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What’s it like to be a cheerleader at Auburn?

There is no experience quite like standing on Pat Dye Field, looking up into a stadium of over 87,000 screaming fans and cheering on Auburn’s team to a victory! Being chosen as an Auburn cheerleader was one of the most exciting moments of my college experience. As a cheerleader at Auburn, you get the opportunity to participate in hundreds of on-campus and community-wide events each year. These events range from cheering at basketball games, gymnastics meets, and volleyball tournaments to reading books and doing pep rally’s at elementary schools and nursing homes. Being an Auburn cheerleader means representing Auburn both on and off the field.

My favorite memory as an Auburn cheerleader was in 2011 during my senior year. Cam Newton was the quarterback. Auburn had won every game of the season up to that point, including the SEC Championship. It was January 10th, and we were in Glendale, Arizona, at the National Championship game. The time on the scoreboard slowly ran down from 5, 4, 3, 2, 1….then Auburn University was declared the 2010 National Champions! Confetti fell from the sky; newspapers were passed around with the headline “TIGERS WIN”, and Auburn’s football team, cheerleaders and fans erupted in excitement! I remember feeling so lucky to be there and to be a small part of something so awesome in Auburn’s history.

Being a cheerleader at Auburn University holds so many wonderful memories that I will be able to cherish forever!

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Packing for college- 10 Things You Need and 10 You Definitely Don’t!

By now I’m sure you’ve read one of the hundreds of packing lists on the internet, and you’ve hopefully read the policies for your residence hall or apartment (if you haven’t- go do that first). You’re either confident in your packing list or more confused than ever.

And that’s where this list comes in! Hopefully this will clarify some of the items you should and shouldn’t bring for a successful freshman year move-in.

10 Things You Definitely Need-

  1. Headphones- and back up headphones for when you lose the first pair
  2. Portable fan
  3. Collapsible drying rack- for the things you can’t dry/don’t want to shrink
  4. Handheld clothes steamer
  5. Portable charger for your backpack/bag
  6. Mini stapler/staple remover combo- this will be a life saver if you forget to staple your work before arriving to class
  7. A comfy mattress topper
  8. 6 foot (or longer) phone charger- you never know how close your bed will be to the outlets
  9. ALL the command strips- think you’ve got enough command strips? Buy more
  10. An extra set of bed sheets- go ahead and swap your sheets before you throw the dirty ones in the wash. There’s nothing worse than being ready for bed and your sheets are still in the washer  

Honorable mentions: Spare car key, Ethernet cable, hanging shoe organizer (bonus points if it’s double sided- hang over the bathroom door for toiletries on one side and shoes on the other), insurance cards

10 Things You Definitely Don’t-

  1. Iron/Ironing Board- steaming clothes is easier anyways
  2. Your entire wardrobe- swap your clothes when the seasons change, you don’t need 15 sweaters in August  
  3. Every pair of shoes you own- how many pairs of shoes do you actually wear?
  4. All of your high school t-shirts/hoodies- Free t-shirts are a huge perk in college. Student organizations, programming, giveaways- you’ll wind up with entirely too many t-shirts and not enough drawer space
  5. Lots of dorm decor and knickknacks- you won’t spend as much time at your desk as you might think and you’ll probably never use your dorm decor again once you move out
  6. Dress clothes- outside of sorority/fraternity recruitment and events or class presentations, you won’t really need these
  7. New hardback textbooks- if you can opt for a used paperback or even downloadable electronic version, it’ll save you money and weight in your backpack
  8. Duplicates of things provided by housing- chairs, desk, furniture
  9. A printer- there are plenty of places to print things on campus, save your money and your desk space by leaving the extra printer at home
  10. A tool kit- You won’t need a hammer and nails to decorate your space, and any other repairs likely need to be handled by campus maintenance anyways. If something needs fixing, contact your RA or the maintenance office

Honorable mentions: notebooks/binders- check your syllabus to see if your professor requires these since most things are digital nowadays

Of course, you should still read through those detailed packing lists and policies to know exactly what is allowed in your residence hall/apartment. This is not intended to be an all inclusive list, but after speaking with current and former students, these were the most common answers. I hope you find this helpful and we can’t wait to see you on campus soon!

