<p>Ask whatever you want... will check this every few days. Discussion not limited at all - academics, parties, dorms, chancing etc.</p>
<p>I'm a junior in the Elliot School majoring in International Affairs with concentration in Security Policy and minoring in Criminal Justice. </p>
<p>Thanks, I will take you up on your invitation! I apologize in advance if some of the questions are basic; however, I may not have been able to find the answers on the GWU website, so that is why I am asking here.</p>
<p>(1) Does a student applying for admission as a freshman apply to a particular school (for example, the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences), or pick a school after general admission? How easy (or advantageous) is it to switch schools after admission (for example, admission to Columbian then switching to Elliott School of International Affairs)?</p>
<p>(2) How would you describe the undergraduate programs in political science and/or history – strengths/weaknesses, good/bad professors? How would you compare these programs with the corresponding ones offered by American University and Georgetown University? (Ditto with international affairs/studies.)</p>
<p>(3) How would you describe the “personality” of GWU (in whatever way you wish)? How would you compare it to those at American University and Georgetown University? Or perhaps to put it another way, what kind of student is likely to be attracted to, and then choose, GWU – in contrast with American U and Georgetown U?</p>
<p>(4) What would be the typical demographic of GWU students (to the extent that you can answer), and how does that compare to American U and Georgetown U?</p>
<p>(5) How would you describe the difference between the Foggy Bottom campus and the Mt. Vernon campus, both in terms of physical plant and also the types of students who are at one campus versus the other (if there is a distinction that regard)?</p>
<p>(6) Any hotel recommendations for campus visits?</p>
<p>(7) Why would a prospective student choose GWU over American U and Georgetown U? Why would a student choose American U or Georgetown U over GWU?</p>
<p>(8) Finally, why did you choose GWU over other colleges/universities that you considered?</p>
<p>Thank you in advance for your responses, and for taking the time to respond.</p>
<p>Hello there, I’m currently a junior from CA and I’d like to apply to GW in the Early Decision 1 cycle for next fall. GW is my top choice… Do you think I have a chance of getting in?</p>
<p>Here are my stats:
-Junior at a selective public charter high school in California
-No accelerated GPA’s at my school, Cumulative GPA- 3.91, 10-12 GPA will probably be a 3.75-3.83
-My school DOES NOT offer AP/IB courses, so I take community college classes instead. I’ll have 45-50 college units upon graduation.
<ul>
<li>Clubs: Key Club (two years), Culture Club (three years), Speech Club (two years), National Honor Society (three years), People to People International (three years), and Academic Decathlon (one year). I’m starting a Science Olympiad team/club at my school and will be co-captain for two years. Also, I’m treasurer of my local chapter of PTPI. I’m looking at running for VP of Speech Club next year and possibly running for Student Gov’t.</li>
</ul>
<p>-Sports: I moved high schools after my freshman year and at my first high school I played varsity tennis. Last year, I played club lacrosse (my school does not have sports) but I don’t know if I’ll play again this year.</p>
<p>-Community Service: I help coordinate volunteers for my church’s annual Greek Festival and I work the whole weekend. Also, I do about 15 hours of community service a semester.</p>
<p>I’m visiting this winter and I will definitely interview when application time comes around. </p>
<p>Thank you!!!</p>
<p>(Also, if I do get in, is there a way to ensure that I’d live on the main campus instead of the Mt. Vernon campus? Is it really as bad as everyone says it is?)</p>
<p>1) As a new student applying for admission, you apply to the school you are going to be in. This is actually changing after this year, and you will be able to just apply into the university I believe starting in 2015. But for now you would need to apply to a particular school. Elliot School admissions requirements are a bit more selective than Columbian. If you want to do Elliot but you aren’t sure you are a shoe in academically then I would advise you to transfer after Freshman year. Just make sure you take the Elliot School requirements, ignoring whatever you say as your tentative major as a Freshman. So take PSC 1003, macro/micro, first year of a foreign language, and world history and comparative governments.</p>
