<p>American has a huge transfer population, so I’m hoping someone here can help me out.</p>
<p>I am applying to transfer into CAS for fall 2008. I am currently debating whether to major in English or political science, but I could very easily be happy with either. (I will have an A.A. in English and an A.S. in political science upon transfer.) I imagine the chances of acceptance are greater as an English major since that’s less common, but I’ll make that decision later on.</p>
<p>I am not looking for chances, but rather just some information on the process at American. What are they looking for in transfers? How is the financial aid? I know there is a large scholarship offered for Phi Theta Kappa students, but I don’t know how competitive it is. I also know housing is a huge issue there even for first-years, so is there hope for it as a transfer?</p>
<p>Well I can't answer your first questions regarding what the AU admissions staff will look for in transfers but I would bank on them liking to see community service, internships if you are an upperclassman, and involvement in school activities. </p>
<p>As for housing, AU guarentees students four years of housing. This being said, there have been problems with tripling freshman first semester (most are detripled in a matter of weeks). However, as AU is opening a new dorm, Nebraska Hall, for seniors next year I can imagine there will be less of a problem getting housing on campus. I am not sure when you plan on transferring but if and when you get accepted, apply immediately for your housing of choice...</p>
<p>Just got accepted to American U as transfer in for Fall 07..(between freshman and sophmore year)...I have a 3.47 cum as poli sci major at third tier school with good community service background. Had terrible SATs and a HS cum of 3.67. I haven't gotten my financial aid package yet but that will determine if I can go.</p>
<p>I hope other people respond to your request for transfer attempts at American. It's my dream school...so I hope it works out.</p>
<p>Transferring into American is not difficult. I believe you only need a 2.8 to get in. The reason is fairly obvious: so many students leave the school after freshman year that the school can take many transfers.</p>
<p>Ryan's statement about students leaving after their freshman year is interesting, but is not borne out by the facts.</p>
<p>If you look at the group of peer institutions to which AU compares itself (primarily because it competes directly with these institutions for students on a continuing basis), you will see that AU's freshman retention rate is comparable to the peers' retention rates:</p>
<p>Boston College 96%
NYU 93%
University of Maryland 93%
GWU 91%
Syracuse 91%
Boston U 90%
American U 89%</p>
<p>Yes, AU's 89% is lower than all the others, but it's not radically different. Plus, because each of the other universities is larger than AU, the sheer number of freshmen who leave each of the other universities is larger than the number of freshmen who leave AU.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you--my AU experience was a good one, and I wish you the same.</p>
<p>i have no need to be on these threads any longer, but monitoring people like ryan causes me to visit routinely! if anyone wants to hear what goes on for MOST of AU's students who feel privileged to be there, talk to kids at a campus visit, or PM people like Britty, me, or advisormom. unfortunately, the kids who have a life at AU are invested in that...doing internships, activities, etc. IF they come on here, it's NOT to misrepresent the school. sadly, some students only go to AU to take its generous scholarship money, and then bash it. best to all!</p>
<p>You wanted an honest answer, didn't you? Pswillia, I understand your comparison to other universities but you also fail to mention our sophomore retention rate which is also not very good(the statistics are not reported but ive heard that as much as 30 percent of the graduating class is made up of transfer students). Take it for what it is worth, but we all know that an 89% freshman retention rate is nothing to brag over(especially since we are a small private school). Most of the schools that are close to us(Syracuse, Boston University) are basically the size of state schools and are really not comparable. Small schools are supposed to leave a better impact on students and provide the necessary environment where kids want to stay. Syracuse, BU, and GWU have some of the same problems as AU(ie. overpriced, mediocre academics, and frankly overrated). </p>
