Can anyone tell me what is like at American University? I am interested in school, but I have bad feelings about the school in regards to the math requirement, additional science courses and other courses, and what is actually going on the Journalism program. I overall have some concerns about the school.
Why are you even interested and thinking about applying if you have bad feelings to begin with? Consider someplace else where you have good feelings for. Its not a positive attitude. Its a wonderful school and I'm a proud mom that my daughter is graduating from AU this may.
I agree with junior_mom. My daughter is having a terrific experience at AU. She doesn't like Math much but she thinks her math professor makes the subject a lot more engaging. If you want us to respond to your concerns, you have to be more specific about what those concerns are.
1.) I am concern about the mathematics requirement at AU. An undergraduate adviser told me that students at AU are required to take Calculus. They said that they will not accept any other math courses. I had taken a Statistic course during the Spring 2011 semester and they said that they will not accept it. They want me to take Calculus and said that taking Calculus is the only way to satifity the math requirement. The problem is that I have a learning disability that brings a defect in mathematics. I cannot do mathematics beyond statistics. Calculus will be extremely difficult to me to pass and to well in. I want to see if the school can accept the math course that I have. AU also have the same course that I have taken and it is equvalent to it called STAT 202: Basic Statistics. The Statistic course that I have taken is STAT 121: Introduction to Statistics for Social Science.
Here is an excerpt of what the undergraduate adviser said to me in an email: " You will also need to take a math class.the only course that would transfer in as the requirement would be Calculus I or higher with a grade of B or higher."
In addition to the mathematics requirements, I also do not want to take too many science courses at AU because I have already taken those courses and AU sees them as "electives" and they want me to take more. The same applies the rest of the general education requirements.
2.) MONEY!!!!! Financial Aid is the problem as well. I am not going to be unable to qualify for grants and scholarships. My parents will most likely will be paying out-of-pocket. I have heard things that AU gives you financial aid-grants, loans, etc, but will take it away from you and use the money for their own purposes. I do not want them embelling money out of me. The school is expensive to attend because of the cost.
3.) I have some concerns with the journalism program and what they teach over there. I do not want to learn any theories of communications nor communication theories, and/or anything not appropriate for journalism. I want to learn the real world skills only, not the theories. I prefer communications to be separated from journalism. I also want to do both broadcast journalism, print journalism, and online journalism. I want to become a multimedia journalists and have skills in all areas. AU said students must choose broadcast or print and I do not want to do that. I want to learn everything of journalism.
I also do not want to be too far from my home which is in Maryland.
4.) The campus is too small (85-90 acres). I am currently in a school that is small and in a rural campus. I do not want to be isolated from my environment nor from people which brings to say something about social life. I want to be able to have friends. I currently do not have friends at my current school-I have been harassed there, students look down on those who not in STEM (Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics) major and the majority of the students stay with in their ethnic group and do not talk to people outside their race. With American, I heard from people that they only care about politics(Yes, because Washington, D.C. is the center for politics) and also that the political science program is very good. I enjoy politics, but I want to talk about other things like sports, life, movies, music, etc. Not just politics alone. I also heard there are cliques at AU as the same cliques in high school and people stay in them and do not go out of their circle. I do not want to feel isolated, lonely, depressed, nor alone as I am in my current school. I want people in a diverse campus to talk to one another outside of their ethnic group and be friends with one another instead of isolating themselves.
I want the real college experience-the large campus, school spirit, and everything which is something that I wanted for a very long time. Also, someone that I know in high school who is a dangerous person may be at AU and I do not want to have anything to do with him. I want nothing to do with him. I do not want to go school here if he is attends AU. I have a strong feeling he is there because he does not attend any other school (not even the community colleges) in DC nor in Maryland and he lives close to his home which is in Washington, D.C.
