Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: This podcast is produced by members of the University of Alabama Parent Advisory Council and reflects the personal views, experiences, and opinions of the hosts and guests. These views are independent and do not represent, reflect, or speak on behalf of the University of Alabama, its administration, faculty, staff, or affiliated organizations. The content shared is for general informational and conversational purposes only. It is not intended to provide academic, medical, legal, financial, or institutional advice. While we aim to share thoughtful and helpful perspectives, we make no guarantees regarding accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Listeners are encouraged to verify information independently and rely on official University of Alabama communications for policies, decisions, and guidance. Listening to this podcast is voluntary and any actions taken based on the content are done at your own discretion and risk.
Welcome to Parent Perspectives. Navigating the University of Alabama experience as a parent can be exciting, overwhelming, and full of questions. And you don't have to do it alone. Parent Perspectives is a podcast by parents, for parents and with parents created to share real conversations, trusted insights, and firsthand experiences from those who've been there. Whether your student is Bama Bound settling into freshman year or finding their stride on campus, this is your go to source for all things Bama student related. From academics to in campus life, to traditions and the moments that matter most, we cover what parents want to know honestly and thoughtfully. Tune in and feel confident knowing you're part of a supportive Bama parent community.
[00:01:51] Speaker B: Welcome. And this episode is all about Bama Bound, the orientation experience for incoming students and their families at the University of Alabama. Today we're going to walk through with parents of what they should expect, how to prepare, and how to make the most out of those orientation days.
So let's get started with the basics.
What happens during Bama Bound and what are the main goals for the program? Mark, let's start with you. What can we expect?
[00:02:20] Speaker C: Thanks, Roseanne. You know, Bama Bound really is an introduction for students and families to the college life at the University of Alabama. So it's an opportunity for students to meet other kids, to register for classes, to stay overnight in the residence halls and just get a lot of information that they're just sponges and they can just soak up of information to really help them prepare for the fall. The goal is to help students and parents get familiar with the university and the support the successful transition into freshman year. It's a huge change, I think.
[00:02:50] Speaker B: Also, Mark, it can be overwhelming. Were you overwhelmed as a parent and was your student actually overwhelmed by it?
[00:02:57] Speaker C: You know, my, my freshman, my older child, both kids went to Alabama. My older child is very type A so I think he was just super prepared. My daughter, though, was a overwhelmed, and it's a little overwhelmed for the parents. I mean, this is a huge school. It was 1500 miles away from our home. We're from out of state. It was a huge adjustment. It's a little overwhelming.
[00:03:19] Speaker B: It can be. After all, it is the university of Alabama. I mean, come on. We're big in the sec. We're big all across the country and around the world. Jennifer, your perspective on this. We were talking about bama bound and what the main goals for this program is. Can I. I would really like you to share with other parents your insights on this.
[00:03:39] Speaker D: Sure.
[00:03:39] Speaker E: So, like Mark said, if you have two different types of children, you're coming into bama bound for different information.
For some parents who have children that fail to tell them all the details, this is a time for you to fill in those gaps. Find out the things that you thought you should already know. Maybe you should know them. Maybe that's something you'll get once you move in or register for classes.
But even if you have other children that have gone to college either at Alabama or somewhere else, things change. And your perspective on what information is important for this child may also be different.
It's also about allowing your student to experience dorm life and create their first group chat of friends. Because bama bound groups will get together those first couple of weeks of school, it becomes their first organic group of diverse friends on campus. So each parent should leave feeling informed and connected and perhaps gain a better understanding of how your student is envisioning what their college journey is going to be like at the university of Alabama.
[00:04:32] Speaker B: Well, you talked about it. Now we've got a better understanding for bama bound and what it is. But the next question, of course, is why should parents attend? Right. Why is it so important to stay in the full experience and meet parents during the, say, the coffee or the communications or both days or two days? I mean, this is kind of like, what do we do? And should they really be a part of it? Mark, why don't you lead us off?
[00:04:53] Speaker C: Well, I think it's really important that the parents attend and stay for the full experience because that's what it is. It's a big experience.
The goal is to welcome the whole family. There's programs for parents and there's programs even for teenage siblings that are coming in addition to your incoming student. Parents really should attend both days because we have mini sessions. There are sessions on housing, on roommates, on finances, on safety. It's a Real chance to connect with other parents. We still have friends that we met during Bama bound.
Bama bound really has a lot of opportunities for connection. There's coffee and conversation. That happens both days. The first night after day one, there's an evening at Central Mesa, which is a wonderful Mexican restaurant in downtown Tuscaloosa. Get a chance to sort of see what the town is like and meet other parents. There's a vendor fair on day two where you can meet vendors that could help you with your transition.
