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The appeal of AU is simple and can be summed up in one word: Washington, D.C. Here, students will live on a beautiful campus in the heart of the capital with the convenience of the subway system. The school is only 1/3 smaller than George Washington University in the same area, and American University has an extremely friendly and lovable environment. Located just a few miles from where the country’s leaders make important national and international decisions, American University is the land of promise to train the next generation of talented reporters, diplomats, lobbyists and political leaders who will contribute to shaping the policy of the country and the world. AU’s strengths include the Arts, Sciences and Business. “American University is a diverse, dynamic, and vibrant environment that brings together some of the best academics, staff, scholars, and students in the world,” said one senior. Thanks to its exciting internship programs, convenient location, and international focus, AU continues to attract outstanding students from more than 135 countries and all 50 states. The 85-acre campus is located in northwest Washington, D.C., in a neighborhood called Tenleytown just minutes from downtown; a free shuttle bus takes students to nearby subway stations. The parking lot is surrounded by a mix of traditional and modern buildings, along with gardens. The campus courtyard has plenty of study space, and the entire campus is wireless. The Katzen Center for the Arts has studios, performing arts spaces, and galleries, and a new building is under construction that will house the School of International Service. All AU undergraduates must demonstrate proficiency in Writing and English, which can be achieved in two courses or by taking a test; for Math and Statistics, students can take a semester class or take a test. The general education program requires 30 credit hours in five areas: Creative Arts, Traditions that Shape the Western World, International and Multicultural Perspectives, Social Institutions and Behavior, and Natural Sciences. These requirements are typically completed within the first two years, allowing students to study abroad, intern, or work while studying in their third and fourth years—thanks in part to the school’s connections with more than 900 private, nonprofit, and government organizations. The school also leverages these connections to invest in its Washington course program, which attracts students from a wide range of majors. In the classroom, AU offers students cutting-edge programs in Political Science and Government, International Studies, Business, and Communications. An honors program for the top 15% of students offers small seminars, specialty areas in many courses, and a choice of dormitory floors, plus in-depth work placements in their majors and capstone experiences for senior year. Overall, students have the option of choosing from more than 70 programs and the opportunity to design their own major. The classes are “challenging but not too demanding,” said a senior majoring in Political Science. “The courses are demanding, but the professors are very helpful when students are struggling,” said a third-year majoring in International Studies. The average class size is 23 students and over 90% of professors hold the highest degrees and certifications in their fields. Students at AU are often described as “hip” and “different,” with “at parties, kids are more likely to talk about politics than just having a conversation,” a sophomore shared. AU boasts a diverse student population with students from every state in the country and more than 135 different countries around the world; only 14% of students are from the District of Columbia. African Americans make up 5% of the student body, Hispanics and Portuguese make up 5%, and Asian Americans also make up 5%. Unlike other schools where apathy is common, AU’s environment is dynamic, especially when it comes to politics—after all, this is Washington, D.C. “Everyone has an opinion on something,” said a junior. The cost of living at AU is generally high, but the school also offers hundreds of merit-based scholarships averaging $16,994 and more than 150 athletic scholarships each year. The majority of AU students, mostly freshmen and sophomores, choose to live on campus. “The dorms are cozy, well-kept, and clean,” said one political science major. “The south side is more active and noisy than the north side.” There are also newly built luxury apartments off campus for upperclassmen and a shuttle bus to and from school. Students say that living on campus is generally safe, thanks to the constant presence of police officers. Fun things to do at AU tend to revolve around on-campus activities like room parties and fraternity parties; 14% of men and 16% of women are involved in student organizations. There are plenty of restaurants and shops around campus, but you’ll need to venture further afield to enjoy the nightlife in Dupont Circle and Georgetown. AU’s campus is generally alcohol-free, and students take it pretty seriously. Luckily, there are plenty of other things to do on campus, and most of them are free—movies in the new art house, art galleries, pro football games, museums and monuments, and live music. “You can just hop on the subway and get anywhere in the city,” says one Communications major. Family Week brings games, races, and popular bands to campus each year, along with a Carnival in the courtyard. Homecoming and Builder Week are also popular. Annual field trips include Baltimore, Annapolis, Williamsburg, Richmond, the coastal city of Ocean City, and nearby theme parks. AU is a paradise for C-SPAN fans. But even if you’re not into the action, AU and Washington, D.C. are a great combination for a great college experience. The real-world opportunities here—from business to international studies—are diverse. AU’s small campus means students don’t feel out of place in the bustling city. “We’re at a small school that feels like we’re out of town, but the great things the capital has to offer are still within reach,” says a third-year student. Source: U.S. News, Fiske Guide

