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Auburn Restaurant Round-Up: Fall 2021 Edition

We asked some of our admissions advisors about their favorite Auburn restaurants. The next time you’re looking for a bite to eat from a local restaurant, here are some highly recommended options!

Acre

Meet the chef who's put Auburn on the restaurant map - al.com
https://www.al.com/life/2019/01/meet-the-chef-whos-put-auburn-on-the-restaurant-map.html

“Acre is hands down my favorite restaurant in Auburn. Not one time have I ever left disappointed, and I’ve yet to find any food I’ve ever eaten that I enjoy more than their Peanut Butter Pie. Acre is simply good food from good people, with roots deep in Southern cooking. There’s no question that Auburn has a lot of good restaurants with good people and great food. However, my wife and I find ourselves going back to Acre time and time again because it never disappoints. If you know you’re going to be in town around a sporting event, graduation or anything else that takes over Auburn, a trip to Acre is a must. Just make sure you get that reservation early!” –Billy Fisher

Amsterdam Café

Order Amsterdam Cafe Delivery Online | Auburn | Menu & Prices | Uber Eats
https://www.ubereats.com/store/amsterdam-cafe/XrdDt5QYRXOzsonFu_a8Iw

“One of my favorite local Auburn restaurants is Amsterdam Café. Amsterdam is an Auburn staple located right off campus near downtown Auburn. It has a casual, cozy vibe, and it’s a great spot for a table service lunch or dinner. They serve seafood and southern style cuisine, and they have everything from burgers to turkey wraps to shrimp and grits. One of my favorite menu items is the Crab Cake and Avocado Sandwich. A fun thing about Amsterdam is that they have a food truck that is parked on Auburn’s campus most days of the week. Students are able to enjoy this local Auburn restaurant using their university dining dollars.” –Haylee Dorrill

Bow & Arrow

Here's a sneak preview of one of Alabama's most anticipated new restaurants, Bow & Arrow - al.com
https://www.al.com/life-and-culture/erry-2018/11/d3c0fbcc9c4376/heres-a-sneak-preview-of-aubur.html

“My go-to restaurant for any situation is a fun place called Bow & Arrow! Whether I’m in the mood for a casual lunch with friends or an excuse to dress up for dinner, Bow & Arrow is perfect for either. I can be a picky eater, so I love the menu because it has something for everyone; from BBQ to queso, and tater-tots to salads, everything is delicious (and affordable). In addition, the owner and head chef competed on (and won) the Food Network show “Iron Chef Showdown”, so you know the food is always tasty. The atmosphere indoors is a bit nicer while the outside has heaters and TV’s, which is a great spot for gamedays. I highly recommend visiting for any and every occasion.” -Abby Grace Jowers

The Hound

https://www.aotourism.com/Dining/172/The-Hound-Bar–Restaurant/

“The absolute best restaurant in Auburn is The Hound! This family-owned restaurant is my all-time favorite place to celebrate with a nice dinner, meet friends for a quick lunch, or enjoy brunch after an Auburn gameday. Their food is described on their website as “over-the-top American classics” and I could not describe it any better. The restaurant is tucked away behind downtown Auburn and has a rustic- cabin feel. It is like a secret lodge that you must tell everyone about! They have an ever-changing menu, but always includes their famous bacon flight, the cream cheese and pepper jelly appetizer, and fried green beans. My personal favorite entrée is the Big-Fat Ribeye or the BYOB. The sides are served to share, so you can have a little bit of everything around the table! I promise you won’t regret spending a meal at The Hound. And again, get the fried green beans!” -Clayton Ann Short

LiveOaks

http://www.liveoaksauburn.com/

“LiveOaks is one of my favorite spots! It’s a fun atmosphere right on the corner of downtown Auburn. The patio, especially in the warmer months, is such a fun place to hang out, watch live sports, or catch up with friends. It’s the perfect place for an easy date-night! We always start with the spinach artichoke dip or mini crab cakes (my favorite) for an appetizer and my favorite entrée is the pan-seared grouper with risotto and asparagus. You can’t go wrong with the Cajun stuffed bone-in pork chop, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes either! Time and time again I find LiveOaks to be one of my top choices for Auburn restaurants (and we have a lot of great ones)!” –Ansley Phillips

