Our Regional Recruiter

Rachael Hopewell

Rachael comes to the University of Alabama with experience as both a high school counselor and as a college admissions representative. She has a passion for helping students with the college search and application process. She earned her undergraduate degree from Mercyhurst University, a small liberal arts school an hour from her hometown in Western Pennsylvania. She received a master’s degree from UNC Chapel Hill, an eleven hour drive from home. She has experienced the best of universities, both small and large as well as near and far. She looks forward to working with students and families interested in the University of Alabama and hopes that they can connect with the small college, campus and community feel that is attainable with the benefits of a large, research university here in Tuscaloosa.

 

No campus tours or in-depth visits to campus on (as of 2/9/25):
March 10-14: UA Spring Break
March 21: Admitted Tide Day (full)
April 4: UA Honors Day (Current UA Students)
April 7: Admitted Tide Day (full)

Roll Tide Raleigh Newsletter Updates

  • Happy Valen-Tide’s week Roll Tide Raleigh! 

    I love that I have the opportunity to work with all of you.  Thank you for all that you do to help support our recruitment efforts here in Eastern NC.  

    2025 is off to a great start.  February 3rd came and went.  That was a big date for our high school seniors and their families – as it was the deadline for priority housing (freshman online room selection).  It is also the day that BamaBound orientation registration opened up.  We really have a great class of freshman building from this area.  I’m getting excited.  

    I started my spring travel and have already been to St. David’s School, Rocky Mount Academy and Panther Creek HS so far.  You can see my ever-updating travel schedule and also sign up to meet with me virtually (Tide Chats) on this website. 

    Please save the date – we will be having our Bama in Your Town Event here in the Triangle on Monday, April 7th.  As soon as I have a time and location, I’ll send out more details.  Roll Tide! 

    I am also busy planning many visits to campus for our students – which is really exciting.  We have a lot of admitted high school seniors heading down for Admitted Tide Days – the first of which is February 10th.  We also have a lot of families heading down for in-depth visits and campus tours.  The spring is a fantastic time to visit campus.  I love putting together in-depth visits for families.  We offer campus tours on most weekdays.  You can find tour availability and sign up for a campus tour here.  If you visit on most weekdays and give me 3 weeks’ notice, I can usually add up to 4 meetings onto your schedule for you too (if you give me from 8am-5pm that day).  For example, you could have an academic meeting/s with the departments you are interested in, meet with Honors College, eat lunch with a current student, etc.  Once you schedule a tour, just fill out this form (3 weeks out if possible) and I will get to planning your visit.  

    We will not have campus tours or in-depth visits on: 

    February 10 – Admitted Tide Day (full)

    February 21 – E Day (full)

    February 24 – Admitted Tide Day (full)

    March 3 – University Day

    March 10-14 – UA Spring Break

    March 21 – Admitted Tide Day (full)

    April 4 – UA Honors Day (Current UA Students)

    April 7 – Admitted Tide Day (full) 

    One last save the date (Caitlin pull this if it’s elsewhere in the newsletter) but, Homecoming 2025 will be on November 15th - Bama v. Oklahoma.  RTR!

    Thank you, again, for all that you do to help support our recruitment efforts. 

    Happy Valen-Tides week!

    Rachael Hopewell

    Rachael.bama@ua.edu

    919-628-6121

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  • This past Friday, January 10th was our priority Admission and Scholarship deadline for incoming freshman.  Students who apply after January 10th will receive consideration for admission on a space available basis.  These applicants will still be eligible for merit scholarships but not competitive admission scholarships.  Please reach out if you have any questions – Rachael.bama@ua.edu or 919-628-6121. 

    The first day of the second semester was this past week.  We also held spring semester BamaBound and resumed campus tours.  In-depth visits resume the week of January 13th (with Greek meetings coming back on board on January 21st).  We plan to release information about Admitted Student Days (Admitted Tide Days – ATDs) and University Days (more designed for underclassmen) in the next week or so too.  Spring is a very popular time to visit campus.  If you are planning a trip to Tuscaloosa – please try to plan 2-3 weeks in advance.  I also recommend holding off on making official travel arrangements (like booking flights or hotels) until you have a confirmed spot on tour or for an event.  ATDs and in-depth visits are my favorite ways to visit campus.  Please reach out if you would like more information or if you have any questions. 

    Save the Date!  Bama in your Town will be in the Triangle on Monday, April 7th.  I don’t have any more details right now but, I will be asking for volunteers in the coming month so please mark that evening off on your calendar.  I’d love to have you come out and help.  Roll Tide! 

    Our online room selection deadline is quickly approaching.  It is Monday, February 3rd.  We also plan to open BamaBound Orientation registration in February.  March will find three deadlines on the horizon – the deadline for admitted freshman to apply to the University Honors Program is March 1, the Scholarship deadline for Fall 2025 transfer students is March 3 and the release of our freshman Scholarship offers (mid-March). 

     I’m also currently hard at work planning my spring visit schedule.  You will see that develop a bit more later in the winter.  You can always view my schedule here.

    Thanks for all that you do to support UA!

    Have a great and prosperous 2025!
    Rachael Hopewell 

  • Happy August Roll Tide Raleigh!

    It has been a busy month in the Admissions world. We are still working with our Fall 2024 students and many have started making their way to campus! Our first day of classes is August 21st! In addition to working with our Fall 2024 students and families, our Fall 2025 application opened on August 1st.

    While many students in NC use the Common application, we still have two application options –the Common application and the UA application. 

    Our priority admissions deadline for this cycle is January 10th – although I recommend that students with a 3.0 or higher high school GPA apply no later than December 1st. This should allow time to be admitted, gain access to the Alabama Scholarship Award Manager (formerly the Freshman Supplemental Scholarship Application), and get that information submitted by January 10th, allowing them full scholarship consideration for UA. 

    We are test optional again this year. One change in our admissions process is that we will take self-reported test scores, to hopefully help expedite the admissions process. Students will still need to submit official test scores for merit scholarship purposes.  

    Speaking of scholarships: We are still offering our competitive academic scholarships (based largely upon the initial admissions application) and our merit awards. More information, including the merit scholarship grid, can be found here. We are using 6th-semester grades (end of junior year) and test scores through the December test sessions for the merit scholarships this year.

    If you know of any high school seniors wanting to apply to UA, please encourage them to register for one of our upcoming application tip webinars:

    If those sessions don’t work, reach out to me at Rachael.bama@ua.edu or 919-628-6121. I’d love to share application tips with them before having them submit their applications. My fall travel schedule is currently in the works and will share those details soon! In the meantime, thanks for your support and Roll Tide!