1.) I am concern about the mathematics requirement at AU. An undergraduate adviser told me that students at AU are required to take Calculus. They said that they will not accept any other math courses. I had taken a Statistic course during the Spring 2011 semester and they said that they will not accept it. They want me to take Calculus and said that taking Calculus is the only way to satisfy the math requirement. The problem is that I have a learning disability that brings a deficit in mathematics. I cannot do mathematics beyond statistics (my math skills ranges from arithmetic, basic algebra/per-algebra, algebra I, algebra II, part of Geometry, and part of trigonometry, and intro stat. I cannot do math in Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, Discreet Mathematics, Analytical Geometry, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus. I cannot do higher math other than the ones that I can do.). Calculus will be extremely and very difficult for me to pass and to do well in. I want to see if the school can accept the math course that I have or give me a wavier so that I can opt-out of taking Calculus at AU. AU also have the same course that I have taken and it is equivalent to it called STAT 202: Basic Statistics. The Statistic course that I have taken is STAT 121: Introduction to Statistics for Social Science, but they will most likely not accept it nor any other mathematics courses apart from Calculus.
Here is an excerpt of what the undergraduate adviser said to me in an email: " You will also need to take a math class.the only course that would transfer in as the requirement would be Calculus I or higher with a grade of B or higher."
In addition to the mathematics requirements, I also do not want to take too many science courses at AU because I have already taken those courses and AU sees them as "electives" and they want me to take more. The same applies the rest of the general education requirements.
2.) MONEY!!!!! Financial Aid is the problem as well. I am not going to be unable to qualify for grants and scholarships. My parents will most likely will be paying out-of-pocket. I have heard things that AU gives you financial aid-grants, loans, etc, but will take it away from you and use the money for their own purposes. I do not want them embezzling money out of me. The school is expensive to attend because of the cost.
3.) I have some concerns with the journalism program and what they teach over there. I do not want to learn any theories of communications nor communication theories, and/or anything not appropriate for journalism. I want to learn the real world skills only, not the theories. I do not want to none of the communication theories and most journalists do not learn this and it is not needed in the profession. I prefer communications to be separated from journalism. I also want to do both broadcast journalism, print journalism, and online journalism. I want to become a multimedia journalists and have skills in all areas. AU said students must choose broadcast or print and I do not want to do that. I want to learn everything of journalism.
I also do not want to be too far from my home which is in Maryland.
4.) The campus is too small (85-90 acres). I am currently in a school that is small and in a rural campus. I do not want to be isolated from my environment nor from people which brings to say something about social life. I want to be able to have friends. I currently do not have friends at my current school-I have been harassed there, students look down on those who not in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors/programs and the majority of the students stay with in their ethnic group and do not talk to people outside their race. With American, I heard from people that they only care about politics(Yes, because Washington, D.C. is the center for politics) and also that the political science program is very good. I enjoy politics, but I want to talk about other things like sports (ESPN, NCAA, College sports, national sports, and international sports, and sports in general), life, movies, music, etc. Not just politics alone. (I want to do both news journalism and sports journalism as well as investigative journalism. I want to learn all types of journalism and diversify myself in them.) I also heard there are cliques at AU as the same cliques in high school and people stay in them and do not go out of their circle. I do not want to feel isolated, lonely, depressed, nor alone as I am in my current school. I want people in a diverse campus to talk to one another outside of their ethnic group and be friends with one another instead of isolating themselves. I would really like to have social life. I would like a social life to be presented on-campus. One that really and actually exist and is really good. I want to have a social life. I would like to have school spirit, advocacy, and activism to be presented on-campus. One that really and actual exist and is really good.
I want the real college experience-the large campus, school spirit, and everything which is something that I wanted for a very long time. Also, someone that I know in high school who is a dangerous person may be at AU and I do not want to have anything to do with him. I want nothing to do with him. I do not want to go school here if he is attends AU. I have a strong feeling he is there because he does not attend any other school (not even the community colleges) in DC nor in Maryland and he lives close to his home which is in Washington, D.C.
Last edited by crazygirl9999; 03-12-2012 at 02:41 AM.
