Alissa
Political student organizations and non-profit organizations
Sarah
Greek life is HUGE at GW. Even the girls most avidly against rushing in the fall will rush in the Spring or sophomore year once they realize that a social life is nearly impossible without joining the Greek movement.
Sarah
The most popular groups on campus are the College Democrats and Republicans, and the International Affairs Society. Model UN is also huge. I started a student organization my freshman year called Babies Behind Bars to raise support and money for an organization rescuing children of incarcerated women from prisons in Nepal. It was easy to set up and has made a huge impact on campus, and we are incorporating as a 501(c)3 organization. Students leave their doors open but it's always a risk. UPD is good at patrolling the floors and there aren't a lot of robbery cases that I know of. Athletic events are not popular, but guest speakers, especially ambassadors and politicians, are very popular. Theater is big within certain groups. The dating scene is non-existent (coming from someone who is not participating in that scene, my view might be limited), but there's a lot of talk about hook-ups at parties, etc. As for relationships, they are not visible on campus whatsoever. Lots of people have relationships at other schools. I met my closest friends through the Honors Program because there are lots of events oriented towards building community within this group. If I am awake at 2 AM, I am probably trying to get internet in the hallway and working on something for school. There are so many events every year that it's impossible to recount. There are lots of student org events that take over U Yard and Kogan and have lots of energy. People party a fair amount (as freshmen at least) but you only see the ones who party, and there are many more who stay in but are just less visible in the halls. Greek life is huge, but not imperative. I didn't join and didn't feel the need to, but it gets annoying to have such a strong presence of the Greek community on campus without being able or wanting to be part of it. Last weekend I did a ton of school work and went running to the Vern campus. There was a monthly Pancakes with the Provost event that I went to after jogging through Georgetown. It's a great place to spend time on the weekend (DC). Saturday nights are great for wandering around the monuments, going to Cone-Island or Crepeaway (open so late for food adventures), going to a nice restaurant in Georgetown, or watching a movie. There are events at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage every night and lots of DC events on Linktank. I always go off campus to the museums, monuments, shops, farmers markets, coffee places, food trucks, clubs or restaurants, or I go into Virginia or Maryland to get away from the city.
Mira
The most popular student groups are the socially politically active groups, like LGBT. I am involved with Hillel and was part of the GW Cheer team. I also am involved with a leadership fellowship through Meor at GW. Students in freshman dorms and in Greek housing typically leave their doors open and interact frequently. In upper level dorms, the interactions become less frequent. Athletic events are fun when well attended, but they only are on major games, and basketball is the only one with a real present. I met my closest friends on the cheer team and in my freshman dorm. People can choose if they want to party a lot or not. I have friends that go out all the time, and friends that stay in studying. Fraternities and sororities have a presence but are not at all necessary and it's easy to make friends independent of greek life. Last weekend I studied Friday night then went out with my friends Saturday night.
Becky
Greek life is growing at GW, but College Democrats and Republicans are still very popular. They go on campaigning trips and host speakers and debates regularly. I am a photographer for the newspaper, which has no doubt been the best thing I've done in college. Working for the Hatchet has gotten to go to events on campus and all over DC. Everyone needs to find a group of friends. I found that at the paper and on my Freshman floor. People like to go out to clubs and bars, but there are lots of things to do one weekends - go to a concert, see at slam poetry performance at Busboys and Poets, go to a free show at the Kennedy Center, get cupcakes in georgetown. Some of my latest nights haven't been from partying - but from waiting in line for tickets to see Hilary Clinton and Robert Gates, or to cover the Occupy DC protests.
Becky
Greek life is growing at GW, but College Democrats and Republicans are still very popular. They go on campaigning trips and host speakers and debates regularly. I am a photographer for the newspaper, which has no doubt been the best thing I've done in college. Working for the Hatchet has gotten to go to events on campus and all over DC. Everyone needs to find a group of friends. I found that at the paper and on my Freshman floor. People like to go out to clubs and bars, but there are lots of things to do one weekends - go to a concert, see at slam poetry performance at Busboys and Poets, go to a free show at the Kennedy Center, get cupcakes in georgetown. Some of my latest nights haven't been from partying - but from waiting in line for tickets to see Hilary Clinton and Robert Gates, or to cover the Occupy DC protests.
Kaitlin
By far the most popular student groups on campus are the College Democrats and the College Republicans. GW has the most political active student body in the country, probably because our closest neighbors are the White House, Capitol Hill, and the State Department. Students spend the week working 40 hours on Capitol Hill and the weekend canvassing for political candidates, and they never shy away from a debate on immigration or welfare reform - no matter if it's 10 or 2 in the morning. Common phrases you will hear on campus are: "Did you catch the State of the Union last night?"; "I totally read about that on CNN this morning!"; and "Wolf Blitzer is awkwardly obsessed with our school..."