<p>I'm just trying to get a feel for how many freshman are trying to leave. I know a couple kids on my floor who want out too...one wants to transfer to Northwestern, another wants to go to Barnard...I have a priority transfer to Georgetown which I'm going to try for...Anyone else heading across town or elsewhere?</p>
<p>Why the exodus ?</p>
<p>MBJ-There's no exodus. GW has a freshman retention rate of 92%.</p>
<p>I know. I used the word "exodus" facetiously. GW is one of the schools that I would be applying to, if I was 30 years younger.</p>
<p>i think a lot of people want to pursue a more valuable degree...GW has the reputation of a "party school" and, outside of the mid-atlantic states, is not remotely considered a top tier school. for kids that want a top tier school, it makes sense that some kids transfer out. </p>
<p>GW has a particular reputation as standing for "Georgetown's Waitlist," so a lot of georgetown waitlisted kids (ie me) come to GW as a "next best thing" in hope of tranferring the next year.</p>
<p>As Casey2889's post explains, he/she came to GWU with the intention of just passing through. This sort of attitude tends to color one's freshman experience negatively.</p>
<p>so be it then</p>
<p>although this does not reflect on the true value of a GWU degree, Casey I do feel like people who are not vaguely familiar with college standings, a majority of the population, mistake GWU with Georgetown and think it is a better school than it is. In my opinion, from how people reacted to my admission to gwu there is a great degree of prestige transfer from g-town to GWU. and this could be because the names are somewhat similar and that they are both in the same city. although I am from the south and the belief and perception of prestige is not as strong here. the philosophy is more like if you don't go to your state school you're an idiot.</p>
<p>and regardless, i wouldn't recommend transferring on the sole basis of trying to get a more prestigious degree. if you're happy at gwu stay at gwu. nothing would be worse than to go to a prestigious school, and not be able to complete your degree because you can't stand it there. this might be invalidated by the fact that G-town is just down the road and you could meet up with your GWU friends anytime, but why take the risk?</p>
<p>i may have posted this on another forum somewhere, but its not merely a prestige transfer...i also dont like the environment of a city school and i feel that there is not much depth in terms of courses offered...even though georgetown has half as many students, it offers almost twice as many different courses (not just separate sections of the same course).</p>
<p>georgetown offers more of a traditional, liberal education, whereas GWU is more of a preprofessional oriented bureaucrat factory. </p>
<p>those are also reasons i would not want to stay. i am having some fun, but i would be happier there i think.</p>
<p>GW is a multi-faceted research university with nearly 10,000 undergrads and numerous schools within the university. Some of the schools are pre-professional, but Columbia College, the arts & sciences school, is not. You can find whatever you are looking for here if you keep an open mind. I have been quite impressed with the opportunities and experiences my D has received at GW so far. (For those impressed by "prestige" factors (which I am not), my background included an ivy league undergrad education, top 10 masters program and career in consulting.) I think that the total educational experience that my D is receiving at GW is at least equivalent and probably superior to my own undergrad education due to the mix of fine academics and experiential learning. I'm sorry you have not found your niche at GW in your short 2 month matriculation, Casey2889, but I don't think it serves any useful purpose for you to come onto the GW board to disparage a fine school with remarks like not a "valuable degree," "party school" and "bureaucrat factory," all far from accurate. With your negative attitude, I hope you are able to transfer out as soon as possible, although I know many schools don't allow Freshman year Spring transfers. One word of caution-don't let you negativity come through on your transfer applications.</p>
<p>Well said, Researchmaven. My D is just a freshman - but we have been impressed by the fine academics, and the many opportunities and experiences she has already had. With regard to the "party school" comment, my daughter's experience is that most of the students she knows are too busy with their many activities, involvement in clubs and student organizations, attending lectures by amazing speakers (she has already heard the Dalai Lama speak, as well as most of the major presidential candidates)
to have an excessive amount of time for partying.</p>
<p>That's what you think...</p>
<p>haha yeah, people have plenty of time to party. its not on par with a state school, but they do their fare share.</p>
<p>I want to second (and third) the remarks about GW being an excellent university with lots to offer students who are smart enough to take advantage of it. Yes, I think the "party scene" seems to dominate people's image of the school, but I suspect that's because it's much easier to detect than the kids studying in the library, or attending lectures, or working at internships. My daughter is a freshman who was a top student at a rigorous private school. She finds her classes challenging and interesting and seems to have met plenty of kids who take school as seriously as she does.</p>
<p>Can you tell me how to post a question in the college discussion forum</p>
<p>Of course people transfer out, but that doesn't make GWU a bad school. I can only hope to transfer IN! It's what you make of it, every school is. Some complain that schools like Gtown are too preppy, while others complain that schools like Hopkins is too nerdy. It's what you make of it, and from the looks of everything, I think I'll LOVE GWU (if I get in).</p>
<p>by no means was i attacking GW. im just saying its not what i am looking for. and its not that i havent found my niche, im actually involved with several campus organizations including the SA (student government). though i have the intention of leaving, i am not spending my freshman year that way. i havent told anyone, nor do i intend to tell anyone, that i am applying to transfer for next fall.</p>
<p>for what its worth, id like to point out that those currently defending GW's "fine academics" and breadth of curricula in this forum do not, have not, nor will not have ever attended GW in 2007. the fact is, you are parents. what you know is limited to press guide propaganda, cheery eyed tour guides, and the distorted and watered down accounts of student life most freshman tell their parents. </p>
<p>with the exception of researchmaven, who i suppose has had the time to see her daughter escape GW and enjoy apparent success, none of you have half of the perspective you think you do.</p>
<p>agreed, parents don't actually know. you don't get the total picture until you've actually been a student here. so don't like quote statistics at me lol.</p>
<p>Casey2889-You are right. I do have more than "watered down accounts." I have dean's list accomplishments, "prestigious" program acceptances and other very concrete and observable results. I can't go into as many specifics as I'd like because I don't have my D's permission. (She never posts here herself--too busy and too private a person.) As I alluded to previously, I attended an ivy league school and I'd like to inform you that there was an incredible amount of insane partying that took place there and many incidents that the university tried to cover up to protect it's image. Unfortunately, this goes on at every large university, but this is why I never had any illusions about the differences between so called "top-20" schools and others further down the rating lists. When people refer to a "party school" it means the majority of students party the majority of the time. This is not true at GW or my D and her many friends and acquaintances would have to be superhumans to accomplish what they do. (I do agree that first term freshman year there was more partying than at any time thereafter.) Casey-I'm glad to hear you are going about your transfer plans in a measured manner. As I said in a another post, I think you have an extremely good shot at a successful transfer if you continue to desire one. Just keep a positive attitude and try to utilize GW's resources while you're there. Although I know you will find it hard to believe, I know 2 people who transferred last year who now are hoping to return. Good luck!</p>
<p>i have to admit i had never heard GWU referred to as a party school before reading this thread. and i find that hard to believe as well. it's not exactly like the district's underage drinking enforcement is lax. i went to school in new Orleans where it really was a joke. the competition between bars because there were so many was so intense that many bars had to serve underage drinkers or go out of business.</p>