<p>(2) All of the programs you listed are pretty much the same ranking. Georgetown’s programs, GW’s programs, and AU’s programs. Not saying AU is by any means bad programs, but out of the 3 its programs are of a lower “status”. GW’s advantage is location and connection building, which you will realize is more important than anything. International Affairs GW and Georgetown are pretty much on par. I would imagine Georgetown’s history department is ranked a lot higher than GW’s. As for poli sci all 3 of them are great. I don’t know anything about Professors at AU or Georgetown but I really can’t say that I have had a single professor I did not enjoy learning from so far at GW. Keep in mind most professors have taught all around the city. Many of the professors teach at GW and Gtown and are thus relatively similiar. </p>
<p>(3) To be honest, they are all very similar. We all make fun of each other on Yik Yak but if you took us out of DC and put us in another city/state, we would probably all flock together. I would say GW and Georgetown students are incredibly similar. AU students tend to be a bit “artsier” if that makes sense, and more laid back. A big difference is that GW students are all about the career/grad school game. Making connections is number one, whereas Georgetown focuses more on their academics.</p>
<p>(4) Very diverse student body, more girls than guys you will find in most classes. Lots of Black and Asian/Middle Eastern students. Hispanic students in smaller numbers here.</p>
<p>(5) The differences are that there is truthfully, even if you live on the Vern, not much will go on there. There are VERY few classes that are taught on the Vern other than your university writing course (all students in every school must take this) and the forensic sciences. Living there is not bad. I lived there my freshman year and I honestly didn’t enjoy it that much. The rooms are 100x (yes, 100x) nicer than other Freshmen dorms but the downside is the lack of socializing and being 15 min away from the main campus. One of my friends said “The vern is nice but it isn’t GW” and I agree with that. Living there Freshman year isn’t bad but for 90% of people will want to be on Foggy.</p>
<p>(6) Yeah, the Hyatt Arlington at the Key Bridge. I would recommend staying here over any of the accommodations near GW due to pricing. But there is a Marriot at 20th and E which is also nice. The GW Inn is pretty crappy.</p>
<p>(7) A student would choose GW over Georgetown probably if they were doing international affairs and wanted to focus more on career/connections. There are a lot of people here who got into GU but came here instead because the IR programs are similarly ranked and they enjoy it more. GW is more urban and more “free” compared to Georgetown. It’s definitely a different college experience than most. You are living in a city and everyone on campus isn’t a student. The IMF and World Bank are on campus, and the State Department/Federal Reserve are about a block away from the Southern part of campus. </p>
<p>(8) Because I view college as a way to get a good career and to make connections/friends, and I enjoy GW’s campus significantly more than traditional campuses.</p>
<p>Elebean, I would say you have a pretty good chance. When you visit in the winter I would talk to the admissions office about the fact that you have 45 college credits… you may actually be considered a transfer student in that case. Regardless, the fact that a HS junior has been taking community college courses will go a long way. As I said it is possible you will be a transfer student. Unless I am reading that wrong or misunderstanding, 45 college credits would be the equivalent of the number of credits of a College Sophomore.</p>
<p>@wafflestomp : Thank you! We are headed up to GW for a tour this weekend (I hope that the weather is accommodating)!</p>
<p>Chance me please
GPA: 3.95 Weighted (i am trying to bring this up)
ACT: 30
SAT: 1880 (i just took it again on october 11)
SAT II: US History- 700, Math I- 680
AP: Taken 4 APs and taking 4 currently. Received 4s in AP US history and Economics. Also taking a dual-enrollment Science Research course.
EC: Varsity Wrestling 113 weight starter, Public Forum Debate, Interact Club(Volunteering), Science Honors Society, Science Olympiad, Science Tech and Math Club, 9th Grade Marching Band
Awards: AP Scholar, Academic achievement awards for high grades and I received this 4 times, Got 3rd place in regional science fair in 9th grade, Marching Band state champions in 9th grade, SFL Soccer tournament 3rd place winners, Taekwondo national championship 2nd place in age group.