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The path to a 4.8 billion full scholarship at the prestigious US university SOKA University – Copy

Leave a Comment / Everything About Applying to U.S. Colleges, Inspiring Stories / admin

Coming from the Foreign Language Specialized School with a passion for English, in the 2018-2019 application season, Hai Anh achieved excellent results in the SAT exam – 1500 points on the first attempt and received a full scholarship of 4.8 billion from SOKA University (#22 LAC). Let’s listen to some of her shares about the Application process! Pretty girl Nguyen Hai Anh won a full scholarship from Soka University of America. Hello Hai Anh. Like many students at the Foreign Language High School, you chose to study abroad after graduating from high school. What led you to this decision? Actually, when I came to HOLA, I didn’t even have a clear intention of studying abroad. When I signed up for an American essay writing course at HOLA Academy at the end of grade 10, I was simply curious and wanted to improve my writing skills. After being exposed to American education through those classes, I felt that I was really suited to the American education method, so I started studying for the SAT. The seniors at HOLA are very enthusiastic and caring about the students. In particular, what I like most here is that everyone really focuses on developing the capacity and orientation for each student, rather than just “industrial-style” training. Applying is a process that requires a lot of perseverance and effort. Can you share a little about the path to SOKA? Choosing a school is one of my favorite stages. Through this, I learned a lot about American education, that each school has its own identity, that the “fit” factor is very important. When choosing a school, the factors I prioritize are teaching methods and curriculum. I really like schools that focus on developing critical thinking for students, prioritize reading and writing a lot, liberal schools, and are willing to accept all personal opinions and views. Therefore, from the beginning, I knew that I was more suitable for the LAC group. When looking for a school, I first rely on SAT scores and rankings to “gradually filter” down to about 50 schools. After that, I will consider financial aid, school priority factors (such as grades, essays, or extracurricular activities, etc.), location (rural or urban), professors, and information about students after graduation. Finally, I went to forums on College Confidential, reddit, niche, Rate my Professor, … to read more about the school and its students. Soka University of America is located in the warm state of California. To know if a school is suitable for you, I think the best way is to ask the students of the school about the general level of students. What are they interested in, do they like to party, etc. But in the end, whether they feel suitable or not is just a matter of feeling. I admit that there are schools that I initially liked just because of the name. Later, when everything is over, you will realize that in fact, dream schools are mostly temporary desires. If you don’t get in, it’s okay. There is no school that is “the only perfect place for you to develop your potential”. So if you fail the dream school, don’t be too sad. I myself also applied to SOKA in the RD round even though I wanted to apply immediately in the ED round. But at that time, I had problems with my TOEFL score, so I had to wait. SOKA has a very good scholarship policy, providing a macbook for first-year students, and in my third year, I had the opportunity to go to one of four countries: China – France – Japan – Spain to study a second foreign language… those are the plus points I see at SOKA. During the application process, did you encounter any difficulties? I am a person who does not handle pressure well. In the summer of 12th grade, I was really stressed. SAT, main essay, secondary essay, extracurricular activities, GPA, or recommendation letters, all became a burden for me. There was no factor that I felt confident about. I was really tired. But the thing that made me “brain-stretched” the most was the essay. I tried every method: relaxing, reading sample essays, thinking about hobbies, personal characteristics, but I could not come up with a perfect idea. Because of my obsession with the “perfect idea”, I kept rejecting ideas and couldn’t even write a draft. Honestly, until August, I still didn’t have a draft for my Personal Statement, and had only written one Supplement, which was extremely scary. At that time, Ms. Mai from HOLA helped me by suggesting some non-fiction books about social issues. From there, I gradually formed an idea for my essay. Writing about topics that I was really interested in, I became more confident and dared to write, dared to fail. As a result, 2 weeks before ED, I finished my satisfactory essay. In the application package, the personal essay (PS) plays a very important role. How did you build your PS and express yourself through this essay? My PS was actually “recycled” from a Supplemental Essay. Although I only built the idea, wrote and edited it in about 2 weeks, I spent a lot of time researching and reading books to come up with those thoughts. Ms. Mai taught me how to think independently and logically, to care about social issues and to read a lot of books. Therefore, from the end of grade 10 to the beginning of grade 12, I trained myself to read and think clearly, and to give my own opinions on issues that interested me. This skill helped me a lot in the process of writing essays. My essay is about “globalization”, a topic that I am very interested in. Through the article, I have expressed my thoughts and wishes. Soka University of America is vast and poetic. Looking at the final results, Hai Anh had a pretty successful application season. However, do you have any regrets during this process? I regret neglecting some factors

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