Irritable Bao

Irritable Bao - Dumps Like A Truck Food Truck / Auburn, Alabama — Eating Alabama
https://www.eatingalabama.net/restaurantblog/2019/3/3/irritable-bao-dumps-like-a-truck-food-truck-auburn-alabama

“If you are looking for a fun and different lunch spot, look no further than The Irritable Bao.  It is my favorite place to go when I feel like walking downtown for lunch.  With Whitley’s sense of humor and Kunyu’s incredible food, this husband and wife duo will have you wanting to come back time and time again. Don’t let the long line out front fool you. The service is quick and efficient. Even if it wasn’t, the sweet and spicy chicken box is worth the wait!  You can find their daily menu on Instagram at @dumpslikeatruck_irritablebao. Who knows, you might even end up on their feed.” -Rebecca Estes

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AU Traditions – Tiger Walk

Picture this:

It’s Saturday on the Plains. Your Auburn Tigers kick off in two hours. You are surrounded by thousands of your closest friends as you gather together to support the team as they prepare to do battle.

You, my friend, are at the Tiger Walk.

Every gameday, the Auburn football team walks from the Athletics Complex to Jordan-Hare Stadium and thousands of Auburn students, faculty, alumni, and fans line Donahue Drive to greet the team and wish them well before they take the field. It is an electrifying environment that prepares everyone for the game!

The tradition of the Tiger Walk began in the 1960s when kids would approach the team for autographs. Since then, the Tiger Walk has grown in popularity and size and is one of the greatest traditions in college football.

As you begin your Auburn experience, be sure to include the Tiger Walk in your gameday plans!

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From High School to College

The transition from high school to college is a very exciting time for seniors. You are about to embark on a journey that will prepare you for life. However, this transition can also be daunting. Leaving home and adapting to your new life on campus can be overwhelming. You can ensure you have a smooth transition by taking responsibility for yourself, using the many resources at your disposal, and getting involved on campus.

Take responsibility for yourself. For many people, college is their first time living away from home. It’s a time of firsts for everyone: first time doing your laundry, first time managing your finances, and first time setting your own schedule, just to name a few. Establishing good habits and holding yourself accountable will be vital to your success. You’ll have a lot of time but also a lot of things you’ll have to and want to do. Create a balanced schedule around your classes with time set aside for schoolwork, extracurriculars, laundry, and other dorm chores. It is also important to take time to care for your mental and physical well-being. The campus recreation center is a great place to swim, lift, or meet friends for a group fitness class. Ensure you’re getting enough sleep and take time for yourself. College professors’ expectations are different from those of high school teachers. Not all of them will take attendance, remind you of upcoming deadlines, or have conversations about grades. It’s your responsibility to go to class, take note of important dates on the syllabus, and seek out help when you need it.

Photo from Academic Support: http://academicsupport.auburn.edu/aubie-reading-with-student/

Utilize campus resources. Some people arrive on campus and realize that they didn’t establish good study habits in high school. They struggle in subject areas they excelled in at high school. Find the tutoring center at your college and familiarize yourself with the resources before you really need them. In addition to tutoring, most colleges offer academic coaching. Academic coaches work with students to develop study and note taking skills, work on time management, set goals, and navigate the overall college experience. These resources are free to use, so be sure to take advantage of them.

Upcoming Events - AUinvolve
Photo from AUinvolve: https://auburn.campuslabs.com/engage/events

Join a club on campus. Whether you’re from a big city nearby or a small town far away, you may find yourself homesick or anxious about fitting in. Joining a club or organization at your new school is great way to make friends and make campus feel like home. Auburn has over 500 student organizations on campus, so it’s only a matter of finding the right fit for you. There are service-oriented clubs where you can make an impact in the community, professional organizations where you can meet students and faculty in your major, club sports, religious organizations. . . The opportunities are endless! You can browse clubs and organizations at AUinvolve to see what all Auburn has to offer. While getting involved in something that you’re familiar with is a great way to bring continuity to your time at college, try something new, too!

