<p>They are certainly a incredibly strong school with a powerful and brilliant student body, endless resources and alumni connections, and a great administration. They should be ranked at least 50 in USNEWS! Why are they ranked 85, behind even schools like SUNY Binghampton which have nothing on it?</p>
<p>It is an unbalanced program.
If you want to go into Politics, It is heaven.
But if you don't live and breath politics, It is meh.</p>
<p>^ I live and breath politics, so I guess that's why I think as such lol.</p>
<p>AU was similar to Hofstra, Monmouth and lots of other so-so privates in the region. The location helped them build a better student body than they used to get and they used the political action well. But it's many miles from the top 50.</p>
<p>I'm going to agree with the "unbalanced" description. If you aren't interested in political science, economics, or foreign service, then this really isn't the school for you. In addition, living in DC is quite expensive - this is beyond the school's control, but it certainly has something to do with the low ranking.</p>
<p>^
By that logic, Columbia should be ranked low because it is in New York. </p>
<p>Many people live in DC on meager non-profit salaries - yet it is repeatedly ranked the best city for young single people. It really is an incredible city in which to be young and passionate about the world beyond oneself. A lot live in group houses and tiny apartments with no car because there is no need for one there. For the right person (usually political in nature), it is heaven and quite a hub of intellectualism with all the think tanks, non-profits, and national organizational headquarters.</p>
<p>I wouldn't let American's overall rep dissuade you, NY_Dem. In DC political circles it has a strong reputation and no one's going to look down on you for going there.</p>
<p>TriForces,
I would say American is the place to go if you want to major in econ/politics/international and not have your social/campus life dictated by them. At American, the social circles stretch outside of a individual's major more frequently than at GWU, Georgetown (and any large commuter school like Maryland and George Mason).</p>
<p>Take the above posts and anything you read on CC with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Sure econ/SIS, etc. are very strong at AU, but don't buy into the sterotype that that is all AU is. Communications, Business, and other programs are not too shabby too...</p>
<p>Stop giving USNews all this power. Who cares about the ranking? Is the school right for you?</p>
<p>^^^^^ yep, good point</p>
<p>Well, I'm going to apply to it anyway (I'm hoping for a large scholarship though, otherwise I can't go), but only prob. is, you know, a Asian parent who loves USNEWS lol. I'll be applying to Georgetown and GWU too though. I love Washington DC, Boston, and NYC</p>
<p>^^^ Well, I understand about the parents, but in the end, you are the who has to attend. If that is not sufficient I guess you have to ask, what's the point? If you are only shopping by the rankings, looks like AU is not much of an option. Unfortunate, but like I said, I understand about the parents. Looks like you will be swimming upstream if you want AU.</p>
<p>American is still ranked 83...Certainly nothing to scoff at.
But the Princeton Review ranks it as to most politically active school.</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, aren't there somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,400 or more public and private universities in the U.S.? If that's the case, wouldn't a USNWR ranking of 85 (which doesn't mean much in my opinion anyway), put American in the top 4% of this group?</p>
<p>Just to let you know, American University had an extreme housing crunch this Fall. (Like many other schools in the country.) They placed students in hotels, turned double rooms into triples, had students staying in nearby apartments,etc. And this was just for the Freshman class....</p>
<p>^ oh my god mranity, seriously??????</p>
<p>Ouch. Glad you posted that, Mranity. My D is applying there and that kind of housing issue would really bother her. dbwes said it right, though - is it the right fit?</p>
<p>Is there any place I can go for definitive information on that housing situation you mentioned, mranity?
(Not that I doubt you, I just want to research this further...this is truly startling for me as a prospective student...)</p>
<p>My d. is a first year. Yes, there was a housing crunch. And their strategic plan calls for them to get smaller, not larger. However, what they didn't count on was: 1) it is an election year, and lots of folks want to be in DC; 2) Foreign Policy magazine ranked them in the top 10 schools in the country (actually tied for 10th) in international relations for undergraduates; 3) Urban campuses with lots of internship opportunities (not just American) have all been swamped of late; and 4) the overall quality of its study abroad options, integrative business majors (my d. is a double major in international business/international services), and language offerings is now being recognized. My d. reports that anyone who wanted to be detripled was in the first month.</p>
<p>As for rankings. Well, most schools have something resembling sciences? (Actually, American does, but you wouldn't go there for it if you had better options.)</p>