I've been at both for various reasons, all related to IR.

AU is smaller, feels almost like a SLAC with only 6,000 undergrads. They have a traditional campus in a quiet(ish) part of town, shuttle or walk to the metro. There's a big focus on public service.

GWU has far more majors including in things like engineering that AU doesn't offer. The "campus" is in Foggy Bottom and just part of the city. It is twice as big as AU.

They're both pretty comparable, rankings-wise, for something like IR (as in, they're both in the 5-10 ranking), and overall, the stats for admitted students are similar.

GWU sticker price is a little higher, but after merit and need-based aid is calculated in, they come out pretty similar. (Pricey)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AU is a bit crunchier and wonky; GW has a wealthier vibe (and it does have a campus in Foxhall that feels like a campus in addition to the urban campus that feels like the Nations Capital).

Gross generalizations, of course, coming from my midwestern Prep school cousin who toured both.

Wait . . . so you don't live in DC, don't know anything about the schools, and feel OK passing along secondhand "information" from a high school kid from the midwest who toured the schools? On a Washington, D.C. website?

Well, thank you for your contribution.

Oh come on... you are describing 95%+ of DCUM posts. Don’t act surprised.

-np

+1 . You're also being a bit of an idiot to place less weight on the perceptions of a recent college applicant vs. some random DC resident.

Some random DC resident, sure. But you really don't think there are people on a popular Washington DC discussion website with a more thorough and penetrating insight into each of these schools these schools than, "Someone I knew took the tour, and he said . . . " In fact, I expect that's why OP posted here - she's not looking for "insight" from a random Des Moines senior in high school. Use your head.

Good god, I hope you are not as nasty as you sound here IRL. Or maybe you are...

GW is ranked #63 and AU is ranked #78 on US News and World Report. GW is located right at the Foggy Bottom Metro so students have an easier time getting to internships than they would at AU. If kid wants a city vibe ...go with GW; if more of a suburban vibe (even though it is in the city), go with AU. I wouldn't go to either w/o significant merit aid because your kid would be fine going to a state school that would be cheaper if they focus on in-state.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AU is a bit crunchier and wonky; GW has a wealthier vibe (and it does have a campus in Foxhall that feels like a campus in addition to the urban campus that feels like the Nations Capital).

Gross generalizations, of course, coming from my midwestern Prep school cousin who toured both.

Wait . . . so you don't live in DC, don't know anything about the schools, and feel OK passing along secondhand "information" from a high school kid from the midwest who toured the schools? On a Washington, D.C. website?

Well, thank you for your contribution.

Oh come on... you are describing 95%+ of DCUM posts. Don’t act surprised.

-np

+1 . You're also being a bit of an idiot to place less weight on the perceptions of a recent college applicant vs. some random DC resident.

Some random DC resident, sure. But you really don't think there are people on a popular Washington DC discussion website with a more thorough and penetrating insight into each of these schools these schools than, "Someone I knew took the tour, and he said . . . " In fact, I expect that's why OP posted here - she's not looking for "insight" from a random Des Moines senior in high school. Use your head.

GW has no campus. AU is in a residential part of the city. Both are reasonably well-to-do.

Both are solid, but GW might be more selective.

All the other differences are program specific or would reflect personal choice. You can tour both on the same day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AU is a bit crunchier and wonky; GW has a wealthier vibe (and it does have a campus in Foxhall that feels like a campus in addition to the urban campus that feels like the Nations Capital).

Gross generalizations, of course, coming from my midwestern Prep school cousin who toured both.

Wait . . . so you don't live in DC, don't know anything about the schools, and feel OK passing along secondhand "information" from a high school kid from the midwest who toured the schools? On a Washington, D.C. website?

Well, thank you for your contribution.

Oh come on... you are describing 95%+ of DCUM posts. Don’t act surprised.

-np

+1 . You're also being a bit of an idiot to place less weight on the perceptions of a recent college applicant vs. some random DC resident.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AU is a bit crunchier and wonky; GW has a wealthier vibe (and it does have a campus in Foxhall that feels like a campus in addition to the urban campus that feels like the Nations Capital).

