American is a school that is made up of a student body that passionate about several different areas but we all come together on campus. There is someone who is interested in just about every type of field and major that we have to offer and often people have multiple interests that will overlap with each other. To me AU brings the best parts of college and living in DC together.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Come visit campus! It is the best thing that you can do for yourself while looking at schools. Come in with an idea of which of our five colleges you would be in so that you can take a look at that college and ask questions on your tour that are related to that college. Have a list of things that you are looking for in a school and have things that you will not take off that list. That's how I knew AU was the right school for me.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
Professors demand a high quality of students. I have yet to have a professor where there was not a lot demanded out of me but I have come out of each class extremely happy that I took it. AU is set up with a system of general education requirements that make you take classes in 5 different areas so that you get a well rounded liberal arts education. As one of the few biology majors on campus I have also taken a theater class and have learned just as much as I have in my bio classes.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
The majority of freshman students live on the south side of campus. One of those dorms is being remodeled this summer and the dorm I live in was done a year or two ago. AU is also building a few new dorms next year so that is going to be exciting. As far as the dorm rooms go they are about the average size of a college dorm. There is a lot of storage space to keep all of your things, but I also recommend getting under the bed storage from the container store by campus, Target which is about a 20 minute bus ride away, or at Ikea which you would have to drive to when you move in. Living on campus is great and there are always a lot of actives that the residence halls put on. You will have a RA on your floor and they are there to help. Get to know your RA and those on your floor. Each floor as a common room with a TV, kitchen and couches. My floor does a lot of cooking and its a nice break from eating at TDR all the time. Each floor also has a study room for the times that you just don't want to go to the library.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
We have one traditional dinning hall, Terrace Dinning Room, known around campus as TDR. But there are other options as well. The main source for food is in the Mary Graydon Center where TDR is, as well as an Einstein's Bagels, a salad stop, Pronto (sandwiches), Eagle Express (box lunch), Salsa (Tex-Mex), and then Tavern (burgers). TDR, Eagle Express, Salsa, and Tav take meal swipes and everything else on campus takes Eagle Bucks or dinning dollars. In addition to what is in MGC there is a cafe in Ward, Katzen, SIS, the Mudbox in the library and a Subway by Bender Arena. Here is a tip on Eagle Bucks and Dinning Dollars. Dinning Dollars can only be used on campus where Eagle Bucks can be used off campus and on. I use my Eagle Bucks to buy food at Whole Foods.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
There is so much to do in DC. Getting off of campus is one of the best things that you can do. Going to the monuments, the Smithsonian (which is free!!), the Kennedy Center, Rock Creek Park or anything else in DC. There is always something happening on campus as well, my Facebook invite box is always full of things to do. On campus one of the big things are the speakers that come. This past year Bill Clinton came to speak at that has been the highlight of my year, it was a free event. The University Center also puts on movies every two weeks. Also for those that want to there are frat parties on the weekend or you can go down to K Street and go clubbing.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Yes AU is a bit high in cost, but the aid greatly reduces the cost of attendance. For all that is available on campus, in terms of jobs and internships that are open to AU students it is totally worth the cost of attendance.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
You will see wonk on campus. It's a DC term and something you will come to have a love/hate relationship with. As far as traditions go it varies depending on what groups you are involved with. But putting everything in a short form is one of the most common. We really like acronyms. Location wise there is the beach, which is on south side and on a sunny day you can see why it is called that. Then the quad. That's about it.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
International students. Those who are very interested in politics or international relations. We have really good programs for both of those majors.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
If there is a club that you want to join then they have it here. I can't even tell you off the top of my head how many clubs we actually have here but I know that there is a lot. One of more unique ones to campus is our student government and all of the different aspects that they control. Anyone who wants to be involved in politics should consider joining.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
There is a greek life on campus. There are 7 Panhellenic Sororities and 12 North American Interfraternity Conference members. The majority of students are not a part of greek life and there is no pressure to join but know that it is a part of campus.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Safety on campus is something that AU takes very seriously. The Public Safety building can be found on the south side of campus and there is always an officer walking around campus. We have the blue light phones on various parts of campus. Also Public Safety is not just concerned with the well being of students on campus but that of the city as a whole. We are located right across the street from Homeland Security and that always has made me feel a bit safer.
