Catholic and American visits

[lem283]

I just visited Catholic and American.

Catholic had impressive facilities and a great location right on the metro line. I also liked the small class sizes (for DC area schools) and the clinical opportunities. However, I am a bit wary of the policy that says that the school reserves the right to disallow any group to form or person to speak at the school if they are not in step with Catholic social teaching. The admissions office there said this policy is used in the undergraduate but that the law school tends to ignore it in a lot of cases. I was happy to see that the law school was more well-balanced in terms of politics than the undergrad but reservations remain about the Catholic stuff (btw, I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic schools growing up).

American had nice facilities but felt a bit more claustophobic than Catholic (I really like the idea of a big sunlit atriumr). American's location was pretty far out in the middle of nowhere. I thought that previous complaining I had head was just the product of a group of whiners but its not. The commute would take about an hour from the Adams Morgan area (versus 20 minutes to CUA). The atmosphere at American was decidedly more liberal which I like but could see how it would turn people off. I did not take a tour at American because it was a Saturday and I have not been accepted. If I am accepted I will go back and tour (and will probably attend).

Hope that helps people who are interested in the schools.

[SuperMoni]

Just to add some info:

Alumni of CUA told me that Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wasn't allowed to speak at Catholic because of her stance on abortion!  Also, I agree that American is hard to get to (not conveniently located next to metro), but Catholic is in a very bad part of DC and American is in a relatively safe part of town.  Little story: A friend of mine who attends CUA (undergrad) was having a party a few blocks from campus and I took a cab there.  The cab driver insisted that I be dropped off directly in front of the house because "it's not a good neighborhood for a young lady like me."

Housing by CUA tends to be cheaper than housing by American, although both areas are cheaper than housing by GW.

Just some additional things to look into...

[Harrahs]

that was helpful.  thank you for your input.

casino

[lem283]

I can't defend the Catholic ideology. However, I can say that the Metro stop that goes to Catholic empties out onto the campus which CUA has locked down like a prison. Admittedly, the neighbordhood is not the best in DC but it is also far from the most violent (like say Mount Pleasant where the majority of the gang violence happens) it is also rapidly gentrifying. I agree with your cab driver that you probably shouldn't go walking around the CUA/Brookland neighborhood alone at night (the same is true for Adams Morgan and U Street) but I wouldn't be too worried about walking from the Metro to the campus.

I am interested to know if anyone thinks that the political atmosphere at law school matters. I think that it would matter if professors were bringing it into their classes but as far as I can tell the CUA faculty is pretty straight laced about being non-ideological. I expect to do most of my politicking off campus (I get bored in a hurry with intra-institutional politics). That is if I have any time for that in the first place...

[murkydreamer]

I can't comment much on the political atmosphere of either school, although I have heard that American is very liberal and haven't heard as much about Catholic being very conservative (although I didn't apply to the latter).  American isn't right off the metro stop, but it is in a VERY safe part of DC (you can't get much better than Tenleytown/Friendship heights area).  Being female, I'm very conscious of safety.  I've heard very iffy things about the Brookland/CUA neighborhood.  I've definitely walked around by myself at night in Adams Morgan/Mount Pleasant and probably wouldn't around Catholic.  Catholic is in a much more central location though. 

[SuperMoni]

I'd walk around alone in the Adam's Morgan area WAY before I'd walk around alone in the CUA area (in fact I have walked around Adam's Mo at night alone in the past).  But then again, if your living off campus and metro-ing in, then you have little to worry about.  Also, it is easier and less expensive to own/keep a car near CUA.

And yes, American is a pretty liberal institution.

[Erapitt]

Regarding visiting.... I was just accepted into catholic and I scheduled a visit to sit in on a class and get a tour.  Is it alright to wear jeans and a nice shirt?  I mean I was already accepted, right?  Also, is it okay to bring someone with you or should I notify the school that I am doing so?

[carlsonjd]

I am visting Catholic in the middle of March to get a look around the campus and a "feel" for the school.  I like the fact that it's cheaper to rent by Catholic and in a more central location to the "good stuff" of Washington.

Furthermore, the Catholic "ideology" isn't as conservative as some have been led to believe.  In fact, Catholics have voted more for democrats than republicans for over 100 years, and except for sex related issues, the Catholic church stands way to the left of the American populace (welfare, capital punishment, social justice issues, etc...).  I hope this helps.

[SuperMoni]

Regarding visiting.... I was just accepted into catholic and I scheduled a visit to sit in on a class and get a tour.  Is it alright to wear jeans and a nice shirt?  I mean I was already accepted, right?  Also, is it okay to bring someone with you or should I notify the school that I am doing so?

I think you should called the office and inform them that you will be bringing a guest.  I don't think that it will be a problem, but its better to be in the clear.  Also, I think jeans a nice shirt are fine, although khaki's are a good in between option too...

I am visting Catholic in the middle of March to get a look around the campus and a "feel" for the school. I like the fact that it's cheaper to rent by Catholic and in a more central location to the "good stuff" of Washington.

Furthermore, the Catholic "ideology" isn't as conservative as some have been led to believe. In fact, Catholics have voted more for democrats than republicans for over 100 years, and except for sex related issues, the Catholic church stands way to the left of the American populace (welfare, capital punishment, social justice issues, etc...). I hope this helps.

I happen to be Catholic and attend GW as an undergrad, which has made me very spoiled.  1) GW is in a GREAT neighborhood (i've lived about 5 blocks from the White House for the past 4 years!) 2) GW brings soo many famous speakers and people to campus from all sides of the spectrum.  I think that I, personally, would be upset if I missed the opportunity to hear a Supreme Court Justice speak because his/her views were not properly in line with CUA's.  Just my opinion.  And I want to make it clear that I've always felt safe on Catholic's Campus, just not outside those borders.

[carlsonjd]

Well, yeah, that is true.  But, I only have a shot of getting into Catholic and I highly doubt my acceptance into American; so I'm defending Catholic out of a psuedo-allegiance based upon applications.

(If I had the numbers, I would have applied to Georgetown or GW; but life goes on).