There is a closed group on Facebook for parents of AU students, American University Parent to Parent Connection. It is a great source of really helpful information from other parents.
I concur that there are helpful nuggets, but if you are the worrying type, beware a little. The page is full of helicopters and neurotics. But a lot of normal folks, too. And sometimes the helicopters and squeaky wheels are the people who know things, of course. I find the page upsetting and negative much of the time, and I believe these people would ■■■■■ and moan about any school. Our kids have been happy at AU.
Yes, indeed, there are a number of very defensive helicopters in that group, but the annoyance I’ve had from them has been outweighed by the good information I’ve gotten there from the others. My kid was very happy at AU, too, and lived on campus and ate at TDR for 4 years without many complaints at all.