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Admissions

Holistic Admissions

What is holistic admissions? It's kind of like a smoothie. Watch the video to see what we mean.

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How do I apply to AU?

Our Admissions Committee is interested in knowing about you, including your academic interests and life outside of the classroom. Prospective students can apply online using the Common Application. In addition to submitting a completed application, there are several components the Admissions Committee requires that help us evaluate you as a candidate for admission. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Leer en español.

Application Checklist

  • Common Application or Coalition Application, including essay

  • Submit the Nonrefundable $75 application fee or application fee waiver
  • High School Transcript(s) 
  • SAT and/or ACT Scores (if not Test-Optional)
    • Applicants may self-report their SAT or ACT scores on their admissions application  (if not test-optional). Applicants who self-report their scores will be required to submit official scores if admitted to AU and enroll.
    • International and US Global Nomad (US citizen) applicants graduating high school outside the US are not required to submit SAT I or ACT.
  • Teacher Recommendation Letter
  • Ask your school counselor to complete the following:
    • Complete the Secondary School Report
    • Send your mid-year report and mid-year grades as soon as they become available
    • Provide a recommendation letter (optional)

Minimum Admissions Requirements

Freshman applicants who follow the U.S. educational system should have completed at least 16 college preparatory secondary school units. We require that you have 4 units in English, 3 units in academic mathematics, including the equivalent of 2 units in algebra and 1 unit of geometry, at least 2 units of laboratory science, at least 2 units of social science and 2 units of foreign language. Successful candidates for admission have usually completed a rigorous college preparatory course of study that goes beyond the minimum requirements above.

Admitted Student Profile for Fall 2022

  • GPA Middle 50%: 3.70-4.20 (school reported)
  • SAT Middle 50%: 1310-1440 (critical reading and mathematics)
  • ACT Middle 50%: 30-33

The SAT and ACT ranges reflect the 47.1% of applicants who submitted test scores.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

First-Year Student (Freshman) Application Deadlines

Fall Semester

  • Early Decision: November 15
  • Early Decision 2: January 15
  • Regular Decision: January 15

Please Note:

  • Once submitted, your application and supplemental documents become the property of American University and cannot be returned.
  • Students who will be receiving any scholarship and/or financial aid award will be notified with their letter of admission.
  • You will be admitted only for the semester indicated in your letter of admission. If you are unable to enroll for that semester, you may  request a deferral.

Admissions Decisions

Once you submit your application, what happens next? You will receive one of the following decisions:

Selected
Fall Admission
Waitlist
Deny

Fall admissions is familiar to most students and means you will begin as a degree-seeking student in the fall semester for which you applied.

A select group of students admitted for the fall will also be invited to participate in our AU Cornerstone Program, which allows for a study abroad or internship experience in a student’s first year.

We offer a limited number of students a waitlist decision each year. If space becomes available in the fall class and you sign up to remain on the waitlist, we will notify you in May if we’re able to offer you admission. But we do suggest that students deposit at another institution to secure a spot somewhere for the fall.

Each year, we have to deny a number of students due to the high level of talent in our applicant pool. But if you have your heart set on attending AU, we encourage you to consider transferring after at least one year at another college.

Each year, we have to deny a number of students due to the high level of talent in our applicant pool. But if you have your heart set on attending AU, we encourage you to consider transferring after at least one year at another college.

AU Code Numbers

SAT I & SAT II: 5007

ACT: 0648

AP: 5007

TOEFL: 5007