<p>I'm so excited to be a freshman at GW next year, but the one thing I am slightly concerned about is the social life. Does anyone have a good idea of what it's like? and the influence of fraternities/sororities?</p>
<p>Greek life is very weak at GW in comparison to most schools, but it is slowly growing. Most freshmen just go to Thurston if they are looking for a party.</p>
<p>Those who are not into the party scene usually go to Georgetown, which has pretty much everything. (the area, not the school)</p>
<p>there is no lack of social life, smart kids also want to have fun.</p>
<p>The greek life is definitely small compared to other schools. It's not necessary at ALL to go Greek in order to have fun or make friends. There are so many things in DC and a ton of people to meet. If anything, I would recommend that you NOT rush right away. I think you meet a lot more people that way... Just my $.02.</p>
<p>I am an advisor to one of the women's GLOs at GW. Pi Beta Phi was added to Panhel 2 years ago and another NPC member is about to be added any time (haven't heard if it's already decided).</p>
<p>Although not as imperative as some other schools, any PNM will have his/her best chance of getting the house of his/her choice if he/she rushes as a freshman.</p>
<p>On that note, can anybody give me any specific information on fraternities and sororities (reputations, etc)?</p>
<p>Motherdear,
I agree with emm118 - please give us more details. Thanks</p>
<p>The National Panhellenic Conference (npcwomen.org) encourages all rushees to go into recruitment with an open mind and not listen to preconceived notions that there is the rich girl house, a geek house, the dumb blonde house, the spoiled New Yorker house etc, etc. Sorority recruitment involves several rounds of parties, each lasting longer than the previous round.</p>
<p>I would like to address the OP in the event she is not interested in the greek scene. My sense of the school, thru my daughter, is that sororieties are one of many social options at GW. It's a big school where you can find all kinds of social scenes: there are lots of kids who go to clubs, lots who enjoy drinking parties but also -- and perhaps these kids aren't as visable -- kids who spend their time going to museums, films, etc; kids who do a lot of community service stuff as a social outlet; kids who are heavily involved in politics, and so on. Bottom line: It's a big school with a lively social scene and plenty of room for everyone.</p>
<p>Greek Life and Campus/Washington involvement aren't mutually exclusive. The actives that I advise represent every college at GW and are from many different backgrounds and geographic areas. They have internships, some are intercollegiate athletes, many are involved in campus and national politics on both sides of the aisle... All NPC, IFC, and NPHC GLOs have local and national philanthropies.</p>
<p>I would recommend going through formal recruitment to see what it's all about. You aren't committed to join a GLO by rushing. It's just a way to see if you find a home within the larger university community.</p>
<p>All the houses on campus have their strengths and weaknesses, pick the one you feel the most comfortable with. Also, going Greek doesn't limit your social circle, many Greeks hang out with non-Greeks and even Greeks from other chapters. You don't need to go Greek to have fun, but chances are you'll end up knowing a few Greeks or at least going to fraternity parties. My advice would be to go through recruitment/rush, see what Greek life is all about. Chances are GW Greeks will surprise you.</p>
<p>Check out GW BlogSpot. You have so much to learn!!!!!!!!
[url=<a href="http://gwblogspot.blogspot.com/%5DGWblogspot.com%5B/url">http://gwblogspot.blogspot.com/]GWblogspot.com[/url</a>]</p>
<p>The 9:30 club and the Black Cat are both good music venues if you guys are interested in music. M-street has some snazzy shopping areas, and the small park around the Potomac river is cool to relax at during spring. There's also cherry blossom viewing in the spring too.</p>
<p>GW social life eh? I wouldn't recommend getting the singles at Mitchell (they're really crappy and the shared bathrooms/kitchens are horrible), so you should move into a residence hall that has a more social environment like Thurston or HOVA. There's a whole bunch of student orgs as well as frats & sororities, so you won't have a problem with the social life. There are also a good amount of nightclubs at DC (don't go to Daedalus!).</p>
<p>First of all Mitchell is not crappy. Some kids love that place! If you want a single great. I'm sorry who are you? You are suggesting to incoming students to move into HOVA - are you even a student? HOVA is only for graduate students now! The last time it was undergraduate was 2006. GW has great social life. Personally, if you are looking for a busy environment, I'd choose Thurston or Madison. But if you want to live in Mitchell, they have plenty of things going on. And there is always the Vern too.</p>
<p>The last time I was there was in 2005, so I'm surprised HOVA's only for graduate students now! As for Mitchell, I guess it depends on the floor and the people, but MY floor was crappy indeed. People would loiter in the hall, always littering bottles and leftover pita wraps on the ground, and smoke constantly in the hallways. Plus they would talk and run around even during midterms & finals. Someone on my floor kept unhinging the bathrooms doors in the men's bathrooms, and people kept stealing the toilet paper rolls. The pots and pans at the shared kitchen were dirty (better to bring your own), and was too small for more than one person to share at a time. My room was small, and the light on the ceiling that was eerily too similar to the ones I had in my classrooms during my days as a high school student. I also got had a mirror for my inside closet which was broken. So I guess it is my mistake to classify Mitchell as crappy, but in my experience living there, it was crappy indeed.</p>
<p>No, no. Mitchell sucks. The kids are cool, however, the building sucks. It used to be a mental institute (or so rumoured).</p>