Au Dorms

Colleges and Universities A-Z American University
1

<p>I’m currently finishing my sophomore year at American University - and I love it. I love AU and its community. However, I have lived in the dorms for 2 years and it has been a miserable experience. Dorms are great for freshmen, to get to know some new people. However, they are inconvenient living spaces, especially as students progress in their years at American. I just wanted to warn potential students - do not miss out on AU, it’s my dream school, but be wary of living in the dorms. The actual dorms are clean, big and better than most other college dorms I have seen. However - NOTHING WORKS and the staff are very rude. The Housing & Dining staff at AU are incompetent. I have had many complaints, but just some are washing machines not working, lights not working, vending machines never work, inconvenient package pick-up hours, incompetent RAs, furniture is often broken, water filter on sink constantly broken, shower curtains torn and falling off, curtain track broken (I cannot shut my curtains all the way), rude cleaning staff. These problems are all easily solvable, but because the Housing & Dining staff is so unintelligent, not capable and lazy, it takes too long for these problems to be resolved.</p>

<p>Please, do not late me scare you off from AU. I cannot imagine going to any other school - the education is perfect, the professors are amazing the opportunities of living in DC are innumerable. However, next fall I will be living off-campus in an apartment (which costs the same as living at AU), and I will be much happier.</p>

2

<p>thanks, true AU~ you wrote a wonderful post! you separated out AU from their dorm situation. best of luck on your living environment, and continued best in your studies at AU... a very special place, indeed! :)</p>

3

<p>I agree, although my situation in the dorms hasn't been quite as bad. Housing and dining is easily manipulated if you threaten litigation or bad press. We had cable issues early in the year and after writing two emails, I decided to write a nasty email and that one seemed to work instantaneously. Our bathrooms are not so bad, but the common areas and the kitchen need improvement(sometimes I wonder why we pay the cleaning lady???). Also recognize the dorms don't have sinks in the room which is disappointing. I think our school needs to improve in more important categories before they worry about the dorms. Again, its dorm life, what do you expect?</p>

4

<p>TrueAU - I agree. Dorm life at AU and probably most colleges is not a great experience and that is why after freshman year, we go for the apartments. I agree that one's decision on a school should not be based on the dorms. AU is a great college and just like any other school, improvements can be made. Have fun in apartment life!</p>