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Best Food in Town

By Jan Miles

I’m a self-declared foodie. Having grown up near the Gulf Coast and traveled to several countries, I’ve had some of the best food on the planet. The video below outlines some of my favorite places in Auburn to frequent for my next meal.

*Disclaimer: these places are my own personal opinion, not the opinion of Auburn University as a whole. I’m not sponsored to talk about any of these restaurants (although I’m completely open to the idea 😎 )*

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Incoming Freshmen, Your Gift is on the Way!

I know you are just as excited as we are for you to receive your special gift…and it is in the mail this week! Be on the lookout for it and be sure to post a photo on social media or in our ZeeMee community to show it off. #wareagleready

See you on campus next month!

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To Transfer or Not to Transfer? That is the Question…

So you’re thinking about transferring to a university such as Auburn University but still not sure of when?   You begin to wonder: “Should I do it now, later, in the future – am I ready?  What about my job?  Will they allow me to attend school while working full time?  My family?  How much can I devote to school and my family? Being active duty in the military – will my JST’s transfer?  Can I use my ASVAB for my test scores?”

There is so much to think about.  A recommended first step is to contact a Transfer Advisor and request a meeting to speak with them.  When you do call Admissions, be sure to ask your advisor what would they like for you to bring to the meeting and be sure to write that down!  And also ask for their name so when you go you have their name!  Being prepared is a major step when meeting with an advisor. That is your first step to entering your new institution to continue your education.   Before you meet with your advisor write down the questions that you would like to have answered.  Of course, you may not know what to ask at that time.  Talk with other students that have transferred – they are an excellent source.

So now it’s time to meet with your admission advisor – a good question to ask is if the school(s) that you have/had attended are accredited?  Some schools that students had previously attended, are not accredited (the credits will not transfer).  When meeting with your advisor, bring your list of questions and suggestions from your friends who transferred in. You will need to know what your curriculum will consist of.  With that you will also need to know what classes will transfer, what will come in as electives and unfortunately what will just come as hours.  The admissions advisor can help you with the majority of the questions but in regards to what will “actually” transfer in and how long it will take you to graduate that is up to your academic advisor.  We can discuss that in another time. 

Now comes the money!  There are many of us who do not have easy access for financial needs so now you must learn about going to the  Financial Aid Office.  Ask your advisor to tell you the location of this office.   From grants, loans, work study, and of course what we all wish for — SCHOLARSHIPS! The Financial Aid Office can inform you of the details of tuition and how you can use their services to pay for some or all of your tuition.  For those that are veterans or currently on active duty, you have the Veterans Resource Center to assist you.  Your admissions advisor can inform you about scholarships and you may also want to visit the Office of Scholarships for further information.

Just remember one thing and that is this; transferring from a community college or another university does not need to be overly complex.  The key is communication – that is, communication with your admissions advisor.

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7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting College

Many of you reading this today are probably headed to college in the fall. You’re excited, nervous and everything in between. So was I. Actually, so is everyone about to begin their college career. It’s normal. You’re going to learn a lot as you go, but I’m hoping this post can give you a good head start. Here are my top 7 things I wish I would’ve known freshman year: 

  1. Coffee. Coffee. More coffee. 

Coffee is there for you when nothing else is, so go ahead and learn to love it. And pro tip? Avoid the fancy stuff and stick with the basics (a.k.a black coffee with cream and sugar) to save yourself some $.

  1. Making friends is different in college.

Friendships are not a “given”. You aren’t in the same classes, with the same people, everyday like high school. This means you have to be proactive and intentional in making friends. Yes, new friendships can be awkward, and yes, that is normal. Asking someone you barely know to hangout after class or grab a coffee is not always easy. Just remember, everyone else is lonely and looking for friends, too. Go ahead and put yourself out there. I promise you’ll be glad you did.

