<p>I applied as a Freshman for Fall 2012 as a PoliSci major. I was deferred from the private university I applied to in my state (CA) and so now I’m worried.</p>
<p>In high school I had a 3.5 GPA and did some varsity sports a few years, but no clubs or anything. Enlisted into the Marine Corps infantry and went on two combat deployments to Iraq. Didn’t really have time to do college on the side during my enlistment, but I did a few CLEP tests (I doubt those will be honored at AU, I know). I took the SATs a few months before I left the service (June 2010) and scored 580 CR, 510 Math. I currently work in federal service to help support my wife and I.</p>
<p>Would AU take into account the possibility of bringing my military experience to the class setting? I did a lot of different things throughout - not just infantry/grunt work. Like intelligence co-op programs and leadership courses.</p>
<p>No one here can really take an educated guess about your chances because you are not a typical applicant. </p>
<p>Not sure if your GPA is weighted or unweighted. But, either way, 56% of applicants with GPA 3.5-3.99 (school-reported, whether weighted or unweighted, whatever way the school reports) were admitted according to the most recent databook, so your grades are probably ok. Even 27% of applicants with GPA 3.0-3.49. </p>
<p>Your SAT scores are an area of relative weakness–I probably would have applied test-optional if I were you. But that’s water under the bridge. They did accept 15% of applicants with SAT<1100, and they must have had reasons to choose those people, such as an interesting story and a breadth of personal experience that could contribute to the campus community.</p>
<p>At this point, you applied, right? So it’s not like our “chancing” you is going to help you decide whether or not to spend the application fee. *Que sera, sera. *</p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to reply, DeskPotato. My GPA is UW.</p>
<p>You’re absolutely right: I already applied, so no matter what someone says I’ve already taken the plunge. . . I was just looking for some opinion on what the general public (not Adcoms or what have you) might think about it.</p>
<p>A second reason I actually posted is because this subforum seems to be a little more dead than others are on CC. I wanted to give it a little bit of action per se. Kind of surprising considering the reputation of “action” AU has in the student involvement sense.</p>
<p>The statistics you provided go a long way as it’s more hard proof.</p>
<p>turtlerock - I would hope that the adcom will give serious consideration to your life experience in addition to your scores. I also want to make sure you know that AU cares A LOT about demonstrated interest, more so than many other schools. visiting from CA is probably not an option, but you can contact the Admissions rep for your area - perhaps with the very question you posed here. that way when they discuss your application, you will be more than a file to at least one person at the table.</p>
<p>Thanks, PRJ. I’ll tell you what I tell everyone else: the pleasure was all mine.</p>
<p>I have heard on a consistent basis that AU likes prospective students to show interest. I actually wanted to attend the online chats recently (especially the one about financial aid since I would’ve liked to see what they have as far as support for the G.I. Bill), but the times are always conflicting with work.</p>
<p>I have emailed my admissions rep a few times about the application process since I am non-traditional and I mentioned that I really liked the annual “Holiday Card” video that AU puts out. I will be emailing them again soon about other pressing questions.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, visiting from CA when I do have to work full-time to pay the bills isn’t gonna happen. I WISH.</p>
<p>Are there suggestions for ways to show my interest otherwise?</p>
<p>You should try to go to any local information sessions that they have in your area, and then you can make yourself known to your admissions rep. I think that AU is keen on those people who appear to be very interested in attending their school.</p>
<p>Turtlerock, it is absolutely correct (as others have stated) that American is very big on “demonstrated interest.” We have gone to a couple of the online chats and, when people ask what more they can do to show that they want American, the answer is always the same: go to the chats, contact your rep, visit if you can, etc. If you have not already created an ID for the student portal on the AU website (I’m guessing you have but maybe not), you should do that and then visit…a lot. (My daughter signs in two of three times a week.) We were told that records are kept on that–not sure if it’s true but it’s worth a shot, right? Also, you can read the chats after they have occurred and maybe you could email with a question or two.</p>
<p>You have done the right thing in making yourself known to the rep at the college. I doubt there will be any events in your area until later this year, but sometimes there are local reps and former students that can chat with you. Don’t undervalue those opportunities, if you can find them. My daughter was offered a chance to sit with the assistant admissions director here in Seattle a couple of months ago and was told it was “strictly informational.” But, when she got there, the rep pulled out a notebook and said, “I know we say it’s informational but I’m going to ask you some questions and make some notes” which she did. My D had done other interviews and said the questions were the same type. Since there were about 80 prospective students at the event and only about 15 of these interview spots had been available, we were sure glad we decided to grab one even though it wasn’t supposed to be an interview. </p>
<p>You didn’t mention if you had applied Early Decision or not. That is absolutely the best way to demonstrate interest and American is one college where applying ED makes a HUGE difference in your chances. (At least that was true in 2009 and 2010–haven’t looked at last year’s stats.)</p>
<p>I have been getting the emails about the chats and I was even really interested in doing the recent FA one, but they are ALWAYS scheduled for when I’m working. Sucks. I definitely created the AU portal ID as soon as I applied, for if anything to check the status of my app. I believe it that they can monitor how mant times a user has logged on. I know for sure systems exist where they can see if you have opened and/or deleted an email. I’ll continue to log in every few days.</p>
<p>I did not apply ED because it’s Early Decision vice Early Action. I’m going to search to see if there is a local alumni chapter I can speak to, and direct a few select questions to the adrep at AU to keep that connection going.</p>
<p>Interesting discussion on “demonstrated interest”…</p>
<p>Just FYI, I had similar grades as you did if your GPA is UW coming into AU as a freshman last year. Plus, AU loves military experience so if I had to chance you in short I would say that you would probably get in. What interests me about this conversation on “interest” is that I know AU is big on students showing interest in coming to AU, but I didn’t understand how they measured it. I remember I did sign onto 3 prospective online chats and I spoke to my college admissions counselor at a college fair. Perhaps that “interest” helped me. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you and thank you for your service!</p>