<p>Can you still choose housing even when you didn’t yet send the check?</p>
<p>gwilde: what tips would you give us academically? what would and wouldn’t you do again? Is University Writing requirement a tough course? Is there grade deflation?
thanks</p>
<p>i have some of the same questions as above…
how is the pre-med advising and classes (class size, professors…etc.)?
also, is there grade deflation at GWU? how hard is it to maintain a high GPA 3.6+?</p>
<p>I fyou did not live in THurston, where would you suggest?</p>
<p>Meadesport, I’m a mom. I’m sorry I can’t advise to another dorm as it changes some what each year which ones are freshman dorms. I just know the majority end up in Thurston, whether it was their choice or not.</p>
<p>I stumbled upon this site looking for some info for my younger sister and, since I’m a senior at GW, was curious check out the GW section. I know the school very well and have experienced quite a bit here–everything from living in Thurston to finding a job for post-graduation. I’d be happy to answer any questions.</p>
<p>What would be the best dorm? I’m social but I don’t like drinking or smoking and need a place to study.</p>
<p>If you really think you won’t ever be drinking, you may want to steer clear of Thurston; however, if you think you may drink on occasion, don’t rule it out–you may fit in there and like it. If you’re in the honors program, Lafayette may be nice as it’s generally quiet and in a good location. Madison is also in a very good location. I would stay away from the singles in Mitchell and the Mt. Vernon campus altogether.</p>
<p>AlexH what was your dorm room like in Thurston and have you seen the rooms in Lafayette? Are they nice?</p>
<p>Thanks, Alex. Can you elaborate on your comment about Mitchell and the Vern, please?</p>
<p>I lived with 5 other guys. I hadn’t arranged to live with them ahead of time and was just assigned to that room. Living in Thurston is a great way to break into college in my opinion. Everyone keeps their doors open most of the time and people will just stop into other people’s rooms looking for someone to talk to or whatever. Very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. I’ve never seen a Lafeyette room. I don’t think they’re anything special. Sophomore housing starts to get really nice and is the reason for the nice-dorm reputation.</p>
<p>Knitmom, Mitchell is not social enough for freshmen. Doors are often kept closed and many non-freshmen live there who aren’t in need of finding new friends. Also, I think living with roommates is a part of the college experience and worthwhile even if it means leaving your comfort zone. The Mount Vernon campus is just a bit of a hassle because it’s so out of the way. I think most people would prefer living on the actual campus.</p>
<p>I appreciate your insight, and will pass it along to D. We were there on Monday for a visit, and saw rooms in Thurston, Somers & Cole (also Ivory Tower, but that’s for down the road . . .). She wonders about Strong–do you know anyone who has lived there, and how they liked it? (BTW, she agrees with you about Foggy Bottom being preferable.)</p>
<p>What’s the appeal in Strong? The building itself or the all-girl policy?</p>
<p>She’s looking for a quieter atmosphere, and single or double vs. quad or six, I think. She would like to be on the Foggy Bottom campus and avoid Thurston (and this is her talking, not me). The all-girl thing is not a negative for her, but that’s definitely not her primary motivator. She asked one of the student guides in Thurston about where she lives, and she’s very happily in a single in Mitchell, I think.</p>
<p>“I have heard the dorm rooms are tiny with 6 in a room. The food cost is extremely high. Can a young man have enough to eat within the colonial cash?”</p>
<p>GW dorms tend to fall into one of two categories: absolutely disgusting or ridiculous opulent. It is true that there are some rooms that house up to six students (they are located in Thurston) and they are not particulalry big. Most freshman dorms do not tend to be that big, however, and unlike upper classmen dorms do not include a kitchen. Thurston is quite rowdy and provides a limited amount of space and privacy, but offers a great opportunity to meet new people. Mitchell is much calmer, but the kids who live there are well…different. Madison is pretty amazing (though the elevator is dubious) and offers kitchens on every floor which I think is a great advantage. Personally, I think Crawford is pretty disgutsting, and Lafayette is a little too far removed for my tastes-though a rather decent dorm nonetheless.</p>
<p>As for the meal plan; I think students are seriously ripped off. They are forced to spend $700 a semester at J Street, which features some of the most disgusting and most unhealthy venues. The SA is supposedly working on it though. The 1,000 colonial cash dollars, however, are really quite handy as they can be used just about anywhere. You will find that D.C. is generally quite expensive. For instance, yesterday I spent $15 on lunch for a banana, a sandwich, a protein bar, and some yogurt. And that is generally cheap. Though I shold also mention that I tend to eat a lot though, so my views regarding the cost of food might be slightly biased.</p>
<p>“Thanks, Alex. Can you elaborate on your comment about Mitchell and the Vern, please?”</p>
<p>Stay off of the Vern; it will kill your social life. Unless you are socially inept to begin in which case you will thrive as you shall find others like you.</p>
<p>*I know that sounds rather harsh, but that is how it is.</p>
<p>“gwilde: what tips would you give us academically? what would and wouldn’t you do again? Is University Writing requirement a tough course? Is there grade deflation?
thanks”</p>
<p>Academically, all I can say is that it really depends. Last semester I took some extremely interesting classes. I became heavily involved and spent many a nights locked away in the library doing far more than that which was required of me. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. This semester, however, I’ve taken courses that I really haven’t found appealing and consequently I rarely show up for classes and all my work assignments are generally completed the morning of. This semester just feels like a terrible waste, as if I have been robbed. GPA wise both semesters are comparable (3.8) so on paper you really couldn’t distinguish between the two. I guess the moral of the story is choose your classes wisely i.e. scope out the bulletin, check rate my professors, and ask around. If you do all of the aboved you should be slated to have a great experience (unfortunately though depending on your school you will be forced to register for some classes you would really rather not).</p>
<p>My UW class was absolutely amazing; it has probably been my best class to date. I had a terrific professor and topic of the course was rather riveting. My professor realized that most individuals each had distinct writing and philosophical abilities (it was a philosophy UW), so he tried to cater the class to each individual student difficulty wise. I liked the class so much actually that I ended up writing a 25 page paper for a 15 page requirement. </p>
<p>We definitely do not have grade deflation. Personally, I have not found a single class to be undoable (challenging yes, but not impossible), so it surprises me that the average GPA here is roughly 3.4-or so I hear. If you have a good head on your shoulders though, you should be absolutely fine.</p>
<p>gwilde: thank sfor your input.
what UW to avoid for what you’ve heard from other peers?
would you have taken UW in the 1st or 2nd semester of the freshman yr if you have to do it again?
tnx</p>