Posted by ZDickens on April 8, 2009 under SOS | 
It was a wet and rainy day on Friday, March 27th as we held our second Successfully Orienting Students session this spring. The day placed a great challenge for our staff and orientation leaders as we had to adjust our plans as a result of the inclement weather. As the day started new students and guests were welcomed in the parking lot with a steady rain. Luckily they did not stay wet for long. Three busses got our students and guest to the new student center and into the ballroom for breakfast and War Eagle Welcome quickly. Our Dean of Students Dr. Johnny Green welcomed the students and guests to Auburn University. After War Eagle Welcome everyone headed to their small group sessions and met the orientation leaders. During small group session one our 450 students, parents, and guests learn important information about the university. After small group session one everyone was presented with the opportunity to choose two concurrent sessions in which they could learn more about things like financial aid or campus involvement. Those two sessions were particularly packed as parents flocked to financial aid and students filled the seats to learn about our campus organizations and clubs. After concurrent sessions, students went to learning for life, the presentation dealing with campus diversity, and tigeri, our preparing for registration session. From there everyone headed to lunch.
Another interesting facet was the transition of lunch from outside at Cater Lawn to inside in the Foy Ballroom. Students and guests enjoyed a lunch from Chic-Fil-A and got ready for the rest of their day. After lunch students and guests met back with their groups and went to small group session two. By this time the sky had cleared up and everyone got the opportunity to walk outside and take a campus tour on their way to advising. Although the rain presented interesting challenges for the day, SOS was an extremely fun day that went very well.
Posted by SPoteat on April 1, 2009 under Camp War Eagle |
As an Orientation Leader, I usually find it comical when a new student comes up to me worried about not having a major. I do sympathize with them because I remember as an incoming freshman that having a declared major by the time I came to college being a big deal. However, in my few years that I have been in school I look back and see that this would not have been a problem for me at all. The first two years of college, everybody is for the most part taking core classes, so you are on a level playing field. Granted, there are those few introductory classes in certain schools or colleges that are usually taken your freshmen year, but you will not be far behind, if at all, if you decide on a major later in college. Just on a personal note, I came into Auburn declaring Civil Engineering as my major and took those introductory engineering classes my freshmen year. During the spring of my second year, I decided that I wanted to swap to Finance. Since I already had a good bit of hours behind me, the College of Business did not require that I go back and take the introductory business course.
If a student was having problem choosing a major or stressing because they did not have a clue what they want to do, I would tell them to not be worried at all. Auburn University has counselors that are with Career Development Services that help students figure out a major by the student’s interests. If they are worried that they won’t get out in four years, if they change their major, then I can also put them at ease. I have friends who have changed as much as four times and are still getting out in four years. My last piece of advice to a student who does not have a major is get involved. It is through my involvement of Interfraternity Council Treasurer that I found that I wanted to get into Finance. Also, by being involved in various organizations at Auburn, I have figured out that I wanted to make my extracurricular activities a career and plan on developing a career in higher education.
So for those of you, who don’t have a major, don’t stress! You are actually in a very exciting place because you get to explore all of the great options that Auburn has to offer. Just be very direct in figuring out what you want your life plan to be and enjoy the college experience to the fullest!
