<p>Although both seem very different both are a good size for me. I am interested in studying business am a male and am from New York. My goal for next year is to apply early decision so I can be done with the process earlier and have better odds of getting in to where I wanna go. Both seem like good schools for me I'd just like to know about campus life for both, academics, and anything else you would like to tell me. I am jewish so I'd like to know if that is a concern at Elon. Also I have A.D.D so I would like to know what services each school would offer me (I've read American has great services).</p>
<p>Daughter visited both schools, is Jewish and is attending Elon in the fall after applying ED…</p>
<p>Very different schools in very different environments; I highly suggest a visit BEFORE you decide where to apply ED…</p>
<p>she really did not like American (too many reasons that were very personal to her that would not necessarily apply to the vast CC population)…</p>
<p>FWIW, Jewish life at both schools is very different; American has a number of diff types of Jewish organizations if that works for you…and a fairly large Jewish population…</p>
<p>Elon has a very strong and growing Hillel, but is more intimate; their events are attended by a variable # of dedicated students…excellent director; you should contact if you are truly interested <a href=“mailto:nluberoff@elon.edu”>nluberoff@elon.edu</a>…I think the numbers for the incoming class of 2015 are around 8% Jewish but those are only the kids that specify on the Elon app (not mandatory)…</p>
<p>I also highly recommend heading on over to the parents forum and specifically to the thread titled, “schools for the Jewish “B” student”…much discussion about both of the these schools (even if you are an “A” student)…</p>
<p>If you would like to discuss further, please PM me with specific questions…I can let you know what my daughter’s take on both of these schools were…</p>
<p>also, there is another poster, samtalya, who son is from NJ, Jewish , prob business major and is probably applying ED there next year in case you want to contact her by PM as well…</p>
<p>finally, it may be very helpful to copy and paste your q on both the American and Elon forums to get feedback from both…</p>
<p>edit: this also may help:
<a href=“Elon University - America’s Top-Ranked Teaching University”>Elon University - America’s Top-Ranked Teaching University;
<p>Susan Wise is EXTREMELY accessible…by phone or email…</p>
<p>Hi Redpumps,</p>
<p>My son is definitely applying ED to Elon. My son was only looking south so I can’t comment on American.</p>
<p>We visited over the spring break and went to first night seder. We fell in love with the campus the moment we stepped foot. My son helped set up for the seder and met a lot of the hillel kids and he felt really comfortable. He met some kids from outside boston and ny. he also attended an Aepi meeting and met 9 of the founding guys.</p>
<p>My S is interested in the entrepreneurship program and met with the director, several professors and students. He was very impressed. There seemed to be many internship opportunities, great relations with professors, and interesting combinations of courses for majors and minors.</p>
<p>I agree with Rodney, you must visit, especially if applying ED. If you were applying regular then you could wait to see where accepted and then visit, but to make a decision without visiting is tough. you need to see the area and campus of both and get a feel of what is really for you.</p>
<p>Feel free to pm me and ask any questions. Also happy to put you on phone with my son if you wish.</p>
<p>As I understand, the social scenes at the two colleges are really different, and I would recommend visiting if you can to see if you like what each school has to offer. My cousin went to Elon and I went to Wake Forest, a very similar college, for a year, and I can tell you that a lot of the schools in North Carolina attract a very preppy, J.Crew-ish, homogeneous set of kids, kind of like what you might find at a New England prep school. Not to say there aren’t exceptions or anything, of course, but that’s the general feel. Greek life is also more dominant than it would be at a Northern college. That’s some people’s cup of tea, and for others, it’s not, but it’s just something to consider. (I’m not bashing NC schools or saying these characteristics are bad, by the way. As with any college, your mileage may vary.)</p>
<p>American, on the other hand, tends to support a more diverse student body, though because of the location, you’re going to find a lot of kids who are into politics. (If I remember correctly, the biggest major on campus is political science.) For some people, like me, that’s heaven, but I also have some politics-hating friends who would grimace at the very thought. Finally, American is a dry campus, and again, your mileage may vary on that.</p>
<p>Hope that helps :)</p>
<p>wow thanks evryone … I visited alot of schools Uncon, Udel, Syracuse I loved but were way to big and I dont want to be in a huge school or anything over 10,000 also didnt like northeastern or Boston U because of the whole just another number thing and they were to urban. I liked American alot it had a campus but had city access (in a suburban part of DC) but I want to visit Elon also I feel like schools in cities dont have the same level of school pride and many kids are going only to be near the city and not as much the campus and school. I can be wrong abouth that but I feel like the nightlife is also very different from universities not in cities. somthing that concerns me a little is that none of my friends or my parents have heard of Elon so they are a little hesitant to drive down and see it since they have no friends who have sent their children there. I think these school are best for me (between 5,000-10,000) great academics and social life. I would go greek at ether but what I got from my tour at American like most city schools fraternities dont mean much, they are more like small social clubs.</p>
<p>Yeah, the nightlife is very different between the two schools. At a school like Elon, most of the partying is going to be on campus at frats, and at American, it’ll be off-campus at a club. I don’t know a lot about AU’s Greek life, but I’m pretty sure it’s nothing special because the dry campus policy.</p>
<p>I’m surprised your family hasn’t heard of Elon, though. It’s a respectable school and growing in prestige over time. That may just be due to the fact that you’re a Northerner; I’m pretty sure most people in the South have heard of it.</p>
<p>^^caligulashorse: the OP is from NY and Jewish…there are a number of schools that have not been on the radar of this particular demographic group; it just takes time…</p>
<p>it’s not that he’s a Northerner necessarily (NJ/Mass are the 2nd/ 3rd largest group of students at Elon behind NC), but rather a result of the high school he probably attends, his peer group and, frankly speaking, his demographic group…</p>
<p>The public HS in our town here in NJ has never sent a student to Elon…my daughter attends a small private school no more than 20 minutes away yet they have sent at least one student every year for the past 5</p>
<p>Hi - I have a Jewish son who is also interested in business and we have visited both schools. I’m going to point out a few key differences.</p>
<p>First - campus location. American is a beautiful suburban campus that is also very close to downtown DC. It is super easy to get a bus to Georgetown or down to the Mall with the museums and monuments - you are also fairly close to a Metro station. Elon has a beautiful campus as well - but does not have the city proximity of American.</p>
<p>Second - student body. American is a much more diverse student body. When we visited - we saw many international students. Elon is much more homogeneous - ie - white. AU is more gay-friendly. Elon has a more attractive student body (in my opinion, of course).</p>
<p>Third - Jewish population. AU has the larger Jewish population - but as Rodney and Samtalya mentioned - Elon’s is growing and does have a small but active Hillel.</p>
<p>But here’s the deal and the reason you need to visit. On paper - American seemed like a great fit for my son. When we visited - he did not like it AT ALL and will not be applying. I’m not sure I can even explain why - but he just did not see himself there. Particularly if you are considering applying ED - please visit.</p>
<p>University of Denver also fit some of my specification but is it a tier lower than elon and american and if anyone could rank the three or just compare elon and american based on prestige, academics, overall reputation and what kind of people the students are at each of theses schools</p>