Academics

AU is manageable. That's really the only way to put it. It's not particularly hard, but if you try really hard and log quality office hours with professors, you will learn some things. The government professors, especially, are quite excellent. Perhaps that is a bit biased because I'm a government major, but if you're reading this, you will probably be coming to AU for politics or international relations.

Athletics

Varsity sports are pretty much a joke. American University (infamously) does not have a football team. The Division I men's basketball team is fun to watch and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its history. But in addition to football, there is no varsity team for hockey, baseball, and men's lacrosse.

Campus Dining

The food on campus is decent. The Terrace Dining Room is the only dining hall, and it's good most of the time, although one does tire of eating pizza every time that something questionable is the main meal. Also, there is a Subway, a McDonald's, and an Einstein Bros. Bagels. Most of the interesting food, though, is really in the city or in nearby Tenleytown, which is a short, free shuttle ride away.

Campus Housing

All the rooms are the same, and they’re all pretty nice, though a little on the small side. We have two sides, north and south. The south side is a lot crazier and a lot more fun, but it is also a little dirtier. I would still recommend living in Anderson, though; you’ll have a blast. Avoid Letts; it’s kind of dingy, but it’s still fun. On the north side is Hughes (avoid this one at all costs; it’s very boring), McDowell (it’s nice, but quiet and has lots of athletes), and Leonard (it’s the international dorm and actually a lot of fun, with really interesting people). Live in Leonard if you want to have a different experience.

Campus Strictness

For the record, AU is a dry campus. It is pretty lenient on drinking, unless you make an idiot of yourself doing it. Don’t get caught—it’s easy not to get caught. Drugs are trickier. They exist as much as they do on any campus, but we don’t have a huge problem because most people are here to study and take advantage of the city. If you’re looking for a more lenient place in that area, this probably wouldn’t be your best bet.

Computers

Please bring your own computer. The computers in the library sometimes break down. On the bright side, if you bring your own, you will enjoy the wonders of an entirely wireless campus, and yes, that includes the outdoor areas. The network runs great. They rarely have to perform maintenance on it, and it's almost always up and running.

Diversity

Diversity is stressed at AU. There is much in the way of ethnic diversity. However, in terms of other types of diversity, I find it a bit limited. Politically, the school is very liberal. While there are conservatives, they are mostly seen and not heard. In terms of religion, there is a strong atheist contingent and not very much else in the way of diversity. The problem is worse in terms of economic diversity, though. The cost of getting a top-notch education in an already expensive city like DC is prohibitive for most folks. You wind up with a group of relatively wealthy and intelligent elites, which does not lend itself easily to a lot of real life experience, in terms of meeting people of different backgrounds.

Drug Scene

A large amount of people on campus drink and smoke. One thing that might come as a surprise to new students is that a very large population of the campus smoke hookah outside the dorms.

Facilities

The gym is nicely maintained, and I personally enjoy using the pool. The grounds crews outside do an incredible job with the landscaping. They don't go for the cheap tricks of bright flowers, but instead they plant nice shady trees and a nice garden on the north side of campus. The library, however, is regrettably small. But Clement Ho, one of the research librarians, is a rock star!

Greek Life

Last semester, I pledged a fraternity, and it opened up so many new options for my social life. The Greek system doesn’t dominate the social scene, but joining a sorority or fraternity is almost always a great experience. There are groups for every kind of person, and most don’t fit the typical Greek stereotype. Plus, there are great parties, mixers, formals, sporting events, and other functions only available to the Greek students.

Guys & Girls

The guys are pretty varied. You have your typical jocks and frat boys, but then you also have your nerdy political types and a disproportionate number of gays. The girls are varied, as well. There are the typical sorority girls, just like you'd find at any college. Then there are, just like with the guys, the political activists—both Democrat and Republican, although more of the former.

Local Atmosphere

Washington, DC is a great city. I love it! There are tonsof things to do—visit the monuments, go to any of the hundreds of great restaurants, go to clubs, see concerts, or see the embassies. George Washington University, Georgetown, Catholic University, and University of Washington, DC (UDC)are all in the District, among others. Interaction with other college students is completely up to you. If you want to coordinate or meet people in town, it's a breeze. But, if you don't feel like hanging out with non-AU kids, you certainly don't have to. Non-AU students won't generally be bustling around the AU metro stop.

Nightlife

If you like frats, my friends tell me that they are certainly adequate at AU. They've got the requisite beer pong and ditsy girls. If you like a more sophisticated kind of social gathering, it’s mostly make-your-own fun. There are a few houses, such as the infamous Porter House, where AU students traditionally live and throw more relaxed, hipster-esque parties complete with wine, indie music, and people with IQs above 100. The nightlife is mostly DIY. There are plenty of good DC clubs, like Ibiza, Lima, and some that aren’t. The U Street area is good for concerts with the 9:30 Club and the Black Cat.

Off-Campus Dining

Tenleytown and the surrounding area have a good selection of places to eat. Pizza Boli’s is great for pizza that isn't expensive. There is take-out Chinese, Thai, Italian, Subway, Chipotle, and a deli. Outside of Tenleytown, there are tons of places to eat in DC. Georgetown, Dupont, and Adams Morgan are all great places to eat.

Off-Campus Housing

It's available, but I wouldn't recommend it freshman year. You should stay on campus and get involved with the school. For your upperclassman years, The Berks, a huge apartment complex within walking distance, is a great option if you want to share an apartment with friends.

Overall Experience

American University is very politically active. No matter what your political views are, you can find a club to suit your tastes. However, more liberal or left-leaning clubs dominate the campus, as well as the faculty. In general, the faculty is very qualified and concerned with the performance of students.

Parking

Freshmen cannot park at AU, but there really is no need to bring a car. The AU shuttle and the Metro are very convenient and get you where you need to go easily without having to pay for parking or gas.

Safety & Security

I can tell you that AU’s Public Safety department is highly trained (through the police academy) and capable. On the other hand, they are also mainly in their mid-20s to mid-30s, and they know that you just can’t prevent all crime. They take serious infractions seriously—hate crimes, sexual assaults, and the like are infrequent and are sent straight to district authorities for criminal prosecution. The officers have a unique link to the district authorities and often work with Metro PD, Secret Service, and federal agencies when necessary.

Transportation

It is very convenient. There are buses, the Metro, and cabs that will take you everywhere you need. Shuttles from campus take you to the closest Metro stop.

Weather

We usually get two or three snowfalls in the winter, and the summers can get up to 90–100 degrees. One thing I notice about the weather here is that it goes back and forth in the transition seasons. For example, a few weeks ago this spring, it was in the 90s for a few days. Last week, it was in the 50s and 60s. Today, it was 75. It jumps back and forth.