The New AU Parents Thread

<p>The art professors are not assigned yet to Drawing Studio or the arts 205 class my daughter could take. Your retention figures are outdated and false. Numerous kids are working on transfer now as we speak. Look at rate my professor. it is scary.</p>

<p>Of course, as the Cornell student that you are, you know much more than the Common Data Set 2008-2009, filed by virtually every college in the nation.</p>

<p>Even if it were 88% retention, that is nothing to brag about. Why are the 20 some percent leaving???</p>

<p>Parent restaurant recommendation when in the D.C. area: Coastal Flats in Tysons Corner is fantastic! We ate dinner there last night. The lobster roll sandwich is fabulous and quite authentic as I had many in Boothbay and Bar Harbour, Me. As malls go, it isn’t shabby. Nice decorations and Santa setup.</p>

<p>I think retention is lower than 88%</p>

<p>My D is a freshman Musical Theater major (also a lower-profile major at AU) and Honors program member. She has a great, helpful, pro-active adviser, has had no problems getting the classes she needs, survived her triple experience without any scars, and is happy with AU generally (though heartily sick of TDR food). I seem to recall that back at the start of the year Cadmiumred’s daughter purportedly knew a slew of freshmen who were moving off campus because they disliked the dorms. D didn’t know a single person who felt that way. Now CR’s daughter purportedly knows a slew of people who are transferring because they are unhappy with AU. D doesn’t know a soul, either in or out of her major, who is planning to transfer. A shame that CR’s daughter has such a magical attraction for malcontents.</p>

<p>"Even if it were 88% retention, that is nothing to brag about. Why are the 20 some percent leaving???'</p>

<p>I think we need some remedial math work here.</p>

<p>AU’s freshman retention rate for 2009 (i.e., 2008 freshmen who showed up again as sophomores in 2009) was 90.5%, the highest ever (still room for improvement, though). Check out Table 33 in this link: <a href=“http://www.american.edu/provost/oira/upload/adrb2009a.pdf[/url]”>http://www.american.edu/provost/oira/upload/adrb2009a.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Retention is usually inversely correlated with need-based aid. For a school with 69% of students on need-based aid to retain more than 90% of first-years is virtually unheard of - it is probably highest or second-highest in that ratio in the country.</p>

<p>“I think retention is lower than 88%”</p>

<p>You think all kinds of strange things.</p>

<p>Funny, I thought MommaJ had mentioned on an earlier post that her daughter was very quirky, and she said there too were many cliques, and her daughter was having trouble making friends hmmmm? How could she know possibly know if anyone was transferring if she didn’t know anyone in the first place? My daughter knows many kids and would know about transfers especially in the group NOT in SIS, Kogod, Comm. My daughter even knows a kid with 2 failing grades, and AU keeps her in because she is a freshman… hmmmm.</p>

<p>Those quoted figures from curious sources are highly questionable.</p>

<p>Interesting some say 88% retention, some 90%. me thinks the figures are coming from nowhere???</p>

<p>Me thinks the 88.4% came from the Common Data Set (submitted to the Dept of Ed.) for retention between 2007-2008, and the 90.5% come from the AU Institutional Review Book for 2008-2009.</p>

<p>Very strange sources. Nowhere. They are much easier to document than the existence of 'red’s child, which I think is highly questionable (especially since 'red attends Cornell.)</p>

<p>Funny though. The Common Set I believe is just a compilation of surveys, not fact. (:</p>

<p>You happen to believe wrongly - so what else is new? You have no clue what you are talking about, and it is so easy to check that your ignorance gives Cornell a bad reputation.</p>

<p>Oh cadmiumred, there is a time to indulge a perverse obsession and then a time to put it aside. Since Cornell still has two days of finals scheduled, shouldn’t you be getting back to studying now? Off you go now, dear. You’re boring the grownups.</p>

<p>The Common Data Set is compiled of surveys. A good retention rate would be 94-98% as stated in various articles related to college retention. ; New York Times, U.S. News etc…" My child will possibly have to spend the next 4 years in an uphill battle and self-study art for $48,000 a year. She said the Katzen Center is currently showing artwork from University of Maryland art students, not the AU undergrads. Logical isn’t it??? Why are they showing University of Maryland art students work? Perhaps the artists aren’t in the actual art classes because the juniors and seniors must have their Gen Eds filled?? Probably cavities as well.</p>

<p>Mommaj - would love, love, love to hear more about your D’s experience. My D (senior in HS) is v. interested in the theatre program there… double majoring in theatre and journalism most likely (who knows, really though). I’ve put the kibosh on majoring soley in theatre - she can minor in it and and double major in it and I definately think it should be part of her experience, but I’m not OK with her majoring it it on its own… how terrible a mother am I ? </p>

<p>AU is at the top of her list right now. She’s flying up in Feb. to audition. Maybe she could email your D to ask questions and chat about the program? (Time is precious, I know!)</p>

<p>We are hoping to help her find a strong school with an active-but-not-hell-bent-on-Broadway theatre program… if that makes any sense? </p>

<p>Oddly, although all of D’s 7 years of experience in theater (just HS and community theater, summer stocks, etc. - nothing professional or anything like that) is in MT, she’s feeling intimidated by the talent at AU and thinks she should just audition for theater, not MT. Odd, but it’s her choice. She’s a nice performer - strong in character work and solid enough in voice and dance to do what needs doing in a musical - definately not leading lady material, very character-ish. </p>

<p>So glad to hear she is happy at AU…</p>

<p>Welcome, 1sttimemom!
Good luck to your daughter on her quest.
My S is not a theater person but he likes to attend. A girl on his floor was in a production and a lot of the floor went to support her.
Katzen is an amazing facility!</p>

<p>S just got in to AU last night ED. He’s very excited. Would love to hear about positive experiences and any pearls of wisdom. He’s interested in poli sci, history, international.</p>