A Realistic View of GW

Colleges and Universities A-Z George Washington University
1

<p>Please feel free to ask me any questions related to this, or about GW in general.
Background:
I am a Junior currently majoring in Political Science. I applied to GW Early Decision 1. When I applied, I knew in my heart GW was the best place for me, for a number of reasons. I was excited to be entering the GW and DC communities, and couldn’t wait to start my first year.
After spending 3 years at GW, including summers, I have gained a lot of knowledge on how the school operates and have written down some strong words of warning, and helpful hints to those seeking to apply to GW this year, or whether or not they should accept their admission come spring.</p>

<p>Main Point 1: GW is all about money.</p>

<p>I sincerely implore you to consider the fact that GW is, more than I can even emphasize, a for-profit-institution. I know a lot of you will automatically go “Duh, it’s a private university”, but hear me out. My experience, as well as the experiences of many of my close friends, go to show GW could really care less about the quality of your own education and more about getting every scrap of money left in your pockets.
Here is a realistic example of what I mean. (All of these cases are 100% real, but for sake of anonymity, all names of any kind have been removed). There was an individual who, well before a drop deadline, registered for 3 classes to take over the summer, money permitting. Unfortunately, the money that had been meant for the classes had to go to another member of his family for a special circumstance. Needless to say, he had to drop these classes. The day before the deadline, after having carefully waited as long as possible, he decided to drop, however, while he was still staying on campus all summer, no one other than GW Housing knew this (inter-departmental BS I will address later). So, he was slapped with a library fine for a book that wasn’t yet due. He couldn’t drop, he was charged the full course amount, and to this day, after months and months of struggling, he still hasn’t gotten all the money dropped for courses he never ever took and dropped before the deadline.
This is just one of many examples of how GW, no matter how hard one tries and how one really did follow the rules, will try to scrap every penny you’ve ever had. I can assure you that Georgetown and American do not follow practices such as those.</p>

<p>Main Point 2: DC is amazing</p>

<p>This was the main reason I chose GW, for the access to DC. GW is the ONLY campus in the DC metro area that has a Metro stop ON CAMPUS, as well as incredible accessibility to the Bus system, and cabs zipping by every second. You are just blocks from the White House, Smithsonians, tons of bars and clubs, some of the best restaurants in the country, Georgetown shops, etc. I’ve been to Georgetown, American, University of MD, George Mason, basically most campus’s that have claim to being in/near DC. I can tell you by far that GW is the most city-accessible campus, and I can’t emphasize how much they really do put every other campus to shame.
There is a ton to do in DC. The internships, shops, food, entertainment. While there is some stuff to do on campus (its only really popular for Freshman and Sophomore’s), the older crowd understands that being at GW means being in DC more than anything.</p>

<p>Main Point 3: The Education at GW is so-so</p>

<p>There are only a few departments that deserve any substantial credit, a few being the International Affairs school (Elliot School), Political Science department, Business (to some degree).
The education you receive at GW is great, don’t get me wrong…but its just as great as any other school in the next 100 mile radius. There are some professor’s that really do stand out among the crowds, those that are engaging and actually get student’s to learn. The most are part-time professor’s with a lot on their plate, where the classes are of extreme easiness or extreme difficulty. Even in the department’s I mentioned that deserved credit, every professor is so unbelievably different in the subject they teach, even if it IS the same material, that one really smart student will struggle in a class while another sub-par student will excel in the same class with a different professor. Sure, I know this is how a lot of University’s are, but it pains me to see individuals who don’t deserve good grades getting the grades they want because they have friends who can “reserve” easy spots for them upon registration.
Whats worse, is that there is no accountability for professor’s who truly mess up. What also had bothered me is the amount of emphasis put on General Curriculum Requirements, such as taking Science classes in the Columbian School, when those individuals have absolutely 0 intention of ever taking a science class again. I agree with having them TAKE at least 1 or 2 science classes, but the amount of other GCR’s they throw on us is humiliating, especially seeing so many other school’s in the past years dropping their GCR’s in favor of having student’s take courses more geared toward their major.</p>

<p>Main Point 4: Interdepartmental Politics makes it impossible to get ANYTHING done.</p>

<p>I used to work for the University, I’ve had to deal with numerous departments for various reason, and the one thing I can tell you is that MOST (not all) departments hire the most incompetent individuals who make even the simplest of tasks an absolute chore. Remember the example I gave above? Having to go to 3 different people just to get an answer on how to just begin solving that problem is the kind of BS students legitimately have to put up with.
Unless you personally get to know employees or administrative personnel, everything takes an exceptionally long amount of time to do.</p>

