<p>I don't know what to say. If your parents have an issue w/ money i'd try my best to find and apply to as many scholarships as possible... every little bit helps... if you can make enough $$ that way maybe your parents will let you go... my best friend applied ED and got accepted to Bowdoin Her older brother is at Vassar, her parents really don't have that much money... anyway she got NO $$ from Bowdoin... and she has to work all summer... make at least 2,000 in order to pay for college.</p>
<p>If AU is really the place you want to be... perhaps thats an option... or maybe loans if your desperate. I mean even if you graduate with debt... at least you know its well worth it if you had an AMAZING under grad experience at your favorite school.</p>
<p>What I really wanted to ask but forgot at the time, is how much money can American give? I've heard they are pretty good with helping out. Is it typical to get good amounts of money? I know I can apply for scholarships here, but they aren't very much, just a couple hundred dollars each. I can also get state money at American. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I figured it out to be about $40,000 a year total at American. My parents are giving me the impression that they only want to pay about $25,000.</p>
<p>Hi there. I'm a 2005 AU alum from Pennsylvania. You'll really just have to apply and wait to see what AU gives you in a financial aid package but from my experience they generally give whatever the FAFSA determines your family's need to be. IE...if the FAFSA determines your family can only contribute 25,000 to your education each year they will make up the difference. But if the FAFSA determines your family can pay the full tuition and board they probably won't give you any financial aid. AU does have scholarship options though you can look into as well.</p>
<p>Alyssa I'm sorry I'm sure your a nice girl but I went to AU...just graduated. And your descriptions are sooooo off sometimes!!! Hughes is the HONORS dorm...seriously I got placed there second semester freshman year because they overenrolled our class and we were all in triples and had to de-triple. Almost EVERYONE there is in the honors program and NOONE parties. Seriously. I lived in McDowell first semester frosh year and soph year. All my best friends are from there and I agree. If you want to party but like your sleep and study time too it's a good place to live.</p>
<p>The 2005 issue of the "Insider's Guilde to the Colleges" states the following:
"Finally at nearly 3:1 girl-to-guy ratiio (coupled with a large homosexual male population) it is not surprising that girls lament the lack of male targets on campus"
That's the first time I've ever heard this about AU. Any truth?
Why would the gay population be any higher there?</p>
<p>I myself haven't quite figured out if there are more gay students here than other schools, or they are just more comfortable showing their sexuality here than they would elsewhere. However, the 3:1 gender ratio is very wrong, I believe this year it was roughly 60% women, and 40% men. To tell you the truth I haven't really noticed the difference...</p>
<p>I am not sure if you know who your roommates are, but you will have three others. Your two rooms are connected by a bathroom, are larger than any other rooms on campus (however with less storage space). It is sort of the best of both North and South sides from what I know, quieter than Letts and Anderson, but right in the middle of everything...</p>
<p>I already know a lot of people on the floor, it's going to be a great place to be next year, the third floor usually is...</p>
<p>you also have to be aware of the area of DC. I'm sure that schools like GW and GMU have a large "gay" population... but thats because there are very open minded and large gay populations in DC. Compare the gay population with a school that is less tolerable to diversity... then it would seem that AU has a large gay population. </p>
<p>At AU 2 of my best guy friends are gay... and one of them joined a frat! (with out any problems...)</p>
<p>I haven't has issues finding relationships on campus though.. even if there there are more girls then guys on campus... but if you look at the national average.. more girls are g oing to college... but anyway... if you do have issues with the male population at AU.. there are SEVEN ( i believe) other schools in the areas... your sure 2 find a guy in the mist of it...</p>
<p>A friend of mine who goes to AU got half tuition (so she is paying about 25,000 to go 2 AU) What your parents do have to realize is that college is expensive. Books cost a lot, rooms, food, etc.. and if your parents really don't want to spend that much money... then hope that AU gives you money.. or maybe look at state schools... or other people's states schools... U del or like SUNY bing are great schools.. and although you don't get the same benifits as if applying from that state... it still isn't as expensive as AU.</p>
<p>Good luck!!!</p>
<p>-alyssa</p>
<p>P.S. begging (your parents meaning) might just do the trick ;-) thats what i sort of did when I told them that i wasn't going to go to SUNY bing... (which is thousands less per year) and that instead I was going to go 2 AU....a 40,000 per year school....</p>
