AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY

4400 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, NORTHWEST, WASHINGTON, DC 20016-8001 • ADMISSIONS: 202-885-6000 • FAX: 202-885-1025
FIANCIAL AID: 202-885-6100 • E-MAIL: AFA@AMERICAN.EDU • WEBSITE: WWW.AMERICAN.EDU

STUDENTS SAY

Academics

American University in Washington, DC boasts a “rigorous” and “very challenging” academic experience that offers students all the benefits of its location close to the political center of the country. The School of Public Affairs is nationally renowned, and “The international studies program is one of the best in
world.” There’s a “strong business school” too. “Aside from its location,” best thing about American University is its ability to offer the course catalog of a midsized university while maintaining the feel of a small liberal arts college. “Small classes” ensure that “discussion flows freely.” “Extremely accessible professors “love to teach” and “look forward to speaking with students an helping them in their academic careers.” It’s not uncommon for an AU faculty member to “have real-world experience with a major corporation, government agency, or international organization.” The “amazing” Career Center helps s dents to find “good jobs” and brings big-time recruiters to camp “Volunteering with a nonprofit organization” is also a common student activity Though the AU campus is “completely wireless,” “a few buildings are in ne of repair,” and many students think that the library could use some improvement. “The science facilities don’t need any TlC,” but only because “No one using them,” one student says.

Life

“The best thing about AU is if you want to do it, it’s here for you; if not, it won bother you.” A club exists “for just about every type of person you can
of.” Parties “are big on the weekends, but they don’t dominate campus life, and “The nightlife on and off campus is always active.” AU is located “a little ways outside of the downtown area,” but virtually everything is “just a short Metro ride away.” “There’s so much to do for fun in DC, it’s stunning,” asserts a sophomore. “Midnight trips to the national monuments” are popular, as are “touring the Smithsonian Museums for free, sampling ethnic food in Adam Morgan, and visiting trendy coffee shops” near Dupont Circle. Attendin “protests” is big, too, if that’s your bag. Back on campus, AU provides a plethora of speakers. Recent invitees have included Bob Dole, John Kerry, and “former presidents of several countries.” Of course, because of the school’s location, politics “infect the campus”: “Watching CNN” and “working on the Hill” are everyday activities for many students. “Social justice and community-service groups” are also “very popular.” “This school lives, breathes, eats, and sleeps politics,” explains one student. “When William Rehnquist died, I was at a fraternity party, and when we heard about it over half the party left to go watch the news.”

Student Body

American is not really a place for the “college-y college experience,” asserts one undergrad, though “It can be if that’s what you want.” “The atypical student is the norm”: The “passionate” and highly “eclectic” student population here runs the gamut from “hippies to hard-core young Republicans.” There are “pretty- boy frat guys looking for their next keg to conquer” and “political enthusiasts who love to debate the hottest issues.” There are “bookish students” and “pseudo-serious intellectuals.” You’ll find students of every socioeconomic level and “a good number of minorities.” One student says that “for every person who pops his collar, there is someone with blue hait” AU boasts a throng of international students, “a large gay population,” and lots of women: “Our female/male ratio is 60/40. I would not complain if we had more guys on campus,” laments a frustrated female. Not surprisingly, the biggest differences among students involve politics. “There is a huge amount of contention between the liberals and conservatives on campus,” observes a sophomore “The conservatives walk around like high and mighty warriors of truth, and the liberals walk around like they’re saving the world from the conservatives.”

ADMISSIONS

Very important factors considered include: Rigor of secondary school record, standardized test scores. Important factors considered include: Academic CPA, application essay, class rank, extracurricular activities, recommendation(s), volunteer work. Other factors considered include: Alumni/ae relation, character/personal qualities, first generation, geographical residence, interview, level of applicant’s interest, racial/ethnic status, talent/ability, work experience. SAT or ACT required; SAT Subject Tests recommended; ACT with Writing component required. TOEFL required of all international applicants. High school diploma is required, and CED is accepted. Academic units required: 4 English, 3 math, 2 science (2 science labs), 2 foreign language, 2 social studies, 3 academic electives. Academic units recommended: 4 English, 4 math, 4 science, 3 foreign language, 4 social studies, 4 academic electives.

The Inside Word

While DC is a popular locale for undergrads, it also has its fair share of topnotch universities. For that reason, American must compete for students with a number of area schools, so its admissions stats are relatively relaxed for applicants who have strong academic records. Nonetheless, American is a solid option, especially for those interested in government and international relations. Candidates with leadership experience are particularly appealing to Admissions Officers at AU

FIANCIAL AID

Students should submit: FAFSA, institution’s own financial aid form. Regular filing deadline is February 15. The Princeton Review suggests that all financial aid forms be submitted as soon as possible after January 1. Need-based scholarships/rants offered: Pell Grant, SEOC, state scholarships/grants, private scholarships, the school’s own gift aid. Academic merit scholarships: Presidential Scholarships, Dean’s Scholarships, Leadership Scholarships, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships (transfers only), Tuition Exchange Scholarships, United Methodist Scholarships, and other private/restricted scholarships are awarded by the Undergraduate Admissions Office. Most scholarships do not require a separate application and are renewable for up to 3 years if certain criteria are met. Loan aid offered: Direct Subsidized Stafford, Direct Unsubsidized Stafford, Direct PLUS, FFEL PLUS, Federal Perkins Loan, college/university loans from institutional funds, Applicants will be notified of awards on or about April 1.
FROM THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE

‘ideas, action, and service—at AU, you interact regularly with decision makers and leaders in every profession and corner of the globe. You’ll be academically challenged in a rich multicultural environment. Our expert teaching faculty provide a strong liberal arts education, characterized by small classes, use of cutting-edge technology, and an interdisciplinary curriculum in the
arts, education, humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Not just a political town, Washington, DC offers a variety of research, internship, and community service opportunities in every field. Our AU Abroad Program, with over 80 international locations, lets you expand your studies into international settings. The Princeton Review selected AU for the 2005 edition of America’s Best Value Colleges. AU was one of 77 schools, and the only one from DC, selected s a ‘best value’ for its combination of outstanding academics, moderate tuition, and financial aid packages.
‘AU requires all applicants graduating from high school in, or after, 2006 to take the new SAT or the ACT with the Writing section. Fall 2008 applicants are allowed to submit scores from the old versions of both tests as their best scores will be used in making admissions decisions.”