American University chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z American University
1

American University is my top choice, I visited and toured this summer. I plan to apply via Early Decision.

GPA: 3.415 (Weighted 4.015) GPA will rise as I’m retaking any classes I got a C in online over the summer and during this upcoming first semester. Unweighted should increase by about 0.2 to a 3.6 and weighted will increase substantially, possible to my district’s cap of 4.5 by the end of senior year.

Took almost all honors/AP that were offered throughout high school. The only exception was Physics as Honors wasn’t offered and I didn’t feel I’d be successful in AP so I took regular.

Two years of Spanish, one honors.

AP World (10): 4
APUSH (11): 4

Senior Workload: Rigorous (AP Psych, AP Environmental Science, AP Stats, AP Gov, AP Lit, Spanish II H)

I’m a year ahead on math (I will have completed five years of high school math, all honors with AP Stats this year).
Four years of high school science, two honors, one AP.

ACT 1: 31
ACT 2: 32
ACT 3: 33
ACT 4: (scheduled next month)
ACT Superscore: 34 (E-36, S-36, R- 35, M-29)

PSAT 1: 1260
PSAT 2: 1320

SAT 1: 1380 (R- 730, M-650, W- 6)
SAT 2: 1340 (R- 670, M-670, W- 6)
SAT 3; (scheduled next month)

SAT Subject: US History- 710. Math L1- 670. Literature: (scheduled next month).

Extracurriculars: Choir (9, 10); Tech Theatre (11); Speech and Debate (11, 12); Politics Club (12, Founder/President); Democrats Club (12, Founder/President).

2017 National Student Leadership Conference- Intelligence and National Security (at American University).

Las Vegas Sun Youth Forum (11, 12) (basically a county-wide high school political debate forum for teacher-selected juniors and seniors)

Planning to double major in PoliSci and Economics (Macro).

2

Edit: going to apply Regular Decision, waived my right to applying ED by applying EA to Georgetown.

3

Hope it works out. AU’s ED rate is very high and would have been a likely admit. RD is definitely tougher.

4

I got into the University as an RD applicant this year and I can give you a bit of help. You’re extracurriculars are excellent (basically what I had) and your ACTs seem great. You’re GPA is not quite perfect, but If you apply ED, think you’ll get in. However, as someone who got into Au with a 3.04 during RD, RD IS EXTEMELY RANDOM! The people they accept during RD have to show an extreme amount of interest and can’t really have that high of a GPA. I think you would actually have problems with your GPA being too high if you applied RD. My Common App along with my optional essays got me into AU so do not whatever you do forget about those

5

@gabrield1234 Is a 3.7 GPA and 30 ACT too low to have a reasonable chance of admission? Do you have any ideas on what I could do to increase my chances?

6

Hi,
32 ACT
Perfect GPA (4.3505 w)
Taken 10 APs
Officer in 2 clubs, co-captain of varsity tennis team, in 2 other clubs (just as a member)
Volunteer at food bank and for mayoral campaign
Lifeguard over one summer, worked at an ice cream shop over the next summer
Visited AU, really loved it
I am going to apply RD for biology major and was wondering my chances and how much money I may get. I am worried about that. Also, essay wise, does anyone know what they are looking for?

7

@gabrield1234 what do you mean they can’t have a high GPA?

8

@c0ll3g3g1rl RD seems to be pretty random from the anecdotal evidence on CC, but kids with really high stats seem to get denied more often in the RD round. One type of student that AU likes to avoid are those who are using AU as a safety. So when you have stats that would fall withing GTown range, make sure you have expressed a lot of interest. Hopefully, that visit was official. Make sure to keep in contact with your rep and it wouldn’t hurt to attend some of their webinars.

9

@sahmkc thank you, they can tell when you connect to the webinars? I haven’t done one of those yet. Also, I definitely do not have stats within GTown range. I am also from out of state (Louisiana), does that help my chances? American is definitely not one of my safety schools. I guess I should make sure they know this.

10

Actually @c0ll3g3g1rl you do have the stats for GTown. The average ACT is 32 with a range of 30-34 for the middle 50% and you have over a 4.00 GPA with 10 AP’s. I think they can tell about the webinars. I thought I read that somewhere, but I could be mistaken. If you have to log-in with your AU ID, then it would be a yes. I think it helps that you are a Biology Major and from Lousiana. If you were in a politically related field, it would be more competitive. I think the money question is hard to say, but I ran into an AU Ambassador who told me AU gave her a better package than GW and she was a Biology major. I think they are trying to attract students into their STEM programs.

11

thanks again! @sahmkc one more thing, the honors college application is confusing. It is through a google form and there is no way to save it and I can only see one question at a time. is it worth it for me to apply?

12

Yes, you should apply, it’s only 4 essays and none over 300 words. I will PM you the questions. We just entered fictitious information to see all 4 questions and then didn’t submit the application. If you just put one word in the essay section you can then move to the next section.