<p>In light of recent events here on the American University thread and with my busy and hectic schedule in the real world that I think its time for me to take a break from College Confidential.</p>
<p>My purpose of posting here in what little time I have was to give new freshman, pre-freshmen, prospective students, and high schools students an out lit to talk about questions and concerns that have about American University and the DC area. </p>
<p>But now there are a few people here and there who have popped up and can answer all the questions that anyone has. </p>
<p>I believe I have a hard shell and for awhile I have ignored many of the comments and hurtful things said against me. But enough is enough and Im done posting here for awhile.</p>
<p>Of course if anyone has any direct questions please feel free to PM me and I will be happy to answer any of your questions. But for the time being Im done answering questions on my thread and any other thread on the American University thread board. </p>
<p>If I dont speak 2 u 2 every freshman/ transfer student . Enjoy AU and all it has to offer to pre-college students good luck with high school and with your college applications its hard and long but in the end its worth it.</p>
<p>I'm an intel planning to apply RD to AU for fall 2007. I was just wondering if AU actually offers aid for intel and does it meet full need?How many ppl have actually gotten aid from AU?</p>
<p>I was curious about how hard it is to transfer to American from a smaller school after two years. My preferred major at American would be International Relations, however, the small school I have in mind doesn't have IR, so I would be Political Science there. Would this affect transfering?</p>
<p>I am a bit confused of your situation. Are you applying to a two year college and then wanting to transfer to American? Or are you already in another small school and wanting to transfer?</p>
<p>If it is the first one, I can't tell you exactly what the stats are for transfers, you can probably find that online. However whatever you do, look at the SIS major requirements so you won't be behind if you are still seriously considering American after two years. I would also call and ask to speak with someone in SIS (academic counseling office?). They will probably be able to give you a more concrete answer, and possibly some information on transfer credits, etc.</p>
<p>No, my situation was if the price was too much and I couldn't get enough money from America if I split time with two years at a cheaper school...but whatever.</p>
<p>Also, got SAT scores today. 1230/1600 and 1930/2400. Does American use the writing section? If not, should I retake my 1230?</p>
<p>Sorry...I didn't have to take the new SATS. I believe the incoming freshman class has an average of 1270, the stats are in the 2010 thread. I can't imagine admissions ignoring the writing portion but again, I don't really know too much about the new SATS. I would imagine that since AU is a strong Social Science school they will pay much more attention to the verbal scores than the math...</p>
<p>I would plan on taking them one more time. Also, if you really want to go to American U, there is no harm in applying and crossing your fingers for financial aid (they gave me a generous amount), and having a plan B on the side...</p>
<p>hey....
i'm sort of in the same situation as GinPA.
I'm looking into AU for Internaional relation and maybe dual in business.
I'm going to visit AU on July 3rd...(touring and info session).
But, the price is a major issue....
I have a strong school record but weak (ACT)score....
is AU more on school records or scores?
and how will it play in getting scholarships?</p>
<p>It is questions like this that can only warrant "half answers" from us current students, especially ones who are not and have not been in the same situation. None of us sat down with the admissions board and discussed what the most important aspect of the application process was, nor would they have discolsed that information. I can't give you a "full answer" because to do so would be making up a bunch of bull, and that doesn't help anyone. </p>
<p>The best advice anyone can give to answer the question is to go buy an up-to-date college guide and compare score average to see if it may truly be a problem. Like most schools, not everyone with fabulous scores got accepted, and fewer people with lower than average scores were accepted. In other words, American isn't going to ignore low scores, but it will also not ignore your strong academic record.</p>
<p>As cliche as it sounds, every application is looked at differently. Unless you are at the low end or off the chart of the "average" SAT and ACT scores of the incoming freshman class, I wouldn't conecntrate on it. If you firmly believe you can't do any better than use your efforts elsewhere. </p>
<p>As for merit scholarships, those friends I have who received them were in the upper ranges for scores and average high school GPAs. However, if money is truly an issue, American provides decent and reliable finanical aid. I would also consider a work study, and apply for other scholarships.</p>