During my last days at high school, one of my teachers back then told us that our university years would be the happiest of our lives. Unfortunately that wasn't my case and I didn't get the chance to experience it.
I have mixed feelings for this university. As much as I appreciate the opportunity of getting a degree here, in one of the most well-respected universities in the Middle East, I have mostly negative memories, especially as I had to study here during one of the difficult times of my life, so I couldn't fully enjoy what this place had to offer.
First of all, this is an "American" university only by name. It's heavily influenced by the Lebanese educational system, where apparently it's a sin to give full marks in most courses by many of its Lebanese teachers. The marking system here is so skewed they actually mention this fact on the official transcripts they issue to foreign universities. International students from several countries will probably get the shock of their lives as they start their academic years here.
The university also couldn't escape the political tension engulfing the country all the time. Lebanese students would always bring their ideologies to the campus, or heavily express their opinion on international affairs, it's common to have strikes and canceled courses every now and then, while at the start of every semester expect strikes against the continuously rising tuition fees. At one point the situation got so violent and involved armed forces inside the campus to take control.
On the positive side, I do appreciate the curriculum we had. It's very rich and broadening to your knowledge and views, what a proper university should indeed offer, aside from the core courses we are majoring in. The campus is very green with lots of nature surrounding most buildings, offering a relaxing atmosphere for studying in many spots you can find around.
I still had some good memories here. Made some good friends and been through positive experiences, but just like everything else in life, things could have always been better.