American University in Bulgaria

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey, everybody.</p>

<p>Had just scanned this forum for any valuable information about the American University in Blagoevgrad and found that there isn't really any that is new. So, I decided to open this thread to share my knowledge about this uni as I really think it is worth knowing about.</p>

<p>Now, first of all, I am currently a undergrad student there myself -- hence, I know what I am talking about.</p>

<p>That is, AUBG is a liberal arts college in Bulgaria (on the border with Greece) that basically offers everything that a good liberal arts school in the States does (including quality professors, comfortable campus living etc), but is also situated in the heart of South-Eastern Europe - Bulgaria (which means that almost any place in Europe is within the reach of 10-15 hour bus travel). Also, Bulgaria and the university itself are quite cheap compared to both the colleges in the States and such schools "abroad" such as AUP or NYU Abu-Dhabi. </p>

<p>I can tell you much more about this school and if you want me to - IM me. Anyways, anybody who wants to study in Europe (yet in the "American" way), you should really consider this option.</p>

<p>AUBG's website - American</a> University in Bulgaria</p>

<p>A short vid about AUBG life made by AUBG students - AUBG</a>, one last time... - YouTube</p>

2

<p>Jut registered to ask this question - what’s the legal drinking age? Are there night clubs and do students visit them?</p>

<p>How about Work and Travel, have you experience there?</p>

3

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>The legal drinking age is 18, like anywhere else in Europe. As for the night clubs – Blagoevgrad is not a big city, yet, there are enough night clubs for those who likes to party. </p>

<p>Haven’t experienced Work & Travel yet but many students successfully use it to finance their education at AUBG.</p>

<p>Will be happy to answer more question…</p>

4

<p>I have a question, why would anyone want to go there given the fact nobodies ever heard of it, it’s degrees don’t appear to be accredited in most European countries and it’s tuition costs (in comparison to other continental European universities) are very high.</p>

5

<p>There is some truth in what you have said (there is “some” truth in everything that is said, after all). However:</p>

<p>1) The language of instruction at AUBG is English – hence, it would be wrong to compare AUBG to any continental unis except for those that are “in English”. And when you do compare AUBG with other English-language universities in Europe – you either compare it to British universities (which are basically the same in cost) or you compare them with other American Universities in Europe (which are much more expensive than AUBG and do not necessarily offer a better-quality education).</p>

<p>2) Despite its high tuition costs (in comparison to other schools in Europe), AUBG is quite generous on the financial aid. You shouldn’t forget about the low cost of living in Bulgaria, as well – this low cost of living compensates the “high” costs of studying fully (in my opinion, it really does).</p>

<p>3) AUBG is accredited in Europe and in America (by New England Association of Schools and Colleges, I think). You are right, of course, to some extent that AUBG is not nearly as famous as many older universities in Europe, but it is definitely known in some best Grad Schools of the world as AUBG constantly sends a considerable number of its graduates to these schools. It is also quite known among some of the “fattest” employers (in Eastern Europe, especially). </p>

<p>I hope I did answer your question:)</p>

<p>P.S. AUBG really does have some advantages that other universities (in Eastern Europe, especially) do not – among these advantages is diversity, for example. The student body here is very international.</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>This is absolutely not true. Some of Europe’s best universities outside Britain and Ireland are now starting to offer undergraduate degrees taught in English. If you’re seeking a liberal arts education in Europe taught in English then you’d be MUCH better off going to the Netherlands which has three such colleges; University College Utrecht, University College Maastricht and Roosevelt Academy. These are internationally recognised quality colleges which are also much cheaper than the American ‘university’ in Bulgaria.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>This New England thingy might accredit it, I don’t know - but New England isn’t in Europe. As far as I can work out it is not accredited in the European Union. Do you have any proof to support your assertion that AUBG grads attend the worlds best grad schools?</p>

7

<p>I can answer these questions of yours.</p>

<p>So,</p>

<p>1) When talking about Netherlands, keep in my mind the living costs there (which are terribly high if one juxtaposes them to the Bulgarian ones). Also, keep in my mind that most probably these schools you mentioned offer cheap tuition for EU students only – now, what about American students, what about students from non-EU countries (especially from the former Soviet Union)? Is it going to be cheap for them? Also, bear in my mind AUBG’s generosity in terms of financial aid. I have already mentioned it, but it is worth mentioning twice:)</p>

