Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
I'll start out:
1) What's it like?
Fun, expensive, liberal, political, filled with things to do in the city.
2) How is the financial aide?
It varies by person. I didn't get one red cent. (Middle class family.)
I'm hundreds of thousands in the hole already. (Yes, I had a great high school GPA, and started GW strong.. still got nothing.)
3) What's the social life like?
There's plenty to do. Party nights are usually Thurs.-Sat. Most people go out to bars/clubs, with house/dorm parties relatively rare. There are a lot of (seemingly) wealthy people who spend a lot of cash on things (shopping, going out, etc.).
Liberal. Students are very competitive with each other. Most people have/want/are envious of some cool unpaid WH internship.
4) Do most students get internships?
Get? No. Want? Yes, basically. WH internships are very, very competitive.
5) What's Greek life like?
Until a few years ago, it was relatively lame. There's a Greek Row townhouse now that seems to make it slightly more popular. Plenty of people are in Greek life, but it's not a huge part of the school. People are far, FAR more into politics than greeks.
6) Was GW your first choice?
Actually, no.
7) Would you recommend going to GW?
It depends on what you're looking for in a school. If you want a traditional college experience (affordable, easy shopping, suburban campus, chill atmosphere, etc.), then no. If you want clubbing and internships (or trying to get them) and a very intense, pressure-packed city, then yes. I don't recommend GW for the naive, or the conservative, or those who aren't super ambitious. It's a stressful college to go to,.. not so much because of it's prestige (which isn't exceptional), but because of the city, intense competition, and overall unfriendly atmosphere.
The city and the college on the outside seem very friendly-- hustled, hurried, and generally dirty and lacking basic manners. It's loud, dirty, and a PITA to live in.
HIGH cost of living (!!!!). Very, very expensive college. Pain in the butt commuting (crowded, late public transit.. and terrible traffic). Not a friendly city.
8) What's the most popular major?
By far, it seems like everyone you meet is studying International Affairs.
9) What's the best thing about GWU?
They have tons of unique and exceptional events. There are a plethora of world leaders, gov't figures, and general "cool" people as guest speakers. Note that you won't always get in - some events are small events, or open only to media, or sold out, or otherwise not open to you. There are a good number of events you can go to, but don't go to school there expecting to meet every cool person you hear goes there. You won't.
You PAY for the experience. And, you'll likely be paying for the experience for decades. I'll be paying for it the rest of my life in student loans (ok, only until I'm 50+ years old).
10) Would you choose it again?
Probably not. It's just too expensive. And, it's not a "friendly and fun" college. I would have much rather have gone to some public college, studied abroad, and partied and generally had a good time.
That's not to say that there aren't good things about GW: the location (the main draw for the school), the events, the name, the guest speakers, etc. But, I can't say that it's worth $200,000+.
If I were to get a full ride, I'd consider the school. Elsewise, no.
Yes, I had plenty of "cool" experiences that most college students don't get..
but frankly, for $200,000+, I could:
- pay to have lunch with the Dali Lama
- tour the entire world
- trek on an expedition to Antartica
- get spa treatments daily
- go to dozens of concerts and major events
- pay to meet some celebrity or have a VIP room in a few dozen nightclubs
- Or, buy a house, a Hummer, and tens of thousands in bling and excess crap.
- ... and still have money to put away for retirement.
Will GW pay off for me? Um, no. Will it pay off for you? Maybe, that's your call.
Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
My stats:
- high school GPA - over a 3.7/4.0 at the very least, I don't remember how high exactly.
- ACT: 30+
- AP Tests: mostly 4s and 5s
- A good number of AP and honors classes
- Solid extracurriculars: international volunteerism, summer school, independent research projects, sports, .. blah, blah.
Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
What is dorm life like?
Crowded! And they tend to run out of good rooms fast. People boast about their dorms: some are better than others. Some are newer (Ivory Tower), and some are older (Thurston). Some are loud party houses (Thurston), while others are more mellow (Mount Vernon Campus, relatively speaking). Community showers and bathrooms are gross. Dorms are noisy, and often smell (of various things I won't mention). You'll hear/see plenty of drunk people stumbling in at all hours. You'll probably want to go to the library to study. The air conditioning never seems to be turned on in time, so you'll be hotter than hell for a while. Same with the winter- heat isn't on in time when the weather keeps going back and forth, so you'll freeze for a while.
Social and a good way to meet people. Most people want to live on campus, or at least in Foggy, just so you don't have to commute. Some dorms (Ivory Tower) have restaurants in the basement, which is really handy.
Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
What dorm should I live in?
Ivory Tower is newer, convenient, and has restaurants in the basement. I'd suggest it.
HOVA is kind of far.
Guthridge is ok- tends to be more space, though an older building.
Schenley- Older, hasn't been updated in recent history I don't think.
Fulbright- Not my style.
F St- For seniors. Nice for a dorm, though it might be farther from Acad Cntr classes.
City Hall- farther away, sometimes overcrowded.
Potomac House- newer freshman dorm, fairly good choice.
Thurston- freshman dorm, party central. Among the most social (and, often, loud & crowded) of the dorms. But, if you're a freshman, you probably want social to meet people.
If you don't like your dorm (loud, don't like the roommate, etc.), put in the room change request NOW. You won't magically start liking it in the middle of the year, and there's no sense in being miserable.
Try to find your roommates ahead of time. If your personalities clash or your lifestyles clash, consider switching rooms. If you study all the time, and they party all the time, it ain't gonna work out. Your RA might suggest you wait and try to work things out-- DON'T. Seriously, if you annoy each other the first few weeks, just switch. Tell your RA that you are absolutely certain you want to switch, and just do it. Don't let anyone talk you out of switching if you absolutely disdain your dorm, your roommates, etc.
Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
Where should I get groceries?
On campus is often expensive. You could either go around the city and haul junk back, or rent a car and go to the suburbs. You could also sign up for an online grocery delivery company. More likely than not, you'll eat out on campus.. a lot. I'd plan a trip (rent a car, go with friends, find a freshman shopping field trip) out to the suburbs to a Target/Walmart/etc. and buy some basic grocery staples in bulk. Or, grocery delivery.. pricey, but less of a pain than hauling groceries around the city.
Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
Where should I buy books? How much will they be?
I'd get them used, of course. You'll likely find cheaper deals online, like with many things.
Look into book rentals (typically online). Books are expensive, and at GW, they're no exception.
The least I ever spent for books was over $500. The most I ever spent for books for one semester was over $2000. Yes, like everything else at the school, it's expensive. I'd say $1000 is about the expectation for most people a semester. (I took some classes where used books weren't an option. Also had a few lab classes.) You'll at LEAST want to budget $500-- chances are, you'll at least double than a handful of semesters. If you rent them or find cheap online books, you could save a good bit of cash.
Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
What's the dating scene like?
People joke here that guys are either gay or Jewish. We have a nice, strong Jewish student center (Hillel), who participates in Birthright Israel. Also, we have a large and active Outcrowd (and several other gay organizations.. they have some popular theater productions, movie nights, etc.). No one I went to school with that I know of has gotten married. I don't know a whole lot of people who date long-term relationships. It seems like there are more casual dates, one night hookups, or simply people being too busy/interested to date. You'd be more likely to find potential dating partners outside of class (nightclubs, bars, Hillel, Newman Catholic Center, or some special interest group).
Very few people here seem interested in marrying young. Most plan to go to law school or into high-pressure careers after graduation, not marriage and kids.
The dating scene isn't particular big here, except for random meeting people at clubs, or short-term flings. Sure, there are exceptions, but it seems less the norm. It's not a school where anyone has even heard of a "Mrs. Degree".. AT ALL. People here seem to expect to do traditional things later in life, if ever (marriage, kids, buy a house, buy a car, etc.). People like to travel, and travel often; be unattached (to a spouse, a house, a car, etc.). I guess if marriage is your thing, you could look for it here.
Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
r0kAng3l-
What major are you looking at?
What's luring you to GW?
GW-
More of a power player locally in gov't and int'l relations, it seems. GW has more events and guest speakers on campus, it seems. ESIA is well respected. Seems like GW is flowing with far more money. GW owns a lot of property in the area. City campus. If you want internships, go to GW- no doubt (again, if they offer a nice scholarship.. otherwise, don't fork over that much cash for an unpaid internship).
American-
Better ranked overall undergrad, I believe? Further up North in the district. Rather far from anything DC-ish- gov't, World Bank, etc. We used to joke that American U. was in China because it seemed so far away from downtown. More traditional "suburban-feeling" campus.
I'd go to whichever you get the highest scholarship at.
Law school:
GW: higher GW, better international ties, better law school ranking.
American: #47 ranking. Yeah. Wouldn't go there for law school.
Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
Do you have any advice for me?
If you go to GW, have fun with it!
Don't worry excessively about the classes or the social scene.
Go to museums, local events (like the free Kennedy Center jazz hours), and explore the town like you own it. Do as much regional travel as you can. Ignore the opulence and excessive spending that many students do. Don't take out tens and tens of thousands in student loans!(!!!!!!!). Relax. Don't feel the need to get an unpaid internship every semester- do it some, but give yourself some time to have a standard college experience. Don't be a bastard or a ******- live and enjoy it. Make good, true friends. Have fun. Don't do anything stupid. Go to the cheesy orientation sessions, at least a few faculty lectures, and other campus events. Live it up while you can- you may actually miss the place one day.
What's more, if you don't like the school, transfer out. Don't stick it through. A "better" ranked college isn't worth being miserable for. If you don't like GW, transfer first thing.. it's no big deal. You could always reapply, but even if you don't.. college should be among the best times of your life. Make sure it is, no matter what school you go to.
Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
What's the student body like?
Here's what they SEEM like (not necessarily all are like):
Political, wealthy, spoiled and whiny, like to party, like to kiss up, like Uggs/Northface/other pricey trends, not particular good at fashionable clothing, not particularly gorgeous, from New Jersey or New York, stubborn, liberal, aggressive, like to go out, either Jewish or non-attending, like all things urban (from Urban Outfitters to Upper Eastside Manhatten).
Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
Will GW help me land a job?
Maybe. It depends on your field, your location, your resume,.. etc.
The school name has helped me land interviews and gigs, but I also had relevant experience aside from that. No school name alone, sans previous experience, can make employment a cinch. I will say that I have a lot of friends who have had trouble finding jobs, and others who are stuck in low paying jobs with HUGE student loans from GW. Others have found "cool" jobs, but not all gov't or similar jobs pay well. Overall, sure, going to a "good" school has helped me land interviews.
Location: Any advice given should be evaluted, researched, and taken "at your own risk."
Posts: 458
Arokangl31-
Art? Science? Poli Sci? You'll want to have some idea of it, since a school that's great for Int'l Affairs might not be the best place for art. I'd choose GW over American if you want to be in the heart of the city, closer to internships. GW has a fairly good reputation for itself internationally. It's a very liberal student body, and feels more like a city than a campus. (If you're extremely conservative, I doubt I would pick GW if I were you.) If a traditional college experience is important, go with American. Have you visited either campus? If possible, that can really help you decide. I would apply to both, and see which offers more aid.
Are you looking for a traditional college campus (American), or a city campus (GW)?
Why are you looking at American, why GW, and why DC? If you list what you see in them, I can tell you if the schools and city really would live up to your expectations for them.
