<p>Curt91: I have only heard good things about Public Health. I would absolutely do it. By the end of the semester I was somewhat done with the lab day because I had an internship, but it’s a great experience. </p>
<p>Demom2: Flangan teaches his UC class and senior honors cases the exact same way. By week 3 if school students are generally expected to be reading upwards of 200 pages of Ancient Greek philosophy every week. From my knowledge, I would say close to half his UC students got a C or below this year. I still have no idea why they have him as a UC teacher. He’s an amazing guy and an incredibly smart and awesome teacher for junior and senior year, but his class is very intense for most first semester freshman.</p>
<p>casey, thanks for the time. This is really helpful. Do you know any pre-med or other science majors (not public health)? Wondering about the pros and cons of getting such a degree at a place that’s better known for other things.</p>
<p>Kyle: I am not a student (I’m an AU parent), so I have nothing like a complete list. Off the top of my head, I can remember David Gregory (moderator of Meet the Press, who’s an SIS alum) and Rachel Maddow (in conjunction with the release of her book in paperback).</p>
<p>spparent13: I would think about it depending on cost. If you know you want to go to med school, it probably isn’t worth going into debt at AU. I do know a few pre-med majors but most of them want to do med policy or bioterrorism related work (things that combine med with the more “well known” AU programs). Ungrad doesn’t really matter if you’re going to med school though so if you can pay for it and like the campus, why not!</p>
<p>kyleander2: Tons and tons. Off the top of my head I’ve gotten to see and/or speak with Tim Pawlenty, Bill Richardson, Jack Abramoff, Terry McAuliffe, Tammy Duckworth, Rachel Maddow, Sandra Fluke, Frank Abignail, and Nancy Keenan. Those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head but there are more many more. Plus Clinton came last year and Obama is on campus every once in awhile. BTW: I’m a poli sci major and a Democrat so the speakers I go to are slanted in those directions. There are speakers from all subjects and both sides of the aisle all the time though. </p>
<p>pushydad/Sikorsky: While AU doesn’t give “internship credit” as a freshmen, I would say probably 20-30% of freshman have an internship or career oriented job. Just another reason I say not to do a full year UC course.</p>
<p>@casenyc
“The University College extends into the Spring only for those students participating in the full-year program. In that case, those students will not take a course together, but they will have the opportunity to conduct a guided research project on a subject of interest.”</p>
<p>It seems as though the second semster portion is optional because the course is over.While the research experience seems beneficial, would one be able to drop out of it in order to take an internship, or even both?</p>
<p>What’s the Jewish life like? I can’t seem to find any active Hillel or Chabad groups online, and I’ve heard that there isn’t really a Hillel; there are a few offices in the spiritual center.</p>
<p>Is the Jewish life at AU a strong presence? Are they active?</p>
<p>Fabulous, lots of Jews (really, lots), and there’s both an active Hillel and a Jewish Students Association (the former being geared more toward religious programming, and the latter more toward social programming).</p>
<p>Hillel ([American</a> University Hillel - HOME](<a href=“http://www.auhillel.org/]American”>http://www.auhillel.org/)) has weekly services on Friday night (Reform or Conservative) followed by Shabbos dinner. (My wife and I did that with our daughter during Family Weekend last fall). Hillel also offers community-service opportunities, programming for holidays, and Conservative or Reform services for the High Holidays. There’s a Chabad rabbi who’s attached to Hillel as a rabbinic advisor; I assume he handles programming for Orthodox members of the AU community.</p>
<p>There isn’t a dedicated Hillel building. All the campus ministries share space in the Kay Spiritual Life Center. But there’s most definitely a Hillel.</p>
<p>My daughter leans Hillel and not JSA, so I know less about that organization.</p>