<p>2) As for the grad students from AUBG - look, I know a girl from Class of 2011 who is doing a Public Policy at Oxford right now. Another girl from the same Class whom I was taking a Philosophy course with last year is doing some A.I. program in Computer Science at Stanford. These are just two examples – I can provide more if I have to. And if I do so you will see that at least 15-20 students each year go on to the best 20-30 unis in the world. </p>

<p>3) It is accredited in Bulgaria (and thus in Europe) and it is accredited by the already-mentioned NEASC (the association that accredits Harvard, in fact) in the States. I do not know of any other international European accreditation that exists, but if it does – I am sure AUBG has it because I have never heard of any AUBG graduate having problems with diploma-recognition in any country in the world (except, may be Belarus where no foreign diplomas are usually recognized and some other countries).</p>

<p>So, AUBG is not as bad as you think it is after all and I do appreciate you giving me an opportunity to prove it to you (I hope I did to some extent) and to anybody who reads this thread.</p>

8

<p>Hi!</p>

<p>I am half-Bulgarian, yet residing in Bulgaria, but not going to a Bulgarian school - confusing huh? :D</p>

<p>I just wanted to reiterate the fact that AUBG is a terrific school that is accredited by the NEASC (one of the most legit accrediting agencies in the USA, which also accredits Harvard) and by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and therefore is recognized in the EU and the USA. Also, if I had to choose, I would go to AUBG rather than the aforementioned Dutch schools, which I have a very “specific” opinion about, but would not like to disclose. Essentially - I’d rather stay in Bulgaria than go to the Netherlands. </p>

<p>With that said I unfortunately cannot apply to AUBG because it is the only (!) school the requires TOEFL from me and I am not sitting any more examinations. None of the UK and US schools I am applying to have asked for TOEFL, considering my high school education, so it is a pity that the admissions office still doesn’t have a proper evaluation policy of English proficiency.</p>

<p>Good luck to you though and enjoy AUBG! :)</p>

9

<p>Hi CC folks, long time no see :). I came across this thread via Google and I couldn’t help logging in and chiming in a few words as an insider.</p>

<p>I am a Vietnamese student currently studying at the American University in Bulgaria. I learned about the existence of this school (through my Bulgarian friend, who also ended up in AUBG btw :D) at the time I prepared my applications to US colleges. I spent ample time researching this particular school both before and after I got accepted. After weighing the pros and cons of studying here, I decided to choose AUBG over other American colleges. Before coming to Bulgaria, I equipped myself with the mindset that AUBG may later fall short of my expectations, but that I must still always be determined to make the best out of the situation. Yet fortunately for me, I didn’t even need to convince myself at all that AUBG is “good enough”. The school has, indeed, turned out to be far better than I thought. Ever since I came here, I have been increasingly in love with Bulgaria, with the town Blagoevgrad, and of course, with AUBG.</p>

<p>Because I am still a current student here, I think I am in no position to talk about AUBG’s “reputation” (at the end of the day, this term is very subjective), but according to the statistics table stuck in the information board, AUBG has been sending its graduates to HUNDREDS of universities worldwide, including some big names like Wharton (Upenn), Sloan (MIT), Stern (NYU), among many others. I was also amazed by the cumulative list of international organizations (World Bank, ECB, Greenpeace, etc.) and multinational companies (Credit Suisse, KPMG, Citi, etc.) that employ AUBG graduates. Therefore it is irrational to say that AUBG is just Another University in Bulgaria :D. From what I’ve seen, the school has garnered some recognition at least in the academic and corporate areas. One might be tempted to compare AUBG to other American and European universities in terms of prestige, but I think we should first keep things straight by keeping in mind that: 1. AUBG follows the LIBERAL-ARTS educational model (which is strikingly different from conventional European ones), and 2. Even top-notch liberal arts colleges in the US, say Amherst, Williams, Macalester, Weslayan, etc., may go unrecognized beyond the American border. </p>

<p>OK, now let me give an overview of some other notable aspects of AUBG:</p>

<p>***ACADEMICS:***9 majors, 11 minors. Most popular: Business Administration, Economics, Computer Science, and Political Science. Two thirds of AUBG students choose to do double majors. </p>

