<p>I saw this on another college's board and thought it was a good idea. Gives a sense of the school atmosphere as well as the practical information that isn't always common sense to those who don't attend yet. How can we, as the incoming freshman Class of 2011 be the happiest we can be at GWU?</p>
<p>Keeping an open mind is probably the best advice. Sounds hackneyed, but its really true in any situation. It's probably most applied in the social setting, but can also be applied elsewhere. Socially, GW is comprised of students from a myriad of backgrounds. Don't judge a book by its cover. Don't get down by the way a person dresses or the way they speak. Every GW student attends GW for different reasons, but a common thread links us all. We all want to be successful. We all want to impact the world in our own way. We all are passionate about something. Success, impact, passion and happiness are defined in different ways. There is no right way to answer it.</p>
<p>Don't lock yourself in too early. Gdubbers have a knack for planning their lives. Getting an internship at the State Department, Price Waterhouse Cooper, the UN, the White House, Amnesty International, the Kennedy Center, Boston Consulting Group doesn't not always get you a job there. It helps, but don't believe that it will easily happen. Take it from a senior, life won't play out exactly as you hoped. Don't let it get you down. Roll with the punches.</p>
<p>Work hard, play hard. Maintain a balance. If you're going for a 4.0, that's great. Don't forget to have a little fun. If you love going out every weekend, that's great. Don't forget you are a student. Learn time management, but don't forget that college only lasts 4 years.</p>
<p>Get involved in a student organization. Meet people who share a similar interest. It's the best way to burn off steam and make new friends. It may just be the most rewarding experience you have at GW.</p>
<p>College can be a bureaucracy and doesn't work as efficiently as you hoped. Learn the rules. Learn the deadlines. But also think outside the box and be savvy. Some rules can be bent.</p>
<p>The "I pay $50,000 or $55,000 to go here" excuse gets real old, real fast. We all sacrifice something to go here. Welcome to the club.</p>
<p>Learn basic networking skills. Learn basic public speaking skills. Learn how to apply polite pressure. Learn how to say "no." These skills are not only useful at GW, but in life. Why not get an early start?</p>
<p>Talk to your professors. Get to know who they are. Don't worry about feeling stupid in front of them. You are here to learn. </p>
<p>Living in DC in 4 years is a short time span. Make sure you do all the fun things while you're still a student. It's ok to be a tourist sometimes (just long as you don't have a fanny pack).</p>
<p>my biggest advice: network, network, network.</p>
<p>it's really easy to get lost in a big school within a big city. when you get here in september, hit the ground running. even if it's just the kids on your hall...make some connections right away. leave your comfort zone. most of my friends here are TOTALLY different than my friends from home--don't have any expectations, and you won't be disappointed. you might not stay friends with the people that you're friends with at the beginning of freshman year, but it's nice to have a little bit of a network. this advice is coming from someone who DIDN'T follow this advice, and ended up being really lonely. force yourself to be somewhat social...you won't regret it.</p>
<p>next: don't get overwhelmed! have your priorities straight, especially if you're the hardcore go-getter type that is really common at GW. DO NOT bite off more than you can chew. this goes for everything: partying on weeknights...taking an extremely heavy courseload...having 5 internships and 2 part-time jobs...i mean, everything in moderation. take it easy first semester, and test the waters in terms of how to stay balanced. having the city at your disposal is tempting. be careful!</p>
<p>finally: not to completely contradict myself, but get involved in on-campus activities. they are a great way to meet people with similar interests, and really make gw feel smaller.</p>
<p>have fun next year!</p>