American is a school that is made up of a student body that passionate about several different areas but we all come together on campus. There is someone who is interested in just about every type of field and major that we have to offer and often people have multiple interests that will overlap with each other. To me AU brings the best parts of college and living in DC together.
Come visit campus! It is the best thing that you can do for yourself while looking at schools. Come in with an idea of which of our five colleges you would be in so that you can take a look at that college and ask questions on your tour that are related to that college. Have a list of things that you are looking for in a school and have things that you will not take off that list. That's how I knew AU was the right school for me.
Professors demand a high quality of students. I have yet to have a professor where there was not a lot demanded out of me but I have come out of each class extremely happy that I took it. AU is set up with a system of general education requirements that make you take classes in 5 different areas so that you get a well rounded liberal arts education. As one of the few biology majors on campus I have also taken a theater class and have learned just as much as I have in my bio classes.
The majority of freshman students live on the south side of campus. One of those dorms is being remodeled this summer and the dorm I live in was done a year or two ago. AU is also building a few new dorms next year so that is going to be exciting. As far as the dorm rooms go they are about the average size of a college dorm. There is a lot of storage space to keep all of your things, but I also recommend getting under the bed storage from the container store by campus, Target which is about a 20 minute bus ride away, or at Ikea which you would have to drive to when you move in. Living on campus is great and there are always a lot of actives that the residence halls put on. You will have a RA on your floor and they are there to help. Get to know your RA and those on your floor. Each floor as a common room with a TV, kitchen and couches. My floor does a lot of cooking and its a nice break from eating at TDR all the time. Each floor also has a study room for the times that you just don't want to go to the library.
We have one traditional dinning hall, Terrace Dinning Room, known around campus as TDR. But there are other options as well. The main source for food is in the Mary Graydon Center where TDR is, as well as an Einstein's Bagels, a salad stop, Pronto (sandwiches), Eagle Express (box lunch), Salsa (Tex-Mex), and then Tavern (burgers). TDR, Eagle Express, Salsa, and Tav take meal swipes and everything else on campus takes Eagle Bucks or dinning dollars. In addition to what is in MGC there is a cafe in Ward, Katzen, SIS, the Mudbox in the library and a Subway by Bender Arena. Here is a tip on Eagle Bucks and Dinning Dollars. Dinning Dollars can only be used on campus where Eagle Bucks can be used off campus and on. I use my Eagle Bucks to buy food at Whole Foods.
There is so much to do in DC. Getting off of campus is one of the best things that you can do. Going to the monuments, the Smithsonian (which is free!!), the Kennedy Center, Rock Creek Park or anything else in DC. There is always something happening on campus as well, my Facebook invite box is always full of things to do. On campus one of the big things are the speakers that come. This past year Bill Clinton came to speak at that has been the highlight of my year, it was a free event. The University Center also puts on movies every two weeks. Also for those that want to there are frat parties on the weekend or you can go down to K Street and go clubbing.
Yes AU is a bit high in cost, but the aid greatly reduces the cost of attendance. For all that is available on campus, in terms of jobs and internships that are open to AU students it is totally worth the cost of attendance.
You will see wonk on campus. It's a DC term and something you will come to have a love/hate relationship with. As far as traditions go it varies depending on what groups you are involved with. But putting everything in a short form is one of the most common. We really like acronyms. Location wise there is the beach, which is on south side and on a sunny day you can see why it is called that. Then the quad. That's about it.
International students. Those who are very interested in politics or international relations. We have really good programs for both of those majors.
If there is a club that you want to join then they have it here. I can't even tell you off the top of my head how many clubs we actually have here but I know that there is a lot. One of more unique ones to campus is our student government and all of the different aspects that they control. Anyone who wants to be involved in politics should consider joining.
There is a greek life on campus. There are 7 Panhellenic Sororities and 12 North American Interfraternity Conference members. The majority of students are not a part of greek life and there is no pressure to join but know that it is a part of campus.
Safety on campus is something that AU takes very seriously. The Public Safety building can be found on the south side of campus and there is always an officer walking around campus. We have the blue light phones on various parts of campus. Also Public Safety is not just concerned with the well being of students on campus but that of the city as a whole. We are located right across the street from Homeland Security and that always has made me feel a bit safer.