<p>I'm interested in their communications/journalism school and maybe the school of public policy. Can anyone give me information about it that I wouldn't find on their website or PR, such as info about the campus, the students, the LOCATION in comparison to GW and Georgetown and all the Washington D.C. attractions and shopping areas? Possibly match/safety for me.</p>
<p>We visited American. Campus - generally big, white buildings (some more brick and/or modern) around a long, green quad that's way more rectangular than square. Very nice, self-contained campus. you'd never think it was in DC. My D didn't like it. Felt it didn't have the same energy as GW. Rest of us loved it. The people were very friendly, and the info session well done. We got lost at one point, and a man we ran into and asked directions from, reversed his course and went way out of his way to help us. I inferred from what he said that he was either an admin person or a professor . So really friendly campus. </p>
<p>GW as you may know is in NW, a few blocks (and easy walking distance) from White House. American is not walking distance from any major part of DC, but it does have a metro stop about a 15 minute walk from campus, which also appears to be where the shopping is. they also have a shuttle. So it has a nice, traditional college feel, which gives it an advantage over GW in that sense; but it is not a stroll over to major sites, which makes it a disadvantage. True trade=off.</p>
<p>I've heard it's rather unattractive from some people, but the opposite from others - is it like a really pretty campus or just ugly modern clashing with fake old? </p>
<p>And there's nothing around campus??</p>
<p>I visited... I wasnt that impressed with the campus, but I do like the location. Like the previous poster said, it is relatively close to the Metro which can bring you to just about anywhere in DC. Its easy to get into(relatively) and I think they offer decent aid. Im thinking about applying to the public policy school just to see if they give me any aid. I am also intrigued by the high female/male ratio on campus.</p>
<p>I could be wrong, but I got the impression that the direct area around campus was not the best area. I mean it was ok, just nothing like the neighborhoods that surround Georgetown. The big thing for me though is that it is so close to the metro...just get a metro card and you will be set for DC.</p>
<p>I wouldn't call the campus ugly, but there are several buildings that don't qualify as particularly attractive. The ones around the quad are attractive. Then there are buldings that are a little bit off the quad. These tend to be modern and have that unfortunate modern 1950's concrete block look. But the University has tried to overcome this with some really nice landscaping.</p>
<p>As far as the area: the college is a very defined, self-contained campus. The area around it did not appear bad, just undistinguished. You would have to walk to the metro stop to get to shopping, sites, etc. ryan2288 is correct that the area is not like the Georgetown neightborhood that GW and G'town occupy. But it's only a walk to the metro. You are certainly still in DC. For example, it's a whole lot closer to the places you might want to go in DC, than Boston College is to anything at all in Boston.</p>