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Apply GWU or AU early action..? or both? Both their IR and IB programs are good ... plz help

By Billy14_007 (Billy14_007) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 06:53 pm: Edit

I am considering GWU if that helps any.

By Squaremouse (Squaremouse) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 08:55 pm: Edit

Hello!
My personal vote for you would be GWU. Right now I am attending their Summer Scholars Program, and it is increadably awesome.
Since you are interested in majoring in the area of International Affairs, I think you would really enjoy a lot of the options GW has to offer. Internships are available on a grand scale (with a little competition) and they are close to where the campus is... which brings me to how great the location is. With GW being in the middle of the city, anything you could possibly want is there. Politics, History, Arts, Diversity, etc. There is also a Metro station right on the campus which lets you travel around D.C. quickly and in a more economical manner than having to bring a car.
AU has more of a "college campus" feel, which is better for a lot of people I know.
If you haven't already, I highly recomend visting the campuses of AU and GW and seeing which one you perfer. If you don't mind the urban-ness of GW, go for it...

By Billy14_007 (Billy14_007) on Sunday, July 13, 2003 - 02:29 pm: Edit

I agree with Squaremouse but how about for a history major such as myself?. Would GWU be a good fit for me?

By Squaremouse (Squaremouse) on Monday, July 14, 2003 - 10:22 am: Edit

Billy,
I have heard of quite a few people here who are focusing on getting a History major and then countinuing on to Law School (GW doesn't have a specific 'Pre-Law' program). From what I have seen the History department is pretty good especially it is an imporant conjoining aspect to the Elliot School of IA, and the History department its self is quite large - http://www.gwu.edu/~history/new/

As to knowing if GW is a 'good fit' for you, I couldn't tell you. I would (once again) highly recomend this school to anyone who doesn't mind the HUGE political/liberal aspect of this school and how urban the setting is. This isn't to say that you already have to be used to an urban city or be a far left liberal (I myself came from a smaller city and I am a conservitive) but you need to be able to segue into this lifestyle.

Good luck with GWU. I might see ya one day.

-Michelle
(AbatedLight-MSN AIM Yahoo)

By Anotherdad (Anotherdad) on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 - 12:25 pm: Edit

Apply to both and look for the best deal. Both are good.

Advantages for AU -- The largest IR program in the country and the campus environment within an upscale residential neighborhood.
Advantages for GW -- The pleasant urban environment, which is certainly not aggressively urban. I think it has more of a medium-sized town feel.

By Tobymcc (Tobymcc) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 05:38 pm: Edit

I went to AU and think that it is a great school. It has a lot to offer. I say visit both and decide for yourself.

By Magicdragonfly (Magicdragonfly) on Wednesday, July 16, 2003 - 07:28 pm: Edit

blah...I used to be looking @ AU..then I realized that there is no way in heck that i'll be able to afford like 40000 a year..ick

By Libroschico (Libroschico) on Thursday, July 17, 2003 - 01:19 pm: Edit

I agree with AnotherDad, you should apply to both regular decision and then compare offers. Early decision is a gutsy choice to make if you can't afford a school's "sticker price," and both of these schools are extremely expensive. In terms of comparing the two, they both have excellent IR programs, but they are totally different schools. AU is a much more "traditional" school. GW's urban campus might be right for one student but terrible for another. In my opinion, AU has a nicer campus in terms of greenery, but GW has nicer buildings (they are better equipped and dorms are decidedly more "posh"). I guess it's a fair trade off. Something else that you'll want to consider is that GW has a self-professed "impatience" with traditional education. Right now, they are thinking about instituting a mandatory summer for rising juniors (like Dartmouth). Again, this might be an advantage for some students and a disadvantage for others. It's all about what you want out of a school.

By Anotherdad (Anotherdad) on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 04:03 pm: Edit

Magicdragonfly,
AU and GWU are expensive, although $40K is probably a bit higher than reality. The Best 345 Colleges lists AU $22K and GW at $23, and both come out at about $31K with room and board. However, both show large frosh grants. It might be worthwhile to apply and see if an acceptable offer is made.

Bomb, Two more thoughts. GWU may be urban, but it sure is a laid-back urban, almost like a campus. The AU IR program estimates that 95% of their students do study-abroad programs, if that interests you.
Libro -- Thanks for the information about possible mandatory summers at GW. It will tend to get the graduation rate up, which is pretty good to start.

By Hollaratme (Hollaratme) on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 04:22 pm: Edit

wats au

By Thedad (Thedad) on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 08:48 pm: Edit

American U. in Wash., Da Capital

By Libroschico (Libroschico) on Friday, July 18, 2003 - 09:32 pm: Edit

Anotherdad, $40,000 is just about on the mark. I visited both AU and GW in June. AU quoted $38,000 and GW said $40,000 after all expenses are factored in. AU has a few full tuition scholarships; GW caps merit aid at $20,000.

By Bomb (Bomb) on Saturday, July 19, 2003 - 12:47 am: Edit

Wow thanks guys for the helpful advices, I guess i'll just apply to both colleges and see the result.

By Apg (Apg) on Sunday, July 20, 2003 - 02:58 pm: Edit

Viscerally, I found the AU campus to look and feel like a secret police headquarters. GW had a much more pleasant atmosphere, but the dorm that I saw seemed like a public health hazard (I don't remember what it was called).

By Tsdad (Tsdad) on Sunday, July 20, 2003 - 05:47 pm: Edit

I work in DC. Most of the above is on target except I can't anything about the quality of the dorms.

GWU is near Georgetown, and you can walk there is just a few minutes. AU does have a shuttle bus to a subway stop, Tenely Circle on upper Wisconsin Ave., but it's not as convenient as GW's Metro stop on 23rd St.

By Libroschico (Libroschico) on Sunday, July 20, 2003 - 11:10 pm: Edit

Apq, that would probably be Thurston Hall aka "the zoo" -- It houses over 1,000 freshmen and it is where they took us on our tour. The tour guide said that it was one of the worst buildings, but I thought it was still about ten times better than AU's dorms. I would think that having a private bath in each room should cut down on some of the sanitary issues, but then again I haven't lived there.

By Bobby443 (Bobby443) on Saturday, October 18, 2003 - 11:29 pm: Edit

"Viscerally, I found the AU campus to look and feel like a secret police headquarters."

heh, ya thats a good description of it. I looked at both recently, AU has a more conservative base than GW, but lacks the connected feeling (to DC) that GW is all about.