<p>-What's the average student like at GW?</p>
<p>-Are most people proud to go to GW/ happy to be there? Or do you honestly hear a lot of complaining about the school?</p>
<p>-Is there a sense of community despite being in the city?</p>
<p>-How active is Greek life?</p>
<p>-And <strong><em>despite the higher ranking</em></strong>, why should I pick GW over American?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>That's a great question. Especially the latter part of it. I am in the same boat.</p>
<p>All questions I have as well... but, essentially, is GWU really worth $50,000 a year??</p>
<p>Well going along with the money question, is their economic diversity at GW?</p>
<p>No school is worth $50,000, especially if prestige matters to you. I mean GW is prestigous in certain circles, but it's not even in the top 50 schools in the country. However, GW is very generous with aid compared to other schools, so while it's technically the most expensive school in the country, there's a good chance that you'll be paying less to go there than if you applied to, say, Sarah Lawrence for example. If you applied for FAFSA, that is.</p>
<p>Well GW is aiming for top 50 status and has a good chance.</p>
<p>I will try and answer these questions as I have already been a student at GW (non-degree) and I think I can answer them pretty well until a current student stumbles here.</p>
<p>Question 1:
That is the one thing about GW that is awesome, there is no single type. Besides being rather smart and ambitious, GW students cover a wide spectrum of people from those referred to as Japy to Politicos to Jocks to Emo (rarer) to Intellectuals. Whatever you are or want to be you can find at GW, but overall we are a school of kids going somewhere in life.</p>
<p>Question 2:
GW is very polarizing from the kids who HATE it to kids who LOVE it, there are a lot more kids who love it and school spirit has only risen because of this year's bbal performance.</p>
<p>Question 3:
It is fairly evident who goes to GW and what not, but yes there is a pseudo-community feel to it. It is nothing like Vanderbilt or UF, where the whole area is the University, but we aren't isolated and non-connected. The best place to truly feel the 'community' feel would be the Mount Vernon campus, which is pretty much just like a small college and it has really nice dorms.</p>
<p>Question 4:
Greek life is growing and evolving unlike a lot of universities it is still supported somewhat by the university, but it can always use extra help.</p>
<p>Question 5:
GW has much greater recognition worldwide than American, while you may still run into people who don't know GW, a majority of the educated have and its only increasing. American is kind of in limbo wit its last big news story in the media about how their president laundered money out of the University.... otherwise it is a good school</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Another question, how does housing work for freshman? Could someone briefly profile each of the freshman dorms?</p>
<p>i heard thurston was like, crazy party dorm. true?</p>
<p>Awww Freshman dorms, once again I am not a current student, but will be next year. Knowing a lot of current freshman, I can still provide some insight into the dorms. The major and most popular Freshman dorm is Thurston, which is truly a good party dorm, but also quiets down at a reasonable hour, but that is usually just around midterms and such. If you have serious ADD like me, although I am still going for Thurston, it may be best to look at Fulbright, Potomac House, Lafayette, or even the Vern. The Vern is the mount vernon campus though and while it has awesome dorms, it is still a shuttle ride away from Foggy Bottom.</p>
<p>The whole dorm process is explained at the website below:
<a href="http://gwired.gwu.edu/hc/selection/%5B/url%5D">http://gwired.gwu.edu/hc/selection/</a></p>
<p>Basically it is first come first serve depending on what applicant pool you are and when you turned your deposit in. If there is anything else, I am more than happy to help!</p>
<p>i read your other thread -- such an expert, seriously. thats so cool.</p>
<p>Does anyone know how the scholarships work? are there scholarships that go to people besides the presidential arts and academic scholarships. like no name ones that are of lesser value? when do we find out?</p>
<p>The overall rankings really are irrelevant. It's the success rates and perceived prestige/reputation and individual program rankings that matter most. According to Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal and US News and World Report GW has a top twenty Political Science Department, top 40 Business program, top 20 Journalism program, top 20 law school, top 20 grad program and the Elliot School is the third best school of International Relations in the nation--just behind the Kennedy School of Government and Gtown's school! I can tell you right now that the noted alum and per captia income of GW graduates is substantially higher/ more impressive than the vast majority of schools in the top 50--albeit the schools in the top 20.</p>
<p>oh..forgot..GW's Politcal Comm. Program is #1 in the nation....C. Powell was a student in the program</p>
<p>Let me address this answer first, why GW over American and I'll get back to your other questions after class ;). Bottom line: you have to be happy where you are. GW's location provides a wealth of opportunities from internships to great professors. There will be programs that GW is better at; there will be programs that AU is better at. Remember your tour at all? What was your impression of the school. What are your needs? Do you want a tradition campus or a more urban campus? I know my answer is kinda vague, but I can, hopefully, expand later on...</p>
<p>grapkoksi hit most of the answers on the nose.</p>
<p>As far as greek life is concern it is definitely growing, but it's not so large that it dominates the social scene. Be greek if you want to. I'm not greek, but I have a lot of friends who are and i get to go to all their events. It's a really open system.</p>
<p>I always suggest that if you're thinking about rushing, rush. At the worst, you meet a lot of new people and get a lot of free food.</p>
<p>I have a question- if you have family in DC do you have to live in GW dorms as a freshman? Money is very tight and home is free.</p>
<p>There is a way to gain an exemption from housing. Call housing at 202-994-2552 and press 0 when the greeting starts. This way you'll get connected to a person instead of waiting for the entire menu to play out.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, that's a weight off my mind.</p>
<p>I just need to say how incredibly generous you are. Any ideas for cool living and learning communities with nice and smart kids?</p>