What Is Bid Day? Everything You Need to Know About Sorority Bid Day
What happens on Bid Day, what the Bid Day Run is, what to expect when you get your bid card, and how to handle it if you didn't get the chapter you wanted.
Bid Day is the moment formal sorority recruitment has been building toward — and if you don't know what to expect, it can feel overwhelming in the middle of it. Here's exactly what happens.
What Bid Day is
Bid Day is the final day of formal sorority recruitment. After days of rounds — Open House, Philanthropy, Sisterhood, Preference Night — chapters have made their decisions and Bid Day is when those decisions are revealed.
A bid is an official invitation to join a chapter. On Bid Day, every PNM (Potential New Member) who participated in formal recruitment and matched with a chapter receives a bid card — a physical card with the chapter's name on it.
What happens on Bid Day, step by step
1. PNMs gather at a central location
All PNMs who are receiving bids meet at a designated spot on campus — usually a large open area like a quad or athletic field. You'll be with everyone, not grouped by chapter yet.
2. Bid cards are distributed
At a set time, everyone opens their bid card simultaneously. This is the moment you find out which chapter wants you.
3. The Bid Day Run
Immediately after opening bid cards, the Bid Day Run begins. PNMs sprint across campus toward their new chapter's designated gathering spot. Each chapter is gathered at a specific location, usually holding a banner and wearing matching outfits.
4. You find your chapter
When you arrive at your chapter's spot, your new sisters are there — with noise, confetti, glitter, signs, and a lot of hugging. This is the moment most Bid Day videos on social media capture.
5. Celebrations
The rest of the day is chapter-specific. Most chapters do photos, a group meal, chapter activities, and a chance to meet the rest of your pledge class — the other new members joining at the same time as you.
What to wear
Your chapter will almost always send Bid Day instructions after you accept your bid. Follow those instructions — they usually specify a color, a theme, or provide a shirt.
If you have no instructions: wear something comfortable, colorful, and that you don't mind getting confetti or glitter on. Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable — the Run is real.
Read the full guide: Bid Day outfits — what to wear →
What if you don't get a bid
Not receiving a bid during formal recruitment is more common than the social media version of Bid Day suggests. It doesn't mean you can't join a sorority.
Continuous Open Bidding (COB) — also called Informal Recruitment — happens throughout the semester. Chapters that didn't fill all their spots during formal recruitment reach out directly to unaffiliated students. COB is less structured, usually lower-pressure, and often how many members find their best-fit chapter.
If you don't receive a bid:
- Talk to your school's Panhellenic office — they coordinate COB and can tell you which chapters have spots
- Reach out directly to chapters you connected with during formal recruitment
- Attend any open chapter events you can find
The fit matters more than the timing.
Can you say no to a bid?
Yes. You are not required to accept a bid. However, declining during formal recruitment usually means you cannot participate in formal recruitment again for a full year, so consider attending new member events to learn more about the chapter before deciding.
---
Find sorority rush and Bid Day events at your school — EventReels lists open recruitment events, interest nights, and chapter events at USC, UCLA, NYU, UMD, UC Berkeley, and more campuses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bid Day for a sorority?
Bid Day is the final day of formal sorority recruitment. After several rounds of events where chapters evaluate potential new members (PNMs) and PNMs rank their preferences, Bid Day is when bids (official invitations to join) are distributed. PNMs receive a bid card naming the chapter that has extended them an offer, then run to find their new sisters in a campus-wide celebration called the Bid Day Run.
What happens on Bid Day step by step?
You gather with other PNMs at a designated location on campus. At a set time, everyone opens their bid card at once to see which chapter they received a bid from. Then the Bid Day Run begins — PNMs sprint across campus to find their new chapter gathered at a specific spot. When you arrive, your new sisters are there waiting, usually with banners, matching outfits, confetti, and a lot of noise. The rest of the day involves chapter celebrations, photos, and meeting your new pledge class.
What is the Bid Day Run?
The Bid Day Run is when all PNMs who received bids sprint across campus simultaneously to find their new chapters. Each chapter gathers at a specific location, and PNMs run to find them. It's chaotic, joyful, and one of the most photographed moments of the entire recruitment process. Wear comfortable shoes — this is a real sprint, not a metaphor.
What if I don't get a bid on Bid Day?
Not receiving a bid during formal recruitment is more common than people realize and is not a permanent outcome. Most schools have Continuous Open Bidding (COB), also called Informal Recruitment, which happens throughout the semester. COB is how chapters fill remaining spots, and it's often more accessible and lower-pressure than formal recruitment. Talk to your school's Panhellenic office about COB opportunities if you don't receive a bid during formal recruitment.
Can you decline a bid on Bid Day?
Yes, but think carefully before doing so. You can decline a bid — you're not obligated to accept. However, declining during formal recruitment typically means you cannot participate in formal recruitment again for a set period (usually one full year). If you're unsure about a chapter, accepting and going through the new member process to learn more is often better than declining and waiting another year. Talk to current members before making the decision.
Create your first event free
3.5% + $0.30 per ticket. No monthly fee. Direct payouts. Setup in minutes.
start for freemore reads