  1. Don’t wait to get involved.

I went into freshman year with the mindset that I needed to keep my schedule open until I got “settled in.” News flash, settling in is boring. Do that after you graduate. Go ahead and get involved in campus clubs and organizations. If you overload your schedule, you can always scale back. Involvement can give you connections you’ll have for a lifetime, practical leadership and teamwork skills, and make Auburn start to feel like home. Before you know it, you’re a part of something bigger than yourself, you’ve made some friends, and you’re having a lot of fun.

  1. It’s OK to change your major. 

Some people start college knowing exactly what they want to do in life, ten year plan and everything. From what I’ve noticed, that’s the exception, not the rule. Changing your major doesn’t mean you failed. It means you are growing and learning more about yourself. Future you will sing your praises for making that change sooner rather than later. 

  1. Professors are great resources. 

In all my time at Auburn, I never encountered one professor who wasn’t willing to help . Get to know them. Go to office hours (yes, even when you don’t have to). Ask good questions. Talk to them about your dream job and what you need to do to get there. They are more willing to help than you realize. 

  1. Learn to study smart. 

Many of us have never been challenged academically the way college challenges us. The academic rigor of those first few semesters can sometimes feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Find someone who has taken the class before and ask for help. Form a study group with other students in the class. Take advantage of Study Partners on campus. The earlier you form good study habits, the more success (and less stress!) you will have.

  1. Soak it up now. 

Drink the Toomer’s Lemonade, go to the football games, see an AU Theater production, eat way too much Momma G’s, roll the trees. After you graduate, life will go on and I hope it’s wonderful. But nothing quite comes close to your college years. You only go to college once, so soak up every moment.

There you have it. My top advice for anyone about to start college. Remember, it’s not just about getting a degree. It’s also about making amazing memories, gaining invaluable experiences, finding yourself, and forming friendships that will last a lifetime. So, give it all you have. Take risks, have fun, and work hard.

War Eagle!

Brenna

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ZeeMee Community? What is that?

ZeeMee is the App for your phone, you didn’t know you needed until now. This is a great way to connect with other prospective and incoming students, through a group chat, pictures and videos; think GroupMe meets Instagram. The unique thing about ZeeMee is these group chats, pictures and videos are all from prospective students and ZeeMee Influencers (current students). This really allows for an authentic glimpse at Auburn.

We have so many ways for you to connect with students like your self, all through the admissions cycle. There are group chats for applying, admitted, Camp War Eagle and so much more. A few counselors are available to answer questions you may have through direct messages, but the group mainly consist of prospective and incoming students and Influencers. You can hear more about ZeeMee from a current Auburn student and Influencer, Asia Howard, so make sure you check that out.

We launched ZeeMee in January of this year and already have over 5,000 members in just the 2024 class alone. These members are chatting, sending gifs, finding roommates, creating friendships and study groups, and sharing their excitement about coming to Auburn in the Fall. If you haven’t joined already do it now, you won’t regret it.

https://zeemee.app.link/auburn

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I am a ZeeMee Influencer.

Hey Y’all My name is Asia Howard and I am one of Auburn University’s first ZeeMee influencers. This year, I have had the opportunity to share my perspective of Auburn with the prospective and incoming class of 2024 and beyond. Before I tell you about my favorite parts of being an influencer, I am going to share a little about me. I am a junior from Dacula, GA majoring in Apparel Design. I love to watch sports, be involved, and run my Etsy shop.

As a ZeeMee influencer, I have had the opportunity to share some really cool moments that I have experienced in my second year at Auburn. I have had the opportunity to document some really cool basketball wins, such as LSU and Kentucky, share about my daily life at Auburn, show off some of my favorite spots on campus, and interact with the incoming Auburn family. It allows someone to see the what life is like as an Auburn student and feel like they already have a friend on campus. It has been really cool to interact with the ZeeMee community and I hope to see some of you soon.

