<p>I just can’t get a feel for what the AU campus is like. What are the building styles? Colonial? Modern? Gothic? Are they uniform? A mish mash hodge podge? </p>
<p>What about adjacencies? Are the dorms on the “main” campus or elsewhere? What can be found at the “other” campus(es)? </p>
<p>I tried to make sense of this from the website, but grew frustrated. There’s a campus map there. But all it does is name the buildings. It doesn’t say whether Gray (for example) is a dorm, classrooms, or the power plant. </p>
<p>And, overall, does the school feel unified? Is there school pride? Unity? Community? Mainly residents or commuters? </p>
<p>I would suggest going on a visit, because that more than anything anyone says here will give you a good idea as to how you feel about the school. For instance, I hate schools that have no campuses. Just don't like the feel. I considered taking GW off my list of prospective schools for this reason, but I visited and realized that I love DC enough where that wouldn't bother me. Now I still love American for that traditional campus feel that I got when I visited, but I am glad I am keeping my mind open to other options in DC. </p>
<p>I am class of 09 getting ready to apply for colleges by the way.</p>
<p>Architecturally, the AU campus is a total hodge podge. There really isn't a single unifying theme...basically each building was built in the modern style whenever it was built, so you have quite a few different styles going on. While a few of the buildings are quite attractive (McKinley), many of them reek of the 1970s (chem building). The best descriptor I can think of was on urbandictionary.com, which descriped the campus buildings as looking like the product of the Soviet Union. If the look of the buildings is really important to you, AU isn't the place for you. </p>
<p>The dorms are on the main campus and essentially all the main buildings are on the main campus. There are a few additional buildings that you have to take the shuttle to over in Tenley, but I only knew one girl who had a class there and it was a dance class. Mostly people just shuttle over to Tenley to get on the Metro or to get something to eat/shop. The Tenley campus doesn't really play a big role in anything. </p>
<p>I wouldn't describe AU as particularly unified or with a great deal of school pride. AU doesn't have a very prominent athletics program (and no football team) so the typical college image of students going and cheering for their school at sporting events isn't really applicable at AU. I also feel that many AU students are dissatisfied with various aspects of the school...perhaps that's just my spin, but I definitely felt a great deal of criticism towards the school coming from the students. Also, AU is mostly residents...people who commute usually live within walking distance in a handful of apartment buildings. </p>
<p>And just as a disclaimer: I just finished my freshman year at AU and I transferred out to Boston University, so obviously, I'm not going to be the most enthusiatic about AU.</p>
<p>Visit. I keep my mouth shut on campus visits which I admit isn't always easy to do, BUT...I manage. My D LOVED AU's campus. Personally I wasn't overwhelmed but that isn't what counts. She absolutely loved it. And she has seen many lovely campuses - Colby, Wellesley, Sweet Briar.....which have the "traditional" campus feel and beautiful landscaping. Our day there was in mid March - it was cold and very windy, unseasonable, really. And she still loved it. It is a bit of a hodgepode but there is a nice campus quad where the academic buildings face each other and its in a nice area of DC. But you have to see it to figure it out.</p>
<p>As others have said it is all personal. There certainly isn't a unifying theme, but it is a traditional campus without streets running down the middle. When I visited, the quad area was all very active with students hanging out and having fun. Looked like a good place to be, but again, you'll have to visit to make sure.</p>
<p>I love the traditional gothic buildings that other colleges have (Wellesley, UVA, etc). Unfortunately, AU does not have this type of style. However, I loved DC and I refused to go to school anywhere that did not have a campus. Some of the buildings are really nice, and AU is completing several renovations this summer. Some others, however, are clearly a product of the 70s. You should certainly take the time to walk around the campus. You can't make a decision without seeing it....</p>
<p>just to add, the main quad has pretty nice buildings. The really unfortunately ugly buildings are sprinkled around the campus and not on the quad.</p>
<p>AU is also constantly overhauling it's buildings, for example the Mary Graydon Building is having work done this summer and then an entirely new (and larger) building is planned for the School of International Service, which will be done by 2010. </p>
<p>The campus is rich with gardens (I'd hate to be allergic) and the constant construction is definitely a positive thing. Most of the buildings are aesthetically pleasing, and like hg1050 said, the ugliest buildings are the ones not in plain sight.</p>