Become an Orientation Leader - Undergraduate Admissions

How to become an Orientation Leader

An ideal Orientation Leader must have an interest in helping others, a positive outlook toward UAB and university life, a broad base of interests and involvement, a sense of humor, and an attitude that values teamwork and diversity. They must be willing to be flexible, patient, and hard-working.

The Orientation Leader selection process is competitive. The application deadline is Friday, October 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM. A list of the steps involved in the application process is below. The application is available now in Engage Opens an external link..

Attend one of the following Interest Sessions before you submit your application. All sessions will be held in Hill Student Center room 204/206
- Wednesday, October 1, 12:30-1:00 PM
- Tuesday, October 7, 8:30-9:00 AM
- Thursday, October 16, 3:30-4:00 PM
- Monday, October 20, 10:15-10:45 AM
- Friday, October 31, 5:00-5:30 PM
Participate in an optional Interview Prep Session offered by the Career Center. It will be held in HHB 126 on Monday, November 3, 2025, from 4:00-5:00 PM
Submit completed application, resume, and two letters of recommendation by Friday, October 31 at 11:59 PM
Participate in one of the following two-hour Group Interview time slots. (Schedule your interview when you submit your application.)
- Tuesday, November 4, 10:15 AM-12:00 PM
- Tuesday, November 4, 1:00-2:45 PM
- Friday, November 7, 8:15-10:00 AM
- Friday, November 7, 10:30 AM-12:15 PM
Participate in a 15-minute Individual Interview on Wednesday or Thursday, November 12 or 13. (Candidates selected for an individual interview will be notified after group interviews.)
Attend an OL Agreement meeting (week of December 1 - 5, 2025)
Attend an acceptance meeting (December 5, 2025, at 6:45 AM)

Benefits of being an Orientation Leader

Play a vital role in helping entering freshmen and transfer students transition to UAB.
Build leadership skills through weekly classes, a weekend retreat, and a regional conference.
Make lifelong friendships with fellow Orientation Leaders.
Take advantage of opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Develop public speaking and interpersonal communication skills.
Network with UAB faculty and staff from all over campus.
Receive a summer and fall leadership scholarship, UAB summer housing, Orientation Leader gear, and free meals during orientation.
Be a part of a diverse team of dedicated, hard-working, spirited students who love UAB.

Nominate a student to become an Orientation Leader

Do you know a current UAB student with the qualities needed to become an Orientation Leader? Please nominate them!

“Orientation Leaders have a reputation on our campus for being the perkiest group of people— often shouting school-related chants, and having more school spirit than anyone else on campus. And yes, 80 percent of the time this is completely true. But sometimes, serving as an OL is more nuanced than that. It’s being excited and worriless in the face of the most anxious student. It is having a calm and sturdy demeanor in the face of concerned parents who aren’t ready to leave their child on their own. It’s adapting to different people and being the force they need to overcome a big challenge in their lives—adjusting to life at a university.”
“Being an Orientation Leader is one of the greatest experiences that you will get during your time at UAB. Although it is a huge time commitment, it will teach you time management and greater responsibility. You will learn a lot more about the university experience than the average student, get to know a few administrators, and meet some awesome people at orientation.”
“Having the opportunity to be an OL has honestly been the greatest thing to ever happen to me. I have learned a great deal about myself that will be beneficial as I go forward with the rest of my college career, and I have had some of the best team members I will call friends for the rest of my life.”
“The skills I gained as an Orientation Leader have helped me immensely in my career. Through being an OL, I learned to step out of my comfort zone, speak in front of large crowds, think on my feet and develop a rapport with others quickly.”
“This summer has been one of the best I have had. I am very thankful for this opportunity and would not trade it for anything in the world.”
“I recognize a quality in myself that no longer exists—trepidation. My greatest high would be replacing my fear of vulnerability with confidence in my strengths. I have learned that leading with faith in myself brings success.”
“There are so many benefits to being a part of the Orientation Leader team. I think that a really big benefit is conquering your self-doubt. For many people, talking with someone they don't know and getting up in front of people are big fears. However, I would stress that through orientation I was able to confront and handle many of the hesitations that I experienced.”
“Being an Orientation Leader has been by far the best choice I have made here at UAB. I have had a chance to meet with new students, administrators, as well as other student leaders on campus who will make a huge difference on how this university functions in the future. Serving as the 'welcoming party' to UAB, to let the new students know that they have made the right choice, is so fulfilling when you hear their stories.”
“The role of the physician goes past just listening to ailments and prescribing medicine. It is a career of pushing people to better themselves, encouraging them to be the best they can be, and supporting them in times of need. Physicians are cheerleaders for their patients, advocating for their health needs. So, out of all the experiences in my undergraduate career, the one I believe that most prepared me for a career in medicine was my summer serving as an Orientation Leader. Being a physician and being an Orientation Leader are a little similar. In both cases, you are supporting people through tough times and celebrating with them during the good. I want to pursue a career as a physician because it is a career of people. It is a career of being supportive and resilient. That is how my summer as an Orientation Leader proved to me that I want to be in the business of cheering people on in life.”