So really, I think the message is Bama bound goes beyond registration. It's an opportunity to spend a couple days with your freshmen to explore the campus, to visit the shops, to visit the restaurants. Your child is going to be living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for four years.
Mark, I think just in case I
[00:06:02] Speaker B: was going to say, I just think you got the parents who want to register for classes now. Chiffon.
I'm serious. Oh, my God. Let's go. Let's get. Let's go.
[00:06:10] Speaker D: Oh, I love it.
[00:06:10] Speaker C: Don't forget your Bama gear.
[00:06:14] Speaker D: It is. I'm like, dang. I kind of want to go back and do it like that.
[00:06:19] Speaker B: Stefan, tell us about what your experience is and how much fun you actually had because, you know, you really, really benefited from this program and being there.
[00:06:27] Speaker D: I think for us and my family, since we're out of state, it was huge to be able to come in and come to the vendor fair because we don't know there were so many vendors and people in the community that kind of came out, gave us information, helped us to be able to just make those decisions beyond knowing the campus, but knowing where our daughter was going to be. And I think that was something that was huge for when we were walking around and meeting everyone and meeting the vendors because they were also not just being on campus, but the people that she would be interacting with out in the community. So I think that was one thing. I think another thing that really for us with Bama bound was meeting other people and knowing that we felt comfortable leaving our daughter in a community with other people and knowing that, yes, we're across the other side of the country, but we feel comfortable when we met so many different, different people from the community and the university. So that was a big thing for us, is just making sure we stayed both days to meet people and know where she was going to be. Because for us, that was the only time for us to be on campus as a family to see where she
[00:07:29] Speaker B: was going to be living and what I'm hearing is you felt safe. You felt safe that University of Alabama is a safe campus and you could trust them with your children 100%.
[00:07:41] Speaker D: Yes.
[00:07:42] Speaker B: I'm so good to know that because it is, it's a big, it's an overwhelming coming from an estate coming soon, far away. You know, expect expectations, things families should prepare for before coming. I think you've all encouraged everyone they should definitely be at Bama Bound. And for parents traveling to Tuscaloosa from all over the country like even like yourself that you were just saying it's far away. What should parents bring where or plan during these orientation days? Because it is two full days. Michelle, I'd love to hear from you and your perspective.
[00:08:14] Speaker F: Just get ready to absorb a ton of information.
Bring a notebook, bring a pen, wear comfortable shoes. Alabama is a huge campus. You're going to do a lot of walking. Parking is a little bit far from the different sessions, so make sure you have comfortable shoes on. Bring an umbrella. It tends to rain a good bit in Tuscaloosa so make sure you have an umbrella. And it's also summer in Alabama so it's 100 degrees outside but it's freezing inside. So make sure you bring a sweatshirt or a sweater so that you can stay warm within the session.
[00:08:49] Speaker B: That's a good point because people forget about that being so hot outside. But when you come indoors, the air conditioner, it's on full speed ahead.
Chiffon, what can you insight that you've had from your experience when you were at Bama Bound about preparing for those orientation days?
[00:09:05] Speaker D: Yeah, I think one of the things and I feel like I always say from being someone who's like across the country, but it really is, it's such a, it's such a different experience.
But I know where we are. We weren't used to the heat, so we were not used to the heat. Heat. I literally brought a fan because you are, you're walking, you're walking from place to place. I brought a jacket and a cover up. I think another thing was a bag that you could easily carry because I think people don't think about it. You'll get things, you'll pick up things from the vendor fair and different things. But then you're like, oh my gosh, I don't have a comfortable bag to actually walk around with. And that was something that I learned on the first day and the second day I went and got like a little carry on bag that I could have that I could walk easily with sunblock like you were walking and it's hot. And the sun. So sunblock. When you're walking around, I think it's just those things that you just don't think about because you're thinking, I'm gonna be in a room. But no, you're walking and going from place to place. So you definitely want to be prepared for the weather too.
[00:10:04] Speaker B: And also snacks maybe. Do we need snacks?
[00:10:07] Speaker D: We always have.
[00:10:09] Speaker B: Yes. Wait, water snacks. Obviously there's water around. We are gonna, you know, hydrate parents and students for Bama Bound. But you know, if you get low blood sugar to think about that, folks, and bring in some snacks, that would be helpful. Now to kind of finish up, I'd love to reach out to each one of you. Real quick tip from parents heading to Bama Bound of what they can expect and what your best tip would be. And Mark, I'd like to start with you.
