The Knightly News

The following is North alumna Supraja Sowmi’s response to our questions about her college decision process, the student life and culture at American University, and more.

Sowmi graduated from North in 2019. She is part of American University’s class of 2023.

As I began looking at schools and going on tours, I knew that I wanted to go to school in Washington, D.C. I decided to attend American University because it had everything that I was looking for in a school.

Most importantly, it is one of the top schools for my major, international studies. It is in the heart of the nation’s capital, which allows me to be in and around students and professionals who have similar interests. There are so many amazing events and internship opportunities that are available for me to take advantage of in Washington, D.C. It also has a small but beautiful campus which provides a close-knit community of students and faculty.

Photo Credit: american.edu

I’m doing really well in school, and I am really glad I chose to go to American University. Even in my shortened freshman year, I have gotten the opportunity to meet so many influential speakers and politicians. I have explored so much of the city for class and with my friends because of the AU Metro Pass. I am heartbroken that the semester ended early because of the Coronavirus.

Honestly, I don’t get too homesick while at American University. I have a really good group of friends and I have many activities that keep me occupied throughout the semester. The few times that I have felt homesick, I was able to plan a trip home easily because we are relatively close. 

I can’t really pinpoint what I miss the most about the WW-P area / home but it’s probably Jersey bagels and home-cooked food once in a while.

Photo Credit: american.edu

My favorite thing about American, aside from academics, is the accessibility and proximity to downtown D.C. AU students pay a flat student fee with tuition each year to get a University Metro Pass which provides unlimited rides on the metro rail and bus system. It saves us a lot of money, is extremely convenient, and is environmentally conscious. The pass is good for any type of trip: to school, work, internships, travel and for recreation.

The culture at American is extremely political. We are one of the most politically active schools in the country so everyone has an opinion that they would like to voice. A majority of the students study international studies, political science, communication, or business. 

AU is very academically competitive and rigorous because of our rankings in some of the humanities majors.