<p>So I've recently been accepted at WashU and GW, and am wondering on some opinions between the two schools. WashU academically is AMAZING, but GWs location and Elliott School are fantastic as well. GW I'm assuming I'm going to get some merit money so it would cost about 25-30k to attend, where WashU will cost about 45k. One of my biggest worries is that kids at WashU won't party much, whereas I've stayed in Thurston a few times and know kids at GW like to have a good time. Plus, my boyfriend goes to GW... not a reason to choose a school but it can tip the scales. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Just an opinion: Wash U is a higher ranked school, but St. Louis isn't the greatest city in the world. D.C. is one of the best. As far as the partying: That was my daughter's biggest reservation. She likes to have a good time, but is totally turned off by the mega drinking scene, which is definitely there. That said, she has found lots of friends who's idea of fun is like her own: going to museums and concerts (great venues in DC) taking advantage of stuff in the city, etc. She says she steers clear of Thurston as much as possible. She is a serious student and is getting top grades--which takes work and isn't something you can do if you party all the time. So bottom line: GW is what you make of it, and DC is a fabulous city I'm sure your parents wouldn't mind the tuition break either! That's what ultimately decided GW for our daughter: the merit aid was too good to pass up for the relative higher ranking of another school</p>
<p>Any other input?</p>
<p>Where would you live if not in thurston?</p>
<p>Of course you'd get different opinions on the Wash U page, but outside the Midwest, I wouldn't be surprised that GW is better known than Wash U. Here in GA, if I asked 100 people on the street about Wash U, I'd bet > 95 would have never heard of it.</p>
<p>I posted on another similiar thread, but my nephew had the same choice to make and ended up going with Wash U BUT transfered to GW in his sophemore year. He had been waitlisted at GW and then got in and was much happier. I haven't been to Wash U but he said the general student body was not a good fit for him, and he didn't like the area nearly as much as he loves DC. Plus as someone above pointed out, he felt GW had the name recognition which he thought would be valuable down the road when he wanted to start job hunting/attend graduate school both of which he has done/is doing and his GW education has served him quite well. He says he absolutley made the right decision. Good luck to you and hopefully some of the posts here will help your decision!</p>
<p>If you want the more exciting city, I suspect most people would think that DC beats St. Louis handily.
If you want the school that is known for being more selective, with the better national reputation, and the superior academics, I would say it is clearly WashU. That's why WashU is so much harder to get into.
But bottom line: go to the school that excites you the most.</p>