Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 17:56     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Different vibes, both in the city but GW more centrally located. American recently got a new president and should be headed back up in the rankings if that matters to you.

Will get a quality education at either school, although would expect fewer internship opportunities on the government side.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 16:49     Subject: Re:George Washington U vs American
My kids like all kinds of schools. Big universities, mid sized, urban and suburban. There’s not necessarily one type that a kid likes. Only thing neither liked was under 5k undergrad enrollment and rural. One size does not fit all, a range is perfectly normal.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 16:11     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of a college freshman. My husband went to Georgetown for grad school and we lived in DC suburbs for 8 years. We are Pitt undergrads.

I agree with the upthread characterizations of GW vs. AU. They both used to be more hometown schools for DMV kids...but provide access into the DC job market. There are many professions where that applies...pre-law, politics, and int'l relations among them.

I don't think either school stands out from the pack of good options. unless Washington is a preferred locale for college or post-college jobs. That might be the case, but it seems your search is still broad.

I would recommend that you also look at Pitt (similar to GW in many ways) and Syracuse while you are looking at GW and American. Simply because I think they check some similar boxes.

Broadly speaking, there is also some DCUM crossover with the University of Rochester and this type of school.

I'm sure American offers a good education but it is currently having some financial issues. That precedes the issues the Trump Administration has caused with all the big R1 universities.




This is what Standard and Poors said about Syracuse University last month, as it changed SU's bonk outlook to "negative":

"The revision to negative outlook reflects the sizable growth in debt and weaker financial
resource ratios especially relative to pro forma debt. Further deterioration of resources may
result in a lower rating. The revision also reflects our view of the weaker demand metrics when
compared with rating category medians and similarly rated peers."

Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 16:04     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of a college freshman. My husband went to Georgetown for grad school and we lived in DC suburbs for 8 years. We are Pitt undergrads.

I agree with the upthread characterizations of GW vs. AU. They both used to be more hometown schools for DMV kids...but provide access into the DC job market. There are many professions where that applies...pre-law, politics, and int'l relations among them.

I don't think either school stands out from the pack of good options. unless Washington is a preferred locale for college or post-college jobs. That might be the case, but it seems your search is still broad.

I would recommend that you also look at Pitt (similar to GW in many ways) and Syracuse while you are looking at GW and American. Simply because I think they check some similar boxes.

Broadly speaking, there is also some DCUM crossover with the University of Rochester and this type of school.

I'm sure American offers a good education but it is currently having some financial issues. That precedes the issues the Trump Administration has caused with all the big R1 universities.


How on earth are Pitt and GWU "similar in many ways?" Cut me a break.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 16:04     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Anonymous wrote:Ward 3 (where AU is located) is part of Washington DC. It’s not a separate suburb, which some seem to be suggesting. It’s a residential area in the city. Suburbs by definition are districts outside of a city.



Tenleytown and the area around AU is about as suburban as suburbs get. Complete with developments where all of the houses had (some still have, albeit unenforceable) racial covenants to keep the houses in white-only hands, and Tenleytown's integrated neighborhood around Fort Reno was bulldozed in the 1920s to make way for white suburbanites.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 15:59     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of a college freshman. My husband went to Georgetown for grad school and we lived in DC suburbs for 8 years. We are Pitt undergrads.

I agree with the upthread characterizations of GW vs. AU. They both used to be more hometown schools for DMV kids...but provide access into the DC job market. There are many professions where that applies...pre-law, politics, and int'l relations among them.

I don't think either school stands out from the pack of good options. unless Washington is a preferred locale for college or post-college jobs. That might be the case, but it seems your search is still broad.

I would recommend that you also look at Pitt (similar to GW in many ways) and Syracuse while you are looking at GW and American. Simply because I think they check some similar boxes.

Broadly speaking, there is also some DCUM crossover with the University of Rochester and this type of school.

I'm sure American offers a good education but it is currently having some financial issues. That precedes the issues the Trump Administration has caused with all the big R1 universities.

Actually in the current environment AU seems to be having fewer financial issues than others.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 15:53     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Ward 3 (where AU is located) is part of Washington DC. It’s not a separate suburb, which some seem to be suggesting. It’s a residential area in the city. Suburbs by definition are districts outside of a city.
You sure? I've always understood a suburb to be a residential area on the outskirts of a city, regardless of which side of some arbitrary municipal boundary it falls on. Many (such as Friendship Heights, right next to AU Park, or Chevy Chase, right next to that) fall on both sides of such boundaries. Does Chevy Chase cease to be a suburb when you cross Western Avenue? If so, your formalistic definition is totally divorced from the practical reality of the people living there (on both sides of the municipal line).


