Auburn University | Student Reviews | Best College

Student Profile

Kristen

Class: Freshman
Major: Other
Gender: F

High School: Milton High School
Transfer Student: N

Big Picture

The best thing about Auburn is the Auburn "family" even though that sounds so cheesy. If i could change one thing, I would change sorority housing out of dorms and into houses. I think Auburn is the perfect size, big enough to get away from people you do not want to see and the perfect size in that I know people everywhere I go. Everybody who I tell I go to Auburn either reacts with "I love Auburn! WAR EAGLE!" On campus, I spend most of my time in Haley center and also in the library, also in my friends on campus dorms and my sorority dorm. Auburn is the perfect description of a college town, it has everything a college student could want, besides a decent mall. A good mall in in Montgomery though which is only about a half hour drive down 85. Auburn is HUGE on school pride, especially during football season. Girls dress up in their orange and blue dresses while all the boys dress up for the games and set up tailgates the night before gameday. An unusual thing about Auburn is that we have the eagle that flies around the stadium before every home game. Also, we roll toomers corner after every big win, home or away. One experience I will always remember is rushing and bid day, which were in the middle of August in 100+ degree weather and how happy everybody was when it was finally over and all the girls had found their new homes. Another experience I will always remember is when I visited Athens for the Auburn/UGA game, I will never forget how rude the UGA fans were and I was just thinking the entire time, Auburn fans would never treat an opposing team like that in Auburn, except maybe an Alabama fan. (just kidding). The most frequent student complaint is the parking situation on campus. There is not enough of it, and the few parking places that we have are far away from the dorms.

Academic Life

In smaller classes, professors make it a point to know your name, they often have print outs of kids pictures so they can match a face and a name before they even know you. In bigger classes, if you go to your professors office hours they will get to know your name, but if you are just a face in a crowd of 300+ students, it is impossible for the professor to just know your name. My favorite classes I have taken so far are my english classes. My english classes have been small and personal and have really helped me grow as a writer. My least favorite classes are concepts of science and geology. Both of these classes I have had incredibly hard and foreign professors in. Students study often, the library is always crowded with students meeting up to study in groups, or studying alone in cubbies. Class participation is required in smaller classes and labs, a huge part of your grade will come from it. In bigger classes it is not so much participation as attendance, either signing in and out before and after class or using a clicker to do in class "quizzes" to show your professor you are there in a class of 300 or more students. Students can be competitive, mostly among friends to see who did better on a test in a class you have together and things like that. The most unique class I have taken is probably geology, specifically my lab. It was unique because it was so hands on and just an all around new experience for me. My major is political science/ pre-law. Since I am only a freshman, I am only taking my core liberal arts classes, but starting my sophomore year, I will be starting my major classes such as government classes. The only time I spend with professors outside of class would be to attend office hours. I think that Auburn's core classes are helpful, they differ depending on the school you are in, but overall they will help you in whatever field you are in, which is the main point of them. I think that education at Auburn is geared towards both learning for its own sake and for getting a job.

Student Body

Auburn is a VERY Christian university. It is in the deep south though so what can you expect. In terms of LGBT groups on campus, I personally have not seen any even though I am sure they exist. A student from up north would probably feel out of place at first, getting used to the Southern culture is a big difference. Also somebody from a big city might have some culture shock. Most girls wear t-shirts and running shorts to class with tennis shoes or rainbows. In the winter it is jeans and t-shirts with a northface or a sweatshirt and for shoes tennis shoes and uggs. Boys usually dress up a little more for class, like jeans or khaki shorts (NO jean shorts) and an oxford or a polo. Boys usually wear croakies also, and some girls do to. Different types of students do interact, when given the chance. Most times though, most students hang out with their "group". I don't know if many people eat at the on campus dining hall because a meal plan is not required for freshman or if you live on campus. Personally I have never been in one besides orientation. Auburn students are from Alabama and Georgia for the most part. It is nice though because on breaks, all your college friends are so close to home. Many students also come from Florida and a few will come from random places around the USA like my roommate is from PA. The most prevalent financial background is upper middle class and middle class. There are political groups on campus, such as the college republicans and college democrats. These groups work to spread awareness especially with the upcoming presidential election. They also set up tables on the concourse outside of Haley center where students can register to vote. Auburn is definately a conservative school. And yes, students do talk about how much they will earn one day, but not obsessively.