When students are in their senior year of high school, many send out numerous college applications.
Most apply to their top three choices, and then maybe one or two serve as back-ups. This is all in hopes of getting to read the word “congratulations!” from at least one choice.
I only sent out one application. I have known from the time I was 10 years old that Auburn was the place for me. I did not need to explore “other options.”
Luckily, Auburn felt the same way, and we have been best friends ever since.
However, there was a point between me mailing my application to reading the word “congratulations!” when I was not sure how Auburn felt about me.
I mean, wouldn’t the people at Auburn University have been sending me mail if they were interested?
I had not received the first post card from them. I guess I am the first to admit that I was not one of the recruited students.
No postcards, no special invites and no telephone calls had my name attached to them.
Where was the love?
Now, in addition to the fabulous job of working for The Plainsman, I also work in the basement of the Quad Center for Tiger STRIPES (Student Tele-counselor Recruiting and In touch with Prospective and Enrolled Students).
The name is long, but the job is simple: recruit prospective students and make sure all their questions about Auburn are answered so they can make an informed decision on where they want to spend the next four to six years.
The most popular question I get asked is, “What has your college experience been like?”
Every time I am asked this question, I always struggle to find an answer other than “awesome” or “time of my life.”
But really, I am telling the truth. I would not trade one second of my time at Auburn for anything. I know my only choice was the perfect choice.
But still, it would have been nice to be recruited. This past academic year, Tiger STRIPES made over 50,000 phone calls to high school juniors and seniors nationwide. That is an amazing number, and it is something that our office is very proud of.
The biggest perk of Tiger STRIPES is not the resume booster or the priority two registration, but the knowledge that our availability to these prospects, answering any question they could think of, helped them decide that Auburn is the place for them.
I take pride in the fact that even though I may not have been recruited, I can help ease the anxiety of other students who are wondering if Auburn loves them as much as they love Auburn.
Lauren Smith is Intrigue Editor of The Auburn Plainsman. You can reach her at 844-9112 or lsmith@theplainsman.com
