<p>I read a previous post where a girl answered questions about AU. I disagree with most of her assesments. If you want real answers ask me.</p>
<p>Can you tell us about the different dorms- personality, etc.? I'm not sure how unbiased her reviews were. </p>
<p>Also, how long have you been at AU?</p>
<p>Is there any real advantage in getting into the Honors program?? Also i'm VERY middle class, and if i get accepted, i'm kinda worried about money... does AU tend to gouge students for their money? Also how long have u been at AU and what are you studying?</p>
<p>I can answer these questions.</p>
<p>I am a second semester freshman majoring in IR and philosophy.</p>
<p>LaLara- Different dorms do have defining characteristics. As you may already know from spending your time on this forum, the Southside dorms are more social and Northside dorms are quieter. At times each side accuses the other for being hectic or anti-social, but these claims are exaggerated. Southside dorms include Letts, Anderson, and Centennial. Anderson is a bit chaotic because its entrance also serves as the entrance for Centennial, which is located behind Anderson. The atmosphere of Letts is slightly calmer than Anderson, but really there isn't that much difference because all southside dorms are connected. Between Letts and Anderson, there is a space called LA quad where people can hang out. Southside dorms are more party-friendly.
On the other hand, northside dorms are all separated (they are architechturally connected, but not like the southside. People don't go to other dorms that often). It is very quiet around the northside dorms and there are certainly less disruptive incidents happening here (like false fire alarms). Leonard Hall is the intercultural hall and there is a good number of international students living here. McDowell hosts many university college students and student athletes (there's a common accusation that this dorm smells like cat urine, although it seems unfounded). Hughes has two honors floors (Letts and Anderson each has one), and thus is considered a nerd hall, although I beg the differ, cuz I live here :).</p>
<p>Yes, some people do find the northside socially disabled and the others find the southside hellishly chaotic. In that case they would move to the other side after a semester and be happy again. If you want to know about certain halls more in depth, just let me know which dorm you are interested in.</p>
<p>B407 - Honors program gets you $$$, usually $25k a year. That really cuts the cost of this school significantly. Also, there are honors classes which only honors students are allowed to take. In such classes you have less chance of running into "that really dumb kid" who ruins the class with his rude/ignorant comments :) (but it is still very possible). Also honors students get some priority in registering for classes and once in a while the program gives out reduced/free tickets to cool events (pro sports and concerts) in the area for honors kids.
AU at times seem quite intent on squeezing money out of students. Expect to pay for over-priced food, housing, and anything from campus stores. I think a part of it has to do with DC being expensive, but certainly AU contributes to it. Also watch out for some freshman programs like FSE and Discover DC. I ended up paying $130 to AU for letting me re-paint a thousand benches under the blazing sun. It was rather an underwhelming experience :). </p>
<p>If you have more questions, I will be delighted to answer some more.</p>
<p>How is the Social Life at AU ?
I've heard that it's great, and that it is horrible. DC is a cool city but what is there to do around campus etc ?
Cheers</p>
<p>In regards to the dorm situation North side is more quiet, but you just have to go across campus on Friday and Saturday nights. Thats only a >5 minute walk. So dorm life isn't a big deal.</p>
<p>I highly suggest everyone join the Honors Program if it is possible. The problem with AU is there are many smart kids who go here because of the high amount of Aid, and there are also really dumb kids who go here because they can pay. I have alumni parents and aid so it was a no-brainer to go here. Unfortunately, I made a 4.0 without much effort.</p>
<p>The social life is what you make of it. There is a pretty good greek life, but compared to the south (where I'm from), its a joke. You have to go all over the city to the frat houses, then the parties are usually half-assed parties that are too similar to high-school parties. The worst part is one usually has to call and pay a cab to come take them back to school. DC is the best opportunity to have fun on weekends.</p>
<p>I am a second semester freshman at AU, but I have a large amount of alumni in my family. In regards to money gouging, AU is the worst school in this regard. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that one has to pay alot more than the basic tuition. AU is very cheap and treats prespective students alot better than the ones who attend. Be prepared to pay for things that most assume would be free.</p>
<p>Groenveld,</p>
<p>Social Life at AU is really what you make it out to be. If you are not willing to look for some fun, nobody will mandate you to have fun. Some people absolutely cannot resist going out every night and some people just can't bring themselves to have any sort of productive social life. If you want it, it's right there. So take it. If you don't want it, don't take it. Either way it's all cool.</p>
<p>On that note, I'll give you some illustrations on social life around campus. The most accessible "fun" area for AU would be Tenleytown, where the metro station for AU is located. There are restaurants, hookah bars, some shopping places (a lot more if you walk half a mile to Friendship Heights) and Safeway groceries in which many lives on AU students depend on. If you feel like going into the city, the option is wide open. For good food, you can definitely go to Adams Morgan. This area of DC features a large variety of ethnic food (Middle Eastern, West African, Indian...etc). If you feel like clubbing, Dupont Circle and U street have many nightlife options. For shopping, you can go to Georgetown, Pentagon City, Friendship Heights and many other places. Most of these places are metro-accessible (except Georgetown), which make it very convenient to go out.