<p>The **General Education program<a href=“whose%20philosophy%20basically%20rests%20on%20the%20assumption%20that%20graduates%20should%20be%20well-rounded%20to%20thrive%20both%20academically%20and%20socially,%20blah%20blah%20blah”>/B</a> currently exercised in AUBG is unmatched. In order to graduate, students have to obtain a certain number of credits from the Gen Ed courses as a complement to individual major and minor requirements. There are A LOT of courses offered each semester, ranging from Cosmology to Introduction to Politics. So needless to say, students are given numerous opportunities to both delve into their interested fields and challenge themselves with unfamiliar ones. I personally enjoy the study of languages, so I aim to take as many language courses (currently there are Bulgarian, Spanish, German, and French at all levels, by the way) while I am here as possible. </p>

<p>Class size: 25 on average. Honestly, something that turned me away from many other colleges and universities was the prospect of being forced into a room with hundreds of other students and being denied the opportunities for interesting class discussions. From my humble experience with the university, AUBG seems to me a tight-knit and friendly place where the professors get to know every student’s first name. (But because of this, it’s very dangerous for us to come to class unprepared :D)</p>

<p>Professors: Granted, most professors here are neither pioneers in their fields nor Nobel laureates; but their dedication to teach and to do research is praiseworthy. From what I’ve seen, the professors here are extremely demanding. Oftentimes, they challenge us in class by posing questions that require critical thinking, not just memorizing. At the same time, however, they are as approachable as friends. My Microecons professor once stayed two hours after class just to discuss a question related to his lecture with a group of us. As long as we work hard on our part, the professors are always there to help and give advice.</p>

<p>Study-abroad programs: solid! AUBG is a member of ISEP and ERASMUS exchange organizations and every year it sends many students to hundreds of partner schools worldwide. About 70% of students spend one or two semesters abroad. Some even manage to get their exchange programs funded by the university itself or by an external organization. One of my closest AUBG friends, who has completed three semesters here, will go to Belgium next semester as an exchange student. His tuition fees and living expenses are fully covered.</p>

<p>**Panitza library: ** the biggest English library in the Balkans. Here one can find tons of books and periodicals, from new issues to old ones. Some of the books are even dated a century ago. The library has four stories, equipped with comfy couches and quiet group-study rooms. So one will easily find for himself a place to study (and sleep :D) comfortably.</p>

<p>STUDENT LIFE</p>

<p>Non-Blagoevgrad students are required to live in one of the three dorms, namely Scaptopara 1, 2, and 3. Rooms in Scapto 1 and 2 are generally equipped with three beds, three desks with bookshelves, one clothes hanger, and one fridge, BUT no air-conditioners (this might be a great nuisance, especially in August and September). Another state-of-the-art building is under construction. I am not sure when it will be completed though. This time next year, I guess.</p>

<p>There is a whole range of student-run clubs and organizations, with the most popular being AIESEC and Freakonomics. Every day there are so many activities going on, both on campus and off campus, that we even have hard times deciding which ones to go to. I often stay after my last (7 p.m.) class to attend some presentation. </p>

<p>Blagoevgrad is an okay town, not too big, not too small. Everything you need is within walking distance. There’s cinema, a theater, and a circus downtown. There are also a whole bunch of nice restaurants with English menus. Seven Bulgarian leva (about five US dollars) is more than enough for a decent meal :D</p>

<p>Night life here is okay as well. There are several clubs and bars in town which can cater for hundreds of people. Almost every week, there is a themed party especially for AUBG students. From what I have seen, AUBG students not just study hard, but they party hard as well :D</p>

<p>I did not aim to write down everything here, but I hope with the above info, I have given you at least some idea of what AUBG is like. At the expense of sounding complacent and insincere, I need to stress that despite some inevitable problems (which I hope will soon be resolved), AUBG is still definitely worth the money. Its academic excellence is comparable to that of many top-notch liberal arts colleges in the US; its support system is also paramount. What more would one expect?</p>

<p>I will try my best to give a detailed answer to any question that you guys may have regarding AUBG and the opportunities it has to offer. Feel free to ask me anything about my experience here. I will also invite some of my friends (current AUBG-ers) to come here and share their perspectives as well. So, stay tuned!</p>

<p>Have a nice day (evening)! :D</p>

10

<p>Holy posts, NG! :slight_smile: That was quite useful indeed. I’ve actually checked and see that it’s accredited both in the US and the EU - I’m actually more interested in its EU accreditation.</p>

