documented their path to admission.
Her videos on TikTok quickly exploded, and many people across the internet were ecstatic as they watched the lengthy process.
Since then, #BamaRush has gone viral again every time August rolls around as a whole new batch of freshmen try to break into the school’s coveted Greek houses.
shared how some student unions spent tens of thousands of dollars on their outfits to impress officials in the Greek House of Representatives
Since launching on Aug. 12, many of the hopeful supporters have been showcasing their expensive outfits they wore during the trial on TikTok — and some cost upwards of $10,000
From a $7,950 Louis Vuitton bracelet to a $4,110 Tiffany & Co. necklace, women are sure to have all the stops when choosing their Bama Rush clothing and accessories set
This year, Bama Rush launched on August 12, and many of the hopeful pledges shared their expensive outfits on TikTok, which they wore throughout the process.
From a $7,950 Louis Vuitton bracelet and $2,080 Cartier ring to $1,700 Prada sneakers and a $4,110 Tiffany & Co. necklace dollars, the women trying to join the sororities this year pulled out all the stops.
A TikTok account with the username @BamaRushTok1 has compiled some of the most expensive ensembles the students have ever worn – and Bama Rush pledge Bri McCurdy took the lead with a total price tag of a whopping $22,535.
18-year-old Bri, originally from New York, opted for a University of Alabama panhellenic top paired with a $300 cotton pleated skirt from Burberry on the third day of Bama Rush.
She completed the look with the brand’s Salmond Check low top sneakers, priced at $570, and a matching Burberry headband, priced at $170
She also wore two $65 14k gold BaubleBar Pisa bracelets, a $11,200 Rolex watch (shown), and a $65 letter B pendant necklace -Dollar, also made by Kendra Scott
She completed the look with the brand’s Salmond Check low top sneakers, priced at $570, and a matching Burberry headband, priced at $170.
She wore a host of intricate jewelry—including the $2,080 Cartier Love Ring and $7,350 Cartier Love Bracelet.
The 18-year-old also wore an 18k yellow gold-plated David Yurman cable bracelet for $395, an 18k gold Kendra Scott vermeil cuff bracelet for $275, two BaubleBar pisa’s -14k gold bracelets for $65 and a $11,200 Rolex watch and $65 letter B pendant necklace, also made by Kendra Scott.
“Although the outfits and shoes are cute, it’s so much more,” Bri pointed out in the video, detailing her outfit.