Housing Policy Change

AUTransfer
Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:32:41 +0000

Hec2008: Yes and no. The Frat system on AU is very nice – the Frats are in houses off campus. However in DC (and in many East Coast states) a certain number of girls (I believe it’s 5 in DC – cannot live in a house together without being considered a brothel in a legal sense. So the Sororities are in dorms, on campus.



AU seems to be doing just fine with enrollment, hence the new housing policy. Furthermore, people who apply ED already have a SERIOUS vested interest in AU and aren’t debating between AU and UMD. The SAT OPTIONAL policy was tested out to see if the same high academic standards, and tradition of excellence can be achieved by looking at a more comprehensive view of the student. ie. High school GPA, extracurriculars, volunteer experience and essays – rather than a numbers only policy. So they had to be more involved people, and more active in their community. It’s easy to get a high GPA when all you’re focusing on is school, but they make poor additions to the college community. As a student, I appreciate them considering taking on a policy that would make them get to know me before making a decision, even though I had scores well into the ‘middle 50’ when I applied.

a) Not all students who live off campus live in NW DC, they commute in from as far away as Springfield and Tysons Corner in Virginia and well into Maryland where housing is cheaper.
b) There are many housing options both on Craigslist and on the AU hosted Off Campus Living site in the Friendship Heights/Tenleytown areas , that are for 600-700$ a month for a room TO YOUR SELF. That means that the number would be cut down to 300$-400$ a month if students chose to get a roommate like they would in a college dorm situation. The AU Room and Board bill for Fall 2009 was 12,930$ for an 11 and a half month lease. A 700$ room to yourself puts you in $8,050$ for an 11 and half month lease.
c) Sophomores will not be affected by this new housing policy. The only way that they will be affected is by having a higher percentage chance of getting into Centennial than they previously did. Furthermore, I’m going to be a Senior next semester – I’m not concerned. It will be a change, and yes it will be new, but thats it.