<p>Main Point 5: GW Housing is exceptional</p>

<p>It goes without saying that the housing provided by the university is incredibly, and students really do live in palaces compared to 99% of other colleges in the nation. Just next year (I believe) they are opening up freshman single-suites on the Vern. All sophomore dorm rooms come equipped with kitchens, and most freshman dorm rooms have kitchenette areas on each floor or in each room. They are spacious, cozy, and the Housing staff is really friendly and relatively accommodating.
After your freshman year, you’ll usually get your first choice if you choose the roommates you wish to live with. Sophomore year housing is exceptional, and juniors are pretty much guaranteed housing, especially with the opening of the new Senior-only dorm, South Hall (which are 4 person single-suites with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and living room).
There are some pretty good “off-campus” options that are price competitive to GW housing. There are a number of non-gw owned apartments that sit right on GW’s campus. The only downside is that you do not get any GWorld money. Living on campus is mandatory until the completion of your sophomore year.
Main Point 6: Food at GW
The food choices are GW are sub-par, however, there are a few choices that offer some pretty tasty foods. J-Street, located in the Marvin Center (student center), is pretty much all owned by Sodexho (who has a contract with GW). Freshman and Sophomores get mandatory spending money there (so, if you don’t spend it, Sodexho gets it anyways). The whole Sodexho contract really screws over GW students. First of all, EVERYTHING is more expensive than its competitors because it has no need to worry about outside competition, given that all J-Street eateries are owned by the same company. The service (except for the Wendy’s staff, they actually seem to care about good quality service) is horrendous. The way they put together their food is sloppier than any of their other franchises, and the quality is horrible. </p>

<p>List of J-Street food: Chick-fil-a, Wendy’s, WOW Wingery, Charlie Chang’s Chinese, a Mexican place, sandwich bar, hot-food bar (weighted, so its expensive and most certainly never worth it).
Personally, I’m a big fan of Chick-fil-a. Yes, their menu at this location (and im pretty sure, this location only) has all of 3 items on it (I kid you not), but its relatively healthier than any other fast food option offered.
Non J-Street (and thus, non-mandatory J-Street allowance money) places to eat include several sandwich and deli places, a pita place, and a small market. There are also a bunch of places nearby campus which accept the GWorld (method of GW payment) card, but are generally more expensive because they are sit-down restaurants, thus tip and everything on top of it.
If you include the off-campus options that are accepted by the Gworld card, then yes, the food at GW is outstanding, it has a great variety, and is decent. However, why would you want to go off campus every time you want a bit? There are 2 websites that deliver food, one of which will deliver food from a ton of different restaurants, including a bunch that accept Gworld. Its an incredible service, and makes laziness awesome. Its completely unaffiliated with GW.</p>

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<p>Hi “88”</p>

<p>My “S” is applying RD 2010. He will likely be offered some scholarship/grant aid and loans - based on our EFC. Any comment either on your financial aid status or what you’ve heard overall! Is GW generous or not!</p>

<p>The last think as a parent I want is for my “S” to go to a college where all they worry about is money!</p>

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<p>The dorms are beautiful because the students paid for them with tuition $. Not many land/buildings/dorms paid for by alumni. Is GW still the most expensive undergrad in the country?</p>

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<p>CJ Madison - I do not receive any Financial Aid (and desperately need it). As a result, I have a Federal Plus loan (I believe), and maybe some other loan (my parents mainly deal with it). In terms of Financial Aid, GW boasts a high percentage of students who receive financial aid, and I severely doubt that to be true. While we have 10,000 students on campus and I, of course, don’t know all of them, those I do know do not receive any financial aid. From what I’ve heard, the school that receives the most Financial Aid is the Engineering school, due to the fact they are REALLY trying to build up the program and attract students. It kind of screws over the rest of us.</p>

<p>FamilykCT - GW is no longer the most expensive undergrad in the country. Sure, it is more expensive than the Ivy’s, but you are paying a fixed rate for 4 years, so you end up paying less for 4 years total than most other schools in the same price bracket.</p>

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<p>I don’t understand the original post. Did he drop the course on time or didn’t he? And what does the library fine have to do with anything?</p>

<p>I don’t agree with you at all on point one. </p>

<p>And GW is not the most expensive school in the country anymore; even when it was , it was within a few hundred bucks of many other privates, like NYU and BU. Sarah Lawrence is the most expensive now.</p>

<p>Now, in point 3, you say the education is so-so… and then you say the education is great. Again, I don’t understand.</p>

<p>CJ Madison, the “all they worry about is money” stuff is false, in my experience. </p>

<p>I really love GW, BTW.</p>

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<p>Schmohawk - He dropped it on time. The fine (which wasn’t supposed to be issued) caused a hold, which, due to lack of communication between departments, caused all sorts of other fines.</p>

