<p>I’ve been accepted to AU, and I’m sure that I can thrive there academically. My main concern is the campus community. I want my college experience to include social growth, and forming new lifelong friendships (corny, I know). I’m afraid that people will leave the campus during their free time, and I’ll get left behind. My aunt was a AU alum from about 20 years back, and her experiences were less than stellar. I’m asking now because I know her experiences are probably out of date, and I want fresher opinions.</p>
<p>i think the quality of your social growth and friendships is all about you, your personality and what you want. of course the draw to DC is huge, but it isn't done ALONE. it's done with FRIENDS! there are AU activities as well as the whole DC experience. 20 years ago was an extremely different AU, probably from what i hear not even close to today's.
in addition, be sure you are a social fit for AU. i'm sure you know it's not the typical "rah-rah" college , with football team, etc. it's a very active, intense place, whether about politics or anything else. it also has a very diverse student body, with many internationals. hope this helps. best of luck!</p>
<p>my mum went to AU and she told me / TELLS me... how many friends she had, how much fun she had, how they did leave the campus but it was always as HCM said with friends, so just put your best foot forward and be yourself, im sure you'll have a great time... see you there mate!</p>
<p>I think as with any school, getting involved early will pay off socially for you. The dichotomy presented in this thread between your aunt and someone else's mom I think most adequately describes AU. I honestly believe that about half of people love it here, about 1/3 just think its ok, and the rest usually transfer out because they cannot handle it. </p>
<p>If you make friends early and establish yourself you will be fine and really love all of the opportunities in DC.</p>
<p>
[quote]
in addition, be sure you are a social fit for AU. i'm sure you know it's not the typical "rah-rah" college , with football team, etc. it's a very active, intense place, whether about politics or anything else. it also has a very diverse student body, with many internationals. hope this helps. best of luck!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I really do not know where you get your information from. Sure we have some students from abroad, but this school is far from diverse. The whole domestic population here is Caucasian with vast majority from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Don't believe me? Go to a welcome week party when you get here and ask people where they are from. </p>
<p>In terms of being an "intense place", again I don't really know what that means. Students at AU are generally very laid back, almost questionably so. Sure, honors program students are a bit more competitive, but in comparison to top schools, AU students are really not intense by any definition. I would agree that we are politically active and that is certainly a benefit and something that is noticeably unique from other schools.</p>
<p>I agree with the first part of Ryan's post. While there are many international students at AU, most tend to be very wealthy, so they live off campus and do not generally stay on campus to hang out. Also, many of the Korean and Japanese students that come to AU through our joint abroad programs live together and generally travel in groups in campus. While I wouldn't say I have been disappointed in the lack of diversity, it certainly isn't a selling point for the school. I also find it depends on the classes you are taking. I believe I end up with more international students in my Asian studies and Econ classes than others in Poli Sci (for obvious reason). </p>
<p>AU students do seem relatively laid back as compared to other schools, which I actually enjoy. I think this is attributable to the fact that most students tend to really like their course of study, and aside from struggling through some pretty boring (for me anyways, Physics, etc.) GenEds, most students finish these as soon as they can and start studying what they really enjoy. The intensity on campus also comes in waves, noticeably unhappy students circa exam times, and then periods of relaxing on the quad doing homework. Pretty typical...</p>
<p>as we've said MANY,MANY times, this is a place for personal experiences and opinions. so that is where i "get my information from." it's all in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? AU has a larger -than -most international pool of students, and if one so chooses can have a very diverse feel to their relationships. as far as "intense" goes, this statement has nothing to do with the connotation of competitive,cut-throat, etc. it means, actively engaged and personally committed/ motivated toward beliefs, etc. yes, happy, reasonably adjusted kids with a goal and purpose in mind.</p>
<p>Ryan, everybodies experience differs, You may have met the people who were from Penn or Jersey, but others met people who were from other countries and were quite diverse. On this forum of course you will get mostly americans because other countries have different forums.
I have to agree with HCM, University SOCIALLY is an investment, you get out of it what you put into it.
[quote]
Go to a welcome week party when you get here and ask people where they are from.
[/quote]
well welcome week, people will arrive at different times, and even if someone appears to be of a certain ethnicity dont assume he/she is... they may surprise you!
And as for the people that transfer out for not liking it, well then thats their loss. if you dont like it, you can transfer out too! give a space to somebody who WANTS to be there!
As for the learning being laid back, well you never know, maybe they make it look easy, but to a different person it is actually hard. it differs for everyone, so lets not generalize.</p>
<p>Well, my d. is from India, has studied in Cairo, and lives in Washington State. If she attends (we're working on it), you can also chalk up another who isn't anywhere NEAR wealthy. (Add one who who is from a family at the top of the middle income quintile in the U.S. - which is $43k-$67k.)</p>
<p>wow thats quite a resume mini! thats what you call diverse eh? three continents? three countries? and three different cities... nearly as bad as me! haha...</p>
<p>as to "what do you do on weekends" - the fact that the city has so much to offer only means you and your friends will have no shortage of weekend activities, as opposed to some more isolated schools. The location is not a drawback but rather a huge plus for the school.
As for other commentary, it is both possible and helpful to offer one's opinion without attacking others. Isn't a difference of opinion yet another example of diversity? :) Let's celebrate our differing opinions, not knock other people down.</p>
<p>i agree 100% with you saranac!!</p>
<p>Thanks, Adeoye! So, do you know yet where you'll be going in the Fall? Good luck and let me know if I can help with anything.</p>
<p>Yes I have decided to enroll at American!</p>
<p>My son (we're from Texas) has also enrolled!</p>
<p>Please what is your son going to be majoring in?</p>
<p>congrats Adeoye & Rondafay! Best of luck to all and drop a line if I can help with anything.</p>
<p>Adeoye -- Majoring in International Studies and Minoring in Computer Science. This is my second go-round with kids applying to college. I can tell you that ECs seemed to be the big differentiator between my daughter and son. </p>
<p>She graduated 3rd in a class of 750+ and he will graduate 4th of 850+. Her SAT was 800V 720M and his was 800M 760CR. He had good ECs -- four years of Debate, Latin competitions, UIL Computer Science, etc. She had Latin competitions, Model UN, publication in Concord Review, 5th in Profiles in Freedom essay competition, etc. </p>
<p>She recieved full tuition or better at 7 schools, including UChicago and Emory. His best offers were from American and Drexel, both of which offered roughly full tuition. Contrasting the two, she was named an Emory scholar and received full tuition at Fordham. My son was not even an Emory scholar semifinalist and received $15,000 from Fordham. </p>
<p>It just seemed tougher this year, and I'd always heard that schools wanted boys! (But I must admit I think she worked harder on applications/essays than he did.)</p>
<p>Anyway, all's well that ends well, as he is perfectly content with his decision to accept American. He is excited and really up about the location and the school.</p>
<p>He as very good stats still..and Im glad hes happy with American because i believe strongly that we all are going to be proud we attended come 2012!</p>
<p>Oh, I didn't mean to imply that he didn't have good stats. They were very close to his sister's. I was just showing how much more difficult it has gotten in the four years since she applied. I think that getting in to a good school (and, even more, getting a scholarship or admitted to an honors program) has gotten much harder.</p>
<p>We think he'll be very happy at American!</p>