I am currently a senior in high school. My SAT score is 1970 and my weighted GPA on a 6 point scale is a 4.67. I have a wide variety of excellent extracurriculars geared towards my field of interest that reflect leadership and service. I am reasonably confident in my ability to get into both GW and AU, but I cannot decide between them. I want to study International Affairs (French minor) with a concentration in either politics and security or emergency management and global development. I have toured both schools and liked both. I do not like the urban atmosphere (GW) but I do not like small schools (AU). Studying abroad and internships/opportunities are my top two priorities. I know that GW is considerably more prestigious than AU in terms of ranking, research, and quality of education. Which of the two schools is better in terms of campus, social atmosphere, prestige, career-oriented opportunities, and study abroad?
I think you may be overstating the relative prestige of the two schools. American sits just 15 slots lower than GW on the USNWR survey (72 vs. 57), not really a huge difference, and its admit rate is almost the same as GW’s. Let’s face it–the prestige game in DC belongs to Georgetown.
I can’t speak to the academic comparison in your chosen fields, but having had offspring at both AU and GW, I’ll say that while AU’s student body is indeed smaller, it’s hardly a small school, and the fact that its buildings and people are concentrated in an actual campus (unlike GW’s integration into the city and separate Mount Vernon site) means you feel like you’re functioning among a larger cohort–you’re among a pack of students and faculty all the time… I think the students at GW are more sophisticated and urban in style, as one would expect from those who select a city location, and while students at both schools take advantage of DC for social purposes, GW students are geared more toward the city’s offerings and less toward campus activities than those at AU, simply by virtue of location. Both schools have excellent internship opportunities. I wouldn’t even take study abroad into account as a factor; you can find a multitude of study abroad opportunities at every major university these days.
I think you should apply to both and, if admitted to both, see how financial aid shakes out (if relevant) and how you feel after experiencing admitted student days.
^ Concur with this assessment.
In terms of campus and social atmosphere, you will probably need to visit the campus (when it is in session) yourself to get an idea of how each resonates with you.
My S was admitted to both, and we visited both.
Thought GW best of both worlds, classes in DC proper, but you can live in their other campus which looks like a traditional quiet setting, if you prefer.
I did not get the sense that American is on the level of GW, at least that was my impression, rankings are only so important.