Ask a current AU student

Colleges & Universities A-Z American University
61

<p>@ Hello. AU is supposed to be a dry campus, but it’s not. Students at AU drink only a little bit more than average: [Core</a> Survey shows AU drinks above national average rate - News](<a href=“http://media.www.theeagleonline.com/media/storage/paper666/news/2008/10/27/News/Core-Survey.Shows.Au.Drinks.Above.National.Average.Rate-3507050-page2.shtml]Core”>http://media.www.theeagleonline.com/media/storage/paper666/news/2008/10/27/News/Core-Survey.Shows.Au.Drinks.Above.National.Average.Rate-3507050-page2.shtml)</p>

<p>Frats are what you make of them. If you live on north side, you could never see them. There are no off campus houses, but there are rooms for greek organizations on campus. There are also the business and the community service fraternities whose main focus is not on the party scene. I would say that drinking is a pretty big component of the social frats, but completely not mandatory to have a social life at AU. I know some sororities/ fraternities have been kicked off campus for hazing in the past; AU is pretty strict about it.</p>

62

<p>Katzen is a wonderful modern building. Theatre kids often hang out together. I’ve heard from different people that there was favoritism in the aria concert (if you sing). </p>

<p>You should be aware that the theatre department is tiny. </p>

<p>Look at the course offerings for theatre: [American</a> University - Schedule of Classes](<a href=“http://www.american.edu/american/registrar/schedule_proc.cfm?term=2009SY&subj=PERF&class=Browse+Subject&search=&mode=title&stat=ALL&hr=&mn=&ampm=AM]American”>http://www.american.edu/american/registrar/schedule_proc.cfm?term=2009SY&subj=PERF&class=Browse+Subject&search=&mode=title&stat=ALL&hr=&mn=&ampm=AM)</p>

<p>Compare this to the school of international services (SIS)'s course offerings:
[American</a> University - Schedule of Classes](<a href=“http://www.american.edu/american/registrar/schedule_proc.cfm?term=2009SY&subj=SIS&class=Browse+Subject&search=&mode=title&stat=ALL&hr=&mn=&ampm=AM]American”>http://www.american.edu/american/registrar/schedule_proc.cfm?term=2009SY&subj=SIS&class=Browse+Subject&search=&mode=title&stat=ALL&hr=&mn=&ampm=AM)</p>

63

<p>Coolmango,
Thanks for all of your great answers about AU. Any chance that you know much about the Film Program at the School of Communications? I am waiting to hear from AU later this month, and am very interested in attending AU! Been accepted to a variety of other film schools in the Northeast, and wanting to find out more information about AU’s program. Have visited the school and spoken briefly to some professors. Any insights that you can give me are appreciated. Thanks!</p>

64

<p>Sorry, I don’t know anything about the Film Program. </p>

<p>Good luck with your college search! I think I heard from AU in the first or second week of March, so you may be hearing news soon.</p>

65

<p>Coolmango,</p>

<p>whats the bathroom/shower configuration in Anderson?</p>

66

<p>Umm… there are sinks/toilets on one side and showers on the other side of a partial wall. There’s a handicapped shower stall and maybe 3 or 4 regular shower stalls. Each floor has a men and women’s bathroom. The location of men’s and women’s bathrooms alternate each floor. I think Anderson might have the nicest (or at least biggest) bathrooms in non upperclassmen housing.</p>

67

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>And I’m thinking about maybe doing ROTC, how is the ROTC thing looked at at AU and do many students do it?</p>

68

<p>What are the levels of merit scholarship given? Do you know what percentage of the class receives them?</p>

69

<p>ROTC doesn’t attract the typical college student, because training happens early in the morning and it isn’t on campus. I often see the ROTC people eating breakfast in TDR together. They are usually more conservative than the average AU student.</p>

70

<p>@mom3. I don’t know about merit scholarship levels. It’s not something I bring up with my friends. AU is getting more competitive each year, so it depends on the current applicant pool. Students in the honors program all receive scholarships and they are in the top 15% of the applicant pool.</p>

71

<p>I really want to go to AU.</p>

<p>My over all average is an 80 with 4 ap classes.
I stuided at Stanford over the summer
i am a volunteer at childrens hosptial
i volunteered to help at a art ehxibt when the dalai lama came to speak
i have an act of 21, but reading compostie if 28.
I had brain surgery so thats why my grades are all messed up and i wrote about it in my admissions essay.
and im french club president
Do i have a chance?</p>

<p>thank you very much!</p>

72

<p>Do you know anything at all about the math program at AU? It’s not really what the school is known for.</p>

73

<p>We all joke that the math department is non existent, and we are (all) humanities majors who must take statistics. Everyone has to take at least finite math, or AP out of it. Check out [American</a> University - Washington DC - RateMyProfessors.com](<a href=“http://ratemyprofessors.com/SelectTeacher.jsp?the_dept=Mathematics&orderby=TLName&letter=A&sid=32]American”>http://ratemyprofessors.com/SelectTeacher.jsp?the_dept=Mathematics&orderby=TLName&letter=A&sid=32) for ratings of the math department instructors.</p>

