Experienced AU Grad Open for Questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z American University
1

<p>I graduated from AU in 1995, so I have 12 years of post-AU experience under my belt. I can tell you what AU meant to me, whether/how it has affected me since, things I’d do differently, and things I wouldn’t change.</p>

<p>Basic background: I came to AU in 1991 from suburban Chicago. I intended to study political science, but after taking one economics class I decided to major in both political science and economics. I was an honors student and am a member of AU’s first group of Phi Beta Kappa graduates.</p>

<p>I’ve been in the business world since leaving AU. I earned an MBA from another university and have been employed in the telecommunications and commercial real estate (current career) fields.</p>

<p>Let me know what questions you have.</p>

2

<p>Thanks for volunteering to share your AU experience. I'll take you up on your offer.</p>

<p>My son is very interested in the SOC at AU. In fact, it's really down to him deciding between AU and U of MD, with Temple an outside 3rd option. He wants to major in Journalism.</p>

<p>He's been accepted into the AU Honors Program and has been offered a very big scholarship. He's visited the campus twice, most recently as part of an Overnight Honors Program. He likes the school's close vicinity to downtown DC; its emphasis on internships and travel abroad; and its political awareness. I was quite impressed with the quality of the faculty of the AU SOC program, as well as the Honors Program directors. </p>

<p>On the other hand, Maryland has the better reputation in terms of their Phillip Merrill School of Journalism. While MD is obviously considerably larger, my son has been accepted into the Honors Program there as well, which in some ways reduces the size of the school. He could also get to DC rather easily from MD by traking the Metro. </p>

<p>From a family perspective, his aunt and two uncles went to MD, as did virtually everyone on his uncle's side of the family. My wife (his mother) went to GWU for undergrad, grad and law degree and developed a bias against AU (and G'Town for that matter!) but concedes that AU has developed quite a bit since the 70s. So, in other words, there's a "little" family pressure going on but it's really taking the form of friendly kidding.</p>

<p>From a cost perspective, he's received scholarships from both schools that make the cost about even.</p>

<p>Lastly, my son has been impressed with both schools so far but he's yet to experience an overwhelming "I feel most comfortable here" moment at either place.</p>

<p>Any thoughts, insights or comments you're willing to provide are greatly encouraged and warmly welcomed. Thanks!</p>

3

<p>I can't comment on AU's School of Communication directly; my only experience with it was one class that I took as part of the general education program, plus I had a handful of friends who were SOC students. But I can comment on a few other things.</p>

<p>I liked the size of AU. And I mean "size" in pretty much every conceivable way, from the size of the campus, to the size of the student body to the size of classes. Most of my non-honors program classes at AU had no more than 35 or so students. Class size in the first few years is naturally larger because all the students are taking the same classes. But as students start to specialize in the second half of the sophomore year and beyond, classes naturally get smaller. I can't recall any class in my senior year where I had more than 30 students. I'd be surprised if UMd can offer the same in its non-honors classes.</p>

<p>As you can expect, honors classes are even smaller. As I recall, I never had more than 20 students in an honors class, and I can recall a couple of classes with fewer than 10 students. Plus you get the best professors who are teaching the things they really want to teach.</p>

<p>Here's one other thing about size that I think people don't realize, and I'll use an example to illustrate it. If you join a club, you're in a club of 40 or 50 people, instead of hundreds. That means you get to have a bigger impact, you have a better chance of being in a leadership position, and you have a better chance of being seen and recognized. The same applies to classes, intramural sports, and everything else. With a smaller overall size, each person has more immediate and and tangible opportunity to make a mark, to be recognized, and to make a difference. </p>

<p>If proximity to DC is an issue, AU is the clear winner. Yes, you can take the Metro from College Park, but you can take the Metro from AU, too, and it's a lot shorter ride. Plus cabs and buses. I even rode my 10-speed bike all over northwest Washington when I was there.</p>

<p>Finally, AU has made great strides in the past 15 years or so. When I was there, they accepted around 80% of applicants, and now it's down near 50%. Academically, things have gotten so tough that I'm not sure I'd be accepted into the honors program if I were applying today.</p>

<p>The bottom line is, AU was a great fit for me, and the size was a large part of it. If your son also has a preference for a smaller university, he should give AU a good look.</p>

4

<p>To FJG: my daughter got into both Honors programs also, AU with a big scholarship and UMDCP; remember this - College Park has probably changed greatly since your various family members were there. There are serious safety issues mentioned in numerous threads. As for quality of education, UMDCP is top notch. However I would want my kid at AU any day of the week...plus I hear their School of Communication is quite good. P.S.: my D will be choosing between AU Honors and Hopkins.</p>

5

<p>Caruth -- best of luck with your daughter. My son is visiting U of MD this Friday. At that point, he will have visited every college he's really interested in two to three times. Perhaps by this Sunday, he will have decided. Or one can hope! lol</p>

6

<p>Caruth-- my son decided on attending AU. He was very impressed with the U of MD Phillip Merrill School of Journalism, but overall felt very dispassionate about the school. He and I both felt MD did a very fine job during the Friday Open House event, but he didn't get the feeling the school was particularly interested in him as a person. Conversely, he felt the AU Honors Program staff were quite interested in him and made him feel very welcome. What did your daughter decide?</p>

7

<p>FJG~
i guess i'm coming in a little late on this discussion, as i would have shared our experiences deciding between AU and UMdCP. CONGRATULATIONS ON AU!!! after a little indecision my d. chose AU, hands down!! she's had a wonderful first year there and can't imagine herself anywhere else! we were warned to be careful in College Park....actually, SHE was, by a student rep re. late on the metro there! journalism and DC....they go together! DC is such an awesome place, regardless of field of study, and we found AU to be highly unusual for the following~ city campus that's green and beautiful, small classes , tremendous career counseling center...have your son take full advantage of it! start as soon as he gets there, as they work with you as intensely as you want, right from the beginning, and along the same lines, professors that will actually take time to connect with you.
and good luck to your d., caruth!</p>

8

<p>FJG: Glad to hear your son picked AU...great choice. My daughter is going there tomorrow for the Honors overnight program. She stayed overnight at Hopkins a week ago and had a good time. Hard to know which way she is leaning, but she will need to decide by mid-week. The deadline is looming, and I am ready to send someone a check!! Thanks for your good wishes.</p>