I think you'll find that AUC is indeed an elite institution, but that it is so central to the thinking of Egypt's political leadership class (both pro-government and opposition, such that it exists), and you'll need to take it seriously as an object of analysis. I'm closely connected to the University, and I'm often troubled by what I see there. While I would like to write it off as a small subset of the population, when that small subset makes decisions that influence the rest, it's a significant one. Remember, both Mrs. Mubarak and Gamal graduated from AUC and are heavily involved alumni. Good luck in preparing for your move. It's not easy adjusting to life in Cairo, but we manage it.