American University

[sonicyouth42]

This is perhaps one of the stranger topics to appear on this mostly music related forum, but after thinking about it, I figured you guys would have some knowledge.  I myself am not from DC (but visit it monthly or so to go to the 9:30 club, so that's the only area I'm familiar with) but I love what I've seen of the city and am interested in applying to AU despite having never seen the campus.
 
 What does the DC crowd think of this school?  Is the campus nice, and is it in more of an urban or suburban section?
 
 Perhaps there are better places to post this question, but if you have any information or suggestions I'd appreciate it.

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

Why are you interested in AU?  It's a less-than-stellar school, at a stellar tuition rate.

[sonicyouth42]

Originally posted by Doctor Doom:
  Why are you interested in AU?  It's a less-than-stellar school, at a stellar tuition rate.

Really?  I've only heard good things about it in the past.  
 
 I would only consider it if the price was right, but they are generally very generous with financial aid.  Why do you consider it less than stellar?  Just wondering.

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

Well, for a long time AU and GW (where I went) had a reputation as being expensive, somewhat mediocre schools relative to what they cost.  But honestly I don't really have the foggiest idea now, since I haven't thought about college for years.  So forget I said anything.
 
 AU does have a campus, if that's important to you.  It's in upper NW, which despite being in the city limits is suburban in design.  It's also quite a ways off the beaten path from Downtown DC, but it's not too hard to get places by Metro.  If I was going by location alone I'd say fuck the campus and go to GW, then you can walk almost everywhere you need to go.

[ratioci nation]

AU Class of '94 here
 
 It is a pretty easy school to get in to so there are a lot of people from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and other MidAtlantic states who go there just because it is nearby.  You could kind of tell who came to the school for its rep in Political Science and International Service (and a couple of other programs) and those who came just because it would be cool to go to school in DC.  Like a lot of schools it is as good as you want it to be.  You can skate by and get decent grades and not learn a whole lot or you can apply yourself and get a great education.
 
 It doesnt feel like you are in a city while you are on campus like GW does.  It is more of a traditional campus with a quad and the like.  But it really isnt too far off the beaten path, you can be downtown pretty quickly via bus or metro or even a longer walk.
 
 I only chose AU because I was getting a Political Science degree and wanted to be in DC after almost going to Boston College, and didnt care much for GW or Georgetown.  Of course I do nothing with my Political Science degree now, but I am glad I lived in DC.
 
 And once again I like how Doctor Doom has an opinion on everything.

[sonicyouth42]

American has actually become rather competitive in the last couple years.  I've got a 3.8 GPA and a 1300/1600 on the SAT, and it will still be a stretch if I am accepted.  
 
 I would rather have a "city" campus than a traditional one, but since it's close to the city I guess it doesn't matter.  George Washington is out of my academic reach, anyway.

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by sonicyouth42:
  American has actually become rather competitive in the last couple years.  I've got a 3.8 GPA and a 1300/1600 on the SAT, and it will still be a stretch if I am accepted.  
 
 I would rather have a "city" campus than a traditional one, but since it's close to the city I guess it doesn't matter.  George Washington is out of my academic reach, anyway.

jesus, its a good thing I am not a applying now, I can assure you that most of the people at AU while I was there did not have a 3.8 and 1300/1600
 
 the other things that stick out about AU, or did then, and these arent making any judgements about whether that is good or bad:
 
 1-very politically minded
 2-large international population
 3-large gay population
 4-very diverse in general
 5-most people dont really care about the sports teams
 6-it is fairly easy to avoid the Greek scene
 7-tons of people intern on Wednesdays

[HoyaSaxa03]

i'm at AU's law school right now (after going to g'town undergrad), and i must say that it's pretty far removed from most of DC
 
 it's hard to make a short hop around the city, because you have to take a shuttle to get to the metro (the AU stop is NOT at AU) ... it takes me about 40-45 minutes to get from woodley park to the law school campus via metro/shuttle, which is really absurd
 
 it also kind of has the reputation as the redheaded stepchild of DC schools ... which really doesn't matter that much, i guess maybe in terms of employment opportunities
 
 oh, and i think it's about 60/40 girls/guys, and there's a big gay male population, so if you're a guy (straight or gay, i guess), your hookup chances are pretty solid
 
 if i were you, with your scores, i'd go for GW, you'd have a pretty good shot there ... are you IB or have you taken a lot of APs?

