<p>When my friends started receiving their American University acceptance letters I stated to get a little bit worried. I told myself that they must send letters for rejected students too, right? So when the big envelope came in the mail I was super pumped. Why would they send such a full envelope to a rejected student? I eagerly tore it open only to find out I had been rejected… for the fall semester. </p>
<p>What they gave me was a shade of grey when I was looking for black and white. Instead of accepting or denying me they placed me in limbo. I could wait and attend the spring semester or be involved in this “WMP” scam. </p>
<p>If you choose to do the WMP program you’re housed in a Hooverville a couple blocks from the campus with other segregated students who got rejected. What “WMP” is is a vacation until the spring when they actually let you attend. I’ve read up on it and it seems like a lot of second hand info or spin. If this program is so great then why isn’t it offered to every freshmen? I’ll definitely attend the acceptance day to find out more, but I’m sure the University is only going to put students who enjoyed the program out to answer questions. Just like any other university they’re out to sell something. </p>
<p>P.S. We’re not even onto the money discussion</p>
<p>I think it’s funny that they call the program “prestigious” in the letter…complete bs. and the fact that 0 financial aid is offered for wmp is ridiculous.</p>
<p>It’s not as “scam”–it’s an opportunity to attend AU. Would you have preferred an outright rejection? The housing is considered very nice and is in a fine area, closer to campus than many of the apartments where AU students live. All of the AU campus facilities and programs are available to WMP participants. Both of the above posters are obviously disappointed, but please don’t allow your bitterness to cloud your judgment in assessing what might be a great program for you. And if it’s not for you, just say no thanks.</p>
<p>Check some past CC threads on the program–you’ll find very positive comments</p>
<p>I agree with Momma J. My son is now a junior at AU, and thoroughly enjoyed his WMP experience, so much so that he opted to stay on the Tenley campus for the spring semester rather than move to the main campus. I suggest that you research previous postings on this website for questions and answers concerning the WMP, rather than mocking it and rejecting it out of hand.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply MommaJ. I can tell from your username and previous posts that you’re clearly an objective source to get my information from. </p>
<p>“Check some past CC threads on the program–you’ll find very positive comments”
Just like I said in my post almost all info about WMP is second hand info. Including yours. I have also found negative comments as well which were from actual students that felt like they were second class citizens. Regardless, it’s all antidotal, and I’d like some hard numbers. How many we’re offered this? What is their satisfaction rating? How many return? How many regret their decision? How many wish they did do the program?</p>
<p>“The housing is considered very nice and is in a fine area, closer to campus than many of the apartments where AU students live.” Have you attended AU in the last 5 years or been part of the WMP program? No, you haven’t.</p>
<p>Am I disappointed? Absolutely. Anyone can tell that by reading my post. What hurt most was the deception. I had never heard about this “program” before the envelope came. It felt like a surprise attack. To make matters worse they include tons of info that makes you feel like you we’re admitted. In some ways I do wish I was outright rejected, that way I could move on, but instead they decided to place me in limbo.</p>
<p>Move yourself on, ilovgoogle. If you want to deem it a rejection, do so and move on to the next school–don’t be tied down by the decisions of AU. This is purely up to you. They have told you that they don’t believe you are ready for admission to the fall class at AU; the next step is yours–any indecision from here is of your own making.</p>
<p>the truth is it’s entirely inhumane to taunt kids who have significant financial need with this program which offers no aid. as far as i can tell, this is nothing but a money sucking operation which abuses kids who desire attendance so much that they’re willing to sacrifice their future for it. the only people who will be able to do this program without it significantly affecting their future is the wealthy. AU can deny kids for a reason and they should do so.</p>
<p>@pswillia Since you’re 37 let me try to relate this situation to you. Imagine applying to a great job that’ll let you explore your passions and pursue your goals. Imagine walking out of the interview thinking you nailed it. Imagine receiving a call back from the company, in which they offer you the job… on a set of certain conditions, since they don’t think you’re worth what you originally applied for. The two conditions are (1) You have to wait 6 months before you get the job. Oh, and you can’t hold another job in the mean time. And (2) They cut your wages for the job.
