Billy Fisher: Peachtree City, Georgia

I have worked as an Undergraduate Admissions Advisor at Auburn since 2016. However, I’m originally from Peachtree City, GA and first fell in love with Auburn when I came on a campus tour back in 2010. The next thing I knew I was here as a freshman in the Fall of 2011 majoring in Supply Chain Management, and four short years later I was sad about the idea of leaving Auburn upon graduation in 2015. I’m so grateful that I get to work for the university I love so much and live in the town I love so much. My wife and I started dating in college, and our hobbies and activities surround everything Auburn – going to ALL sporting events, enjoying great food and just a great college town. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, golfing, working out and watching all sports. I am a very passionate Braves fan, and am so glad I got to experience a World Series last fall!

My Top 3 Pieces of Advice for an Out-of-State Student

1. Be Extremely Intentional About Getting Involved Right off the Bat

Auburn will provide you with every opportunity to get plugged in as soon as you step foot on campus. We have over 550 different clubs and organizations, and one of the best ways to get plugged in is to start before you get on campus. Check out our AU Involve campus organization database and find out a little more about what may be a good fit for you so that you can jump right in! If you don’t do that before coming to campus, no worries – Auburn will provide every opportunity right off the bat. This may be through Welcome Week actives during your first week at Auburn, sporting events, on campus housing events and so much more. There’s no need to overload yourself, but just be intentional. There’s a spot for everyone at Auburn. In addition to getting plugged in, it’s a great way to get a lot of delicious and FREE food!!

2. Consider Greek Life if You’re Interested, but Don’t Feel Like It’s the “End-All-Be-All”

I often hear so many prospective out-of-state students expressing concern about feeling like they have to get involved in Greek Life at Auburn in order to fit in. Greek Life is great if it’s something you’re interested in, but one of my favorite things about Auburn is that there is absolutely no separation between Greek and non-Greek students, and there is every opportunity to get involved regardless of if a student joins a Greek organization or not. Bottom line – it’s great if you want to do it – but not a must at all. Follow what you want to do and not what you think you should do.

3. Have a Blast, but Remember That Grades Matter

The price of out-of-state tuition is real, and I know so many out-of-state students choose to attend Auburn because of merit scholarships that lessen the cost. Just remember that students must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA at the end of each year in order to maintain that scholarship. So – have a blast, make friends, get involved, but just make sure that the classroom is the priority it needs to be.

Mary Davis Kennedy: Chattanooga, Tennessee

War Eagle! My name is Mary Davis Kennedy, and I graduated from Auburn in 2016 with a communication degree and again in 2021 with my master’s degree in education. I’m originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, but both of my parents are from Alabama and both graduated from Auburn. I grew up attending football games and visiting family in the area, so my Auburn roots run deep, and I always knew I wanted to continue my family’s legacy at Auburn.

I only knew a handful of students when I moved to Auburn, so I was incredibly overwhelmed and very homesick. Not because I didn’t love Auburn (because I did and still do!), but because college is a huge transition. Because of this, I utilized the free counselling sessions offered through our Student Counseling and Psychological Services Office at the Auburn University Medical Clinic. They offer individual and group counseling options, along with other services. More information can be found on their website. So, my advice to any student who experiences any kind of struggle (big or small), utilize the resources available to you so you can be the healthiest version of yourself!

On a lighter note, my next piece of advice is to get involved (but not too much). Getting involved is a great way to get connected, network, and meet new friends, especially as an out-of-state student. I was involved in Greek Life and really enjoyed my time serving my social sorority. If anyone is thinking about getting involved with the Greek system, I encourage you to do it. But, if you don’t want anything to do with it, that’s okay too! Only about 30% of Auburn students are involved in the Greek system. Auburn offers over 500 involvement opportunities including SGA, club and intramural sports, and religious groups, so there’s plenty of options to pick from. To learn more about Auburn’s involvement opportunities, visit our AU Involve website. 

My last piece of advice is to live on campus because, similar to what I said about getting involved, it’s an easy way to meet new people and to have an instant community on campus. At Auburn, freshmen are not required to live on campus, but again, it’s something I always highly recommend. You also don’t need to have a car because everything you need is either on campus or within walking distance! Soon there will be a Publix in downtown Auburn, which will be perfect for our on-campus students. You’ll be able to walk to the grocery store! Plus, there’s always someone around to go grab a bite to eat with or to go to the library to study with. To learn more about living on campus at Auburn, visit our housing website.