74

<p>what about the housing? is it true that they pile-up students? like a double room for 3 ??</p>

75

<p>Hi, I’ve just been accepted and I have some questions about AU.</p>

<p>-What is the area where the campus is like? I’ve been to DC, but I didn’t have a chance to see AU. Is it safe to walk around? Is it more suburban than city? How far is it from downtown DC?
-What is the campus like? It it spread out, or more contained? Is it like a ‘typical’ campus with a grassy quad or more modern looking?
-I’m from Maine, which is pretty cold, what is the weather like in DC? Does it snow?
-How are the dorms? Are they big? If there is a triple, are the rooms bigger?
-WHat is the social life like? What do people do on weekends? If I’m someone who is not into partying/drinking, will I be able to find things to do other than partying?
-On collegeborad it says that AU is Methodist college. How does this affect academics?
-Is the male/female ration really out of proportion? Do people notice this, or does it not make much difference?
-Does the college do a good job placing you in internships, or do you need to do a lot on your own?
-How is the sense of community? I don’t really mind if sports aren’t popular, but do people feel like a community? Are people friendly? Is it easy to make friends or is it cliquey? Does greek life affect the social scene?</p>

<p>Wow, that’s a lot of questions. Thanks so much! I love DC and I got good financial aid here, so I’d appreciate any input!</p>

76

<p>Housing for underclassmen is typical college dorms… cinderblock walls, wireless internet, a floor lounge with a kitchen and tv. Tripled freshmen will most likely be in forced triples, which are triples in rooms designed for 2. The biggest problem I had was that there were only 2 closets. You would be surprised how well it can work out. It’s not “that” bad being in a triple. </p>

<p>The reason why there were so many freshmen triples was that there were more freshmen than AU was counting on. If AU can predict the numbers of matriculating students better this year, the numbers of freshmen triples should decrease.</p>

<p>The sooner you submit your deposit to AU, the less likely you are to be in a forced triple.</p>

77

<p>@ Apple</p>

<p>1) The area around campus is like suburb, but more expensive. Around campus is totally safe during the day, but I would recommend walking with at least a buddy at night. AU is maybe 15 minutes away from down town. </p>

<p>2) Yes… AU is in a city and actually has a campus. The campus is large enough to make getting from one end to the other in the ten minutes between classes a challenge. The quad is fairly traditional looking and is especially picturesque in the spring. </p>

<p>3) Compared to Maine, DC is practically tropical. It gets “cold,” but we don’t get a ton of snow. </p>

<p>4) The dorms are typical for a city school. Most dorms are roughly 12 x 15 feet. Forced triples for freshmen are not any bigger. </p>

<p>5) There is a ton of things to do in DC over the weekend. Students may go to a concert, go clubbing, go to a movie, “hang out,” do homework, go to the Smithsonian etc. You don’t have to drink to have fun. You might want to stay out of the Anderson dorm if you don’t want to be surrounded by the “going out” environment. </p>

<p>6) I see signs for the AU Methodists everywhere. They will often have tables giving out chocolate or lemonade. There is a scholarship for children of Methodist clergy. Other than that, it’s not a big influence. </p>

<p>7) Ask a guy: no. As a girl: yes. It depends in the major. </p>

<p>8) AU is helpful with internships in DC, but you are on your own for internships in your hometown. </p>

<p>9) There is a sense of community, but you have to make it. It is hard because students are off campus a lot. People are generally friendly. Greek life is there if you want it, and is there even if you don’t. You don’t need to go Greek to have fun. </p>

<p>You should visit campus. May I suggest visiting when the cherry blossoms are in bloom? You might also find some other useful information in my other posts.</p>

78

<p>Parties!???</p>

79

<p>I’ve never visited the campus and will not have the opportunity prior to actual move-in day, it seems, so I have a few questions about housing and practical issues… I wish more dorm information would be readily accessible to prospective students, the official website resource is really insufficient. </p>

<p>1) How long of a walk is it from Leonard Hall to the SIS building?</p>

<p>2) What sorts of residents might one encounter in a non-honors floor of Hughes?</p>

<p>3) Is Leonard an equally favorable learning environment to Hughes? (Re: noise levels, etc.?)</p>

<p>4) Are there any particular disadvantages to dorming at Leonard? Any at Hughes? (Very broad and quite unimaginative on my part, but I’d appreciate any input).</p>

<p>5) Are there any major facility differences amongst the dorms? Do room sizes vary, and if so, which dorm rooms are the most spacious? Which is the newest dorm building?</p>

<p>Also, does anyone know when they send out the additional information for the University College Program (it was mentioned in my admissions letter)?</p>

80

<p>My S is a junior and AU seems like a good match for him as far as stats go, but more importantly for interests ( polisci/IR/journalism)…but wondering about the international students? or general diversity? Thanks.</p>