If you haven’t already joined Auburn’s ZeeMee Community, join today https://zeemee.app.link/auburn.

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Sneak Peek

Hey incoming freshmen!

Here is it! The sneak peek at the special gift that is sure to get you War Eagle Ready! It will be arriving soon to a mail box near you. What could it be?

War Eagle!

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Auburn University Medical Clinic: Where Health and Wellness Meets the Auburn Family

The Auburn University Medical Clinic’s mission is “to provide high-quality, efficient and convenient health care with compassion, dedication and professionalism.” The facility began serving Auburn University students, faculty, and staff as well as the greater Auburn community in 2005 with an unwavering commitment to achieving its mission. And I should know!

One of my earliest visits to the Medical Clinic occurred during the spring semester of my sophomore year. It was a beautiful afternoon and I was leaving Goodwin Hall with a heavy backpack on my back and my alto saxophone safely in its case in my left hand. In one moment, I was laughing with my friends walking down a hill close to the amphitheater and falling in slow motion in the next. After hearing an unusual *pop*…

… I had managed to land sitting on my left foot. With the help of my friends, I thought I could literally walk the injury off with a night of elevating my leg and icing my ankle with a bag of frozen green peas – college students are nothing if not resourceful. It was immediately evident the next morning, though, that I needed help from a medical professional and the Medical Clinic was the obvious choice. After an X-ray and a consultation with a doctor, my severely sprained ankle was on the mend.

One of my more recent visits was less embarrassing (thankfully, I’ve been more surefooted ever since) but equally memorable. In July 2018, I visited the Medical Clinic for a much more routine reason. At this time, I was nearly two years into being an admissions advisor and it was just days after learning about my dad’s cancer diagnosis. There were more unknowns and questions than certainty and answers in my life on the day of my visit. It was only after a couple weeks of waiting and worrying later than we learned that his cancer was treatable. Needless to say, my visit to the Medical Clinic that day was surrounded by unique circumstances. As I was waiting in my exam room, I was consumed with worry about my dad. When Dr. Owens walked into the room, I could have never predicted the ways in which she was going to help me. We talked about the reason for my visit and the medicine I need to take, and then the conversation somehow shifted to my dad. She listened intently and asked to pray over me. I left the Medical Clinic that day having received a level of care and concern I didn’t even know I needed.

Months later, I had a follow-up visit and, coincidentally, was treated by Dr. Owens again. She asked about my dad quickly after entering the exam room. I was amazed by her memory – how many patients had she seen since my visit? I was grateful to pass along the good news that he was responding well to treatment and even more grateful for her compassion for me and a loved one of mine that she had never even met.

Dr. Owens is undoubtedly extraordinary… along with every other doctor, PA, nurse, phlebotomist, receptionist, and staff member at the Auburn University Medical Clinic. If you’re anything like me, reader, you probably feel like this level of care and concern is a rarity in today’s world. But it’s the rule – not the exception to it – in the Auburn Family, and there is no better embodiment of the Auburn Family than the Auburn University Medical Clinic.

Highlights of Resources

  • The Auburn University Medical Clinic is a fee-for-service facility, meaning that you will only pay for services when you use them.
  • They have contracts with most major insurance companies and can work with students who are uninsured or take advantage of Auburn University’s Student Health Insurance.
  • Making an appointment over the phone or requesting an appointment through your patient portal is easy and the digital kiosks make the check-in process even more efficient.
  • In keeping with the Auburn University Medical Clinic’s mission, there are a variety of services available to help ensure students’ holistic health and wellness. Some of the resources housed within the facility include:
  • While the facility has a variety of services, it does not currently have specialists like dentists or optometrists but will gladly refer you to a local option that will best meet your needs.

Overall, I can confidently speak from a variety of personal experiences that the Auburn University Medical Clinic is an invaluable resource to the Auburn community. Whether you are coming from near or far, rest assured that the folks at the Auburn University Medical Clinic will embody the spirit of the Auburn Family to ensure your health and wellness.