<p>HI there!
I'm a junior and have been doing a lot of research on different colleges I might want to attend. So far American and George Washington are my top picks because of their International Relations program. From what I read it's really about perspective, If you like a real campus or a non existent one, one in downtown or suburban area and so on. I know I would also be in need of Fin. Aid and I know American is better with it then GW.
In short I want to know about your experience at either of these schools and what are BIG DIFFERENCES you notice that I should take into consideration before setting my heart on one. (so far i'm more for GW but I know I have a better chance at getting into American)
Thanks in advance! and please ask me questions if you have one!</p>
<p>American considers “level of applicant’s interest” to be “very important”. I.e. it does not want to be seen as a “safety” behind GWU or Georgetown.</p>
<p>I was admitted into GW, and I had a very high-need for need-based aid. George Washington provided me with the financial resources necessary to attend, and provided a very generous need-based package. If you’re seeking merit-aid, I know George Washington offers various scholarships in different totals. </p>
<p>Just know that the George Washington’s campus and the Elliot School of International Affairs is located in central Washington, just blocks away from the White House and Department of State. I think, in general, George Washington has a superior IR program and a notable Model UN team. </p>
<p>FWIW, my DS transferred out of GW after a year and my DD graduated from American–but neither majored in IR, so I can’t comment on the programs and won’t argue with the general impression folks have that GW’s IR program is better regarded in its field. I can say that the two schools are very different in atmosphere and lifestyle. If you’re the kind of person who can adjust to any environment, it won’t matter. If “fit” is a big issue for you, you won’t be equally happy at both. A visit to each, preferably overnight, will be enlightening.</p>
<p>@mommaj, my D is applying to both, along with several other schools. Would you share why your son transferred out, but only of course if it is helpful for students making decisions, not if it is private, of course. I know everyone is different but haven’t met anyone who actually attends GW so would love to hear some perspectives.
Thanks.</p>
<p>@mylandia, happy to elaborate:</p>
<p>My S belatedly realized he wasn’t really a city mouse and belonged at a school with a traditional campus and greater sense of community. He started out in GW’s huge freshman dorm (name escapes me now) in a four person set-up with three heavy-drinking jocks–totally not his scene. ( I still remember getting a call from him in the wee hours one night. He said was outside walking around the monuments because he felt he had get out of his dorm for a while after someone he didn’t even know puked in his room–oy.) S asked to transfer and was offered and, feeling desperate, accepted, a room in a dorm that was a renovated motel–a nice roommate, but no common areas, no dining hall nearby, a long hike to the classroom buildings. He felt very isolated and found himself eating street food while booking it back and forth to class. He also didn’t care for the conspicuous consumption–fancy clothes and clubbing lifestyle–of the many affluent students, but I think he exaggerated that aspect. </p>
<p>Visiting a high school friend at a nearby suburban LAC, S realized he’d made a big mistake and started preparing transfer applications for LAC’s. (Parents and guidance counselor had told him he was a prime LAC candidate, but he didn’t listen…I honestly think he was influenced to apply to GW EDII because we toured on an unusually delightful July day–unlike the normal humid summer yuck of DC–and had a fabulous tour guide.) </p>
<p>This was very much matter of poor fit. I think non-campus urban schools like NYU, BU and GW require a level of sophistication and maturity that not every student possesses. I recall that at the time S attended GW, the rate of transfers out was higher than average, but I have no idea if that’s still the case. It’s not the classic “college experience”. Kids really need to be sure they have a good sense of the place before enrolling.</p>
<p>One things I can add on the academic side is that at AU class schedules are organized so that most students have a free day on Wednesday to devote to internships, and it seemed when D was there that everyone was interning somewhere. I guess the question is whether GW students beat out AU’ers for the best internships. I have a feeling the decisions are much more individually based than that, and that a well credentialed AU student will have no lack of opportunities.</p>
<p>Best of luck to your son.</p>
<p>@mommaj, that is helpful, thank you. I hope your son is happy now with his school. It is so hard for kids of 17 and 18 to make the right choice in college - they are just figuring out who they are and I think kids change a lot in those 4 years, and are pretty different at 22 than they were four years earlier. I almost am surprised that more kids don’t end up transferring!
I picked my own college based on what I see now were pretty superficial reasons and while I didn’t hate it, I also didn’t love it and have never been back. I actually think it might have been a decent choice for my daughter, who loves city life and wouldn’t be happy at a small isolated college, but couldn’t in good conscious ever recommend it to her, despite the fact that it is a large university with a good solid national reputation, and one most people seem to love. It was more me than the school, I see that now. But I have still managed to be a successful, happy well adjusted and well employed adult so while we all want our kids to enjoy college, especially given the cost, it isn’t the end of the world if they don’t love love love their college.
My daughter is not a drinker or partyer, so she and I are hoping that a school in a city will offer options other than drinking, although all the schools she is applying to seem to have a reputation for being party schools…
Oh well.
Best of luck to all these kids - may they all get great educations and enjoy their four years!</p>
<p>We know freshmen at both schools. The kids, all high school buddies, often get together. All love their DC area. </p>
<p>The difference is very easy to see when you step foot on the campuses. American is quite traditional, but with the urban perks of Metro, trick or treating on Embassy row, and areas to walk lie in the grass. GW is less like the “traditional” undergrad experience and more like living in the middle of a city, but with 18-22 year olds as neighbors.
In my limited experience, I think GW has much more of a party atmosphere. I may just fell this way because the frats are very visible.</p>
<p>Both schools provide the option of hitting a monument daily and getting some interesting internships during the school year.</p>
<p>I don’t know of any kids personally who applied to both. A step on the campuses swayed the kids to the school they felt more comfortable.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say American is necessarily better with financial aid.</p>
<p>Personally I think the “no campus” thing being used as a negative is not much of a complaint, so I’d go GW over AU any day.</p>
<p>(Obv Georgetown’s the best, like, duh)</p>
<p>@CSIHSIS - why would you “go GW over AU any day.” Just curious if this is a personal prefernce, a difference in outside perception, or something else?</p>
<p>Obviously, Georgetown is ranked higher than either AU or GW, but there is also NO opportunity for merit aid. For those of us that are full-pay and contemplating graduate school, that has to be factored in. </p>
<p>For international affairs, of course. GW is more publicly renowned, it has more people working in government, even a better location in DC, and when I was considering all three schools I discovered that I liked its study abroad options much more and its language offerings are WAYYYY more extensive.</p>
<p>@CSIHSIS Thanks for the reply. FWIW, having a campus was very important to my son. He did also apply at Georgetown. We’ll see how things play out. But, if her were fortunate enough to get merit $ at American, the differential could be > $20,000 per year.</p>
<p>American is less prestigious and attracts less academically motivated students.</p>
<p>A lot of people think that American and GWU are very similar schools as both are in DC but that is actually not true as they have many differences. </p>
<p>Location plays a huge role in this. GWU is located just blocks from the White House while American is located just blocks from the nearest metro and that metro isn’t even on the same line as the nearest metro to the White. This means that it takes significantly longer to get to some of the best DC attractions from American then it does from GWU. </p>
<p>A lot of people argue that American is much more of a campus school as GWU doesn’t have a campus but this is un true. GWU has a campus located in the foxhall neighborhood of DC that one can access 24 hours a day via a GWU shuttle. The campus is known as the Vern and it is your traditional college campus with things like a dinning hall, sports fields, classrooms, and dorms. </p>
<p>I recommend that you visit both schools and see which one you like better. You never can know what you you are going to like better until you visit. </p>