<p>my D is trying to decide between american and marist college - she is thinking of majoring in graphic design - her biggest roadblock to choosing american is that she is not very political and is concerned that there might not be a place for her at american - even after attending freshman day, she remains undecided - any advice?</p>
<p>Did your daughter actually feel there was too much of a political vibe? All I can say is that my D, in the College of Arts and Sciences, is the most non-political person I know (and I’m kind of the opposite, so it kills me sometimes). Her friends, who are mostly CAS’ers, are pretty much the same. The closest she ever came to political activity was attending the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on the Mall–and that was for sheer fun. And she has never felt out of place at AU. She did end a friendship with a boy who became offensively radicalized over the course of his first two years–but his ilk is on every campus. Walking around campus and listening in on conversations, you’d never get the impression that politics dominates peoples’ thoughts. I’m sure even those in SIS and SPA don’t spend all their time caught up in political conversations and activities. Right in this forum there’s a post about how 20% of the students participate in Greek life (which sounds high to me, but who knows)–I assure you, their social functions do not revolve around politics!</p>
<p>thanks, mommaj! it isn’t that we necessarily got a political vibe every time we’ve visited (3) - but all the students we met were either double majoring in poli sci and international relations or some such - and of course, american has a terrific reputation for those interested in politics and international affairs (and i agree with you, i wish she was more so!) - and i do think her world view would be widened if she attended american - i’ve been doing a lot of reading and talking to friends who’s kids have gone there but they have all been the active political type - D wishes she could take marist campus and student body (very school spirited, very familial) and plop it in DC - my gut tells me marist would be better for her but the opportunities at american sound amazing - but thanks for your input!</p>
<p>While there are certainly a large number of AU students who are studying poli sci or IR, I think there are about 400-500 CAS students graduating with D next month–science majors, sociology majors, theater majors, English majors, etc., and then there are those in the business school who I suspect aren’t exactly political junkies either. All kinds of kids are on the campus. My D didn’t even take a poli sci class as part of her gen eds. (And I majored in the subject. What’s that they say about the apple not falling far from the tree? My apple fell in the next county.)</p>
<p>I too have a daughter in AU who is not political. She is majoring in International Relations but she definitely leans more toward cultural rather than political studies. Not everyone at AU is political and your D will find a group of like-minded friends as my D has. By the way, my D also had the choice between Marist and AU and she is glad she chose AU. She has definitely benefited from the opportunities that DC has to offer.</p>
<p>thank you so much! she is so torn but your responses will greatly help, i’m sure - i also happen to think she fits marist’s academic profile better than american - i was actually surprised she was accepted so i’m also wondering if marist would be a better fit for academic reasons also - not that she shouldn’t be challenged academically but i don’t want it to be a struggle -alohatm, can you elaborate on why your D is happy she chose american over marist?</p>
<p>Who has the better graphic design program, and which program provides the better opportunities to make use of her skills?</p>
<p>yes, mini, we have been comparing the programs - one is graphic design, the other digital media with a focus in graphic design - either one is fine with my daughter - i would think american has many more opportunities for internships and to me, that is their big selling point - marist does have a “marist in manhattan” program where you can intern in the city and school puts you up at 92nd st Y</p>
<p>Well, American will help her build up an actual working portfolio much more quickly, I would think. Her skills will be in high demand, I would think, in DC-area in-term internships, and the academic program is often scheduled around these opportunities. </p>
<p>I think the biggest difference with Marist (besides location) (and I don’t know much about Marist), is American is very pre-professional. A minority of students major in the liberal arts. The majority are in international service, business, communications, public affairs. You will likely find that students often dress differently as well.</p>
<p>S3’s girlfriend is a graphic design major at AU who has accepted a job offer that grew out of her internship. She is not overly into politics, but she has commented that she feels she has grown into a much more worldly person by being in the AU environment. AU has a college bubble–like most schools–but in a lot of ways the AU bubble is fairly unique.</p>
<p>Mini’s comment about dress also is right on. S3 was home over winter break sophomore year, and was quite pleased that his Chanukah gift was going to be a shopping spree to add to his professional wardrobe. His friends from home weren’t quite into clothes in the same way! But he found he really needed more suits/sport jackets/blazers etc, and dress pants rather than just khakis. And dress shoes. Etc.</p>
<p>Of course, kids don’t dress up all the time. He goes to class in anything from gym pants to jeans to khakis to full dress suits, depending on his obligations for the day.</p>
<p>thanks so much, boysx3! first i have heard of someone actually in the graphic design program at AU -congratulations to S3’s girlfriend on her job! i appreciate your insight and the comments of everyone who responded!</p>
<p>Late in the conversation, but my D is a junior musical theater and history major (minor in African American studies) and she is about as unpolitical as it gets. She has friends who are IR or Poli Sci majors, but they don’t discuss politics all the time (I’m sure there are some students who do). D is in a sorority, has had several internships, works part-time and has a lot of fun. While AU doesn’t have the sports-centered school spirit that some schools have, it seems to be an exciting place to live and go to school. My only complaint? living in DC is very expensive.</p>
<p>thank you so much - appreciate your insight!</p>
<p>eesabella, sorry for the delay in my reply. My D was glad she chose AU mainly because of the internship opportunities available to her plus the opportunities to attend events like the Presidential Inauguration. I am sure Marist is a great school but she has several high school friends who chose Marist and she didn’t like some of the stories she heard (sorry, I can’t remember what they were).</p>