Self discipline, academic resources, and campus organizations. Hopefully these three tips will help you prepare for your freshman year. Camp War Eagle, Auburn’s summer orientation program, introduces first-year students to campus and prepares them for college expectations. Don’t let the high school-college transition prevent you from enjoying your senior year! Finish the year strong and reach out to your admissions advisor if you have have questions about moving from high school to college.

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Cater Callouts

“And from Auburn, Alabama…”

If there’s one thing you should know about Auburn, it’s that we are deeply rooted in tradition. You’ve probably heard of or seen our famous “rolling Toomer’s Corner” tradition after a big win, or perhaps you’ve entered Jordan-Hare Stadium a few minutes early to witness our traditional pre-game eagle flight. While these traditions have certainly earned their right to be recognizable and easily accessible to anyone, there are a few sacred traditions that remain unique to only current Auburn students. Affectionately known as “Cater Callouts”, this tradition is a crowd-favorite among students as it encourages a tangible picture of the Auburn Family.

So, what is Cater Callouts? Well, simply put, it is a fun way for all Auburn students to join together to celebrate and champion other members of the Auburn family. Typically, large organizations, clubs, or involvement groups will hold callouts to officially announce their new members. From the Cheerleading team to Camp War Eagle Counselors to Student Recruiters, Miss Auburn, and SGA titles, callouts is the most fun night of the year as a new group is chosen and celebrated in front of the student body. Instead of these groups selecting their members and sending out an impersonal congratulatory e-mail, Auburn opts to make the experience a memorable one. Here’s how it goes…

At the top of the back steps of Cater Hall stands the current executive team, leaders, or captains of an organization. After the votes have been counted, interviews have been held, and try-outs have come and gone, they introduce themselves to the anxious crowd that awaits them below. Hundreds of students rush forward to get as close to the stairs as possible, to make sure they can hear the names. Peeking out of the windows of the Upper Quad Residence Halls are freshmen, eager to watch their first callout experience. Then finally, holding the list of names of those who have been chosen, the executive team has all eyes on them as they read out the list of names, one by one.

Most begin by reading out your hometown. “From Auburn, Alabama” they yell out, and suddenly every prospective member whose hometown is Auburn holds their breath, hoping their name is to follow. As you might imagine, not every name that applied will get called. While this may seem like a massively disappointing experience, there’s one thing that is important to know about those waiting to hear their name; they are never standing alone. Callouts is an experience to share with your friends (and even sometimes your family). It’s common for one candidate to bring a whole crowd of people along to stand in support, hold a hand, or offer a comforting hug if their name is not called. So, whether your name is called or it isn’t, you have a crowd a people there to support and encourage you the whole time.

If you are lucky enough to hear your name at callouts, you are quickly rushed to a celebratory meeting where you get important information, next steps, and begin to meet those that were chosen alongside you. It’s a night of high-energy, emotions, and excitement as a new chapter and opportunity has been afforded to you.

Some of my fondest memories from my time as a student come from the many nights spent standing on the back lawn of Cater Hall, surrounded by my closest friends, anxiously waiting to hear my name at Callouts. It was in those moments (like the one pictured above), that I experienced the most tangible picture of the Auburn family; I was surrounded by friends that become family, and that meant a community that would support and encourage me no matter what.

If you have the chance to witness the beloved “Cater Callouts” tradition, be sure to join in. There’s no better feeling than hearing your name (or the name of someone you love) being called from those back steps.

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Making the Most of Campus Resources

Auburn wants to see students succeed, and there are SO many resources available for students on campus to help with this. Many of them are free of charge and easy to access. However, it’s the student’s job to take advantage of the opportunities available to them. Here’s how to make the most of campus resources.