In the situation described above do you think it would be reasonable for you to be even a little angry or let down?</p>
<p>Are students admitted to Spring 2012 required to participate in the WMP, or is it just an option they are offering that you could choose for the Fall 2011 term?</p>
<p>Many, many schools have a “spring admit” option. This reflects the fact that they have only so much space on campus for freshmen in the fall, but they know that there will be upperclassmen studying abroad and some students transferring out by spring, so that frees up space that allows them to offer admission to more freshmen.</p>
<p>Many schools seem to offer the spring admission to applicants who probably would otherwise have been rejected; some schools choose students that they think are particularly capable of handling the mid-year entry due to strength of character. I don’t know what AU’s approach is. </p>
<p>UMCP offers an option to spend a semester in London, or an option to live off-campus and take evening classes (“Freshman connection”); other schools don’t offer anything for the fall and figure you can find something great to do. If you really want to go to AU, but the WMP program doesn’t appeal to you, spend that semester doing something else–working, traveling, volunteering.</p>
<p>ilovgoogle–your analogy is disingenuous. As Deskpotato probably guessed, AU is not DEMANDING that the WMP be a prerequisite to your or any Spring Admit’s delayed acceptance. Second, AU is in no way demanding that “you can’t hold down another job in the meantime.” In fact, the accompanying letter titled “Conditions and Additional Instructions” clearly states that you are free to take up to 4 classes (12 credits) as a non-matriculating students at any 2 or 4-year college. “These credits will typically transfer to AU providing you earn a grade of C or better.” That’s hardly telling you that you have to sit on your hands and do nothing while waiting to enter. Seems pretty fair to me. Hey, my daughter was disappointed to receive this halfway-house acceptance as well. It may not be Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket, but it’s not the bag of rocks you describe either.</p>
<p>MommaJ, of course I am disappointed by the rejection for fall 2011, but I was just commenting on how American attempts to falsely advertise this WMP program as prestigious. I also agree with viciousdirt…its cruel to offer this opportunity to students who are in need of financial aid, and the fact that they outright say that there is no scholarship money available just discounts their attempt to make it seem like a legitimate program.</p>
<p>My suggestion to both ilovgoogle and sjc937 is to let things percolate for a few days–you’ll cool off. Then visit AU on accepted students day and arrange to visit the WMP facilities and meet with WMP students and administrators to get your info from the horse’s mouth. Then you’ll be able to make a reasoned decision by comparing the WMP option to your other college acceptances. If it’s not for you, it’s not for you. (And I can certainly understand the financial obstacle–it’s a doozy.)</p>
<p>As for my personal knowledge, no, I’ve never been in the WMP, but I have a sophomore daughter at AU and have visited many times, so I do know the physical set-up. In addition, I know my daughter would have no clue whether anyone she met had started at WMP–it’s not branded on your forehead–and would certainly not think less of them if they mentioned it. I doubt she’s even aware the program exists or how it works. I suspect that if any of the participants in WMP feel like “second class citizens”, it’s because of their own insecurities, not the way the program is run. I also suspect that once the spring semester rolls around and the WMP students become fully integrated into AU, that feeling disappears.</p>
<p>This is not a “Hooverville” – the dorms are much newer, much nicer, and the rooms much bigger. I had a serious problem getting away from the marble staircases and 12 foot high ceilings in Capital Hall when I moved to main campus. You are closer to the metro so you don’t have to wait for a shuttle in the freezing cold, and can just wander over to ZBurger at 12 in the morning. This is great for internships, random trips into the city etc. You can walk the couple of blocks to campus or, if you’re feeling particularly lazy one morning, you can take the shuttle stop placed right in front of your building – which is serviced by bother the Blue and Red line buses and as such comes more frequently. You also have your own dining hall, which is accessible without going outdoors which services less people – has better food, and friendlier staff. However, your swipes also work on main campus too. Normally, it’s about 200 students, or about 1/7th of the incoming Freshman class that decides to attend WMP. </p>
<p>b) Segregation
You’re not segregated – you sleep somewhere else for less than three months. AU created this program because they felt like people with strong sense of self and a lot of potential were admitted but got lost in the shuffle because they were borderline in writing or analytical skills. Many of these students did not ask for help and either a) transferred to a lower ranked school or b) failed out entirely. It’s not like you don’t take classes with students on main campus – you take one WMP class, which will be an ‘easy A’ and will give you an opportunity to bond with students on Tenley campus so you feel a sense of community and see what college professors want in their writing. </p>
<p>However then you take 3-4 other classes (depending on how many credits you want to take) on main campus. So it’s not a rejection at all, it’s a caveat. All of your activities are on main campus – I have several friends who currently live at Tenley, or have been WMP and honestly they’re some of the nicest people I know. The sense of community is extremely close at Tenley – and MamaJ is right that I would imagine that most students have no idea what it is.</p>
<p>But weigh the options and see what’s best for you – but don’t be making disingenuous generalizations in a time of intense emotions. There are people here to help you with questions if you have them.</p>
<p>I agree with MommaJ. Step back, take some time and absorb the information. Many students on the forums for many schools are disappointed and have questions about the spring admit. The AU program is pretty unique, so do seek out answers, but with an open mind. One of the points that many seniors are concerned about with a spring admit is seeing their HS friends go off the college and also how will they integrate into campus once they arrive in the spring.
