stats for American and GWU. we are full pay

[Anonymous]

American LOVES demonstrated interest. Go to one of their open houses. If an admissions officer comes to your kid's high school, make sure they attend the presentation. It really helps in their admission deliberations.

Also, if your kid gets in to either or both, consider waiting until close to May 1st to commit. Every year is different, but last year, both schools seemed to be struggling to meet their enrollment goals, and the following occurred in late April:

My kid got into American (via Early Action in January), but was offered no merit (and no need based aid). My kid did not respond either way, and around April 25th, American proactively reached out and offered 20k per year merit.

My kid was offered admission to GW in mid-March last year, but via the first year abroad program in Paris. My kid did not respond either way, and in late April, GW offered a regular admission slot, starting with all the other students on the main campus.

My daughter went elsewhere, but both schools sweetened their offers at the last minute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:American University should admit your student. Great, beautiful, safe location in NW DC.

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is a senior at American, and it's been a great experience. It has the benefits of being in a vibrant city with a beautiful campus in a great neighborhood, unlike GW. I've heard of some students getting rejected for SIS (School of International Studies) - it's a competitive major. If you are interested in a different major, it should be easier. The food is notoriously bad, so budget for a lot of eating off campus. School sports not great but you can go to local Wizards, Commanders, Capitals games instead.

What majors are "easier?"

[Anonymous]

Well, huge difference between AU and GW for things described. For example, from GW, you jump on the metro and take it three stops to a game at CapOne. From AU, you walk 15-20 minutes to the red line to take it into the city. AU is a suburban school that is in DC technically but not really integrated into the city. GW lacks a rolling campus but is literally in the heart of the city and is connected to the DC scene (in terms of internships, visiting professors, programs) that AU is not. Also, check AU's financial situation. It's not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, huge difference between AU and GW for things described. For example, from GW, you jump on the metro and take it three stops to a game at CapOne. From AU, you walk 15-20 minutes to the red line to take it into the city. AU is a suburban school that is in DC technically but not really integrated into the city. GW lacks a rolling campus but is literally in the heart of the city and is connected to the DC scene (in terms of internships, visiting professors, programs) that AU is not. Also, check AU's financial situation. It's not good.

I went to AU. Loved the campus, loved my experience there. Getting to downtown DC was very easy. No one ever "walked" to the Tenleytown metro unless 1) it was the middle of the night, or 2) it was a nice day and they wanted to walk. There is a shuttle bus that runs every 12-15 minutes from early morning until after midnight. It is super-easy and convenient, a 10-minute ride. Bonus: If you do find yourself walking along Nebraska, New Mexico or Massachusetts Ave. in the middle of the night, you are in a lovely, peaceful, and perfectly safe neighborhood. I wouldn't say the same about GW.

[Anonymous]

Mary Washington as an option too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is having some health challenges and needs to stay close by. Would rather not do Mason if possible (just too close) and doesn't have stats for Georgetown. Are these really hard to get into?

Right now 11th grade 2 APs 4.0 avg after 10th- all A's so far this year, but maybe will end with a b or 2 due to health challenges, not surei. Will most likely take 3 AP next year. Honors for all core and will reach AP span senior year.

We don't have a lot of naviance data since it isn't a frequent admit at our school.

I don't know if they will be too hard to get into and DC should look at a Marymount or Catholic, but we aren't religious so would prefer the other if possible.

It sounds like you are VA in-state? If so, just to remind that GMU is slightly over $33k all in, whereas American is $80k and George Washington is $92k. Our DD, too, needed to be close to home. We didn’t have the luxury of looking at private versus in-state VA. DC had a great four years living in the dorms at GMU, rarely came home and took advantage of GMU’s five satellite campuses including Korea. please don’t write off a campus just because your kid hears some crap at school about 13th grade. GMU is enormous - they are never going to see their high school friends. Also, what major?

Now, $83,600. https://www.american.edu/financialaid/cost-of-attendance/undergraduate-first-year-students.cfm

[Anonymous]

American was one of the few schools my 24 got zero merit for. I don't think GW is very generous either. Neither terribky ahrd to get in though and bit nice schools. Try adding Loyola MD? Dickinson isn't real far, Both good merit. F&M?

[Anonymous]

American you’ll get into no problem. GWU is a harder admit but I think think you would have a strong chance.

[Anonymous]

Your kid may have a preference after visiting the campus. I'd apply to both and see if you get any merit offers.

[Anonymous]

As others have stated, American LOVES demonstrated interest. Attend the tours, interact with the admission's counselors. Since you're local, nothing stops you from visiting and visiting.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC is having some health challenges and needs to stay close by. Would rather not do Mason if possible (just too close) and doesn't have stats for Georgetown. Are these really hard to get into?

Right now 11th grade 2 APs 4.0 avg after 10th- all A's so far this year, but maybe will end with a b or 2 due to health challenges, not surei. Will most likely take 3 AP next year. Honors for all core and will reach AP span senior year.

We don't have a lot of naviance data since it isn't a frequent admit at our school.

I don't know if they will be too hard to get into and DC should look at a Marymount or Catholic, but we aren't religious so would prefer the other if possible.

DD applied EA in Fall and to Honors program. 4.0 wgpa, 1350, strong ec's. One parent went to school there, not sure if that helped. Expressed lots of demonstrated interest. Accepted to Honors and with $40k merit. HHI $250k.

[Anonymous]

Your DC should be competitive for GW, which also values demonstrated interest.

GW's sticker price is just that. It is quite generous with merit aid. You can get a sense of the average, after discount price at

https://www.tuitiontracker.org/schools/george-washington-university-131469

AU might well offer a cozier, less daunting environment b/c of its location. GW is in the middle of a city. But AU is struggling financially, more so than GW. Always good to browse a few recent issues of the student newspapers to get a sense of what is happening on campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:American was one of the few schools my 24 got zero merit for. I don't think GW is very generous either. Neither terribky ahrd to get in though and bit nice schools. Try adding Loyola MD? Dickinson isn't real far, Both good merit. F&M?

Also, Gettysburg is even closer to DC than Dickinson and F&M, is an academic peer to both of those schools, and generally gives even higher merit to strong-ish students. A lot of kids get merit in high 40s from Gettysburg, bringing the tuition down to under 20k (excluding room and board).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i dont understand this, your child has health issues and you don't want him close by at mason? if anything it solidfies going there. 5 minute emergency trip vs going into dc

you'll have to trust that I know what is appropriate, then. the kid can keep their doctor appts with current doctors if they're in DC, and that I know what they can handle/want. If my kid needed emergency care in 5 min, they wouldn't be living in a dorm or college most likely.

And I don't mind Mason at all, asking for other options close by. I've made it clear that I think Mason is great.

Don't worry about the other poster. A large percentage of the posters on here only recommend in-state schools and are very much against private schools unless they are top 20. They completely ignore that people have reasons for being willing and able to spend money for certain schools. I would also point out that the sticker price isn't always the final price.

I would think that your child would be a competitive applicant at both American and GW. Just make sure that you pick one of the majors that aren't super competitive to increase your chances. Also, demonstrated interest definitely helps.

Good luck!