American University Top Questions

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.

I think a young, white conservative student would feel somewhat out of place at AU. Most students wear clothes to class, except the sluts. I've had good experiences with people of other backgrounds, especially the Jews. There are more than four tables of students in the dining hall...... There are a crapload of rich whities here. Most students are politically aware and active. Predominantly, AU is filled with leftist bullcrap. Most AU students are Yankees.

Very stanch conservatives my feel out of place at AU, but other than that I think we're rather inclusive. There is a very large homosexual base at AU and people are fine with it. You see jeans or sweats in class rooms and sometimes it seems like everyone knows everyone. Students for the most part are rather laid back. Sometimes it seems like everyone on campus comes from New Jersey or Pennsylvania, but there are people from all over the globe here and for the most part people are intergrated.

American has a largely white, middle to upper-class student body, although there is a good amount of diversity on campus. Students come from across the US and even world, but many students are from the Northeast US (NY, NJ, MD, PA, etc.). Females also make up a clear majority on campus. Students are definitely politically active and perhaps two of the most popular shows on campus are "The Daily Show" and "Colbert Report." Especially during the 08 Presidential Campaign, it's not unlikely to see students watching a debate or primary election night coverage. The student body is generally a more liberal campus, but I would say the College Republicans do a better job in mobilizing students than the College Democrats. Regardless your political affiliation, you will not be ostracized for your ideals. On the whole, students are very friendly and will often leave their doors open if they are inside doing work. Making friends was easier than I thought, and if you are friendly, it finding your group of friends should be easy.

you can't feel out of place at american. everyone is so different and there are so many things to get involved in. but basically everyone has either lived abroad or traveled extensively, and the vast majority are loaded.

I wish campus was more racially diverse. It seems to be largely East Coast white kids, especially from PA, NY, and NJ (granted, I'm guilty of being one of them). Racial groups tend to be insular. Politically active students are predominantly leftist, although the College Republicans are also vocal on campus. I could imagine it might be difficult to be a conservative student on campus. I think American is more financially diverse than other schools because a lot of students are on generous financial aid.

Everyone is tolerant on campus. I don't think any student would really feel out of place. Most students wear jeans or dress up a little for class. Hardly any sweats. Most students are from the North East. Most of these students are somewhat affluent. These students are politically active. They are mostly liberal.

Not a lot of diversity. Anyone who is trying to learn about other cultures from classmates and floor mates is wasting their time at AU. People usually dress very casual clothing to classes, even though a lot show up in suits and business attire if they have internships before the class. Greek life is AMAZING :) Most AU students are from the East Coast, meaning NY, NJ, and PA. Most AU students are politically active. It is a very liberal campus. Gay population is huge.

AU is extremely diverse in just about every way you can imagine. AU is also very political. We got offended when we were no longer number one on the list of politically active campuses. We lean democrat but there are many, many republicans on campus. Dialouge is encouraged and rewarded in class, and you just get more out of a class that way.

since we have many international students, no one would feel out of place. students wear casual clothes, some wear business casual since they are coming from internships on the Hill and such. AU has been voted the most politically active campus for many years in a row before. many democrats on campus also a good number of republicans. not everyone is politically active though.

I was part of Queers and Allies, and all groups in this category make themselves known on campus, and make themselves known to people who look for them. Students who are too-closed minded would feel out of place Most students wear jeans/slacks with shirts/nice tops. Not too much pajama wearing at this school Yes different types of students interact The four tables would be of the Fraternity and Sorority people, Athletes, Intellectuals, and people who look like they listen to the most obscure bands Most American students are from the Mid-Atlantic and New England. A lot of Jersey people Financial backgrounds - Middle class Students sometimes are too politically aware for their own good. Newspapers are free in the dorms Predominantly left to center, but a strong right minority Some students are concerned with their financial future others have accepted that they could live in a box and be fine with it.

This campus is incredibly diverse and very accepting of different back grounds. No student would feel out of place. Most students wear whatever they would like, I think, but no one cares what you wear because it is class and we are there to learn. American's students are from all 50 states including DC and from, I believe, over 100 countries. American students are very politically active--in 2006 we were voted the most politically active campus in the nation. There is the notion that AU is predominantly left, but trust me, there are plenty of moderates, independents, republicans, and libertarians!

there is no racial diversity. seriously, none. i can go days without seeing more than like 5 non-white people. lots of LGBT, which is very accepted. broad range of socio-economic level, but in the honors program its most lower because everyone's on scholarship probably no one. it's really a tolerant campus everyone looks like crap for 8:30s. 9:55's, however, people are dressed to the nines. after 9 30 its almost unacceptable to wear sweatpants. definitely basketball players that are REALLY tall (or just athletes in general). frat boys. sorority girls. normal people. (the fifth table is for asians in the library). big geographic diversity, although there's a lot of PA, NJ, NY, MD, and Washington DC mixture VERRRRRY politically active and informed. generally liberal we dream of living in boxes on street corners doing things that we love and that make us happy

AU students are pretty diverse. There are a lot of international students here and everyone seems to really respect everyone else. Because of this respect, I feel like I am in a great environment to learn because no one is afraid to speak during class and I don't hesitate to leave my door unlocked if I need to go to the bathroom or grab a bite to eat.

AU students tend to be very tolerant individuals overall. With a large gay and Jewish community (hence the nickname “AU: Gay-Jew” students are hardly ever discriminatory. All persons at AU are welcomed despite their differences. Most AU students seem to hail from the New York and New Jersey area and are very, very politically aware. In 2006, AU was ranked the #1 most politically active campus in the US.