Heather Rodgers: Fort Worth, Texas

War Eagle from Texas! I started as a Regional Admissions Advisor in November of 2018 but graduated from Auburn back in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. My first visit to Auburn was the summer before my senior year of high school in 2004, and I knew instantly that it was the right place for me. I had not even heard of Auburn until right before I visited campus, so I learned everything I could about it during senior year before moving across the country to a new state. Auburn became my home away from home, and a few things helped make that happen.

Go potluck!

You may already know someone you want to room with, and that’s okay. But if you don’t (or even if you do), consider going potluck. The other person chose to room with someone they don’t know yet too, and there is a chance you will become best friends.

Make at least one friend in every class.

It may not happen on the first day, but all you have to do is smile and say hello to one person. Having a friendly face in class helped me get through the tough courses and made it easier to ask for a study partner when exams rolled around.

Say “Yes!”

Dinner at Taco Mama with your roommate and their friend? “Yes!”

Auburn gymnastics meet with a new friend in your residence hall? “Yes!”

Coffee with the person you just met in class? “Yes!”

If you say no and just go back to your room, you are missing out on fun opportunities to meet people and to experience Auburn. Auburn has so much to offer, and you will miss it if you don’t say yes!

Bonus Advice…

Communicate with your friends and family back home! Send a letter, email, text, voice message…whatever it is that helps you remain connected to the ones you love who aren’t in Auburn with you. There are so many ways to stay in touch now, and it will keep you from feeling far away on those days you wish you could hug your people back home.

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.

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!

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

The transition from high school to college can certainly be an exciting time for high school seniors, but it can also bring times of stress, confusion, and anxiety as one prepares to move away from home and set out on their new adventure towards independence. Auburn University and the First Year Experience Office has, for years, offered a first-class orientation program that will not only prepare incoming freshmen for four successful years, but has also designed a program for parents and guardians so that they know what to expect as their student embarks on this new journey.

Since 1995, Camp War Eagle (CWE) has been welcoming incoming freshmen to Auburn’s campus through small group interactions, skits, pep rallies, and more! Since the global pandemic started in March of 2020, CWE has had to make changes to the 10 regularly scheduled two-day summer sessions to accommodate all incoming students and family members while keeping their health as a top priority. This coming summer, CWE will host 14 one-day in-person sessions and 3 virtual sessions for those still uncomfortable with traveling and coming to campus.

During my time as a student at Auburn University, I had the opportunity to work as a Camp War Eagle Counselor and Head Counselor. It was honestly one of the most rewarding experiences of my time as a student and what led me to my career path in higher education. The connections I was able to make with the incoming students in my group led me to my desire of helping the transitioning student population on a full-time basis, and I have no doubt any student can have an incredible experience at CWE as they are prepared for the best four years of their lives.

With the many changes to CWE for this summer, there will be some steps that students need to take to be prepared for their CWE session. The pre-enrollment modules became available on May 3^rd and include the following: Information about your college and major, basic information about Auburn University, and a series of assessments called “Connecting the Creed”. The first two sessions listed last approximately 45 minutes, and the final module will take about 90 minutes to complete.

Academic Advising is one of the most important aspects of Camp War Eagle! Incoming freshman will have the opportunity to meet with the college or school of their intended major and will be allowed to register for Fall 2021 courses on the date that coincides with the CWE Session attended. All of this and additional information can be found at fye.auburn.edu/cwe/students.

I encourage all students to come into CWE with an open mind and the willingness to meet new people! While the day can be overwhelming with the amount of information you receive, the Camp War Eagle staff has strategically designed all of the small group sessions with a purpose so that all students can be best prepared for anything they may face during their time as an Auburn student.

All of this to be said, Camp War Eagle is an incredible experience for all of those involved! I encourage all parents and guardians to be involved in this process as it is a big change for everyone in the family. CWE is the beginning of an incredible journey that the incoming freshmen are about to embark on and if I could go back to 2009, I would do it in a heartbeat. Students, savor every single moment you have in college because the time will fly by and before you know it, you’ll be interviewing for graduate school or your dream job!

