<p>Thanks, that is good to know.</p>
<p>Does anyone know what the SOC is like? I’m interested in the film program and i haven’t really seen that much about it on this thread- unless I missed it on here somewhere :P</p>
<p>As a tech-savvy non-SOC kid, I’m pretty jealous of their stuff. 
I’ll try to highlight what I know about the film aspects. The Hollywood Reporter chose SOC as one of the nation’s top 12 film programs, noting that its strength in documentary made it an ideal place for “politically active storytellers.” And the Film program is one of only 14 in the US invited to join CILECT, the International Association of Film and Television Schools.</p>
<ul>
<li>The SOC doesn’t have it’s own building, but rather has a floor in the Mary Graydon Center. Included are 4 computer labs (both Windows and Mac, depending on your preference) absolutely loaded with software, including but not limited to Adobe Master Collection CS4. </li>
<li>The classrooms are set up in a board room style (the chairs all face inward as oppose to all facing forward) to simulate a Public Relations Firm or Board Room in pre-production for a major motion picture.</li>
<li>13 private digital editing suites, that are open from 9am-11pm and equipment may be checked out, exclusively to SOC majors, for projects.</li>
</ul>
<p>Why their stuff is so awesome:
- SOC students won a regional Emmy for Eco-Views, a documentary about Chesapeake Bay conservation produced by and shown on Maryland Public Television stations.
- Artist-in-residence and backpack journalist Bill Gentile took a Sony high-definition camera to Afghanistan, where he shot—solo—an Emmy-nominated documentary for NOW on PBS.
- Laura Waters Hinson, MFA ’07, won the 2008 Student Academy Award for her thesis documentary about reconciliation in Rwanda.
- Professor Patricia Aufderheide, who launched and directs SOC’s Center for Social Media, was honored by the International Documentary Association for creating new industry practices that let filmmakers make fair use of copyrighted material in their work.
- Distinguished producer-in-residence Chris Palmer won two Emmys and produced almost a dozen IMAX movies before launching SOC’s Center for Environmental Filmmaking, which runs our popular Classroom in the Wild course.</p>
<p>And of course, if you’re not into politically motivated filmmaking and are hollywood bound… Alumni Nancy Meyers, just wrote, directed and produced ‘It’s Complicated’ (as well as others).</p>
<p>how intellectual is the campus? i mean the typical liberal arts college talk of philosophy, art, and books etc</p>
<p>From chatting with my son and his friends (I’ve been in DC twice since August on business) it’s intellectual with a decidedly political accent. But they also talk about more mundane things, too–</p>
<p>What is the car situation at AU? Do freshman have cars? How hard it it to get a parking spot?</p>
<p>Hi,
I was just accepted to AU as a transfer student. I think I’ll be transferring in as a Junior or possibly a second semester Sophomore, depending on credits and everything. I’m trying to decide which dorm I should choose, and I was wondering if there were any dorms that were better for transfers and or upperclassmen. I read though this thread and have some basic ideas, but I was wondering if anyone could help me out a little more with some suggestions.
Thanks!</p>
<p>a) send in your deposit money NOW – like today. I transferred to AU (as my name might imply) and it’s extremely difficult for transfers to get housing. Some get informed that they don’t get on campus housing at all, and some get placed on Tenley campus a few blocks down the road. You’ve been accepted early enough that it’s probably fine, but don’t wait on the deposit.</p>
<p>b) Centennial Hall is probably your best bet. It’s reserved for Sophomores and up and has suite style rooms. It’s a nice hall and kind of guarantees you at least 3 acquaintances – which helps out a lot the first few weeks of school.</p>
<p>can someone please answer my question about cars. (3 posts ago) I’m very curious about this.</p>
<p>Freshman can have cars on campus, and it’s fairly easy to get a parking spot. The reason for this is that parking permits cost 1,000/year – and a lot of people (me included) who have cars, just leave them at home – because it’s simply not worth it to bring it to campus where it maybe gets used three times a year. The parking lots are also in weird and inconvenient places, either in the teeny one under Centennial Hall – or across the street in the Nebraska Parking lot.</p>
<p>When I got accepted my Mom told me that I could bring the car to school and pay 1,000 dollars – or I could leave the car at home and she would give me the money that it would cost to have my car insured for 9 months. For me it was an easy choice. </p>
<p>DC is a city of public transportation, and if you aren’t used to driving in a big city, driving in DC can be a stressful and dangerous experience. I’ve only felt the need for a car once or twice since being here (making Target runs a bit easier come to mind). Other than that: metro is the clear way to go. There is also a service that I’m a member of called ZipCar. You fill out an application (everyone is approved if they have a valid drivers license and no serious accidents in the past 6 months) – and for $25 dollars they’ll give you a card that unlocks 200 cars scattered throughout the city (including at the Tenleytown metro) that can be rented by the hour.</p>
<p>Isn’t there a minimum age for zip cars. I thought it was 21 but I also know that is not true everywhere for zip cars. At Smith College you only had to be 18 to rent a zip car. I do agree that there is minimal use for students especially living on campus to have cars. You can always take a cab and it is cheaper then paying for parking.
