OK-my "S" got an e-mail today from housing saying that freshman registration opens tomorrow - continues to May 15th. The question we have is - the difference between "Theme" based housing and a "Program" based-housing. I know the website lists them, but the e-mail suggests that the "Program" based housing will get higher preference than "Theme".
Also, are these "preferences" prioritized "above" the "dorm" building itself?
CJ Madison: I would not pay attention to "theme housing." It really doesn't end up playing much of a role. For example, this year Thurston was designated as the "Politics and Public Policy" residence hall (or something very close to that...semantics, shemantics.....) However, the students within that residence hall are from all different schools within the university, different majors, etc. Theme-based housing really doesn't mean anything. You should, however, pay attention to "program-based" housing. I live in Lafayette this year, which is (this year) designated as Honors/Engineering housing, so the bottom few floors are made up of students in the Honors Program, and the top few floors are made up of students in the Engineering program. If your son isn't in one of these specific programs, trying to live in something like Honors housing may be a bit awkward for him. If he is in a specific program (e.g. Honors, Engineering, 7-year BA/MD, Women's Leadership Program [obviously your son won't be in the last one, just mentioning it as another example of a specified program with its own housing]), I would encourage him to apply for that housing. I hope this long, convoluted answer makes sense. If it doesn't, please let me know, and I'll be more than happy to rephrase.
Carly-It sounds as though the "Program" based housing is more of an entity and actually has requirements. Maybe that's why housing said its preference would be that over "Theme" based - which sounds pretty much like a joke.
Theme based-Program based, BS based! lol! Don't pay attention. Look at the dorms for what they are, dorms! Choose what you like, what your budget tells you not what GW tells you! Indeed it IS a joke.
OK - here's the scoop. For freshman housing selection this year you have to specify either a "Program" OR "Theme". You can't sort/prioritize by building name alone. Although, picking a "Theme" is essentially picking a specific building.
My question is - what happens if you pick a "program" but then don't like it or have too any other commitments - I don't think they would "require" you to participate - do you?
Is this the way it has been done in previous years?
It seems like they trying to force everyone into signing up for a program or theme rather than just pick the dorm(s) they want.
There doesn't seem to be a way to select a building preference.
Correct - e-mailed housing and they said that's the way they're doing this year. They said you can be as much or as little involved in the "Program or Theme" as you want.
Once you submit the housing application, can it be altered or edited before the end date? Right now, I'm not 100% about my housing choices and I don't know if I'm going to select my roommate or not, so would I be able to change things? Or once it's done is it final?
Similarly, any insight the current GW students can give on any of the freshmen dorms would be much appreciated! Any preferences, warnings, etc?
xjust - you can edit your choices until the end date May15th.
My "S" and I would also like to hear about the "Freshman Dorms and Themes". I wonder how much time committment the "programs" require - e.g. Pelham - Civc/Service.