I’m Indian if it matters any</p>
<p>@wafflestomp Can you explain a bit about the Business Beyond Borders program. I think it’s housing tied into the business school programs, but if you could elaborate more I would appreciate it.</p>
<p>Himan, are you a junior or a senior? If you’re a junior I would say your chances are pretty high if you get your GPA up over the next sear. If you’re a senior I would still say your chances for general admission are pretty good. You have some pretty unique stuff that diversifies you… wrestling and science olympiad is a rare combo which makes you stand out.</p>
<p>@Seniors2015nyc I didn’t even know what it was until I googled it. Basically it’s just another program that GW has that puts you in housing with people from the same school as you. Doesn’t mean much as far as I know. In Thurston (where Business Beyond Borders is housed) you may have all the people in that program on say, one half of the 7th floor and the other have is engineering students. That’s just a broad example. I would apply for it if you are interested. Basically, it really isn’t a big deal/make or break thing.</p>
<p>@wafflestomp im a senior and thanks a lot for the information</p>
<p>Hi everyone!</p>
<p>I’m a student in the Class of 2018 that currently attends The George Washington University. I am a siting member of the Columbian College Dean’s Student Advisory council, and I hope to major in political science and history. I can answer questions pertaining to freshmen experiences, or academic questions within the political science and history department. I am well familiar with the faculty, their research interests, and the extent of their prominence in the field (especially political science). I can also questions in general about education requirements within Columbian College. </p>
<p>I don’t mean to sabotage this thread from OP, but rather assist in answering inquiries. </p>
<p>What is the campus life like? I have heard varying opinions about GW, some of them good, some of them bad.</p>
<p>@Plague The campus is without a doubt fantastic. Ideally, I would recommend you visit the campus to see whether or not it is an environment you could see yourself in. </p>
<p>Personally, I would say it is probably one of the best campuses in the D.C. Metro area. We are located blocks away from the White House, monuments, and Department of State. There are so many great restaurants in the area, and there is always an event going on. If you enjoy spending time in Georgetown (M Street) it is possible to walk there from campus. Nearly everything around Washington is accessible through the Metro. However, most museums are very close by. </p>
<p>The campus itself is essentially a city-campus, meaning we are not necessarily enclosed. However, you know very well when it is that you are on campus and when you are not. People who do not like the campus might have complaints about their housing experience, or perhaps some of the facilities around campus (although most of them are modern/renovated). I work at GW Housing and I can tell you that we offer students some of the best residence halls throughout all the universities in Washington. I have had friends from other universities visit and wish they had the residence halls we have, and the wide-array of environments each hall offers. </p>
<p>5) Wafflestomp was pretty accurate in their description of life on the 'Vern. No, not as much goes on compared to Foggy Bottom, but you get what you put in. I spent my first year there as well and ended-up really enjoying it. Did I wish I got Foggy Bottom instead? At the time, yes. The constant commuting was annoying, having to walk so far to get groceries got annoying. </p>
<p>However, there were so many great things about it: the food was (not sure if it still is) far better on the 'Vern, it’s more of that “traditional” campus feel in that there’s grass everywhere, there’s a soccer field where you can bust-out a frisbee or football on your downtime, the 'Vern has lots of student events to keep its residents happy, and it has [arguably] the best atmosphere for studying for midterms and finals (Eckles is 100x better than Gelman). </p>
<p>Also, having a group of friends that live on the 'Vern really helps, because then you don’t have to jump between campuses as much just to hang out. I think that helped me out, too, because most of the friends I made freshman year lived on the Vern.</p>
<p>And if nothing else (and I’m sure wafflestomp will agree), living on the 'Vern will make you appreciate Foggy Bottom that much more once you finally get to live there :)</p>
<p>Hi- can anyone tell me what GWU students do for fun? How is school spirit? Club sports hard? What about Greeks?
Thanks!!</p>
<p>Thanks for the input @wafflestomp! I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>I actually have some more questions…</p>
<p>(1)Is Biology a popular major? (2) Do you pick which campus you live on, or is it assigned for you? (3) What are the freshman dorms like? (4)Do you get to pick which dorm you live in? I’m a bit more reserved and I’ve heard that Thurston can get a little crazy so I’m not sure if that’d be the place for me if I end up at GW. </p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>@elebean </p>
<p>1) Yes, the Bio major is quite popular at GW, especially since there are so many pre-med students</p>
<p>2) You get a “pick sheet” for your dorms, which picking dorms picks the campus. I’ll tell you this, though: if you want to live on the Vern you’ll get the Vern. It’s not a popular pick since most students want to live on Foggy Bottom.</p>
<p>3) It depends which dorm. Thurston, as you’ve heard, is a huge party dorm. Loud, lots of students, always stuff going on. If you pick another, however, it could be completely different. In my experience, everything but Thurston is probably 50% as wild, maybe less.</p>
<p>4) Yes and no. You put your preferences on a sheet and the housing office puts you in something that matches what they have and what you want. If you choose a less popular option you’ll most likely get it. If you’re pretty reserved and don’t want a wild dorm, you can always pick West Hall on the Vern. It’s the newest dorm, has singles (they might all be singles, I’m not sure), has its own dining hall in the basement, and it’s known as a party dorm. The Vern is quite different from Foggy, though, so I’d suggest visiting first to make sure you’d like it. I lived on the Vern my first year and really enjoyed it. </p>
<p>Thank you so much! @NHuffer</p>