American University Top Questions

AU students are people who care about the world around them and are aware of what's going on. Coming from a largely apathetic high school, this was a welcome change. We didn't earn the "most politically active" student body designation for nothing! Just be aware of cliques. Like I said above, you should probably get involved with something on campus if you want to make friends -- that includes greek life. Speaking of greek life, I believe about 25 percent of us are greeks -- I'm not part of that. We don't have legit frat houses here, though many unofficial ones exist. I honestly don't see the point or incentive for doing it -- many people have even said that greek life at AU is "like paying for friends."

My classmates are motivated to do well and eager to help others do the same.

The students at American University are diverse in personality but not in the typical demographics.

I feel like the bulk of my classmates are not trying hard enough to justify the amount of money they pay to be at this school.

Everyone thinks they are smart and that they know alot. Fortunately, most actually do know a lot. It is competitive and challenging. So it is easy to learn from others.

A majority of my classmates are culturally ignorant.

There are two types of American students. There are the conservative, driven, academically focused students, and the liberal, laid-back, life-focused students.

My classmates can be insane, but in the end, most of them pull through, whether it's social or academic.

Often driven, and well-read in many different aspects. We're also very adventurous, with over half of our undergraduates studying abroad sometime in pursuit of our bachelor's degrees.

The majority of them are from white upper middle class families that live in northeast suburbia.

I have never been around so many liberal, strange, creative, stubborn, and kind people before in my life

My classmates are perfectionalist, who never want anything less than the best.

A diverse and accepting student body are the best characteristics that describe us.

There is a pretty diverse student body here. Unfortunately, they put all of the diverse students into one dorm. If you don't live there, you don't interact with them at all. Most of the girls have the same outfit on everyday: leggings (with no skirt), Uggs, and a Northface fleece. Most of the students are liberal, but there is a vocal minority of conservatives.

AU (Gay-U) has a huge and very visible LGBT population that is accepted by almost everyone, either due to liberal tendencies or just acclimation. The most diversity seen on campus is between the student body and TDR workers. DC itself is incredibly diverse, but American's student body is sometimes exhaustingly white. Classroom discussions and the social atmosphere of the school would be a lot stronger if it was more culturally/ethnically/racially diverse. Pretty much the only kind of nerd on campus is the political kind. Pretty much the only kind of jock on campus is the political kind. Freaks and geeks beware: the only deviants at this school deviate right into other stereotypes. But if you're interested in the primary elections, you'll find a home here. Everyone gets along well enough, even if they don't all hang out, and anyone can find someone to be friends with. I sometimes feel like 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of this school is from the Great Triumvirate of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. A lot of students are here on merit scholarships, but their parents are still somewhere between "comfortable" and mad rich. Few people actually come from the lower income brackets. Students care far too much about what they look like (in an East coast, black pea coat kind of way), but seeing girls struggle with stilettos and black ice never gets old.

Everyone gets along very well; we embrace everyone. Conservatives would feel out of place. Most wear their North Face jacket, Uggs, and jeans. Most students are from the east coast, especially New Jersey and Long Island. The students here are soooo politically active; I don't know anyone here that does not love politics.

i thought this school wouldhave more diversity being in dc but it doesn't, i wish it had more. its got a pretty good spectrum of middle class white kids, different intrests and activites. most students dress fairly nicely to school not alot of people wear pajamas. i think they are some cliques here, but most kids will interact if they have a reason to. people are almost all politically aware but not active, as in protesting and campaigning. and most kids are left politically but there are some rigth sides and middle.

Racially, AU is not very diverse. Socio-economically it is slightly more diverse, but not by much. It is pretty upper-middle class white. Otherwise, our student body has a lot of diversity, especiallly in terms of religion and sexuality. I think students who go to college for the stereotypical frat boy reasons of being crazy, partying a lot, and going to sports games in full body paint would not fit in here. It's not that AU students don't have fun. But, a lot of kids here are very driven and put academics before everything else. To fit in here, I think students have to have some intellectual pursuits.

Well racially there are many races present because of the huge diversity. Religiously there are many different religions probably because of the huge diversity caused by race and other factors i.e. being from another country and or state. There is a HUGE Jewish population. There are many LGBTs on campus and their presence is known. Socio-Economically since it is a private university located in the north east there are many many wealthy people but, there are others who are not as wealthy. A southerner would particularly feel out of place at American. Most students dress very nicely for class though of course it doesn't matter and some students like myself wear whatever. Different types of students generally don't interact. There are groups most stay within the groups. There are the atheletics people. The Frats/Sorieties. The people who eat with people on their floor aka losers. And there are cool people who sit with people they have made friends with from class and various experiences. Most students at American are from the North East. Rich people are most prevalant. Students are exteremely politically active and aware. Most people are liberal, 400 people show up to a college democrats meeting. While 10 show up to the Republican meeting all dressed in suits. Students do talk about how much they will earn one day as a lobbyist, lawyer, politician, etc.

Very diverse, very welcoming, very inspiring.