O-pel-ee-ka? O-pel-ica? O-peel-ka?

O-pel-I-ka !

Opelika is the sweet town that connects to our beautiful Auburn, AL. The town is made up of more 30,000 residents who LOVE their town! From sweet treats at O-Town Ice Cream to the community traditions by the railroad tracks, this town has it all!

Here is my guide to OPELIKA!

The Eats

Café One Twenty Three

If you are looking for fine dining and southern cooking, Café One Twenty Three is for you! This restaurant is located in historic downtown Opelika and has a cozy, at-home atmosphere. Whether you are looking for a delicious pork chop, juicy steak, or lobster, shrimp and grits, you are going to leave full and happy!

Zazu Gastropub

Zazu is another fine dining experience with an eclectic, industrial feel. This restaurant is also located in historic downtown Opelika. They pride themselves on making everything from scratch and buying produce from local farms as best they can. Make sure you try the Korean BBQ Spring Rolls the next time you stop by!

Irish Bread Pub

Another historic downtown favorite has to be Irish Bread Pub. IBP has the classic Irish, English and American pub favorites on the menu to enjoy. My personal favorite is the Chicken & Chips! Not only is the food great, but the environment is even better. This is the place to just hangout and enjoy the community!

O-Town Ice Cream

Now if you are looking for something sweet, you have to head over to O-Town Ice Cream. Located on 2nd Ave, O-Town has all sorts of sweets to satisfy your cravings. You can stop by in the morning and pick up one of their delicious biscuits or cinnamon rolls to start your day. Or you may choose to end it with a scoop of one of their homemade ice creams named after people and places in Opelika. Either way you cannot miss this Opelika favorite!

The Drinks

Side Track Coffee

Now Side Track Coffee is a spot you can’t miss. This coffee shop has a cool, minimalist atmosphere where you can study, meet with friends, or just grab a quick cup of coffee when you’re on the go. The coffee is amazing and the service hospitable, but what makes this location so unique is you choose your price. You pay what you can pay.

Mama Mocha’s Coffee Opelika

Now we have talked about Mama Mocha’s on this blog before! Our coffee shop round up described the unique and eclectic feel of the Mama Mocha’s brand. Now the Opelika Mama Mocha’s shop and roastery located in downtown Opelika on 1st avenue has that same unique feel. This spot has amazing coffee, breakfast, and a welcome-to-all environment.

The Traditions

Opelika Songwriters Festival

The Opelika Songwriters Festival is a new tradition here in Opelika, but it is a great one! This festival is co-produced by The Sound Wall and Russell Carter Artist Management and takes place all over town. Opelika venues and locations are transformed into music filled spaces. You are able to enjoy your favorite Opelika hotspot while experiencing local artists and artists from all over. Unfortunately the 2020 OSF was cancelled due to COVID, but here’s to 2021!

On The Tracks

There is no better way to bring a community together except through food, live music and drinks! Opelika holds this biannual event to raise money and promote local businesses in the area. You able to walk through downtown while eating and drinking from Opelika favorites!

Christmas in a Railroad Town

My personal favorite tradition held in Opelika has to be Christmas in a Railroad Town. This event is perfect for everyone! You can shop at the local businesses, try one of the holiday activities, enjoy the live music, say hi to Santa, and of course grab a sweet holiday treat. This event typically takes place right before Christmas Break, so make sure you stop by before heading home for the holidays!

There is so much more to Opelika than this quick guide, so make sure you head over there and explore!

https://www.opelikamainstreet.org/

https://www.aotourism.com/

Many people in the United States haven’t even heard of Auburn, AL, much less students from another country! So what is it like to travel across the globe and make a home for yourself in rural Alabama? We interviewed some of our international students to find out.

What are the hardest adjustments you’ve had to make?

·         Language barriers – Even if they have been speaking English and studied for many years before they came to United States, the classroom can be a challenging atmosphere. It can be intimidating to raise your hand in a classroom or participate in a discussion when English isn’t your first language.

·       Living by themselves also posed new challenges. Many things that seem so commonplace for Americans are very different from what they are used to in their home countries.

·     Classrooms in the United States are very collaborative and involve more participation from students. Meeting new professors was also difficult for them since the academic environments in other countries are often very different.