University Career Center

https://www.theplainsman.com/multimedia/_mmo7719

Whether you have no idea what you want to major in or you have a very specific career goal in mind, the career center is for you! They are here to support you from start to finish of your college career. The career center is something that I used throughout my time at Auburn. My first semester freshman year, I was very undecided on what I wanted to major in, so I set up an appointment with a career coach to discuss various majors, what I thought I would enjoy, and different career paths available. I ended up changing my major that semester to the major I graduated with.  A little later in college, I needed a summer internship, so I went back to the career center. They helped me with knowing how to job search, creating a resume and cover letter, and interview preparation. Another incredible resource of the career center is the career closet available to students. The career closet is filled with business professional clothes in a variety of sizes and styles, and students can get up to 4 free items from the career closet per year. This means that students could leave Auburn with 16 free items of business professional clothing by graduation! Finally, when I was graduating from Auburn and interviewing for my current job, I set up a mock interview with the career center. They ask common interview questions and give feedback for each interview question and response. It was super helpful in preparing and feeling more comfortable for my interview. In addition to all of this, the career center hosts internship and job fairs throughout the year. They are a great resource for students to utilize at any stage of their college career.

Academic Resources

https://www.theplainsman.com/multimedia/634a1876

Auburn is filled with academic resources to help students succeed. Aside from professors offering individual office hours each week, there are plenty of additional ways to help students stay on track in their classes. One great resource is Supplemental Instruction. Many core classes at Auburn have an SI Leader who is a current student that did well in the course in a previous semester.  The SI Leader will hold study sessions each week to review the material with students in a smaller setting. These are optional, but I attended SI sessions early in college and found them extremely helpful in reinforcing what I had learned in class. Another great resource is Study Partners. Study Partners offers free one-on-one peer tutoring to students in a variety of courses. The Miller Writing Center offers one-on-one feedback from graduate and undergrad students on papers or writing assignments of any type. Finally, Learning Communities are a great resource for helping students adjust to college by giving them an automatic group of peers with similar interests and the same class schedule. You can read more about Learning Communities here.

Recreation and Wellness Center

Athletic Business - Athletic Business
https://www.athleticbusiness.com/project-1066.html

 The Recreation and Wellness Center on campus is an incredible facility available to students, faculty, and staff. Most of the amenities within the rec are free to use and are something I wish I had taken advantage of more as a student. There’s a 1/3 indoor track with elevation changes, 6 regulation sized basketball courts, a PGA golf simulator, a giant pool and hot tub, a rocking climbing wall, and state of the art equipment. You can read more about the rec center on a previous blog post here.

Health and Wellness

https://cws.auburn.edu/aumc/

Finally, there are lots of resources on campus for keeping students healthy both mentally and physically. Student Counseling Services provides students with free individual or group counseling sessions. The Medical Clinic on campus is available for students to visit when they need to see a doctor. There are massage and chiropractic services, a women’s health clinic, and a student pharmacy all within the med clinic as well.

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Back on the Road – Fall 2021

By Holley Springfield

This past year we all learned how to navigate the virtual college search process.  Questions that popped up during a virtual year were less “Where do I park when I get to campus?” but more of reminding someone that they’re on mute, or in a lot of cases that they actually ARE NOT on mute, asking everyone “Can you see my screen?” and so many other things.  While virtual was the best and safest way to connect with the vast majority of our applicants, we know that when it comes to recruitment, our favorite way to recruit is in person. 

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions has slowly been getting excited for our Fall travel season.  Each time a calendar was released with fair dates, the excitement continued to grow.  New travel bags have been ordered, new recruitment material has been delivered, schedules have been planned, extra hand sanitizer and face masks have been packed, and hotels, rental cars and flights have been booked!

Normally, once September hits, our office is like a ghost town with all the admissions advisors out on the road.  Their schedules are full of high school visits, student meetings, and college fairs.  Unfortunately, we also realize that we’ve not made it to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic.  So, in some cases, we’ll continue to connect with you virtually and look forward to doing so!

Our hope this Fall season is to visit with you safely in-person when and where we’re allowed to.  Whether that’s at your high school, at an area college fair, or when you visit Auburn’s campus, we look forward to connecting with you and sharing all things Auburn University!  Make sure to reach out to your Auburn Admissions Advisor and see what opportunities are available to connect with them.