Ellen</p>
<p>AUTransfer - thanks for the info. I put in my deposit yesterday.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot AUtransfer. If you had a car, are there any good road trip or day trip places a few hours away?</p>
<p>^ Tons, especially if you’re into history. I’m about two hours from DC so I’ve been there a lot. There are a lot of great museums in DC and in the area, including Mount Vernon (George Washington’s home), Arlington (cemetery and General RE Lee’s home), the new air and space building (definitely cool), and the Washington Navy Yard. Baltimore isn’t that far away, and there are additional history sites as well as the Baltimore Aquarium and shopping. </p>
<p>Philly is within day trip distance, and of course there’s a million things to do there. Also, there are a lot of caverns along Route 81 in Virginia… in case you’re into rocks. </p>
<p>If you are interested in history let me know - there are so many more history places within driving distance of DC.</p>
<p>Ish.</p>
<p>What FortySixthInft said is true, except Arlington, Air and Space, and Navy Yard are all easily metro accessible. Baltimore and Mount Vernon are both about an 1 hour away from AU depending on traffic, but I’ve been to both via bus. </p>
<p>Philly and Atlantic City are probably the big road trip places for AU students – though I don’t know many that are willing to spend a weekend outside of the city when there is so much to do in Washington DC.</p>
<p>FortySixthInft: yay for having another history wonk around :)</p>
<p>Thanks guys. good info. What about nature places where you can hike and stuff? Are there any nice national parks or other wilderness around?</p>
<p>^ Well, as a history nerd, I know good historical places to hike. I would definitely recommend Harper’s Ferry WV. It’s really not that far from DC. The whole town is built at the intersection of three mountains and two rivers. You can walk through the town, but they also have hiking trails all over the place. Including a 6 mile trail straight up a mountain. Almost didn’t survive that one.</p>
<p>Also, Antietam National Military Park is within driving distance of D.C. Lots of open land that you would walk, although there’s nothing extreme. It’s really pretty, though.</p>
<p>There is a National Arboretum in D.C., although I’ve never been there.</p>
<p>I’m sure there’s a ton of other stuff - you might want to try Google Maps.</p>
<p>The National Arboretum is very nice and a lovely place to walk, I would not describe it as a hike though it is quite large. I grew up in DC and as a kid I would hike the Rock Creek Park trail, the C&O canal trail is a nice walk. Great Falls is not too far away and if you have access to a car, though there is also likely a bus to somewhere along the Appalachian trail where it runs through Maryland and Virginia.
Ellen</p>
<p>Alrighty. I’m gonna go visit AU soon so i should get a feel for DC while I’m there.</p>
<p>I haven’t had time to read alllll the responses on this thread, so I apologize if there’s already been a question like this.</p>
<p>I’m really interested in AU, and it’s one of my top two choices for college. I know I’ll love the city and the environment, but I’m a little concerned with the AU atmosphere. People on other websites have posted that everyone at AU is gay, Jewish, and from New Jersey. I have no issue with any of those things, but I was hoping for a little more diversity. Also, the way people say it makes it sound like it’s a bad thing…?</p>
<p>So are people at AU diverse? Many people have also said that everyone at AU is a rich white kid. That doesn’t seem accurate, but I don’t know for sure. Does that mean people are stuck up? I am interested in a lot of the clubs and activities at AU, and I want to be busy and accomplishing things, but I’m kind of a laid-back person. I am not competetive and I don’t have to be the best at everything. Some reviews of AU make it sound like people there are snotty know-it-alls who are ultra-competetive and just want to preach their political views.</p>
<p>And how hard is it for straight girls to meet straight guys at AU?</p>
<p>Any insight into the social atmosphere and the people at AU would be appreciated! Thanks!!</p>