·         Writing assignments can be challenging, however, they were blessed with the Miller Writing Center. Students have access to free tutoring and assistance with their writing assignments, which allows the students to focus more on their coursework.

·        Many students also experience home sickness.  It can take up to two days to travel to Auburn from their homes. With the stress of travel and being so far from home, it’s easy to feel lonely and isolated.

What was the best experience while being a student at Auburn University?

·         The most common answer was making new friends. Some students were invited for Thanksgiving meals, and loved the atmosphere and hospitality.

·        Trying new foods is also a great experience in a new country.  Some of the more popular foods like hamburgers and Mellow Mushroom pizza were their top choices. And of course, the famous Toomer’s Corner lemonade! One student told me that his everyday lunch was two slices of mellow mushroom pizza with a sweet tea.

·         Many students enjoyed taking advantage of the school’s resources, like  joining the gym and some found a church that fits their personality. 

What are your favorite things about Auburn University?

·         Many students have enjoyed the people, spending time with their new friends, and the traditions. Samford Hall is one of their favorite buildings on campus, and of course football season!

What are your least favorite things about Auburn University?

·         When I asked this question, they couldn’t think of anything!

 While there are certainly challenges coming to a new country to learn, many of our students have found it to be a very rewarding and positive experience.  Whether it’s making new friends, trying new foods, or experiencing the traditions that make Auburn unique, every student at Auburn finds a way to make it feel like home.

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By Tina M. Temm

Listen up YOU!

Well that’s over, time to go to school

There are men and women that decide to join the armed forces versus going to college or a community college. These men and women may have joined the regular/reserve federal forces, Coast Guard, or the assorted state Guard forces. Whether it was for one or more enlistments or maybe a career, they put a formal civilian education largely on hold. All those military personnel have to go through different steps to training just as a college student goes through orientation before starting classes. The difference is that screwing up in military training can be physically painful while screwing up in college is costly both financially and time wise.

For those who embark on a tour of the military, at the start they have their lives being told what to do, 24/7. The lives that they had led no longer exist. First stop off would be the reception station which is equivalent to orientation for students that are attending college except people here are not so polite. This will last for usually a week or more depending on the individual’s brushes with the military’s bureaucracy.

Next comes Basic Training in which they will be controlled by their sergeant/chief depending on the service they are in. They will be told when to wake up, when to eat, when to sleep, time to do PT (physical training) and when it’s time to do training.

After basic they go to their actual military occupation schools. This is where they will be trained on what to do for their “job” in the service. From there, unless they get further specialist training, they are posted either State side or overseas. Military life can be hard not just for the serving member but for the family as well. Many jobs in the armed forces
involve constant family separations and even for unmarried personnel, life is very different from what they may have known before enlistment.

Once a soldier decides to separate from their service and start a new life, such as attending college, they have to regroup and figure out the civilian way of life. That often is pretty hard, especially for those who were in combat arms or combat support given the vast differences in those with civilian life. However, there is the option of a serving member going to college and attending a university to get commissioned. But for those that will separate this can be difficult for them because while in the service as already mentioned earlier – they understood their personal responsibilities and ordered lives and now they will be entering a world with little or any of that. There are some people (civilians) who think this should not be an issue – but it is.

When a veteran attends college, they do the same as any other student does by submitting all the paperwork that is needed. Some will even submit their military transcripts. Once all has been processed and whether or not they are coming in as a Freshman or a Transfer – they will go through their final step of orientation. During orientation they will meet with someone from the Veterans Resource Center. Those who work at the VRC are often either veterans or a family member of a veteran. Here they will have the support that they may need from tutoring to dealing with any type of issue that may arise. Moreover they will be in contact with people who understand the differences of life now for them as they too went through the very same changes.

Both veterans and active duty have dealt with so much that no one can understand unless they have been through that ordeal. We are empathic to the problems that they may have and we can celebrate with them on their accomplishments.

But for all those that have served and that are still serving – I would like to say THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. Whether you served for three years or twenty plus, many of us here at Auburn University want to help you in that transition to college life!

