Auburn University

Date: Sep 17 2003
Major: Political Science (This Major's Salary over time)
My experience at Auburn has been one big learning experience. I started in Aerospace Engineering, and after I became too frustrated with it and stressed out by it, I decided to change majors. When I did, I was forced to transfer schools because Auburn didn't offer the major I selected. So, I transferred to Bama. Now, for anyone out there who is having trouble deciding between these two schools, I urge you to take a long, hard, and in-depth look at both of them before you decide. They are so drastically different in so many ways, yet so much alike in several others. I have to admit, Bama was much more organized and efficient as far as administrative areas and student services go. I was beyond satisfied with my academic advising team, department head and dean, and individual instructors. They all impressed me and each made sure my transition was as smooth as possible. Despite all this, however, I transferred back to Auburn after 2 semesters in Tuscaloosa. As great as the academic side of Bama life was, the school's social scene and its collective "vibe" was nothing I ever wanted to stoop so low as to fit in to. I found the students there to be narrow-minded, snobby, cold, unwelcoming, clique-oriented, obsessed with status, and exclusive. If you are not a white, upper-middle class, fairly wealthy student from the right family, the right town, the right income, and most definitely the right race, then Bama is not the school for you. And even if you are all the things I listed above, then you'd better plan on rushing a frat or sorority, or you'll be just as invisible as any other minority. Even though I could have easily fit in to that scene, since I'm white and from a moderately wealthy family, I chose not to. I didn't want to associate myself with such petty and pointless social politics. And so, I transferred back to Auburn. I changed to Political Science in order to do so, and I'm glad I did. Although the Greek system does have a strong presence on campus and in Auburn life, the student body is a warm and welcoming one, one that is more open-minded and less discriminating as a whole than its Tuscaloosa rival. It might not be perfect, but Auburn has a friendly and inviting atmosphere, student programs and organizations that cater to students of all colors and backgrounds, and a student-body that is more concerned with what you have to offer the Auburn community through your achievements, goals, and efforts than it is concerned with your race, income, or social status.