<p>Education IS so-so, the education is GREAT when you get the right professor, but I say so-so because, while the education is “great” here, its nothing special compared to schools in the surrounding area. People come on here to figure out whats best for them, so I’m saying so-so relative to other schools.</p>

<p>CJ Madison - The people who don’t agree with the whole “all they worry about is money” stuff are people who have never had to care about money (and there are a lot of those people at this school). No offense to Schmohawk, while I most certainly appreciate your input, the qualms about money are experienced far and wide by those who need loans, have many payments, etc. If scholarship is in question, you have to consider the financial issues with this University.</p>

<p>And I still love GW, but this is info people need to be aware of. I still wouldn’t be anywhere else, and I certainly wouldn’t be anywhere other than DC.</p>

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<p>Also, quick response in terms of education, what you gain from this school does not come from academics but from all the activities and internships you get here. Academics really is the smallest part of it. Most undergrad universities have become a joke, even the Ivy’s to an extent. You pay 50 grand a year to get a piece of paper to say you graduated with “X” major from “X” university. Nothing more. </p>

<p>Academics only slightly comes into play when applying for grad school (if that is a route for you).</p>

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<p>I STRONGLY disagree with 88’s opinion on financial aid. Almost everyone I know is on some sore of financial assistance. I myself can tell you that GW offered me more aid BY FAR than any other college I was admitted to. The few people I know who did not get aid, as in those who applied and did not get any, do not fit into the financial assistance category, in other words did not deserve financial assistance in the first place.</p>

<p>Now I do agree with 88 when he says GW is a for-profit institution. But let’s be real, all private universities are businesses that look out to make the most money possible.</p>

<p>The way I look at it is this, if you look at your family income, and it fits within the category that says deserves financial assistance, GW will give you aid. Not only did i recieve aid, but GW also have me WAY more aid than what the EFC recommended. Honestly, those who complain how GW gave them no money are those who are too greedy and rich to begin with. Just my own honest opinion from my own experiences here.</p>

<p>Thus, I recommend, and I know this may sound naive, but I recommend that you do not hold back from applying to GW because of the money, because let’s be real, although GW is expensive, it is a private university, and there are 100’s of private universities in today’s world that cost now between 48,000 to 54,000 dollars. Do not let a few thousand dollars dictate your school. GW gives out some of the most aid in the nation. If you want more affordable education, go public.</p>

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<p>To PatM</p>

<p>Thanks for your encouraging words on FA. I guess my “S” will find out in Mar/Apr about FA and “how much” when he receives when he gets his letter of acceptance (hopefully positive).</p>

<p>Does the FA “Award” letter come with the letter of acceptance in the same envelope???</p>

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<p>According to gov’t statistics, 56% of GW students receive financial aid and 44% do not. See [National</a> Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a part of the U.S. Department of Education](<a href=“http://www.nces.ed.gov%5DNational”>http://www.nces.ed.gov). It’s remarkable that 44% of GW students are full-pay when it is one of the most expensive in the country, at over 50K a year. It is clearly an example of the full-pay students subsidizing the needy students.</p>

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<p>I also STRONGLY disagree with many of takinit’s comments. Without going into a long debate, I believe GWSenior’s post are far more accurate. I am a rising sophomore and have had mostly great experiences at GW. If I’ve encounter a problems (ie. courses, dorm issues), I have sought out the correct individuls to help me, including advisors, GPS mentors, housing personnel. Yes, it can be complicated at times but like many universities, you have to be assertive and learn to advocate. I have had some really great classes in CCAS and some so so classes but, that’s not any different then many of my friends at similar schools. As far as the money is concerned, yes it’s expensive, yes you have to watch where you eat etc… but it’s a lesson in learing to do without and managing my money.
Check out other feedback on this forum re: GW before you are dissuaded by
takinit’s remarks. GW is a great school and I would not want to be any place else.</p>

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<p>

</p>

<p>this is a very misleading statement. I hope students who are reading this do not take this really serious;y. For instance, getting into top Ph.D. programs requires solid undergrad research experience with well known and faculty with solid contacts in the field of your interest. If it’s the professional school (medical, law, MBA, etc), good grades are VERY important: granted, “grade” does not necessarily mean the high quality of academics - but they are more likely to be correlated rather than NOT correlated. Top engineering grad schools take undergrad academics and grades very seriously.</p>

<p>Again, I admit that in some field, in some schools, academics may not matter that much. But, I am willing to make a major bets that these cases are a minority. I am saying this as someone who went through top graduate school academics routes with a spouse with even more years in various advanced academic education, plus numerous friends and acquaintances who are in a position to “select” and “admit” students for their prestigious graduate programs.</p>

