George Washington University Top Questions

If I could use only one word to describe GW it would be "unique". This school is large, as is DC, and it can be intimidating for some students, especially those coming from smaller cities and sheltered backgrounds. I think that the school is the perfect size, I am constantly meeting new people but I can never walk to class without seeing at least one person I know on the way. I think DC is one of the most beautiful cities in the country. It is large and has plenty to do, but small enough that even after a few months at GW you can figure out your way around and even give directions to a tourist, which really makes you feel like a DC residence. GW's DC locations is one of its biggest assets, DC is full of diverse restaurants, great shopping, fun nightlife, and plenty of cultural activities. One thing that GW can definitely improve on is the school administration, which is for the most part a bureaucratic mess. Everything can be a challenge, from signing up for classes to transferring credits. I've had some pretty inspiring professors and some abysmal ones who should never have been allowed to teach. GW and the surrounding area is also very expensive, it is close to impossible to have a meal that is under $10. Overall, GW is a diverse school in a diverse area, and it is up to each individual students to make it their own. Some choose to immerse themselves in an internship, while others spend their time doing reasearch, and some even spend their time going to different speakers and events around the city. GW is a great school with some not so great parts.

GWU is a wonderful school that does it best to make sure the campus has a diverse student body and many organizations to join. The school is perfectly located in downtown Washington D.C which influence the dynamic atmosphere the campus has. Their is a ton of school pride. You can always spot at least two students in class with their GWU gear and hundreds of students at sports games.

GWU is a wonderful school that does it best to make sure the campus has a diverse student body and many organizations to join. The school is perfectly located in downtown Washington D.C which influence the dynamic atmosphere the campus has. Their is a ton of school pride. You can always spot at least two students in class with their GWU gear and hundreds of students at sports games.

The best thing about GW is it's location. We have a metro stop right on campus which makes the rest of the city extremely accessible. You can get to most places in the city via metro, and if not then you can also take the metro bus. Other schools such as American and Georgetown will say that the city is really easy to get to, but it usually takes at least 45 minutes to really get anywhere. The schools size is just right for me. I can always meet new people if I am becoming sick of my friends or want to branch out. At the same time, I can be sure to see a friendly face every day. People do eventually branch off into smaller groups, but it is not hard to infiltrate them because there are so many different activities and ways to join in. That being said, one thing that is bad about the school being so large is the Administration. Students are assigned at GWID which is their lettered and numbered ID and unless you really work to branch out to professors, you will remain a nameless ID the entire time you are at the school. I am an English major so I am fortunate enough to have small, intimate classes, but from the science classes I have taken, you can go an entire semester without ever speaking with your professor. Come exam time, if you have an issue, they won't even know your name. The best thing about this school is that it seems like if you take enough initiative, you can get most anything done. There are many ambitious people here and there are so many opportunities that the city provides. I feel as if this is one of the best schools you can go to to learn how to become an adult because really, everything is in your hands, unlike small and sheltered schools in more rural areas.

I love GWU. I transferred here from another school (University of Mary Washington) and that gives me a different level of appreciation. People often complain that GWU only wants money, that it is a real estate company that happens to have classes. I think GWU is doing what it can to still make a profit in an incredibly expensive city, and it hasn't done anything wrong (or different from any other schools). Yeah it's expensive, but I'm on a full ride and there IS financial aid out there if you need it! GWU is a very different sort of school, and is definitely not for everyone. If you are looking for good ol' fashioned school pride and a football game, go elsewhere. People here are proud of GWU, but more so they have pride in their organizations such as College Democrats or 14th Grade Players (theater) or Organization of Latin American States and they are incredibly involved and invested into these orgs. What makes GWU great to me is that it gives you a real world experience (in terms of the real intellectual/political elite experience of DC....sadly not a "real world" experience for many residents). There are no RA's watching your every move, no cafeteria you have to eat three meals a day at (two things I hated at my old school) and nearly everyone has a job or an internship off campus. Campus itself is fluid....the IMF, World Bank and State Department are a part of our "campus". So is Miriam's Kitchen, a soup kitchen and art therapy center for the homeless. We have our own Metro stop and I commute to my internship with some of DC's finest. Today I walked to the Smithsonians to hear a lecture than stopped by the Occupy DC movement to see what was going on. Students here work hard and play hard (GW loves to party, but mostly in DC clubs). GWU is competitive, intense, involved, and unlike any other school. There is always a helping hand when you need it, but no one is going to baby you. It is what you make of it. You can join a sorority and party, or be a part of a Christian organization and be involved with local churches. But one this is for sure, this is a DC school, and you have to be a city kid to truly love it. I adore GWU. I have had amazing opportunities here, whether it be interacting with the incredibly international student body, have a number of different internships or just seeing Obama at a basketball game. GWU for life!

GWU is an amazing school academically, and the location is ideal for Washington, DC internships and jobs. Professors generally have some professional background in their subject matter and the networking opportunities are endless. However, many students seem not to get involved on campus or in the community. It's frustrating to make friends when many students pay $50,000+ a year in tuition and school fees, yet remain unmotivated. Also, if you're into sports, this is not the university for you. GWU has no football team, and there is not much school pride in the rest of our sports teams. Overall, GW students form a tight community and can bond over campus experiences such as Thurston Hall, the Vern, or our unofficial Hippo mascot.

VERY expensive, but worth the investment, especially for business majors and international affairs majors. Performing arts might want to rethink..

VERY expensive, but worth the investment, especially for business majors and international affairs majors. Performing arts might want to rethink..

VERY expensive, but worth the investment, especially for business majors and international affairs majors. Performing arts might want to rethink..

My overall opinion of this school is that it is a school full with many opportunities no matter what major you are so long as you use your resources. Also you will get a lot of financial aid (especially need base aid).