<p>I was wondering if anyone has information on the University College. My daughter was invited to join, but I am hearing that some who want to apply that were not invited have to write an essay in order to see if they will get in. Is my daughter automatically in there as long as she accepts?</p>
<p>TIA!</p>
<p>My D was invited last year but there was a required essay for acceptance. UC was worth doing, both for the interesting class and for the opportunity to live in the dorm with classmates.</p>
<p>I think everyone is just invited to apply for a UC. You will still have to fill out the application and pick which UCs you are interested in. And I think there is a short essay. </p>
<p>My D was in a UC her freshman year and then was the “program associate” for the same UC her sophomore year. She loved it. It provides a built-in social network of people who share the same interests. Everyone is required to take a class together and there are activities and outings geared around the class. D is still rooming (junior year) with friends she made in her UC.</p>
<p>Can you be in a UC and still be in the Honors program too? And if not, which is the better choice?</p>
<p>You have to pick UC or honors. UC is just for freshman year. Honors can be for all 4 years. I don’t know if either is “better”, just depends on the student. Do you want to take honors courses? The UC courses are not “honors” just a little enhanced (included Wednesday field trips).</p>
<p>My D is a freshman and has loved her UC experience. My understanding is that everyone who is not invited into the Honors program is offered the invitation to apply to the University College program. My D did the Theater UC and they got the opportunity to see a lot of wonderful theater in D.C. throughout the fall semester, which she loved! Also, each UC class participates as a group in one of the Welcome Week activities…the theater UC class did the Freshman Service Experience. This all happened before school even started in August. By the first day of classes, she already had a group of friends who she had the opportunity to get to know while they worked together on the service project. In my opinion, a GREAT way to start the year. Her Program Associate (older student teacher aide) was a huge resource throughout her first semester and seemed like a really nice young man. Altogether, I would highly recommend University College for incoming freshman students.</p>
<p>All of my daughter’s close AU friends were in the same UC program - my daughter was not as she is in Honors. Advantages of Honors are: you get to register early as they give you 10 phantom credits for registration only purposes; honors classes are usually smaller and easier to get into (not necessarily harder but may cover topics more in depth); you have a built-in community by attending honors events and living with other honors students in Hughes (should you choose to do so) - this advantage is similar to the one cited in other posts about UC.</p>
<p>As to “which is better”, I’ll add that graduating from the Honors program is a resume/transcript item that will be recognized by employers and grad schools. But it’s possible to join Honors after freshman year even if it wasn’t offered to you originally: “Students who are not invited to join the University Honors Program upon admission to American University, but who, once here, demonstrate academic excellence (a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher, rigorous coursework, innovative research, etc.), may nominate themselves for admission to the program, typically after completing two full-time academic semesters at AU.”</p>