Ask a current AU student

<p>My S is thinking of coming home this coming weekend since we will be off for the Jewish holiday on Mon. Could a student tell me how AU profs look at students who take off on a religious holiday? I know at my daughter’s school a lot of instructors cancel classes. Does this happen at AU also?
Thanks</p>

<p>hello5,</p>

<p>I’m also Jewish and thinking about maybe going home for Yom Kipor. AU does not cancel classes at all. Its a normal day as far as they are concerned. Missing a day will be our responsibility. As you got to do what is in the syllabus. Also, since we will be taking the day off for " religious observance," we will have an excused absence. Not sure if I can miss Monday as its my most intensive day, and missing just one class can throw you off.</p>

<p>Just wondering…I’m very interested in AU (for International Affairs) and would like to schedule an interview. With whom would I do such? Is there a specific email/phone number I should call to schedule it? Thanks!</p>

<p>The number and email address are on AU’s admissions webpage:</p>

<p>[Undergraduate</a> Admissions and Financial Aid | American University, Washington, DC](<a href=“http://american.edu/admissions/]Undergraduate”>Undergraduate Admissions | American University, Washington, DC)</p>

<p>Are there any AU Students out there who transferred in?</p>

<p>I have a question about how they factor your incoming gpa. I saw on the website it was your cum gpa from the college last attended.</p>

<p>Here is my background:</p>

<p>I graduated HS in 1998, went to early college as a senior in HS. Due to family and personal reasons, I withdrew and my gpa plummeted to 1.56. I moved around a bit and worked in a lot of top worldwide law firms. I have 13 years experience.</p>

<p>I moved back to my home state of Utah to finish school, but I want to be back east again and eventually go to law school. I have previously lived in DC and Philadelphia.</p>

<p>During this year in college since I have returned, I have a 3.85 cum gpa. This semester I am going full time and currently have all A’s. </p>

<p>Do I have a good chance of getting in? And do I have any kind of chance at merit aid?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>Just wondering, around what score should I be aiming for on the ACT to hope to get some merit-aid? I’m guessing 32+, but an exact number would be pretty cool.
Thanks!</p>

<p>NYC- I transferred in this year so hopefully I can be of some help to you. There is a place on the application to explain the 1.56 GPA, I would definitely utilize it and with a good explanation and an otherwise good application you could still get in. They are also going to look to see what you have been doing since you left your last school, they want to see something productive like work or volunteering, so that will affect your chances as well. I think you have a decent shot at getting in (hard to say without knowing what your explanation will be, which I don’t expect you to post on here), however I wouldn’t count on any merit aid. Need-based aid is different though so you may qualify for that.</p>

<p>If you do get in they don’t count your GPA. You start with a brand new GPA at American and thats the one that you’ll graduate with. There are a few instances however where your old GPA will count, like study abroad, and you’ll have to put it on resumes and stuff but it won’t get factored into you overall AU GPA.</p>

<p>Great thanks for the reply!</p>

<p>:( Sad at no merit aid.</p>

<p>Could you tell me how a pass/fail course converts to a numerical Grade Point, or doesn’t it.
Thanks</p>

<p>I visited AU on Friday and I loved it! I met with my admissions counselor and he had already looked over my submitted application and was familiar with it - that impressed me a lot. I think he is the one who makes the decision on if I get in or not, is that true?</p>

<p>I’m looking at attending the Kogood School of Business and it is amazing in there. So excited. Now I just need to get all my transcripts in and pray!</p>

<p>One question, is it rolling admissions for transfers?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Hello5- I’m fairly certain they just don’t count it towards your numerical GPA</p>

<p>NYC- yes, it is rolling admissions for transfers. I think I applied in February and heard back in like early April so that should give you an idea of their timetable</p>

<p>I was wondering if Freshman are allowed to register for more than 18 credits with the intention of dropping some??? Down to 18?</p>

<p>Also, should you register one class at at a time and then come back each time to register to get the calasses filling up?</p>

<p>I don’t know what the policy is, but I know my son registered for all his classes at once. He wanted to register at midnight of the day he was eligible, but there was a hold on his account by mistake so he couldn’t. He had to wait until the offices opened to get the hold off.</p>

<p>He was a little worried about getting into one of his classes because there was only 2 slots open, but he got one of them (who knew there was such a demand for Linear Algebra.)</p>

<p>Thank you Kathy! I will relate that on to my daughter.</p>

<p>What dorm would you recommend for freshmen?</p>

<p>You have a wide selection of residence halls – and while there are sterotypes of which end of campus is noiser vs. more studious, the dorms get redefined on a yearly basis. So it’s really what you’re looking for</p>

<p>Leonard: The farthest freshman dorm from the quad. Houses lots of international students (Hughs also houses a lot), has been most recently renovated (2007) as far as the freshman dorms go. Leonard also has a special lounge that was designed and furnished by Crate and Barrel stores. So if you have classes at the new SIS building, you have quite a hike, but for me – all the newness is worth it. </p>

<p>Letts: It is also home to the Game and Recreation Center (GARC) and the South Campus Fitness Center (so you don’t have to walk to the sports center if you want to work out)One floor of Letts Hall is designated as an all-female floor, and the Sky Lounge, a multi-purpose entertainment and program space, is located on the 6th floor. The Sky Lounge has some of the most beautiful views of the surrounding city. Also right across from Anderson, the biggest dorm on campus so statistically you’ll be close to many of your friends and can meet up in between before walking to dinner. Depending on what side you’re on – it can put you very close, or relatively far from the Quad.</p>

<p>“Relatively far” is an important point. AU’s campus is not big, so no dorms are located truly far from anything. From Leonard to SIS is probably 10 minutes walking time (max); ditto for Anderson/Letts to Ward. The difference between “relatively close” and “relatively far” is probably a 5-minute difference.</p>

<p>Maybe my son’s legs are extraordinarily long, but he says 4 1/2 minutes from Anderson to Kogod…and 2 minutes more for his class in Katzen across the street because he always gets a red light!</p>

<p>I applied early decision to AU and it says that people will be notified before December 31st. Is there any way I will find out sooner than that?</p>