<p>Considering that Bulgaria is the cheapest to live in, in Europe, I guess this university is quite a good option especially for CIS (i.e. former USSR) students. Thanks for sharing this detailed info.</p>

<p>How about racism - you said you’re from Viet Nam, but people in Bulgaria are not Asian?</p>

11

<p>My new semester has already started, so I am sorry for having failed to respond to your question promptly. </p>

<p>Based on my humble knowledge of AUBG, I would refrain from going to the extremes by saying that there COULD be certain stereotypes on our campus. The student body is composed of students from 40 countries with different nationalities, so stereotypes, including negative ones, are unavoidable. However, the goal of this university, I believe, is to train students to have global perspectives and to respect cultural differences. During the course of four years, students are expected to get rid of (or at least mitigate) some of their own deep-seated prejudices. In order to achieve this goal, the school has been trying its best to bring students together as often as possible with such policies as requiring all students to live on campus and punishing those with disruptive behaviors. Also, many programs have been carried out, with the aim of raising students’ awareness of cultural diversity. The effectiveness of such programs remains debatable, but at least for a young college like AUBG, its efforts in upholding diversity is commendable.</p>

<p>As I have mentioned, students in our school come from 40 different countries (mainly in Asia, Europe, and America). So it is quite understandable that administration takes these diversity-related matters very seriously. I remember President Huwiler telling us that we cannot expect Georgian graduates to share their Russian counterparts’ concerns regarding certain issues, but at least, we can somehow force these two groups to be open to each other’s ideas. </p>

<p>At a personal level, I have never encountered a single racist incident since I came to Bulgaria. (At least I hope nobody harbors any hatred against me :D). Our class has only 200 students, so we practically know one another in person. We live together, play sports together, study together, (and of course eat together :D), so we feel a natural tendency to behave in a tolerant and caring manner. Oh and before I forget, let me mention also that the notion of diversity is even imparted in our lectures. Take our Politics class, for example. Our professor often involves us in heated issues by requesting us (from many political regimes) to debate against each other, so that we can view things from different angles and find a way to reconcile our ideas. I simply cannot describe how interesting it is to listen to my classmates’ takes on a common concern. </p>

<p>I hope I have given a fair response to your question, Jerubei?</p>

12

<p>A very good response indeed, thanks! I suppose by class of 200, you mean 200 accepted students in the same year as you, not 200 people in the same lecture? I’ve heard one of the cool things at AUBG is having small classes (which, also means that you have to always go to lectures prepared ^^).</p>

13

<p>WOW. I didn’t even consider Bulgaria when I studied abroad although I wish that I had been more adventurous. Italy was beautiful though. If you are studying abroad, I’d love to read about your experiences. Sign up to be one of the Students Gone Global study abroad bloggers. I don’t think anyone has signed up for Bulgaria yet.</p>

<p>[Student</a> Gone Global : Coming Soon](<a href=“http://www.studentsgoneglobal.com%5DStudent”>http://www.studentsgoneglobal.com)</p>

14

<p>I am considering AUBG, but when I was looking at the tuition and fees, it is only quoted in yearly rates. Does anyone know what a semesters tuition and fees would be?</p>

<p>Also what are the residence halls like? Does anyone have pictures, or know where I could see some?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

15

<p>Hi there! You are right, the tuition and other costs all seem to be stated in yearly rates on their website. The good thing is, though, that these costs are evenly distributed over the two semesters, so you can get a rough idea about your semester fees just by taking half of the amounts. You can find more information about the costs on AUBG’s admissions site at [Tuition</a> Costs](<a href=“http://aubg-admissions.org/costs-aid/tuition-costs/]Tuition”>http://aubg-admissions.org/costs-aid/tuition-costs/)</p>

<p>Concerning the residence halls, there are 3 buildings (Skaptopara 1, 2 and 3) all located in the same place.
Skapto 3 is newer than the other two. It will cost you more (+$150/semester) to live in Skapto 3, but personally I prefer the the older two (Skapto 1 and 2), where life is more vibrant. As nguyenminhhieuh mentioned in one of his awesome posts above, in your Scapto 1 or 2 rooms you will most probably find 3 beds, 3 desks, 3 wardrobes, one chest of drawers and a fridge.
I have included a link to a nice video where, you can see how the buildings look like. If I am lucky enough to find some pictures of rooms and from the inside of the halls I will post them here.</p>

