@xim0204 I feel you about fa…a lot of schools are super stingy. I’m not getting any either because I was admitted for spring (for whatever reason!). I’m into international relations and American was my only big IR school. I saw that you applied to Fordham…me too! I got great merit aid from them…you’ll probably get some too!
@xim0204 Sorry that AU does not fit financially for you. I know you have been interested in going to AU from your posts. Unfortunately being “average” does not qualify at most places for aid which is a sad statement in itself.
I think the wait listing of very qualified people that really have no interest other than AU being a safety school or being a mantel of college acceptances is due to the yield game that AU and other colleges measure themselves by which is another sad statement. With minimal research one can find out that AU is REALLY looking for students that really want to be there.
Others have stated how to communicate this to AU. I did this by applying ED1.
Best of luck to all no matter which institution you end up at.
@ohrly123 she did show interest, and did get accepted. However, because 1) her stats fell in the middle range of AU’s acceptances, she did not qualify for merit aid, and 2) her family must have had an EFC greater than the annual cost so she did not receive financial aid. Neither of these conditions are unusual or unfair, other than what I brought up in my prior post that the FAFSA formula itself is ridiculous and unrealistic, but there’s not much we can do about that.
@premature_gray Yes! I’m probably going to end up going to GMU (honors college) at least for two years and then maybe transfer to a more prestigious university. If not, I’ll focus on grad school prospects.
@busymom1234 American’s attitude towards its prospective students made me very angry. The fact that some of these very high achieving students didn’t get in just so that American could protect their yield is just plain stupid – they lost my support, even to transfer to.
@Cameron121 Yes, exactly! I’ve been thinking a lot about the system recently, after both of my let downs, and honestly it doesn’t make any sense to me. I’ve made it to a university, but because I am not poor enough or rich enough, I can’t attend? I was very sad for a while, but I’m over it and I’m trying to look at the positives, but it has been an emotionally draining process for me. Thank you so much! I really appreciate it! Best wishes to you too 
@ancientmali Are you going to attend?! I’m excited to hear back from Fordham!
@ohrly123 Yeah, I just thought that AU was another type of school. Maybe it was dumb of me to think like this, but I thought that AU really cared about their students, yet I am really disappointed from the things I have heard about admissions this year.
I applied ED1 to another school which gave me no FA. I was going to apply to AU ED2 because I had major interest for the school, but my parents were afraid that the “no FA” thing would happen again. I applied RD and communicated to my admissions counselor that my original intention was to apply ED2.
Oh well. On to the next one!
Thank you everyone!
@Cameron121 Thank you! 
Hi all who were wait listed:
I’m a current freshman who came in with stats very similar to yours (4.0, 33+, high SATIIs, great ECs and recs, etc). For further ‘proof’ I was also accepted an Ivy.
I was accepted RD and received merit money. However, beforehand, I was very nervous I’d be in the waitlist boat like you all are based on what I read on CC.
I cannot stress how much you need to express legitimate interest if you’re considered ‘overqualified’. Also, in terms of the ‘political ECs’: I was only involved in hs student government for one year; it definitely wasn’t a big deal and I think AU isn’t solely looking for those types of students.
No school wants to ‘waste’ acceptances on students who aren’t likely to go or consider AU a safety. If you were waitlisted and are still interested TELL THEM.
@ok0216 You need to tell your cautionary tale, early, to next year’s applicants!
As for the comments about political ECs being required, I would think that really only applies for SIS or other related public policy majors. My S was accepted to Kogod for Business and Entertainment where he intends to pursue a music business track and an audio production minor or dual major. His ECs primarily focus on these areas (other than various sports he’s played), but pretty much zero around politics (taking his AP Comp Gov class is the most political thing he’s ever done). So once again, I think it depends on what you want to pursue, as well as how you compare to the rest of the applicant pool.
@ok0216 - not sure how much more my D could have done to show interest. She visited the school twice and went through the honors process through the second round. She was not over qualified by any means but fell in the high end of their average range. She will do fine where ever she ends up but am just perplexed as to the reason why. Plus why would they send anyone to a second round of honors if they had no plans on accepting them.