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Welcome Week!

By Jack Self

It’s hard to believe it’s August and we are getting ready for another incredible year at Auburn University! Move-in is happening all over campus and throughout the city of Auburn, and Sorority Recruitment has started and is keeping many of the incoming women at Auburn busy. The ever so random afternoon shower creeps in each day, and the smell of football season is on the horizon. A stroll across campus can seem quite the chore in the 100% humidity, but the sound of the Auburn University Marching Band puts a smile on one’s face knowing what is soon to come to Jordan-Hare stadium.

One of the most prominent events that takes place after move-in and through the first few weeks of classes is Welcome Week! Welcome Week marks the beginning of the 2021-2022 academic school year and is the University’s official welcome for all new and returning students to be back on campus this fall. Welcome Week, hosted from August 9-20, provides all students with a variety of ways to get involved, and make Auburn truly feel like a home away from home. Whether it be cornhole or Back to School BBQ on the Campus Green, first day of class photos on the Haley Concourse, or a free movie in the Auburn Arena, there are plenty of opportunities for free swag and best of all, free food! Welcome Week is great for freshmen because of the opportunity to get information about different academic, athletic, service, and religious organizations on campus. All of these groups can be found on AU Involve online. The Auburn Guides app is a must to find out information on everything happening in these jam-packed first two weeks at Auburn! Take the opportunity to put yourself out there, meet new friends, find groups that you want to be a part of and more!

The transition to being a student at Auburn University can certainly be an exciting and stressful time, but the memories that will be made cannot be matched! The freshman at Auburn are starting a new chapter of their lives here on the Plains and we are so excited to help them develop academically, socially, and personally. I encourage each student to meet someone new, go to class, try all the different places to eat on campus, especially The Edge – the newest dining facility, and really launch yourself into the best four years of your life!

War Eagle!

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Photos from: https://auburn.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/upc/gallery/album/311014

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Tips for Choosing a Major

Choosing a major can be a little bit overwhelming. You may find yourself thinking, where do I start? How do I know this is right for me? Why are there so. many. options???

Photo from: http://academicsupport.auburn.edu/aubie-tired/

If the idea of choosing a major is making you feel like Aubie- we’re here to help! At Auburn, we have 150+ majors housed in our 12 colleges and schools. So how do you decide what’s right for you? I’m sharing a few tips that I think will help guide you in your path to choosing a major.

  1. Find your passions-  “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”. When choosing a major or a future career, think about where your passions lie. You will enjoy your studies and your day-to-day work life if you’re doing something you’re passionate about. Using your passions and strengths to your advantage is a great start to choosing a major.
  2. Do your research- Take a look at all the majors a college has to offer. Speak to the colleges and majors you are most interested in. Try to visit the facilities, speak to faculty or staff, maybe even reach out to students in that area to see if it’s something they love. You can also consider job-shadowing or taking career advice from professionals in the field. Learning all you can about a major will help in your decision.
  3. Don’t judge a book by its cover- … or a college by its title? Sometimes college names can be a little deceiving. Some colleges and majors are self-explanatory, like College of Sciences and Mathematics or College of Engineering. But some colleges, like the College of Human Sciences or the College of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences have more to them than what meets the eye. Make sure you are looking into all of your options instead of just the majors you’ve heard of a thousand times. You might find a hidden gem that meets all of your passions and expectations.
  4. Career first- major second- How many times have you been asked “what do you want to be when you grow up?” You can take that same approach when choosing a major. If you know what job or career interests you most, you can use that to find a major.
  5. Narrow it down- Consider making a short list of your top 5 possibilities. See what similarities and differences they have. Having a shorter list after your initial search into all of the majors can help you further research what each program has to offer.
  6. Use your resources- College campuses have a number of resources available to help you succeed. The Career Center is a great tool to have. They offer career counseling, workshops, personality and career assessments and more! As you work through your first couple of years in college, visit the career center often and take advantage of what they have to offer. They are sure to help guide you towards the perfect major.
  7. Take Your Time- most major-level courses won’t begin until the majority of core and pre-requisite courses have been completed. This means you have, on average, two years before you have to declare a major. Don’t rush into choosing a major before you’re ready, or before you have to. Enjoy all of your core classes and see if any of those spark inspiration.
  8. Know what education is required- will you need to attend graduate or professional school to achieve your goals? Will adding a minor better support your career? Make sure you look at what level of education is required for your career of choice. This will let you know what major to choose, what pre-requisites you will need to take, and how many years you may be in school.
  9. Explore your options- Here at Auburn University we have the perfect place for that. Instead of choosing “undeclared” on your admissions application, you can choose to join our Exploratory Program. This “major” is a great resource for students to learn all about the majors Auburn has to offer. Career assessments, personality tests, class-shadowing, you name it. Exploratory has the tools to help you find your perfect fit. You will complete this program by the end of your freshman year and then can transfer seamlessly into your major of choice.
  10. It’s okay to change your mind- As you grow as a person and learn more about Auburn, you may strike up new passions and interests. You will be exposed to new people and experiences when you begin your college years. If you find something that suits you better, Auburn will support you in making that change. You can work with our campus resources, the career center, and your academic advisors to make the change that will be best for you!

