Kaitlan Collins' University of Alabama Years

Long before she was questioning officials on national television, Kaitlan Collins was a college student in Tuscaloosa trying to figure out her path. Her university years included an unexpected change of direction that shaped everything that followed. Here is a look at that formative period.

Arriving at the University of Alabama

Collins enrolled at the University of Alabama, staying close to her roots in the state where she grew up.

Starting in chemistry

She began her studies intending to pursue chemistry, a path that looked nothing like broadcast journalism.

Realizing it was not the right fit

It did not take long for her to recognize that her real interests lay elsewhere, in writing and current events.

Switching to journalism

She changed direction and pursued journalism, a decision that redirected her entire career.

Adding political science

She also studied political science, a combination that would prove ideal for covering Washington.

Graduating in 2014

Collins completed her degree in 2014 and moved quickly into professional reporting.

Why the double focus mattered

Understanding both how to report and how government works gave her an advantage on the political beat.

A lesson in changing course

Her switch is a reminder that early plans are not binding, and that curiosity is worth following.

From campus to Washington

Within a few years of graduating she was reporting from the nation’s capital.

Southern roots that stayed

Despite a national career, Collins has continued to speak warmly of her Alabama upbringing.

What students take from her path

Journalism students often point to her route as proof that a late start in the field is no barrier.

The foundation of a career

Those university years gave her the training and the confidence to build one of the fastest rises in broadcast news.

Journalism and the White House — Photo: Center for American Progress — CC BY-ND 2.0, via Openverse

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