Anonymous wrote:^^ AU grad, nah, it's easy to get to DC from AU, so ignore the above.

They are clearly very similar, I would let your kid decide if they want the urban GW to spend their next 4 years, or the close in suburb of AU with it's quad and campus

Ignore at your risk. The fact of the matter is that hundreds of internships are a less than 15 min walk from GW. At AU it takes 15 minutes to walk to the Metro. Students have to be more motivated if they are at AU. If that's your kid, great.

I’ll echo that Elliott is only international relations.

IMO, GW for people interested in political science is the better bet. In addition to the geographically preferable location (if your kid is into the workings of the city), GW has a higher caliber of adjuncts and experts that are integrated into the courses.

American feels past its 1980s-ish prime both physically and reputationally and is suffering from declining enrollment (and corresponding financial challenges).

^^ AU grad, nah, it's easy to get to DC from AU, so ignore the above.

They are clearly very similar, I would let your kid decide if they want the urban GW to spend their next 4 years, or the close in suburb of AU with it's quad and campus

GW is more integrated into the city so students tend to do more internships and gain relevant experience. Those opportunities are available to AU students too, but its more of a slog to get to a Metro stop to go downtown. Experience and connections help post-graduation when the programs/degrees are comparable.

I can't imagine either being much better than the other, but I'd go to neither without HUGE merit aid. Both are overpriced middling private universities.

These are different things. Elliott is for international affairs; it does not offer a political science major. So if you have a lean towards one or the other, that should be your primary determinant.

On the other hand, if the question is about IR at GWU vs AU, Elliott will have more resources and is usually better plugged in to and established with programs around DC. But it isn’t a huge difference.

Anonymous wrote:They're so similar, go with the one you prefer.

Given they are very similar, I'd go with the Honors College. Smaller classes, honors thesis etc.

They're so similar, go with the one you prefer.

GWU would have an edge for now. AU recently hired a competent President so expect their star to rise over the next 4 years.

The internships and job gets will be more important than the school.

Just being local maximizes your opportunities.

GWU ranks slightly higher in political science

I’m an AU Honors poli sci grad from 25 years ago. GW seemed more corporate and expensive. We AU Honors kids all seemed to find our way somewhere.

Federal government

GW Elliott for undergrad

or

American University with admission to the Honors college?

Assume both give equal amount of merit aid.