No matter what you decide, your path is out there. You may just have to dig a little to find it. And don’t be afraid to ask for help! Here at Auburn University, we want to make sure you are not only leaving with a great education but that you are prepared for life. We are here to inspire, innovate, and transform you so that you can do the same for others.

Be sure to check out a full list of our majors to see what opportunities Auburn University can offer you!

https://www.auburn.edu/admissions/majors.php

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All About Toomer’s Corner

By: Lenzy Borden

The tradition of the rolling the Auburn Oaks at Toomer’s Corner returned Sept. 10, 2016, after a football win over Arkansas State. | http://www.auburn.edu/main/oaks/

What’s is Toomer’s Corner?

Toomer’s Corner is home to one of Auburn University’s most cherished traditions and one of Southern Living’s Top 100 Things to Do Before You Die. Let’s dive into a little history of this landmark. You will likely hear different forms of the story on campus visits and at Camp War Eagle, but this is how I like to tell it best:

Mr. Sheldon Toomer bought the drug store from his Stepfather after completing Pharmacy School at Auburn University (known then as Alabama Polytechnic Institute) in 1896. This drug store was the only business in town to own a telegraph, and when Auburn’s football team played away-games, they were the only ones around to get the current score.

As Auburn scored and Toomer’s received the updates, the employees would take the ticker tape from the telegraph and tape it to the windows. The more paper, the better Auburn was doing. Fans in the community would stop by, check the score, and go about their day. When they would post the final score that Auburn had won, the fans would rip the paper off of the windows and throw it in the oak trees at the corner of campus. This was the best way to let everyone know that our boys were bringing home another victory.

Eventually, ticker tape got to be expensive, so at some point we switched over to toilet paper, but the tradition is something we do for every victory we see. The picture below is from the 2010 National Championship. We take this pretty seriously, don’t you think?

Nov 25, 2017; Auburn, AL, USA; View of Toomer’s Corner after the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2017; Auburn, AL, USA; View of Toomer’s Corner before the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-360260 ORIG FILE ID: 20171125_sal_ah2_0743.JPG

Did Someone Say Lemonade?

Crossing the street back towards downtown, Toomer’s Drug Store is home to one of Southern Living’s Top 100 Things to Do Before You Die– try the lemonade. Toomer’s lemonade is a favorite of all who try it. You can go classic with the regular lemonade, or try one of their flavors. My favorite is the Strawberry-Lemonade for the real strawberries, and the frozen options are amazing. Ice cream, soda floats, Toomer’s T-shirts, and lemonade by the gallon can all be found at the heart of our downtown here in Auburn, Alabama.

https://www.aotourism.com/Arts-and-Culture/6/Toomers-Corner/