<p>Here’s the video:
[AUBG</a> Timelapse - YouTube](<a href=“AUBG Timelapse - YouTube”>AUBG Timelapse - YouTube)</p>

<p>Also, since Google has recently updated it’s Blagoevgrad imagery, I couldn’t help but share this satellite view of the halls. You can find it here -> [Google</a> Maps](<a href=“http://g.co/maps/2xjz5]Google”>http://g.co/maps/2xjz5)</p>

16

<p>How would you describe the overall feel of the student body? Would you say it’s predominately liberal or conservative? I realize that with such a diverse student body it’s hard to make these kinds of generalizations, but is there a general tilt one way or the other? What about the religious makeup (or lack thereof)? As a gay student looking to travel abroad, I’m also concerned somewhat about how accepting areas tend to be. Also, would you say that the different residence halls have distinct feels (for example, where I go one is more studious, another more fratty, another more hippy-y, etc.)?</p>

17

<p>Hi there!
I am currently an undergrad sophomore in college in Virginia. I am looking to study abroad in the fall of next year and am seriously considering AUBG. I am a music and English literature double major and was wondering if anyone here has any additional information on these disciplines at the school/experiences with them?</p>

18

<p>Hi guys, I’m a freshman from American University in Bulgaria (AUBG). Since there are no discussions about my university yet, I decide to open a new one today. Hope I can get your attention.</p>

<p>AUBG is located in Blagoevrad, Bulgaria, which has a very pleasant climate and nice people. There are tons of reasons why you should apply for AUBG.</p>

<p>1) High Quality Education</p>

<p>Liberal arts system: The rigorous liberal arts system at AUBG will teach you how to think, not what to think!</p>

<p>Top Faculty: World-wide and world-class: AUBG faculty come from the world’s top schools (Harvard, Princeton and more) on five continents. In their capable, experienced hands, you’ll receive a world-class American education with a global flavor.</p>

<p>Diploma: A Liberal Arts degree from AUBG is a passport to the world! You’ll graduate with an internationally recognized diploma (dual accreditation in the USA and Bulgaria with European supplement)</p>

<p>Top-ranking: AUBG was ranked the best university in Economics, Journalism and Mass Communications and Business Administration, with the highest-earning graduates in the country. AUBG is also ranked one of the best universities in Econonmics and Business Administration in Europe.</p>

<p>2) Scholarships</p>

<p>Easy access: At AUBG, we want you to reach your full potential, no matter what your background. Most of our students receive some financial aid, with many winning a full scholarship.</p>

<p>No tuition for high-achievers: Score high on your SAT and you have a great chance to not pay a cent for tuition.</p>

<p>3) Student Life</p>

<p>Our diverse student population enjoys theater, music, sports, inspiring guest lectures. There are floor parties, charity events and every kind of extracurricular, from business to pleasure.</p>

<p>Moreoever, there are parties every Friday night. Night life here is amazing let me tell you.</p>

<p>Great location: Described by the Rough Guide as the coolest place in southwest Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad is a sunny, affordable and easy-to-reach town. Every 5th resident is a student here.</p>

<p>4) Exchange Programs</p>

<p>Broaden your horizon: If you want to explore the world, AUBG is a perfect choice. Students regularly take part in exchange programs, and can choose from over 100 universities in more than 10 countries.</p>

<p>Travel fund: Not only do we actively encourage our students to go on exchange, we even provide financial help for those who need it via our travel fund.</p>

<p>These are the basic information about AUBG. If you have further questions, please comment below and I will answer with details!</p>

<p>Thank you guys very much and good luck with application process.</p>

<p>This is the link to my discussion. If anyone’s interested, come here and ask me questions. I’ll be willing to answer to all of you guys</p>

<p><a href=“American University in Bulgaria - High-quality Education with Generous Scholarship Offers - Applying to College - College Confidential Forums”>American University in Bulgaria - High-quality Education with Generous Scholarship Offers - Applying to College - College Confidential Forums;

19

“I need to stress that despite some inevitable problems (which I hope will soon be resolved), AUBG is still definitely worth the money.”

What inevitable problems??

20

Hello,
I am international applicant at AUBG. I wanted to know how important is SAT and TOEFL scores for admissions? Im scores are 1200 in CR+Maths and 90s in TOEFL.