<p>After getting clarification from oregonianmom, I recommended some AU-specific things to see while visiting the campus, and I offer the same advice to anyone else who’s visiting AU:</p>
<p>It’s been a while since I led tours at AU, but I imagine that most things are the same–you’ll see a dorm room, the quad, a classroom, the sports center, and the dining facilities. Go on the official tour, but make sure you see a few other things as well.</p>
<p>I had a business trip back to DC in October of last year and visited the campus for the first time in about 8 years. Here are things I would be sure to see:</p>
<p>The new Katzen Arts Center. It’s the largest college art museum in DC. Fantastic building (I didn’t get a chance to go in while I was there).</p>
<p>Go into Mary Graydon Center and see if you can visit the Terrace Dining Room. This is the cafeteria for the campus, and it might not be on your tour–you may see other dining options on your tour.</p>
<p>Check out a computer lab. I think the main one is in the library now, but I’m not sure. Check out the library while you’re there.</p>
<p>Go down behind the Beeghly Chemistry Building to the plaque that overlooks the track and soccer field. It’s a commemorative plaque about a commencement speech that JFK gave–and this is a very nice place from which to view the campus. If you want an even better panoramic view of the campus, go to the far sideline of the soccer field–from this point, you can see that the campus is a little bigger than it seems.</p>
<p>The biggest thing to note about AU vs. GW is the campus setting. AU’s campus is nearly park-like, and even though it is located in DC, the surroundings are quite nice (just check out the homes in the Spring Valley neighborhood behind the campus!). GW’s campus is more intermingled with downtown. It’s a vey different feel.</p>