<p>In reply to Dadtoson - you misunderstood my reply when I said American was not really in the picture. It was not because your son made Cornell and that I think it is a great choice, although I commend him for being accepted to such a highly ranked school. It was just that I your posts on the Cornell and GW sites which showed that your son was considering these two schools. In fact, Cornell’s legend alone would have my choose GW over the chance to go Ivy. </p>
<p>[A</a> ‘Suicide School’? | Inside Higher Ed](<a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/03/16/cornell]A”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/03/16/cornell)</p>
<p>We attended the university honors accepted student program with our D today. Faculty members were conspicuously absent, even at the info. session for her school. The faculty are the most important component of your child’s education. If they don’t make themselves readily available in the admissions process, don’t expect them to be on board later in the education process.</p>
<p>My son graduated from UNC Chapel Hill - a school that is very hard to get into from out of state. He chose UNC over Northwestern, which was lucky for us since UNC, even out of state, is much more affordable. Chapel Hill is very highly regarded, ranked number 30 by USNWR. Yet, my son was never able to see his adviser without making an appointment weeks in advance. Although a top student, he found the pre-law advising lacking. He loved Chapel Hill but said if he had to choose again, he would not go there. </p>
<p>My D at American can always get into to see her adviser, even at the last minute. When she sends an e-mail to her adviser she does not wait long to get a response. She meets with her professors during office hours on a regular basis. The career center has been great in helping her get her resume and cover letter in shape for summer internships. You may all have negative experiences, but I can’t say enough about American. My daughter was accepted to higher ranked schools and yes, she accepted American because of the money they offered her. However, her experience has been wonderful and she is very happy that she decided to attend AU.</p>
<p>I agree with @NewJerseyMom about the access to professors and advisers at AU. My D has had a great experience with her professors. They make themselves available during office hours and also respond to emails quickly. She has found them to be extremely accommodating and helpful.</p>
<p>Specmom’s post (#22, above) surprises me. When my wife and I attended Freshman Day with our daughter in 2011, faculty were conspicuously present, at least in SIS. Indeed, I think it was lunch with Ambassador Quainton, followed by his sample class for admitted students in the afternoon, that prompted our daughter to say by 2:30 p.m., “I’m ready. Let’s buy a sweatshirt.”</p>
<p>I realize, of course, that my information is older than specmom’s. I hope her post does not signal a change for the worse.</p>