<p>Mini, it is silly to describe the schools as having “profoundly different academics.” It is true that GW does have engineering, but it is one of its WORSE offerings, and GW constantly considers ending its programs in engineering. It makes little sense to attend GW for engineering. Also, GW has a medical school, so there are some offerings there as a result that are not offered at AU (although, ironically, the premedical program and advising at AU is actually better than that at GW). Otherwise, the academic strengths of both AU and GW are quite similar–perhaps AU has stronger programs in communications, the arts, and GW has stronger programs in some of the health sciences, but both institutions tend to be known for public affairs, international affairs, political science, etc., and the two schools’ reputations in these areas are pretty similar. The student bodies of both schools are pretty academically similar in terms of qualifications, particularly in the last two years.</p>