On weekends, some fraternities throw parties at their frat houses. I will omit details because I know there are many parents in this forum :). But yeah, what you are thinking now is basically what happens.
If you are a bleeding heart liberal, you can use protest as an excuse to hang out with your friends (anti-war, Darfur, immigration reform, gay rights...you can protest just about anything). People have great times at protests/political rallies.</p>
<p>Any more questions? Just ask :).</p>
<p>:/ You mention that AU sucks money out of their students.
How bad is it? </p>
<p>I didn't get invited to the Honors - and I'm actually really scared that I might not be able to afford going to school there, seeing how AU does not give a considerable amount on need-based students. </p>
<p>How great is their financial aid packages? :/</p>
<p>What is University College? Gimmick or worthwhile?</p>
<p>Ok, since the honors kids are the ones with the biggest aid packages... My SAT scores are HIHGLY unlikely to get me into the honors program. My family can only affordd to pay $10 000 a year, should i still even consider American?</p>
<p>lkgxangie,</p>
<p>American has expensive housing and dining. Also campus stores sell over-priced items. The worst is when AU recommends its students to participate in some lame programs and charge them big bucks. This is especially true for incoming freshmen who don't know much better and are just super excited for college life (meaning completely vulnerable). What better target for AU? But as long as you watch out for these, you will be fine. They aren't going to force you to spit out dollar bills.</p>
<p>American financial aid packages are not known to be very competetive for non-honors students. You are right in that it does not give out many need-based grants. But I would not give up hope entirely, as there are cases in which AU actually met the need with grants and scholarships. Presidential scholarship (25k) is mostly, if not all, for honors students, but I believe non-honors students still receive some Dean's scholarship (18k) which is a lot better than nothing.</p>
<p>youarenumber6,</p>
<p>University College is a program at AU which promotes small community oriented learning. Once enrolled into the program, you will have in your classes generally the same students who live with you and take other classes with you. Besides that I have not much more information, so refer to <a href="http://admissions.american.edu/public/contentPage/contentPage.asp?navID=131&parId=4384&docID=4285%5B/url%5D">http://admissions.american.edu/public/contentPage/contentPage.asp?navID=131&parId=4384&docID=4285</a> if you want to know more.
