I was born and raised in upstate New York. It’s my home, but I’ve known since high school that I was in need of a change in scenery. So, when senior year rolled around, I only applied to schools down south. Now, I am a junior at the University of Alabama, and I am so grateful for the choice I made! Here’s how I decided I was bound for Bama.
Scholarships
I applied to five universities my senior year of high school, and I only received a scholarship from one. Alabama offered me an out-of-state scholarship solely based on my GPA and ACT score. It was a major pro that put UA at the top of my list!
Programs
I went into college undecided, and to be honest, I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. Luckily for me, UA has a variety of majors and programs to choose from. I ended up switching my major all around from business to journalism to political science. With the help from some amazing advisors, I was able to finally land on Advertising, and I’m still on track to graduate on time!
Size
The University of Alabama was by far the biggest school I applied to. I figured the bigger the school, the more clubs and opportunities I would have, and I was right. I’ve really been able to plug in the social and academic life on campus! Now I have connections in the Greek community, in my major, through my church and in my work!
Greek Life
As a freshman, I was intrigued by the largest sorority recruitment in the nation. I made the decision to rush my first semester on campus, and it led to some wonderful friendships. Being a part of a sorority as a freshman was a great way to get connected. I was immediately surrounded by 300+ young women, which sparked fast friendships and allowed me to push further outside of my comfort zone through philanthropy and social activities. While overwhelming at times, it was the perfect move for me as an introverted newbie.
Football
Last but not least, football! There’s no denying that Alabama has an amazing football program – it’s practically a religion. Going to a home game on a Saturday is a full day experience. The entire campus is filled with tents and people in crimson and white tailgating, watching the game on the quad and eating so much food! It’s great to get all dressed up with my girlfriends and walk down to Bryant-Denny, shakers in hand!
So there’s a little insight into how a girl from upstate New York ended up in Alabama. It was exactly the change that I needed! Though I don’t know where I’ll end up after I graduate, I am enjoying calling UA my home away from home.