I also concern about on-campus housing for transfer students and to get around in and around the D.C. area and outside of the D.C. area like Maryland and Virginia.
They want me to take Calculus and said that taking Calculus is the only way to satisfy the math requirement.
For the record, this is incorrect. The only college-level class that you could transfer in to satisfy the university's math requirement is Calculus I (or higher). But Calculus I is not the only way to satisfy the university's math requirement--even for a transfer student.
You could satisfy it by exam.
You could satisfy it by taking a math class on the level of the 150s (basically the level of high school Algebra II) or higher, or a statistics course, at American.
Your complaints are really hard to read correctly, try editing. Also, it sounds as though you do not want to go there. So like the previous poster said, don't. You would be doing yourself a disservice attending school somewhere that you already have a negative light about. What is making you choose AU? If you do not like the programs they offer, why choose it?
I agree with Sikorsky about the math requirement. Usually a person is excited to go to a particular school but realize its not for them then they transfer but you on the other hand starting out with so many concerns, you will NOT be happy. AU can be great for the right student who takes advantage of its location and opportunities available. My daughter had 7 amazing Internships and already been offered a job. Her Advisor has been her big sister. She even knows the Dean by first name. It is expensive like any private school.
One important point is if money is an issue DONT go to AU. Good luck!
I read your post 3 times and as a mother it concerns me. I get the feeling you do not want to go to AU but someone is forcing you to go?
Please don't take this the wrong way. I feel you will be better off at a big state school. I think you have not had a good social life so far and you need some nice friendly accepting friends in your life. In a big state school you will have a diverse student body and you can find your niche there.
Don't worry too much about specific courses yet. Take a wide variety of liberal arts courses and find what you like first. No one is matured at 18-20 to know exactly what they want. AU is a great school for an agressive go getter who takes charge themselves.
AU can be a very clicque'y school. Being a smaller school and the kids usually are (not always the case) from upper middle class homes so they act entitled. Also the girls ratio is higher it can get very mean. So defenetly coming in as a transfer it will be hard breaking into a group.
Again, please do not take this the wrong way, maybe you also should talk to your parents or someone and express your concrens and take advice. Again this is a mother speaking.
I feel you will be very happy in a big state school...How about UMD?
Last edited by junior_mom; 03-12-2012 at 12:05 PM.
If you have a learning disability, and relatively recent neuro-psych testing results to submit, you may be able to waive out of the math requirement at AU (and at many other colleges). You should contact the AU disabilities office (which is quite excellent) for clarification.
But I also don't understand why you are even considering AU.
crazygirl,
I don't mean this in a disparaging manner, but is English your first language? Your post is written with such poor grammar and syntax that I question your ability to do well in a journalism program, at AU or anywhere else.
While journalism is very strong at AU, it might be the wrong program for you and your interests. Have you considered the program at Syracuse University? Or the program at Itaca College ? Both seem that they might be more closely aligned with your interests, and Syracuse especially would seem to have the vibe that you are seeking.
Why are you interested in AU? I'm just curious, because it does not seem to offer most of what you are seeking in a college experience.
boysx3, yes, I have looked at Ithaca College (you misspelled Ithaca) and Syracuse University. Ithaca College is a small campus and my parents had some concerns of me attending there because the majority of students being Caucasian over there . With Syracuse University, I have talked with the schools many times on the phone and by email. I heard that it is cold down there and the surroundings outside of campus is rural. There is nothing much going on outside of the Syracuse University's campus. However, they do have a good journalism program, but my parents had some concerns regarding location and how it is close to the Canadian border. This not only applies to Syracuse University but also for Ithaca College. Sorry for the ill-mannered, poorly written post that I had created. Thank you for your response.
Crazzygirl9999, Please dont worry about your writing. Noone is perfect. Sweety, don't worry everything will work out. Its great that you have ambition and drive and you are taking charge and exploring all options. A lot of people give up. All the very best to you. I know wherever you do end up, you will work hard and be the best you can be. Keep up the faith!