+1. Suburb: an outlying part of a city or town. This is exactly how I would describe where AU is.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 15:51     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Anonymous wrote:Ward 3 (where AU is located) is part of Washington DC. It’s not a separate suburb, which some seem to be suggesting. It’s a residential area in the city. Suburbs by definition are districts outside of a city.
You sure? I've always understood a suburb to be a residential area on the outskirts of a city, regardless of which side of some arbitrary municipal boundary it falls on. Many (such as Friendship Heights, right next to AU Park, or Chevy Chase, right next to that) fall on both sides of such boundaries. Does Chevy Chase cease to be a suburb when you cross Western Avenue? If so, your formalistic definition is totally divorced from the practical reality of the people living there (on both sides of the municipal line).
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 15:02     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Ward 3 (where AU is located) is part of Washington DC. It’s not a separate suburb, which some seem to be suggesting. It’s a residential area in the city. Suburbs by definition are districts outside of a city.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 14:56     Subject: George Washington U vs American
I am a parent of a college freshman. My husband went to Georgetown for grad school and we lived in DC suburbs for 8 years. We are Pitt undergrads.

I agree with the upthread characterizations of GW vs. AU. They both used to be more hometown schools for DMV kids...but provide access into the DC job market. There are many professions where that applies...pre-law, politics, and int'l relations among them.

I don't think either school stands out from the pack of good options. unless Washington is a preferred locale for college or post-college jobs. That might be the case, but it seems your search is still broad.

I would recommend that you also look at Pitt (similar to GW in many ways) and Syracuse while you are looking at GW and American. Simply because I think they check some similar boxes.

Broadly speaking, there is also some DCUM crossover with the University of Rochester and this type of school.

I'm sure American offers a good education but it is currently having some financial issues. That precedes the issues the Trump Administration has caused with all the big R1 universities.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 14:30     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Anonymous wrote:You guys know AU is actually in the city, right? It’s not a block away from the State Department like GW but it very close to a pretty vibrant commercial strip. Much different vibe than Haverford or ‘Nova which feel like true suburban campuses.




LOL. Tenleytown is a "vibrant commercial strip"? It's a Target, a Container Store, and a long string of fast-food places. Great for getting Chik Fil A, McDonalds, and Dunkin Donuts all in the space of a couple blocks, but not exactly big city life. Mostly feels faded. But the metro is there, so a chance to get into real DC.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 14:27     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Agree that Haverford and Villanova are both in very wealthy suburban areas, both with walking distance train line into Philly.

Haverford’s plus is the consortium with Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore. Haverford more similar to Swarthmore than Villanova overall but Swarthmore not mentioned in OP’s post. So I’d go with Villanova though bc Haverford is tiny, and Villanova more similar in size to Georgetown.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 14:13     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Similar kids, different preferences: GW is urban, AU is suburban.


I'd add to clarify that AU is suburban but a quick metro ride to urban so
Just to clarify for the OP: AU is not actually in the suburbs. It is in a leafy UMC neighborhood within the city itself, near the suburbs. GWU is downtown, walkable to the White House and many executive branch agencies, as well as walkable to Georgetown. Both are a subway/bus/uber/scooter ride away from the most popular nightlife for college students.
Most of the AU campus is literally a shorter walk from Maryland than from the Tenleytown Metro. Define that how you will.
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 14:05     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is your kid majoring? Villanova / Haverford / GWU / AU are not at all similar. I'm actually surprised that your has narrowed it down to this group. Once your kidsvisits they should have a clear preference.

I do think GWU and AU have similarities if you have a kid who is interested in IR or PolySci, or who simply really wants to be in DC, but, the schools do have distinct feels and kids usually have a preference after visiting.


Calm down. I cannot believe how ridiculous some of you sound


?? what's there to calm down? i think pp's post was accurate.

both expensive schools OP. i can't imagine why would a decent public-school kid wants to attend either of them. neither will be high on public kids in DMV area
Anonymous
Post 07/07/2025 13:55     Subject: George Washington U vs American
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Similar kids, different preferences: GW is urban, AU is suburban.


I'd add to clarify that AU is suburban but a quick metro ride to urban so


Just to clarify for the OP: AU is not actually in the suburbs. It is in a leafy UMC neighborhood within the city itself, near the suburbs. GWU is downtown, walkable to the White House and many executive branch agencies, as well as walkable to Georgetown. Both are a subway/bus/uber/scooter ride away from the most popular nightlife for college students.