The Washington Mentorship Program addresses both of those concerns readily. No one even has to know you are technically a spring admit if you don’t want to tell them, and not only are you already participating in campus, taking some credits that will apply, you have a field practicum as a freshman that is a rarity. In addition you are bonding with other freshman and making friends/roommates like any freshman. As MommaJ pointed out, no one knows what program any particular student is in. </p>
<p>If AU was one of your top selections, then take a deep breath and continue to weigh your choices. If it was not a top choice anyway, then move on. If finances are an issue, I can certainly respect that, but that doesn’t mean the program itself is a scam!</p>
<p>Also accepted to WMP with very mixed emotions. Yes … nice not to be out-right rejected, but the presentation of the materials (big package) led to false expectations and extreme confusion when opening. It must be the biggest REJECTION letter in US college history. </p>
<p>The acceptance of students into Spring and Summer terms is common for the big state universities (who in general try to take as many in-state students as they can) … but for a small private school like American … it seems a little shaky, since there was never any mention of it on the website, application materials or during the on-campus information session that we attended. Bait and switch? I don’t recall seeing a check-box asking if you wanted Fall or Spring term. </p>
<p>The second irritating point is the high cost and lack of any financial assistance. At first glance it looks to be cheap … until you figure out that the cost is for only one semester.
I’m pretty sure you can find an apartment, food, 3 classes and a non-paying internship for four months for less than $28K! If you are not getting full American University status … why are you paying full American University prices? The option of attending some local Community college in place of the WMP is appealing financially, but is otherwise repulsive. </p>
<p>Point #3. Most matriculating HS students worry most about one thing … fitting in and making friends at College. By segregating them into the “academically challenged”
gene pool is just about the worst thing you could do to a first year college student.
Maybe there is no stigma attached to attending this “prestigious” program for the AU unqualified, but cannot see many students choosing this option unless AU was their ultimate dream school and/or they had no other options.</p>
<p>I am sure it is a fine program, with many great opportunities to get settled in DC, explore careers, etc. The campus also looks close enough, with enough amenities to meet the needs of this small group, but it begs the question … why didn’t American just accept 150 more kids and house them on the other campus? They do that all over the country where housing and classroom space is tight. </p>
<p>Not ruling it out just yet … but it is a real speed bump, and with an already $52K dollar hurdle looming in a down economy … AU is very doubtful.</p>
<p>I’m a mom whose daughter is a junior at AU. In 2008 she started at the wmp program. It is the best thing that happened to her. She lived at the Tenley campus which are far better than main just a skip/jump to to the metros. They do an internship which counts for 3 credit and totally they get 15 credit just like any other 1st sem freshman. These WMP students are those AU wants but don’t have room in the fall so they offer wmp where they still are AU students but will join the main 1 semester later. But if you do not want to take it you dont have to…you can earn your credits elsewhere like CC or state schools then transfer in. The drawback in no FA is given </p>
<p>My daughter loved the program and she had a paid intership at WMP and now she is 2nd sem junior has already had 3 prestigious internships did a study abroad in Rome. AU is a wonderful school. We are full pay but every penny has been worth it.</p>
<p>If anyone has any WMP questions please feel free to write to me via this thread. Please do not disregard WMP, just attend the accepted students day and decide for yourself. It is really prestigious and highly recommend it. Great transition into college and into Washington DC.</p>
<p>Thanks for the positive comments about WMP…I’ll definitely attend one of the preview days to get a feel for AU in general, but the fall semester wmp isn’t a really a viable option at this point without outside funding. Right now I’m leaning towards taking classes at a CC for the fall semester. Would these classes easily transfer to AU for credit? I wouldn’t need to reapply as a transfer student right?</p>
<p>I got the same thing. im not really interested in this whole WMP thing because i do have other options. I was really just wondering if you can in any way appeal to the school to be accepted for the fall semester?</p>
<p>junior_mom, thanks for the information. My daughter was also accepted to WMP today and it sounds like a wonderful opportunity. Did your daughter select the internship or was it selected for her? Are all the internships paid? That would certainly help a bit. Can you tell us how much the internship paid?</p>
<p>Sorry, was busy with college visits for my younger daughter. Regarding WMP internships, the program will provide a list of internships and help with resume so your child can get it that way. Some are paid some arent. My daughter found her first internship through another kid who had completed hers and introduced my daughter to her boss so my daughter got it and loved it. My daughter was paid $50 a day for lunch and metro which was pretty decent. She worked 2 days a week.
Internships are plenty in DC, lot of my daughters friend work in embassies and the capital hill. Dont worry about getting unpaid internships, if your child is looking they will find one.</p>
<p>For those who are not interested in doing WMP I doubt you will be accepted for fall even if you appeal, have not heard that happening. But you never know.</p>
<p>Just check with the advisors which CC credits are transferable also depends on the majors I guess. My daughter is a political science major and minor in communications.</p>