Reviewed by: Elizabeth Hobbs
What it’s really like to go to Auburn, according to 2 students
Reading time: 5 minutes
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Auburn is one of the largest and most influential universities in Alabama and the Southeast, so we wanted to get a sneak peek into what it’s really like to go there.
We got to chat with two juniors, Malia and Clay, about their experiences. Read on to learn what a day in their lives looks like and the interesting activities they get to do.
Meet Malia + Clay
Fun fact time—let’s get to know Malia and Clay a bit better.
Malia:
- Hometown: Plantation, FL (near Fort Lauderdale)
- Year at Auburn: Junior
- Major: Animal Sciences Pre-vet
- Hobbies: Riding horses and creative writing
Clay:
- Hometown: Birmingham, AL (Hoover)
- Year at Auburn: Junior
- Major: Biosystems Engineering
- Hobbies: Woodworking, hunting and fishing
BONUS: Clay and Malia are both College of Agriculture Ambassadors, with Clay serving as the President and Malia serving as the Education Chair. If you schedule a tour of the College of Agriculture, they might be your tour guide!
Q: Why did you choose Auburn and your major?
Auburn came on Malia and Clay’s radars for very different reasons, but the appeal of the university was strong for both of them.
“Since I ride horses, I was originally interested in Auburn’s equestrian team—who had just won the SEC Championship the year before.
I came to Auburn for a workshop with the coaches, and the moment I stepped on campus, I knew it was where I wanted to be.”
Malia Neville
“I grew up going to Auburn football games, and most of my family went to the university.
I always knew I wanted to be an engineer and that Auburn had a top-notch engineering program. The choice was a no-brainer for me.”
Clay Dorrill
Unlike most college students, Malia and Clay have known for most of their lives what they wanted to do when they grew up.
“I have a picture of myself with my brother during career day when I was five years old. I was dressed as a vet with a lab coat, plastic stethoscope and a stuffed animal.
Although my family wasn’t directly involved in agriculture, I did grow up interacting with animals. When I later took anatomy and physiology, I knew veterinary medicine was the path for me.”
Malia Neville
“I’ve always been interested in engineering, but I also grew up having a deep love of agriculture since my grandfather had worked in the industry for many years.
My brother, who was an Auburn Agriculture Ambassador at the time, shared with me about the Biosystems Engineering major in the College of Agriculture, and I knew it was the best of both worlds for me.”
Clay Dorrill
Q: What’s a typical day as an AU Agriculture student?
Malia and Clay are both getting the max out of their Auburn experiences through unique opportunities like working at the Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital (Malia) and researching in the Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts (Clay).
I recently applied to the Large Animal Teaching Hospital to gain more hands-on experience and started working there this [spring] semester.
I help the surgeons prepare for surgery by sterilizing the tables, prepping the horses and setting up the appropriate tools.”
Malia Neville
“This past summer, I got the opportunity to work in the Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts, which is one of the main research centers in Biosystems. I learned how to take waste and create several different useful products out of it. In the process, I was able to enhance soil health and reduce the footprint produced by certain materials.”
Clay Dorrill
If you want a behind-the-scenes look into a typical day at Auburn, check out Malia and Clay’s schedules:
Malia:
- 6AM: Wake up + morning routine
- 8-11AM: Animal Sciences courses
- 1-5PM: Afternoon labs, College of Agriculture Ambassador meetings and/or sorority meetings
- 5PM: On-call for the Large Animal Teaching Hospital
Clay:
- 7AM: Wake up + breakfast at the Farmhouse fraternity house
- 8-11AM: Biosystems Engineering classes
- 11AM-2PM: Lunch + spend time with friends on campus
- 2PM-5PM: Work on homework assignments in the Engineering Student Services Building
- 6PM: Dinner, campus involvement activities + more
Q: Why would you encourage students to attend Auburn’s College of Agriculture?
Malia and Clay can attest to the fact that the phrase “Auburn family” is a reality.
“I know the phrase ‘Auburn family’ becomes a cliche because everyone says it all the time, but as an out-of-state student, I can attest to it.
I had a medical emergency during my freshman year. The help I received from the Auburn Cares Office and my professors was so impactful. My parents felt relieved that I had a support system here, and I was able to jump right back into my courses once I was feeling better.”
Malia Neville
“I’ve visited my friends at different colleges, and it makes me realize the close-knit family that we have at Auburn. If I’m walking through the College of Agriculture, I can probably run into ten people I know and have great conversations with them.
There’s such a shared love of Auburn that makes everyone feel at home, whether they’re originally from Alabama or moved from another state. It’s very easy to create a second home here.”
Find your second home in Auburn’s College of Agriculture today.
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