<p>Happycollegemom, I do not know why you continue to go after me as you are probably the least mature out of anyone who posts on here. Constantly chastising me for having no life when you have no idea that I work a full time job this summer and an internship in addition to my social life. Instead of engaging with me in debates you merely write it off as complete nonsense. Look, I know there are several people at AU that are happy and I am not denying that. However, it is pretty discouraging when half of my good friends at AU have transferred out after freshman year and more plan on doing it after sophomore year(I'm talking 5 people here!). I just do not understand how you can possibly know how it "really is" without actually going to school at AU. Things are different outside of parents weekend and student tours, you know. I am one of the few who posts on here because maybe I am one of the few who actually takes the risk in doing so. Stupidity? I don't know. But I do know the problems our school has and there is no need to sugar coat topics you know nothing about just to justify your decision of sending your daughter to AU. </p>
<p>I recommend you read UCLAri's post about keeping it civil. </p>
<p>Anyway, nobody has really tried to dispute the fact that it is very easy to transfer into AU. I was in a stats class last year with a transfer student who told me she got into AU with a 2.7; another kid in my hall had a 3.0 from a tier 3 school. You shouldn't have much trouble.</p>
<p>"Transfer applicants who wish to be considered competitive candidates should have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5/4.00 from all schools attended." </p>
<p>pswillia - good stats. Turnover exists for many reasons such as someone may not be able to cut it academically, some leave because of costs or transfer back to their first choice school that they were not originally accepted in. Overall, AU has so much to offer (location, diversity, etc.) and a strong reputation for internship programs in the DC area that most students are reluctant to leave. From my experience, going to a school like AU and being in DC, the ability to get a job or internship seem to be equal whether you go to AU, GW or GT.</p>
<p>I think thats a valid explanation connie. From my experience many kids did transfer to their "top choice" school out of high school, and I guess that saddens me because I would have hoped that AU would have left enough of an impression on them to stay put. Also, your point about costs is worth mentioning again. AU's costs are so high that people reevaluate their cost-benefit analysis after going to AU for one year and realize that the pay off out of school is not nearly as high as the resources they are devoting to go to the school. </p>
<p>Ill agree that if one gets involved in the city in the fields of IR and Political Science than the job prospects out of GW and AU are essentially the same. I would say GT's big advantage is its name recognition and alumni base which allows one to access important connections during and right after college(connections are especially important in IR and Politics). As for fields such as business and the sciences GT holds a major advantage over AU and GW and this is seen in grad school placement and starting salaries for recent graduates.</p>
<p>HCM, I know you mean well, but the more you engage Ryan the more negative these posts become. Why not just let him say his piece and let it go? We all know enough to take everyone's comments within the context of their individual history. Really, these American posts are so negative it is discouraging. I know you're trying to accomplish the opposite and I really believe that would be accomplished by just leaving him alone. Thanks.</p>
<p>The news is heartbreaking...
AU's transfer financial aid offer was very poor...$11,900 only 44% of need. So won't be able to attend AU. Also accepted to transfer to Catholic U so might attend there $22,000 (Double AU's offer). But also might re-consider staying at McDaniel $30,000 = full need.</p>
<p>Regarding the above discussion about student retention:</p>
<p>I recently attended a new student orientation session with my daughter. During the two days there were several presentations to parents, including one from the Housing office. The Housing representative mentioned that at least half of the incoming Freshman class has been assigned to triple rooms(I'm very grateful, esp. after hearing that, that D managed to get a double room). The huge number of triples, was due, according to Housing, in part to the demographic surge in the number of incoming college students, of course, but he also mentioned that this year AU has had a significant increase in the number of current students returning for the '07--'08 year. So hopefully this bodes well for AU's retention stats.</p>
<p>ahoo2u: I'm sorry that the financing at AU didn't work out for you.</p>
<p>regarding the transfer situation... i think that it affects certain types of people. I am very very happy at AU. My friends are very happy at AU and most of my fellow peers who i associate with are also very happy. None of my friends have transferred and none of them plan 2 do so. If you associate you are the type of person who isn't happy/ you associate with people who aren't happy or who aren't connected to the school/ location (though jobs, clubs, internships) then YEAH you will think that AU has a large population of people who don't like the school and therefore transfer. But in my experience, I have NOT in fact noticed my friends/ fellow peers "dropping out like flies"</p>