It’s sad to hear about highly qualified kids who wanted to go to AU and weren’t accepted. But if AU practices “yield protection” (and I have no idea whether they do), I’m sure they know the data behind it. They know how many kids with scores of X have accepted their offers in past years. It would be stupid for them to accept lots of kids who are unlikely to attend – not just because it makes their stats look bad (the cynical interpretation), but for a good reason: they would have to be prepared for more than expected (though not all) to attend, which would require waitlisting lots of kids whom they would otherwise accept and who WOULD attend but might not choose to wait out the waitlist. So they’d end up with a weaker class. While some kids with high stats have said here that they would have attended, AU might know that most, in the end, wouldn’t have.
I don’t know whether AU is being cynical, shooting themselves in the foot, or being practical about what it takes to get the best class overall – which of course isn’t measured just by scores. But they’re professionals, so I’ll assume the latter.
Anyway, good luck to everyone. I still remember an awkwardly-worded line from a rejection letter I received from Brown 41 years ago: “It matters less where you go to college than what you go with and for.”
Accepted 29 ACT, 1370 SAT, 3.33 UW 3.54 W. IB Diploma Candidate. Three Sports. Multiple Clubs and a few leadership positions. White, Male. Didn’t receive any financial aid aside from $2k in loans.
My issue with AU decisions has nothing to do weather someone was waitlisted, accepted or rejected. It is all about how they rolled out decisions. My sons first guess as to his status when he received an email from the mentorship program congratulating him on his admission. We had never heard about the mentorship and had to then begin trying to solve the puzzle of what that means. Two days later, I received an email: “…by now you’ve read the mentorship brochure in your childs admission packet…” No, actually I didn’t because my child did not get an admission packet yet. AU clearly said all packets would be received by April 1st. So why are they emailing vague information about a program that we didn’t know existed and are now confused about. 2 days later, the packet came and clearly says on the front Welcome to American University. One would think they were accepted…but no, they’re really not. Every other school we have dealt with rolled out admissions beautifully. AU needs a new system. This is a very big deal to these kids and to play this game of: you’re accepted, but you’re not really accepted…and, to give status information in this backwards way is absurd.
I got accepted with
3.95 unweighted GPA and a 31 on the ACT
I was on the debate team and was apart of a few clubs and NHS
I visited campus and showed genuine interest in going there. I was hearing a lot of students were wait listed or denied because their stats were too high. (Is this true?) If that is the case, I feel visiting the campus would make them feel like you actually want to go to that school, or at least contacting them. Best of luck to everyone though!
@usuallyconfused You’re spot on. Adding to what you’ve written, some students have been able to access portals before the admissions mail went out - able to see Fall or Spring Admission, financial aid and housing agreement. It hypes u[ the whole experience up in a negative way for students waiting for a response. You can’t tell me they can’t shut the portal down during this mail notification period.
@HeyItsNick You seem to have an affiliation to American and write “But AU has a responsibility to ensure the long-term success of the University. Decreasing the admission rate (which is being done in a variety of shady ways like offering the “mentorship program” or waitlisting competitive applicants) has the eventual goal of having AU increase in ranks and more competitive students applying, we are not at that point yet, however.” It’s unfortunate that AU would use, as you write, “shady ways”, to ensure success.
@skierdad Great statement “It matters less where you go to college than what you go with and for.”
I know the whole admissions process is tiring, Anyone applying to American, accepted or not, has the right stuff and will figure out what works for them!
Okay guys I need help. American hasn’t sent me anything in the mail yet. They gave me a free app so I applied on the last day and didn’t even write their optional supplement questions (TBH I was too lazy). Is there anyone else who hasn’t recieved anything?
Waitlisted with a 3.7 Unweighted GPA and a 4.3 Weighted GPA. Lots of APs/IBs, volunteer work and involvement in school. VP of NHS, co-founded/ President of a club, Secretary of W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society. Recommendations, supplements, and essay was great. Applied over a month early. Visited the campus and even applied for FDDS. A girl in my AP Lit class has a 3.1 Unweighted GPA and she got in for Fall 2017 with a $53,000/year scholarship. She’s planning to major in Spanish Language and Culture which is apparently a huge thing at American. Lol idk
I showed so much interest :’( I wanted to go to American since sophomore year so I worked so hard to bring my GPA up. Got a 1420 on the SAT and a 34 on the ACT. All to get waitlisted. To not even get into my dream school. Not even for Spring 2018. :((( I’m actually so sad lol. GWU or UMD it is I guess… UGH FSHDBFDHBFDHJ i’M SAD. Okay, let me stop. It’s not like I was rejected…
@adoxography -we, in our house, feel you pain. My d was rejected from her first choice school, Northeastern. She visited so many times, she was on a first name basis with the admissions staff.
It kills her now to see kids on here saying they were accepted but have no intentions of going, when she would give anything to be there.
This new era of Common App admissions process, is very painful. Students everywhere apply to so many schools to be sure they get in somewhere ( and we are guilty as well) taking up spots that other kids really really want. There has to be a better system.
Is someone willing to sum up what was talked about in the mentorship webinar today or share a link where I can access a video of it? I was unable to have access to the webinar unfortunately and was admitted as a spring 2018 admit. I would really appreciate it, congrats to all those who were accepted!
With regards to waitlist post above - copy and email the post directly to the admissions director and your rep for the answer. Although, not a fan of AU’s admissions roll out, I can’t imagine that info being announced by admissions via a webinar or in a webinar chat. Do not decline waitlist because of info posted on CC.
@lovingcollege I wouldn’t decline because of it, but a lot of people were asking very pointed questions and the woman who runs the mentorship program said they do not expect to even go to the waitlist this year.