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<p>CJ Madison:</p>

<p>You will receive the FA packages roughly a week after you receive your acceptance letters, giving you ample amount of time to review your package and determine your college choice that best fits you.</p>

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<p>I have already been accepted but I havent gotten my FA yet at all. Looks like I will be waiting yet another week =/</p>

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<p>Clarix:</p>

<p>Have you already been accepted through ED?</p>

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<p>Yea how in the world have you already been accepted? I thought admission decisions come out Dec. 15.</p>

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<p>Its true that most student’s have a great experience. A lot of student’s never have to deal with the GW admin., and thus never have a bad experience.</p>

<p>Look, the fact of the matter is anyone who has actually had to deal with the Financial Aid office, Student Accounts, the CCAS office, etc, can tell you that the experiences they receive really make GW out to not care two-bits about the student’s well being. While that might not at all be true, it leaves such a sour taste in the mouth’s of students that I’ve heard plenty of distaste for the way GW goes about business from student’s from Freshman to Grad students.</p>

<p>A lot of students at this school come from VERY rich backgrounds, and they never have any problems because of it. Its a big problem concerning students, and members of Alumni Relations know they need to jump on the rich kids early to maintain money coming in later, its why they get all the perks.</p>

<p>I’ve known kids who didn’t accept their admissions till the near deadline, and got superior housing to the kids who accepted ED, simply based on wealth and background. Its a BS system. Yes, these comments are WELL off track from my arguments earlier. I’m ranting. Deal with it.</p>

<p>So, a word to the wise for those applying:</p>

<p>GW is a good school, superior housing, city life, internship opportunities, and select majors make this school top a lot of others. Anything financial, administrative, makes working with this school a living nightmare. Endless amounts of red tape, administrative staff who don’t care two-bits about a student’s well-being, and a school which cares more about their profits then providing the best education possible (Pro-Tip: The GW Library system receives the lowest funds of any department in the university). And thats the realistic take on GW.</p>

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<p>takiniteasy- That’s YOUR realistic take on GW, but there are those who will disagree with many of your “rantings”. There are Pros and Cons to every university unfortunately, you seemed to have experienced more Cons. However, if one always focuses on the negative, their GW experiences will also likely be negative. Stating that the Admin staff does not “give two bits” about the students or only the “rich” ones is an OVER generalization. Granted, there are students here who come from very wealthy families (as in many private $$ univ) but, they do not always brag about it or expect preferential treatment! So I reaffirm that I respectfully disagree with most of your negative comments and emphasize that whenever I ran into problems, I advocated for myself and called upon my advisors to assist me. I hope that those who are considering applying to GW, recognize that the positive aspects of attending this school outweigh the negative!</p>

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<p>@ PatM1401 & jconway</p>

<p>Applied for last semester but they were too full. So they said I was accepted for this upcoming semester. This was June.</p>

<p>Anyone have any news on financial aid?</p>

20

<p>DS just came home for Thanksgiving break and I have spent the past few hours listening to him talk about GW.
He is very happy there. He got a terrific scholarship from them and we are not on the lower end of the income scale. He knows several people that have gotten the same scholarship. He also knows several more that got $10,000 more a year than he did. The scholarship he got put GW easily in our price range and actually cheaper than some of his other admits. I would advise anyone that is interested in GW apply. You never know how much money you will get from them. </p>

<p>As for the rich kids getting the best dorms? I don’t agree. DS has several friends in his dorm that are extremely wealthy and they do not live in a prime dorm at all. Sometimes he can tell that someone is rich but other times he is clueless. He never knew his roommate was rich until a few weeks ago. </p>

<p>Just today he was raving about his academic counselor/advisor and talking about how helpful she is. My other DS goes to a top 25 university and has had so-so advising there. He hardly sees his counselor whereas my GW son is required to see his. Both of my sons have general requirements that they must fulfill for graduation. Both are required to take science and math. GW has less requirements. Both universities believe in these general requirements as a strong basis for a liberal arts education. I disagree with 88’s statement that most universities are dropping these requirements so as to fit in more major courses. As a parent, I am glad to see that both sons have to have a strong education in many areas. If anything, a person is more well-rounded this way. I can think back to a few general requirements classes that I had to take in college that had a lasting effect on me. </p>

<p>I have found the university easy to work with so far. I have had to call a few times about financial issues and they have been receptive and responsive to my needs. The only problem I have had is that they don’t seem to answer their phones quickly. But once I get someone on the line, I get the help I need. </p>

<p>I have the advantage of seeing two different types of universities for my two sons. I can tell you that they both approach things differently, but one method isn’t necessarily better than the other. There are some things I like better about GW and some things I like better about the other school. No place is perfect and I guarantee that a student will have “issues” no matter where they go.</p>