The fall semester is traditionally a time when the Admissions Advisors in our office gear up and start heading out to areas all across the US to attend college fairs, visit your high schools and meet with prospective students one-on-one.  We gather up our new Auburn material to hand out, pack our travel bags and personal suitcases, get our rental cars and hit the road!

https://giphy.com/gifs/thehills-xT5LMXS7f6IlAqhB6w

Obviously, 2020 has thrown a wrench into everyone’s lives.  The school year didn’t finish in the normal way we thought it would, summer trips may have been cancelled and this new school year has begun and it looks a little different too!  Over the past few months, one thing our admissions team has done well is to learn how to be flexible and adapt to this new way of life.  So, while our physical travel may be postponed until Spring 2021, we’re ready to hit the road virtually this Fall!

Our Admissions Advisors will be packing their virtual travel bags full with things like general information about Auburn and our undergraduate degree programs, to helpful information about the admissions and scholarship updates for the Fall 2021 application cycle.  They’ll be hosting virtual visits to high schools in their territories, attending virtual college fairs (both state sponsored fairs and national college fairs) and sitting on college panels, just to name a few!

So, make sure to search out these opportunities and connect with your Auburn Admissions Advisor this fall! We look forward to the day when we can meet you in person, but for the moment we’re excited to meet you on Zoom!

https://giphy.com/gifs/zoom-skype-video-call-Y1RNAfill5EwfvAjn7

What you should know prior to and during your visit to the Plains…

War Eagle! My name is Josh Huggins and I serve as the Assistant Director of Campus Visit and Events here at Auburn University. We are so excited that you and your family have decided to visit our beautiful campus and we cannot wait for you to see all Auburn has to offer you!

The college search process can be quite daunting if you let it, and we sincerely hope that search will end with us! I vividly remember my campus tour like it was yesterday. Perhaps it was the brisk 19 degree temperatures and 15 mph winds, but all things aside, after my campus tour, I knew I had found my new home for the next four years. Little did I know that it would become my home for much longer!

If you are able to experience all of the things listed below, I am convinced that you will fall in love with Auburn as quickly as I did. Through this post, I will share tips of what to do prior to your visit and things to do while on the Plains!

What to do prior to your visit:

• Schedule a Campus Tour through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions
• Find a hotel close to campus…I highly recommend the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center! They are conveniently located right across the street from our campus and walking distance to downtown with full access to campus life.
• Reach out to your College/School of interest and schedule a meeting to learn more about your intended major.
• Schedule a meeting with your Admissions Advisor while you are on campus!
• Make reservations at one of our local restaurants and experience true Auburn cuisine. I recommend looking into Acre, The Hound, or Hamilton’s for the true local experience!
• Keep in mind…Auburn is in Central Time. We are located just under 2 hours from the Atlanta airport and as soon as you enter into Alabama you are going to gain an hour. But keep in mind, you will lose that hour when heading back into Georgia if your visit requires flying.

By scheduling your Campus Tour, meeting with the college/school of interest, and meeting with your Admissions Advisor, you are bound to gain all of the knowledge you need about our campus, your intended major, and the entire admissions process. By staying at a hotel close by, you set yourself up for a great experience around campus and our downtown area without having to ever move your car! Finally, eating at one of our local dives will give you insight into the delicious food our quaint village has to offer!

What to do during your visit:

• Walk around campus during a sunset! I am convinced that Auburn offers the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen.
• Make your way to Toomer’s Corner in historic downtown Auburn and get some of their famous lemonade…I recommend the strawberry lemonade!
• Take a tour of the Recreation and Wellness Center. The use of this facility is paid for through student fees and is a great opportunity for students to get their mind off of their studies!
• Take a family picture in front of the iconic Auburn sign on Samford Lawn. Don’t be afraid to ask someone walking by to take a picture for you! You will quickly find that Auburn has the friendliest students and residents and makes our campus feel like “home” no matter where you may be from.
• Eat at Momma Goldberg’s Deli (Momma G’s) on Magnolia Avenue. They steam all of their sandwiches and “nachos” which consists of a bag of nacho cheese Doritos and pepper jack cheese melted on top…don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
• Take pictures of everything you have seen. If you are visiting multiple schools, it will be to your advantage to be able to look back on your visit and compare pictures and truly remember each experience!

We are truly looking forward to your visit to campus and hope you find your new home away from home.

Safe travels and War Eagle!

Best,

Josh

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!