[00:10:36] Speaker C: I think you should embrace it and take it as an opportunity to really spend some quality time with your high school senior.
It's a big change for them and a big change for you.
[00:10:45] Speaker B: I think that's really good. Yeah, I mean, you won't get it back. It's only going to happen once, folks. Bama Bound doesn't happen again. You're going to only have one orientation. Jennifer, what about you?
[00:10:56] Speaker E: So one of the most stressful things that most parents have going into Bama Bound is registration.
So make sure that you've checked with your student that they don't have a block on their account. That could happen for something as simple as not loading their photo for their ACT card, which is their student id.
Academic advising moves really fast and so understand that they may be in a group getting their advising. They may have an individual advising session, but it's not there for their five year plan is to help them get registered for general classes in the fall.
So it's okay if they don't sign up for exactly the right classes you have opportunities to drop at. And this is their first semester. They have several more semesters to go. So the best way to send your student into that meeting with an advisor is to have these conversations before Bama Bound so they can confidently go in and register for their classes without worrying if their parents are going to approve of their decisions.
[00:11:50] Speaker B: Good advice. Thank you. Chifon, what do you have to say to parents out there getting ready to get their student at Bama Bound and of course accompanying them as well?
[00:11:58] Speaker D: I think my biggest thing would say have fun because I felt like we went in with so much nervousness and we were like, oh, my gosh, like, this is the end all to be all. And it's not. And it's like knowing that you won't have this experience again. Have fun, enjoy. It might be a little emotional and that's okay, but just know that that that fun factor is going to reassure your son or daughter that it's going to be okay. Like, when they see us having fun and us enjoying it, they're like, okay, this is good. They're not going to be nervous. But that was a big thing, is have fun and just know that whatever happens is meant to happen.
[00:12:32] Speaker B: Well, I think your excitement is invigorating for all of us and for parents listening, getting ready to prepare to go to Bama Brown, that it is fun for you and your student. And this is going to be an experience that you will carry on for years to come to think back. Even when they're graduating, you'll be thinking about when you went to Bama Bound. Michelle, tell us about your experience and what's that one tip that you could probably give parents that might really help them through this journey?
[00:12:58] Speaker F: I would say save everything that you're given at Bama Bound. I can't tell you how many times I've referenced all the dates within the calendar that was given and all the information.
Just when I had a question, I would just kind of thumb back through all the different brochures and things that I picked up so that I could, you know, answer my own question.
You know, also, you'll be given a lot of websites that you can reference, a lot of different contact information you can save and store in your phone and put on your calendar.
So just make sure that you just save all of that so that you can reference it later.
[00:13:35] Speaker B: Jackie, I'm curious from your perspective, things families should prepare for before arriving to Bama Val, I would think they need to prepare to be a little bit overwhelmed in the beginning.
The Bamalee, what we like to call it, is large, but it is a resource for all of our parents just to make community with one another. So consider Bama Bound a soft handoff into adulthood for your college students. Love that perspective. Really good. I think that's really great.
This is so important for all of us because this is a parent's perspective. This is what this podcast is all about. But I think it's really important. If we didn't cover something that you're interested in. Chiffon, tell parents why we're doing this and what they can do if they have a question for us. How can we be the ultimate resource for these parents to be able to advise their own students?
[00:14:26] Speaker D: I think the main thing is just know where to go. And you always have everything you need within the UA family. So we have our parents and family committees, we have the companies and the websites that you can go to and you can find everything that's there that you need. I think we also get scared that we can't find anything.
Everything you need is on the UA website. You can go anywhere on there, you can search anywhere on there and all the information is there as well as the different groups and things like that. But I always instruct anyone to go straight to U of A websites and that's where everything is well.
[00:14:59] Speaker B: And I think it's also great you can pick up the phone. I had questions and you're right, you can find a lot of things. But I wanted to talk to somebody and I love it that at UA people pick up the phone and they're very patient with you and they will answer your questions. And if you need help walking through that website and you're not quite finding the information you need, they'll help you do it too. Yep, I think that's one of a really good perspective. And of course we're here for you, all of you parents out here, because we are the UA Parent Perspective. This podcast is for you and we want to answer all of your questions. So please join us again for another time when we can answer your questions. All about the University of Alabama.
[00:15:37] Speaker A: Thanks for tuning in today for the latest episode of Parent Perspective Perspectives, brought to you by the University of Alabama Parent Advisory Council. Check out all our podcasts on Voices UA Edu. You can learn more about the Parent Advisory Council, Parent Perspectives and UA Parent and Family Programs on the UA Parent and Family Programs website at parents.slUaEdu.