<p>caseyc: Thanks for correction RE: freshmen & internships, and for expanding the list of speakers. (I remember reading about many of them, now that you’ve named them, and thinking, “I would so go to that if I were a student there.”)</p>
<p>@Sikorsky: Thanks for the info! I’m a more of a Hillel/Chabad girl as well. How does your daughter like Hillel? Is she satisfied with the activities, programming, presence on campus, etc.?</p>
<p>I know that the UMCP and GWU Hillels are very strong and active. In fact, a friend told me that her brother, an AU graduate, was part of some organized group between Georgetown, GWU, and AU for Jewish students. Sort of like an inter-school Hillel of sorts. Does anyone know about it? My friend could not recall the name of the group/organization.</p>
<p>Fabulous, my daughter’s been happy with Hillel. She goes to services most weeks, I think. I am hesitant to share too much of her story on the internet without her permission–OK, confession: I do that all the time, but this time I’m thinking ahead for a change–but once you get your post count up to 15, you can PM me for more info. on AU’s Hillel.</p>
<p>I have liked AU Hillel on Facebook, so I see several events publicized weekly: challah baking, making food for a soup kitchen, etc. Those are on top of weekly Shabbat services, described above, and less-than-weekly events such as their recently completed spring break service trip to Bulgaria, *sufganiyot *and lighting the Chanukiah during Chanukah, a Birthright trip over winter break, and such.</p>
<p>Demom2: I would shy away from the year long courses (unless it’s something you’re really interested in) and of course not Indy Freedom (unless you’re ready for some serious work)</p>
<p>Fabulous326: Hillel, JSA, J Street, AIPAC are all very big on campus. Definitely there if you want it, but if not you don’t need to be involved at all. Sounds like you’re interested in it though.</p>
<p>historyworm95: TDR (the main dinning hall) is awesome. Lots of food, lots of options. PETA rated it one of the most vegan friendly dinning in the country which, even if aren’t a vegan, speaks to the quality of the food. Some people get bored with it and complain but it’s only when people go every day. There are tons of other dinning options though so as long as you don’t go to TDR everyday it’s great. A huge plus for me going to AU is that we have food open from 7 or 8am until 2am. Plus with the 24 hour library is great because there’s always food and places to hangout or study.</p>
<p>@Sikorsky: I completely understand. I’m the same way too.</p>
<p>I visited the campus again today, and I have to say that timing (of the day) certainly makes a difference! The quad was bustling with energy; people having study groups, playing frisbee, working independently, etc. It was really nice.</p>
<p>The only things that I’m a bit uneasy about are the dorms and the Jewish life/dining. I’ve only been able to see centennial, and its not really my cup of tea. I’ll be a sophomore next year; are there newer dorms available for sophomore students? Or maybe a reg/ dorm with individual bathrooms? Just curious as I was not able to see the other residence buildings.</p>
<p>I also noticed that there is no formal kosher dining. There are boxed lunches and Shabbat/Holiday meals, but there is only so many boxed lunches one can eat. @Sikorsky, are you familiar with any alternative kosher options on the Glatt Kosher side? I spoke to some JSA/Hillel kids, all of whom were wonderful, and they mentioned that many eat vegetarian or vegan, and the very few Mod. Orthodox that do keep kosher tend to live off-campus or just make do with boxed lunches.</p>
<p>caseyc: Thanks! I’ve heard that the Chabad is still in its early stages, but are you aware of any campus activities they might do? Or is it more of a private (for lack of a better term) thing?</p>
<p>Ah…perhaps you’re more frum than I realized, Fabulous?</p>
<p>AU is an easy place to be Jewish-but-not-Orthodox. It’s easy, for example, to eat at AU if you’re just trying to avoid cheeseburgers, pork chops and scallops, or willing to eat vegetarian in the dining hall. If you want hashgacha, or you want to pray with a mechitza, then I have a lot less insight into life at AU, but I think you might find it challenging. As far as I know, there is little if anything on the Jewish spectrum between Conservative and Lubavitch; that is, no real Modern Orthodox representation, either at Hillel or, as far as I can tell, at AU in general.</p>