<p>I was wondering if anyone could give me some pros and cons of both schools? I’ve been to a two week program on the GW campus and really enjoyed the area. I wasn’t able to visit AU but I am pretty interested in it. I am hoping some alumnus or those who have been to the campus could provide some info. Thanks!</p>
<p>My daughter was originally interested in GW but is now attending American. Her reasons were (1) larger merit scholarship (2) smaller student body (3) School of Public Affairs Leadership Program (which she was accepted to after she enrolled at school (4) just liked the vibe better - which may be the ultimate reason someone selects a school. </p>
<p>American was not my daughter’s first choice - we could not afford that school even though she was accepted. However, now that she is at American she realizes that this is the right school for her. Hope she has a great year!</p>
<p>Thank you for the help</p>
<p>Bumpbumpbump</p>
<p>It’s become kind of a cliche to say it, but the campuses of GW and AU feel very different. You know how GW is in the middle of Foggy Bottom, near the State Department and the IMF, and there’s lots of traffic and hustle and bustle and a very urban feel? AU isn’t like that.</p>
<p>AU is in a quieter, much more residential portion of the District, near Embassy Row in one direction, and the Maryland line in the other. It’s a bit of a walk, or a shuttle ride, to the Red Line, but it’s definitely Metro accessible. AU has a campus that looks collegey, with buildings that look similar to each other (for the most part–the new SIS building looks quite different from the others) and grassy quadrangles.</p>
<p>My kid chose AU, partly for the quieter atmosphere, and partly (like NewJerseyDaughter), for a merit award. If I were choosing between them, based only on setting, and the prices were similar, I’d pick GW. It’s all a question of what you like.</p>
<p>Do you know what you want to study?</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure I want to major in political science. I’e heard that AU is the place to go for that major. Is that correct? And which of the two would you say is more difficult to get into?</p>
<p>Either AU or GW is good for political science. There’s been a subpopulation on College Confidential that likes to bicker about which DC university is best for what, but I find that a little tiresome.</p>
<p>In general, GW is somewhat more selective than AU (and clearly less selective than Georgetown). In general, the AU population is probably a little more politics minded than GW’s. But it’s Washington, so there’s plenty of politicking going on in both places. </p>
<p>My kid and NewJerseyMom’s daughter are not the only students I know of who were lured to American with merit aid. If your grades and standardized test scores are very good, they might try to buy your love, too.</p>
<p>But here’s an important tip about both GW and American: they track student interest, so be sure to show them the love. And when you write your “Why [name of university]?” essays, write about the university, and not merely how much you’d like to go to college in DC.</p>
<p>that really helps. I should hopefully be able to use my two week program at GW to my advantage. Thanks for the help. This whole college process is so intimidating for someone like me who lives in Missouri and hasn’t had much exposure to these great schools.</p>
<p>My son chose AU because he wanted the hustle and bustle and opportunities that all the schools in DC share…but he also wanted to have a “campus” that afforded a more traditional campus experience. He has really enjoyed some amazing internship opportunities, restaurants, concerts, speakers, etc. , like all the other students in DC or any large city. He also loves to sleep/study/play frisbee and football on the quad…which GW students don’t get to do. And he loves Trick-or-Treating at all the embassies right down Mass Ave from campus.</p>
<p>He has friends on all the DC campuses and they will often do things together.</p>
<p>Would you mind telling me his test scores, GPA, rank, etc?</p>
<p>The schools are not similar at all! and if they weren’t in the same city, they wouldn’t even be compared. At GW, about 60% of the students are in the arts and sciences, and in engineering. At AU, arts and science students are about a third of the student body. The School of International Service at AU is the largest in the world, and add in the business school, public affairs, communications, etc. and that is 2/3rds of the student body. Very few students in the sciences at AU; many at GW. One is suburban, with a campus; the other is very urban. I could go on, but really, these two schools are just not comparable except that they are both in DC.</p>
<p>Regarding their liberal arts programs, which of the two is more renowned?</p>
<p>Neither. (But GW’s is definitely bigger, and has more offerings, especially in the sciences.)</p>