Why Auburn: Haley Wallach

Haley Wallach came to Auburn from Philadelphia after touring colleges across the East Coast and beyond. One visit to the Plains was enough to convince the mechanical engineering junior she had found the right place.

Now, she shares that experience with prospective students as a Cupola Engineering Ambassador and Auburn Housing ambassador while soaking up every opportunity that comes with the best student-centered experience in America.

Why Auburn

“I stepped onto Auburn’s campus, and I didn’t want to go to any other school after that. I took an engineering tour, and it was just my mom, me and two tour guides. We talked like we were already friends. They weren’t giving me a script or trying to sell me. They treated me like I already deserved to be here.

“That was my selling point — how immediately I felt like a member of the Auburn Family.”

Mechanical engineering

“Both of my parents are mechanical engineers, so engineering is all I grew up with. I’ve always liked building things, and I’m a very hands-on, visual learner.

“I can learn something on a computer, but I need to physically do it with my hands and try it. With mechanical engineering at Auburn, there are so many opportunities to do that. As I’ve gotten further into the curriculum, I’ve realized that at some point I’m always getting to work with what I’m learning instead of everything just being on a computer.”

Community

“One thing I really like to talk about on tours is how collaborative Auburn Engineering is. There are more than 1,000 mechanical engineering students, but you still get to know a lot of people because of the way we work together.

“A big class doesn’t always feel like a big class because you talk to the people around you and work in groups. We all want to get to the finish line together. I knew there were other places where engineering could be really competitive, and I didn’t want that. I wanted to be somewhere people supported each other.”

Giving back

“As a Cupola Engineering Ambassador and Auburn Housing ambassador, I get to talk to prospective students and families in a couple of different ways.

“I know choosing a college can be a really hard decision. My biggest goal is to make people feel welcome and comfortable, no matter how far they’ve come from, and help them feel like they’ll belong here and find their people.

“It’s really full circle because that’s exactly what happened to me when I came for my first tour.”

Beyond the classroom

“My roommate convinced me to go to the career fair my freshman year. I ended up talking with Brasfield & Gorrie and getting an internship for the following year. I worked in Atlanta on a healthcare project doing project management.

Coming into the internship, I had no construction knowledge, but when my term ended, I left with a love for construction and the role project managers play. Auburn has given me the opportunity to explore different careers and find one that I love.”