I don't think people care much for UC. Indifference seems to prevail regarding this program. Separate application is required to enroll in UC, but I don't really know what is needed to be in it.</p>
<p>B407,</p>
<p>I don't really know in depth what happens in Financial Aid Office, but based on other people's experience, I can tell you to cross your fingers. Hope for Dean's scholarship, some small grants, and subsidized loans.</p>
<p>to those who are sincere in their interest in AU, PLEASE DISREGARD THE RANTINGS OF md6488a!</p>
<p>swmass~ thanks for giving prospective students some good info/advice! 'bout time!</p>
<p>What kind of philosophy program does American have? I really would like to attend American and major in philosophy and international relations. Do the have an international politics major, because I am mainly interested in that. Also, is it a lot of work majoring in both of those subjects and how many languages can I take?</p>
<p>You can disagree with me, Collegemom, but i'm assuming you are a mom who does not attend AU. There are different types of people at AU with different view points. High School students should have an opportunity to see the good and bad of each school. AU has some terrific attributes about it. AU has some excellent professors, location, and speakers. Unfortunately, like most universities, there are some negative attributes. I hope kids learn about the negatives of this school before it is too late. There are many kids at AU who love the university. Great. There are many who dislike it, as well. I can count dozens of kids who hate AU but have little options because of the sizeable aid package they receive. Aid is another great attribute of AU. AU is a good school that can give students a good education. It is not a great school, and it wont be any time soon. DC is the best quality of AU and one that should be completely taken advantage of. </p>
<p>Kids, AU can be a great school if you are an AU type of kid. I am not particularly happy here because of the lack of academic rigor, the lack of adequate weekend social life (besides DC), and the terrible administration. Many kids like AU, but just as many do not. Don't yell at me because I expect more out of a university. Some kids enjoy it, some kids don't. I would think twice before attending.</p>
<p>The philosophy department is good, from what i hear. Not great, not bad. good. The IR program is what AU is famous for (along with SPA). You'll get alot better education in IR because there is a specific school for IR, which many colleges do not have. Like most schools, alot of your education and experience depends on the teachers you have. Rarely, if ever, is a class taught by TA's. There are many poor teachers at AU, but there are also very very good teachers. Its really luck of the draw, and the situation of your schedule. Research should be done about professors, before choosing classes.</p>
<p>OK. Here is my last post before I go to bed.</p>
<p>Ilovesoftball,</p>
<p>The philosophy department at AU is small. It is a part of the College of Arts and Science (CAS) which is not one of the AU's strengths. I am majoring it because I enjoy the discipline, not because the program is exceptionally great. In fact, the program is so small that it is not even a department of its own, but "the Department of Philosophy and Religion". But that also means that the department is a lot more accessible and personal. I believe that because of the nature of philosophy where you study it does not really matter much. It does not require massive, cutting-edge facilities like stellar science programs or wide alumni connections like prestigious business programs. What you are learning is what some dead white guys said many years ago and there's only so much you can do with it because everyone else at other universities is learning from the same text as you.</p>
<p>With that said, you are making a good decision in majoring in IR. The School of International Service (SIS) is AU's flagship program and is nationally and internationally recognized for its involvement in major IR researchs. This program is ranked in the top 10 in most US surveys (it is also the biggest school of its kind in America and second biggest in the world). However, there is not a formal major called International Politics. The only two bachelor's degrees SIS gives out are International Studies and Language and Area Studies. However, an International Studies degree must have functional and regional concentrations. For example, instead of a degree in International Politics, you can get a degree in International Studies with a focus on the politics of the Middle East (other options are possible as well).</p>
<p>Majoring in both disciplines is not hard at all. The requirement for a BA in philosophy is 30 credit hours of any philosophy classes (with the maximum of 9 credit hours of religion). The good news is that about half of those hours can also go toward your International Studies degree. For example, you can take two Western philosophy classes and two Eastern philosophy classes (namely Eastern religion courses). Then you already have 12 credits for the BA in philosophy and 4 classes which fulfill SIS requirements (in this case, Western thoughts and Asian concentration). Depending on which philosophy courses you take, you can easily make those courses go toward your SIS requirements.</p>
<p>As for languages, it all depends on your advanced credit status and whether or not you are continuing with a language you know or starting fresh with a new one. Most people stick with only one because International Studies major requires many credit hours besides language (because of its multi-disciplinary nature). But I do know a friend of mine who came in with whopping 60 advanced credit hours (it was uncapped because these were college credits, not AP--AP credits are capped at 30 hours) and is studying three languages. If you can afford to learn more than one, you are welcome to do so. But if you have less than 20 hours of advanced credit hours and plan to start fresh with completely new foreign languages, I dare say give up learning more than one. In my case, after taking my Advanced Spanish class last semester, I was done with my language requirement. Therefore, in my case, I could easily take courses in another language if I wanted to. However, if you plan on learning Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or other languages with which you have no prior experience, you are much less likely to have a chance to learn another language.</p>
<p>I hope I have answered your question well enough. If you have more questions, please don't hesitate to ask :).</p>
<p>I hear that the General Classes aren't that hard, does that mean that when you really get into your major that those classes are also not very rigorous ? Would a double major be easier here than at most schools ?</p>
<p>A double major here would be much easier compared to what i hear from friends at other schools (Wake Forest and UNC). General Classes are very easy, but as you concentrate the classes do get harder. Not to say that they get hard, just harder. I would highly recommend double majoring if you can, because you might as well get as many different majors from so easy a curriculum.</p>