Good luck to everyone.
@busymom12 Your last point is the most puzzling to me.
^^^^^ what he/she said
my son was waitlisted which is fine bc he has no further interest in attending. I can say that if he were on a second round for HONORS and then WAITLISTED, i would be very, very angry. Good luck to all. I am happily leaving the AU thread!
My daughter was accepted with a 3.6 UW and only 26 ACT. She made one visit last April but didn’t show any other interest and didn’t even apply until the end of December. She didn’t expect to get in. She was rejected at Penn State and UMD. These decisions make no sense at all.
What is up with this sense of entitlement? Don’t drink the kool-aid rhetoric that attaining high stats (GPA, SAT/ACT, APs) will guarantee you a spot or more consideration at a university. If you don’t fit their image of an AU student, you will not get in. It is as simple as that with a huge element of luck. Having a good SAT score, GPA, etc. are just for getting your foot in the door, not for admissions to the school.
It is a different story to be in the Honors program and accepted to American University. Second round of honors does not equal fitting the AU mold. An Honors program is for high-achieving AU students. (emphasis on AU students, meaning until you are admitted the honors program does not factor into your admission). In other words, the honors programs and the admission process are two wholly different processes.
American, like hundreds of other schools, has a vested interest in protecting their yield. High stats, honors students, incredibly ECs are not impressive anymore. What is impressive is an applicant who fits their stat range and has demonstrated serious interest in school via their insightful essays, precise LoRs, etc. according to the admission committee. It is no about writing how great a student is, but said student will contribute and be a productive asset to the university. I don’t mean to be harsh, but these people in here whining about themselves/their children not getting accepted but having high stats are not grasping the reality of the situation. So many people on CC humblebrag about their stats and are shocked to find that universities seriously do not care. Also, don’t take the decisions so personally because a few years down the road, you’ll probably look back and laugh at the situation and you’ll be at another four year having a ball. To get into a school, show them how you can be an amazing AU student (asset, contributing member, and future donor), not how you are an amazing high school senior who scored a perfect SAT and has parents who can afford expensive overseas extracurriculars. Then, pray or cross your fingers and wish for the best, knowing that admissions decisions truly do not reflect your overall potential, just your perceived potential at that particular university.
Best wishes to all the people whose admissions decisions simply don’t make sense, I’m sure there are other great things in y’alls futures. And don’t take any of this comment the wrong way, it is meant in love… Keep plowing forward!
Says the man with the “I found out my acceptance via logging into my student account viewing my financial aid award letter and housing enrollment agreement. I did this yesterday. I was given a 37K grant (:”
Good luck to all.
@nmackpaddywhack. Thank you. And an apology is in order as I used this forum to vent. American as with any other school can accept and reject anyone it wishes. It has been a frustrating time for many of the students in this forum. I can only say that in no way did I feel like my child was entitled to anything. I was just questioning the system.
Good luck to all with your decisions.
I don’t think those who are posting about rejections or being wait listed and expressing their disappointment are necessarily whining. This is an emotional time for all involved. this is the place where others will understand that hope and desire to get into American. All over the forums people are grabbing on to any clue that they might be ‘in’ at the schools they’ve applied to. Getting into the 2nd round of honors would certainly lead one to believe that admission is likely, making not getting admitted all the more difficult.
What a roller coaster ride this can be!
Well put @nmackpaddywhack.
Serious mixed feelings as an admitted freshman who was/is considering American. Hard not to get angry at admissions for these seemingly random decisions. Wanted to contest that “political EC’s” are necessary to get into SIS for any prospective students applying this year. I didn’t have any traditionally political ECs on my application (like student government), and I was accepted. It’s so subjective and that’s what makes gauging your chances so impossible. Sorry to all who DESERVED to get in; wish I could’ve gotten the chance to be your classmate.
@incaseyouforgot To add to your point, I have worked on numerous political campaigns and in the office of a congressman. Still wait listed.