<p>Hi there, I am an accepted freshman most likely attending GW this fall.</p>
<p>Applications for housing aren't available yet, but I'd love to get some input in advance as to which residence halls are the best for both the Foggy Bottom and Mt. Vernon campuses. I'm not 100% sure which campus I'd prefer to live at at this point, so some information about both would be greatly appreciated. I'd ultimately like to avoid Thurston simply because of the size and 100% party atmosphere that I've heard about (If this is not true, please tell me!).</p>
<p>Also, opinions on the best living situation (double, single, quad, etc.) would help!</p>
<p>I'll be visiting GW in the next 2 weeks and will be able to maybe get some input from others, but I figured CC would be the best place to start!</p>
<p>You’re probably right to avoid Thurston, it’s not a particularly nice dorm and it is definitely a party dorm. You’re better off living somewhere else and going to parties there only at your convenience rather than being stuck across the hall from a rager the night before an exam.
Unless you’re ED, there’s very little chance of getting into Potomac, which is commonly accepted as the nicest freshman dorm. Your best bets are probably Madison and Crawford, which usually have either modestly sized doubles with a private bathroom or suites with two doubles with a shared bathroom and sometimes a shared living/study space as well. Both arrangements are really nice and since the dorms are a bit smaller, you’re likely to get to know all the people on your floor and many people on other floors.
The “Hillsides” on the Vern (Clark, Cole, Hensley, Merriweather) and Somers generally have arrangements with two doubles connected by a shared bathroom. West Hall, which is beautiful and new, has suites with 4 single rooms sharing a living area and bathroom. Vern dorms are nice for the most part but tend to be less social than ones on Foggy and there is the added hassle of the Vern Express (which can be a commute anywhere between 10-50 minutes depending on traffic). The Vern also tends to get kind of stranded during times of snow. If you live in a Hillside, you are guaranteed to know EVERYONE in your dorm. That could be a good thing or a bad thing.
I would recommend trying to get on Foggy in either Madison or Crawford, but since you are avoiding Thurston, you may not mind the Vern. If you get placed in Thurston, it’s usually really easy to switch to a Vern room in a worst-case scenario since many people get assigned to Vern housing against their preference.</p>
<p>Is it worth spending the 3k extra for the other dorms, especially if your parents are making you pay the remainder of the expenses? Cause if I room in a 4,5 or 6 Thurston then I only have to pay about 8k, but if I don’t then I gotta pay 11k for that year.</p>
<p>If it’s your own money, I would try to go with the cheapest option unless you’re picky about your living conditions. The 4, 5, and 6’s in Thurston and the Hillside dorms on the Vern are all the cheapest options. Also keep in mind that housing options get increasingly expensive each year for upperclassmen.</p>