How to Make the Most Out of Your Campus Visit

Planning a campus visit is essential during your college decision process as you determine what college or university is the best fit for you. There is a lot to take into consideration during your visit: academics, campus culture, and student life—just to name a few. Visiting different campuses allows you to experience first-hand the differences that will factor into your final decision.  Before you plan your visit to Auburn University, check out the list below to make the most of your time on campus.

Schedule a Campus Tour

The best way to learn about Auburn University’s rich tradition, campus life, and academic excellence is to schedule an official campus tour. Led by a current student (our “Student Recruiters”), the 75-minute walking tour provides a great overview of what Auburn has to offer and helps you get more familiar with the layout of our campus. Don’t be surprised if current students say “War Eagle!” as you pass. It’s what we do as members of the “Auburn Family” to greet each other on campus— and around the world!

Visit Your College

An important part of a campus visit is exploring your academic area of interest. Across all our 12 colleges, there are opportunities to schedule department tours or meetings with a professional staff member. It is important to schedule these meetings or tours before you arrive on campus due to limited availability. During this time with your specific college, you can ask any questions you have about your scholarly interests, explore the different classroom settings, and learn more about the opportunities available in your major.

Tour the Recreation and Wellness Center

Recognized by Men’s Health magazine as one of the “coolest college recreation centers in America,” the Auburn University Recreation and Wellness Center is a must-see during your time on campus. The 240,000 square-foot Recreation and Wellness Center is home to a 1/3-mile inclining track, two 50-foot climbing towers, a bouldering wall, 6 basketball courts, two multi-activity courts, a resort-style pool and hot tub, and an outdoor equipment rental center and bike shop. The facility also provides group fitness classes, access to intramural and club sports, outdoor adventure experiences, personal training and more! Walk-up tours are available for potential students interested in learning more about Auburn University Recreation and Wellness.

Eat at a University Dining Hall

While on campus, take a lunch break and explore where our students eat daily. The Edge at Central Dining is our newest and largest, all-you-care-to-eat facility located in the heart of Auburn’s campus. The Edge has nine different food stations, including one with allergen-sensitive recipes. The dining hall even features products grown on campus through partnerships with the College of Agriculture. If you are curious, check out the menu before your visit. With two floors full of unique options, even the pickiest of eaters will find something to enjoy!

Explore Downtown Auburn

Auburn’s campus meets downtown at the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue. Home to a variety of boutiques, restaurants and more, downtown Auburn offers plenty to visitors and locals alike.  A trip to Auburn, Alabama is not complete without a glass of ice-cold lemonade from Toomer’s Drugs or grabbing a new t-shirt from J&M Bookstore.

There is so much to see on and off campus making it easy to fill up your itinerary for a day exploring Auburn! With the right planning, you can guarantee that you are making the most out of your campus visit. We look forward to welcoming you to “the Loveliest Village on the Plains!”

Auburn University Tradition: Homecoming

Students walk in the Auburn University Homecoming Parade in downtown Auburn.
Photo Credit: Abbey Crank

Auburn University is truly unmatched in both spirit and tradition, making the week of Homecoming one of the best weeks of the year here on the Plains. We are counting down the days until this year’s Homecoming festivities commence. Homecoming week is beloved as it gives us the opportunity to welcome all members of the Auburn Family back home to campus.

Auburn’s Homecoming tradition dates back to the 1930s and the Auburn Omega Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), a national honor society for student leaders with exemplary demonstrations of scholarship, athletic achievement, service, skillful communication, and artistic ability. Auburn’s Circle of ODK presented the idea to the student body of crowning a Miss Homecoming to be honored at halftime of the Homecoming football game for outstanding service to the University. The proposal was well received, and the tradition continued to take shape and in the 1960s, the Homecoming Parade was created.

Homecoming week is comprised of several events, all centered around welcoming Auburn Family members home to campus. Here is everything that you need to know about Homecoming 2022:

Homecoming Kickoff

Homecoming week will begin with Homecoming Kickoff hosted by the Student Government Association and the University Program Council. This year, Kickoff will be held on the Campus Green Space on Tuesday, September 20th, and will include a short program. The program will allow students to hear from this year’s Top 5 Miss Homecoming Candidates, and candidates will be able to share a bit about themselves and their platforms before campaigning officially begins. Immediately following kickoff, at 5pm, ODK will be having its 93rd annual Cake Race.

Homecoming Parade

At the end of the week, the annual Homecoming Parade will be held.  The Homecoming Parade starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 23rd and helps cultivate a sense of community, as we welcome all generations of the Auburn Family to campus. The parade will feature floats from campus organizations, as well as participants from the local community. Additionally, the Auburn University Marching Band will perform, along with the Tiger Paws, and Auburn University Cheerleaders. The parade route runs from Samford Hall through downtown Auburn before wrapping up in front of Samford Lawn.

Campus organizations create floats as part of the Auburn University Homecoming Parade in downtown Auburn. Photo Credit: Abbey Crank

Homecoming Pep Rally

At the conclusion of the parade at 6:30 p.m., there will be a brief pep rally to excite fans as the tigers gear up to play the University of Missouri in the Homecoming Football game on Saturday. After the pep rally, the Auburn Family is invited to stick around and to participate in ‘Come Home to the Corner’, an event that will run until 9 p.m. and feature live music.

Auburn University Marching Band performs in the Auburn University Pep Rally on Samford Lawn.
Photo Credit: Abbey Crank

Homecoming Game and the Recognition of Miss Homecoming

Homecoming Week ends with Auburn University taking on the University of Missouri with an 11 a.m. kickoff. Throughout the week prior, students will participate in Miss Homecoming campaigns and will have the opportunity to hear from the Top 5 candidates on the concourse. Students will cast their ballots on Friday. This culminates in the new Miss Homecoming being recognized at halftime.

The 2021 Top 5 Miss Homecoming Candidates were recognized during the game at halftime on Pat Dye Field. Photo Credit: Greg McWilliams/For the O-A News

We are looking forward to having all generations of the Auburn Family on campus as we celebrate Homecoming 2022! Together we say, War Eagle!