know your application
au Gap proGram
We are happy you have decided to apply to American University’s Gap Program. To assist you through the application, please
reference this step-by-step guide to completing your application.
To start your application, please visit https://applynowspexs.american.edu and create your account.
Please select, “Create an Account” and complete all demographic information.
Once you have created your account, you will see your Application Profile homepage. From here you can edit your
account information, start an application and check your application status.
To start an application, please select “Start an Application” from your application checklist.
You will then confirm you want to start an application.
The application is separated into 4 Sections: Personal Information, Demographics, Academics & Plans, and
Certification & Signature.
At anytime during the completion of your application, you may hit Save & Continue, Save Application, or Previous
Page, all located at the bottom of the page, to navigate your way through the application.
Personal Information
Many of these fields will be automatically populated from information you used to create your account. Please
complete any fields that remain blank.
Demographics
The demographic section starts off asking about your citizenship. Please complete the required fields.
If you are not a US citizen, the AU Gap Program does not currently offer immigration support to participate in the
program. International students who already have a visa to the United States may be eligible for study and should
contact the AU Gap Program office at augap@american.edu.
Academics & Plans
If you have changed your mind about the semester you are interested in applying or changed your mind about your
preferred program option of study, here is where you can indicate your new preferences.
Applicants are not required to submit standardized test scores to apply to the AU Gap Program, however we
welcome to applicants to report their unofficial scores if they have taken either the ACT or SAT exams.
Next you will list your Academic History. Fill in the country, state, and city of your educational institution. Then
select “Search”
Your high school will most likely be offered as an option. If it is an option, select it, and continue completing the
requested information about your attendance there. If it is not an option, please list it under the Unlisted High
School box. If you have attended more than one educational institution, please select “Add Another High School
Attended” to continue listing your academic history.
After listing your academic history, please list your Extracurricular Activities, Honors & Awards, and Academic or
College Counselor from the high school from which you graduated
If you have previously applied to American University, please include this in the “Enrollment” section.
Please copy and paste a short essay (500 words) in the blanks provided explaining why you have decided to take a
Gap semester or year and what you hope to gain out of our semester in Washington, DC if admitted. Please also let
us know how you learned of the AU Gap Program.
Please let us know if you are affiliated with the U.S. military.
Disciplinary History
Please complete the following questions honestly, then hit Save & Continue to move to the next step.
Certification & Signature
Please read this page carefully and certify your understanding and verify the truthfullness of your application.
You will then choose to “Submit Application” or save it and return to it later.
Once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to revise any of the above information. You will
receive a confirmation that your application has been submitted and you may return to your Application Profile
homepage to submit your required supplemental documents.
Submitting Required Supplemental Items
When you return to your Application Profile, your application checklist should look similar to the image below.
Select “Submit Supplemental Items” to continue completing your application.
The AU Gap Program requires one letter of recommendation from an academic reference and one recommendation
from an extracurricular reference be submitted with your application. Select “Start” by the Recommendation list to
submit your recommendation(s) information.
Input the contact information for your recommender and they will be notified via email to submit your
recommendation online.
You are also required to submit either electronically or via mail:
•
High School transcript(s) (official copies are required from any institution outside the U.S.)
Unofficial copies of your transcripts can easily be uploaded to your application by selecting “choose file” and then
clicking “Upload All”.
You may also choose to mail or email your supplemental items to our office. To email a copy, please send then to
spexsdocuments@american.edu with the subject line listing your full name and the application “FULL NAME- AU
Gap Application”.
If you choose to mail your documents (resume, transcript, and supporting materials), via United States Postal
Service (USPS) please send them directly to our Program Office at:
School of Professional & Extended Studies
Office of Enrollment
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016-8124
If you are mailing your documents via Courier Service (UPS, FEDEX, DHL, etc.) please send them to:
School of Professional & Extended Studies
Office of Enrollment
3201 New Mexico Avenue, NW
Suite B1
Washington, DC 20016-8124
You will be notified when new documents have been received and added to your application and when all materials
have been received and your application has been passed on to the committee for review.