Gross generalizations, of course, coming from my midwestern Prep school cousin who toured both.

Wait . . . so you don't live in DC, don't know anything about the schools, and feel OK passing along secondhand "information" from a high school kid from the midwest who toured the schools? On a Washington, D.C. website?

Well, thank you for your contribution.

Oh come on... you are describing 95%+ of DCUM posts. Don’t act surprised.

-np

Anonymous wrote:AU is a bit crunchier and wonky; GW has a wealthier vibe (and it does have a campus in Foxhall that feels like a campus in addition to the urban campus that feels like the Nations Capital).

Gross generalizations, of course, coming from my midwestern Prep school cousin who toured both.

Wait . . . so you don't live in DC, don't know anything about the schools, and feel OK passing along secondhand "information" from a high school kid from the midwest who toured the schools? On a Washington, D.C. website?

Well, thank you for your contribution.

I was at GW in a variety of capacities including faculty for a number of years and have spent time on the AU campus. AU is smaller and feels more like a SLAC. GW feels more like a big school. The Foxhall campus is sort of a freshman satellite with dorms and some freshman classes out there. Some students don't like it because you have to shuttle to the main campus. I would only recommend spending the money on GW if the kid is interested in international development or politics. It's an expensive school for anything else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GW and American are both very good for international relations and politics. And of course you can’t beat the location. Both give generous merit aid. So is Georgetown, which gives no Merit Aid. FWIW, WM is also good.

I have a NOVA junior interest in an international relations / politics area and GW, American and WM are on her list, although she probably like to go further from home. Georgetown is not because $$$$$.

They have very different campuses as PP said, and your kid will likely have a strong preference based on that. You would definitely want to visit before she chose.

What kind of merit aid do they offer? How much?

If you pull the Common Data set, you can see the average award amount and the percent of kids who get non-need based aid. I know that for NOVA kids with good stats (1450+ SATs, 4.3W GPA, 8+ APs, etc.), you can get the cost down to WM or slightly higher. Which is what I need to know for my kid to apply.

Understand that the college scenes here is crazy, and that by NOVA standards, these are not particularly prestigious schools. With WM and UVA in state, I’d be hard pressed to sign off if it weren’t for foreign policy.

Anonymous wrote:GW and American are both very good for international relations and politics. And of course you can’t beat the location. Both give generous merit aid. So is Georgetown, which gives no Merit Aid. FWIW, WM is also good.

I have a NOVA junior interest in an international relations / politics area and GW, American and WM are on her list, although she probably like to go further from home. Georgetown is not because $$$$$.

They have very different campuses as PP said, and your kid will likely have a strong preference based on that. You would definitely want to visit before she chose.

What kind of merit aid do they offer? How much?

GW and American are both very good for international relations and politics. And of course you can’t beat the location. Both give generous merit aid. So is Georgetown, which gives no Merit Aid. FWIW, WM is also good.

I have a NOVA junior interest in an international relations / politics area and GW, American and WM are on her list, although she probably like to go further from home. Georgetown is not because $$$$$.

They have very different campuses as PP said, and your kid will likely have a strong preference based on that. You would definitely want to visit before she chose.

AU is a bit crunchier and wonky; GW has a wealthier vibe (and it does have a campus in Foxhall that feels like a campus in addition to the urban campus that feels like the Nations Capital).

Gross generalizations, of course, coming from my midwestern Prep school cousin who toured both.

I don't have many details, but there is one clear difference: American University has a campus. GW does not - it consists of buildings spread out on city streets. Both are expensive.

Can someone please compare these two colleges? My child is interested in attending college in DC. We live in Washington state (stumbled upon this site by accident via Googling something and have stayed ever since ) but not sure exactly their reputations, what kind of student does best at each, etc. She is interested in (perhaps obviously!) things like international affairs, political science, etc.

Thanks!