<p>Hi dc2014! I’m a current AU senior and have a minor in IR (I started out as an IR major but then switched)…and to top that off I took Arabic as a freshman and loved it.</p>
<p>It’s hard to explain the differences between the 3 schools, and just like everyone before me has said, it’s mostly about how it feels for the individual. I loved the variety of courses and the fact that I’d have lots of time to choose my concentration. AU requires that IR majors take a solid core curriculum in foreign policy, international issues, and language before choosing their functional and regional concentrations. So that was great for me. It’s also really easy to double major or minor so you can add another program that interests you. If not for that I don’t know what I’d do!</p>
<p>Another thing that SIS really emphasizes–and other schools at AU also focus on–is service. So that’s something to consider, or at least it was for me.</p>
<p>As for Arabic, I took it my first semester at AU with absolutely no previous study. I actually really liked not having class every day (we had it 3 days a week) because that gave me time to study, try to do the assignments, and then try them again before class. I was a lot more comfortable with my knowledge in each class. My professor also placed huge emphasis on the oral component so we had to be ready to speak in class on the fly. An extra night to study up was really helpful.</p>
<p>Hope that helps!! Good luck with everything!</p>