Second thoughts about American University

rawtheekuh
Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:02:06 +0000

Hi everyone,
When I was in high school, I wanted to come to American University extremely badly because of its location in DC and its International Studies program. I’ve loved my social experience and I adore the friends that I’ve made at this school. Some of my professors have been fantastic, but my overall academic experience hasn’t been as challenging as I thought it would be.

Although I only had a 3.49/3.5 in high school, I took many AP courses and had over 30 credit hours worth of AP classes coming into AU. I made a 3.71 my first semester and made the Dean’s List. I believe my GPA will be above a 3.5 this semester as well (probably ~3.69/3.7) and anticipate being on the Dean’s List this semester, too.

However, I feel that I sold myself short in high school by not considering GW or Georgetown as options. Frankly, I feel overqualified for AU academically and am honestly paying a huge amount of money for a school that is only respectable and not fantastic. I figure if I’m going to pay 30k+ a year for school, shouldn’t it be for a place that is far more prestigious?

I’m caught between staying and transferring because AU has many wonderful programs, especially in International Studies. However, AU seems like a one-trick pony and I want a school that is strong in many areas. Georgetown seems to be this way, and its School of Foreign Service has a reputation as wonderful, if not better than the School of International Service.

I love AU’s focus on peace and social justice issues, but it often comes at the expense of ideological diversity. I’m extremely liberal politically, but I am turned off by the overwhelmingly leftist attitudes of the student body, faculty, and staff. I want to hear different ideas and opinions from my peers and professors.

I also want to study abroad in my junior year, but transferring to Georgetown would probably hamper me from doing that. Then again, I could always travel after graduation or go abroad during the summer.

HELP ME! I apologize for writing a novel, but I really need other opinions.