American University is one of many colleges located in Washington, D.C., and although its location is one of its biggest selling points, some prospective students said AU’s campus community particularly stood out to them.
With roughly 7,500 undergraduate students, the University offers access to political and professional opportunities while maintaining a tight-knit environment.
For high school seniors weighing their college decisions, this factor proved to be significant. Julia McNamee, a senior at Phoenixville High School, highlighted what she was looking for on campus.
“I really like to be in an environment that feels like a community,” McNamee said. “All the people I talked to were so sweet, and they’re all very passionate about AU.”
McNamee said she applied early action to the University, a nonbinding option that allows applicants to receive an admission decision earlier than the regular deadline. She received her acceptance letter on Jan. 15, and is now strongly considering enrolling for next year.
The Eagle requested an interview with The Office of Enrollment which was denied. In substitution, the office drafted a statement.
“It is working to appeal to prospective students by highlighting the University’s core values like career readiness, student outcomes, community belonging and student success stories,” it read.
“These efforts are designed to inspire campus visits and deepen engagement with prospective students and families.”
According to the office, the most recent Preview Day attracted the highest number of attendees
in several years.
For McNamee and many other high school seniors, financial aid is another big factor in their final decision. She said she received more merit aid from the University than expected, as well as an acceptance to one of its living-learning communities. LLC’s are immersive experiences created to connect students with similar interests academically or socially.
Reha Sajja, a high school senior committed to the University, said academic flexibility was crucial in her decision process. Sajja said she was originally interested in a psychology major, but later shifted her focus to international relations.
“I really enjoyed how customizable the major was,” Sajja said. “It felt different from other schools.”
Sajja also took an interest in the University’s study abroad opportunities.
“As an international studies major, it’s really good to get international experience, when learning this,” Sajja said.
All things considered, McNamee said having the University’s campus situated in D.C. is its biggest draw.
“I knew that I wanted to be in a city for college," McNamee said. “Knowing that AU is its own community within DC really drew me to it.”
This article was edited by Natalie Hausmann, Payton Anderson and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Avery Grossman, Mattie Lupo and Ava Stuzin.
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