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
  i'm at AU's law school right now (after going to g'town undergrad), and i must say that it's pretty far removed from most of DC
 
 it's hard to make a short hop around the city, because you have to take a shuttle to get to the metro (the AU stop is NOT at AU) ... it takes me about 40-45 minutes to get from woodley park to the law school campus via metro/shuttle, which is really absurd
 
 it also kind of has the reputation as the redheaded stepchild of DC schools ... which really doesn't matter that much, i guess maybe in terms of employment opportunities
 
 oh, and i think it's about 60/40 girls/guys, and there's a big gay male population, so if you're a guy (straight or gay, i guess), your hookup chances are pretty solid
 
 if i were you, with your scores, i'd go for GW, you'd have a pretty good shot there ... are you IB or have you taken a lot of APs?

Keep in mind the law school is not on the main Campus.  It is just down the street, but it is further removed than the main campus.
 
 And the only way you will feel the red headed step child thing is because you will probably feel students from Georgetown are pretentious twats, and that isnt a shot at Hoya, I think that was the general sense at AU, but it was more in a good natured way.  Running into GW students seemed to happen more often anyway.

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by pdx pollard:
 Keep in mind the law school is not on the main Campus.  It is just down the street, but it is further removed than the main campus.

sure, but it's equidistant (sp?) to the metro, same 20 minute walk or shuttle ride
 
 

Originally posted by pdx pollard:
  And the only way you will feel the red headed step child thing is because you will probably feel students from Georgetown are pretentious twats, and that isnt a shot at Hoya, I think that was the general sense at AU, but it was more in a good natured way.  Running into GW students seemed to happen more often anyway.

i met AU students who said they learned anti-georgetown cheers in their freshman orientation, seemed like an inferiority complex to me ... there was nothing like that at georgetown
 
 i know i will definitely feel the reputation issue in terms of employment after law school ... it's tough when there are two better schools in the same city ... i'm just not sure it holds as much water for the undergrad issue
 
 oh, on a more important level, you might want to read some of the news reports about the disgraced former president they just got rid of, there seems to be some major upheavel about to go down on the board of trustees

[sonicyouth42]

One last question, since a couple of you have been.  How useful is the undergraduate program for Journalism or English?  I've been led to believe that it's good for the former and horrible for the latter, but that's just from a couple things I've read.

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
 
 oh, on a more important level, you might want to read some of the news reports about the disgraced former president they just got rid of, there seems to be some major upheavel about to go down on the board of trustees

i skipped freshamn orientation, and never heard a anti-georgetown cheer, that is the first i have even heard of that
 
 and I just realized i said class of '94, i meant class of '98
 
 as far as President Ladner goes, he was never popular, he started the year I got there, and was the first full-time president since the previous one had left in a student sexual harrasment scandal, I actually had the previously disgraced President as a professor, and he was a great one
 
 he actually wrote a book about the sexual abuse he suffered as a child
 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/067941777X/qid=1133494960/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-5949587-3540804?n=507846&s=books&v=glance
 
 Ladner was a corporate guy from Coca Cola there to raise money, he just decided to pocket some for himself as well
 
 also as far as reputation goes, there is no disputing that AU's Political Science and International Services programs are among the best in the country

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

One other important thing I've noticed is that AU and GW girls are a zillion times hotter than they were when I was in college.

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by sonicyouth42:
  One last question, since a couple of you have been.  How useful is the undergraduate program for Journalism or English?  I've been led to believe that it's good for the former and horrible for the latter, but that's just from a couple things I've read.

I was in the Print Journalism program for a couple of years, and decided I hated it, I dont think it was that great, but I just didnt enjoy the classes anyway
 
 I dont know much about the English program, although I do have a friend from AU getting his Masters of Fine Arts for Poetry at George Mason, but he actually ended up graduating undergrad from UNC-Asheville

[Herr Professor Doktor Doom]

My god, what the hell would you do with a Masters of Fine Arts in Poetry?