I won’t have the chance to tour GWU before I apply, but I know that it doesn’t really have that much of a campus, kinda like NYU. I wanna go into politics so the DC area is perfect, but I toured NYU and I was not feeling the lack of campus. How similar would you say the two vibes are? If I didn’t like NYU’s campus, would I like GWU?
I’ve never toured NYU but GWU is very urban feeling. You don’t really get a sense of “boundaries” while on campus. There’s so many non-students walking/driving through at all times that you feel a part of the city. Also, just walking around, you might not think you’re on campus if it weren’t for the GW flags hanging off academic or housing buildings.
I don’t know if you’ve ever used Google’s “street view,” but I think it’s a cool way to virtually see the campus. If you haven’t used it, you can click and drag on the buildings to rotate your field of view, and you click on the roads in the direction you want to move (a circle with a chevron will appear if you can go that way). Since you’ve never been to the campus, the small map in the lower left corner will show you where you are. The yellow-orange area is the campus.
Some shortcuts:
Shenkman Hall (aka Ivory Tower): https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8983202,-77.0501312,3a,75y,227.73h,93.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s30gXOiDeQO0WMw0qDmyavw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 Have to include this because it was my home for so long. Plus, there’s lots of good grub in the basement.
SuperDorm (left) Marvin Center (right): https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8995781,-77.0473132,3a,75y,329.04h,98.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scuLQnmJ7UfUXlsLif1U-qg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 SuperDorm will be finished this fall and will house 800+ students. The Marvin Center has a lot of food options on the main level and various offices upstairs.
Kogan Plaza (center) Gelman Library (right): https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8995777,-77.0478607,3a,75y,190.39h,89.26t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1snXfhY6yRosCUd6odA-2qUw!2e0!5s20140601T000000!7i13312!8i6656 Kogan is an outdoor hang-out area, kinda like a concrete “quad.” Lots of student activities are held there. Gelman is where you’ll spend plenty of your time, I’m sure. It’s also the site of one of GW’s Starbucks.
Science and Engineer Hall: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9006932,-77.0488249,3a,75y,224.58h,97.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1siaXg7e0HXJI8Yng87i7bGg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 GW’s new science center. Across the street to the “right” is Whole Foods.
Foggy Bottom Metro: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9007448,-77.0501209,3a,75y,303.9h,89.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYyUHuLj0PwFNURLXzEAS-g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 The only Metro stop on campus. It’s quite convenient. Also, right next to the Metro is the GW Hospital.
The Elliot School: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8959863,-77.0442461,3a,75y,6.16h,95.85t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sup9-NeyD1Oz9zl5MD4nZ1g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dup9-NeyD1Oz9zl5MD4nZ1g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D346.74475%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656 If you’re doing International Affairs or something similar, you’ll spend a lot of time here. Yes, it’s very far away from the rest of campus.
Thurston Hall: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8973539,-77.0439554,3a,75y,170.59h,98.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssHR8Oz9vY_pFWNXBZxx9SQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 I don’t think this one needs any explanation, lol.
Funger Hall/Vern Express: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8983218,-77.0495286,3a,75y,0.1h,80.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sslaHVcBbUWwmtCbsa6IX0A!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DslaHVcBbUWwmtCbsa6IX0A%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D344.44116%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656 This is where you’ll board the Vern Express to go to the Mount Vernon campus, whether you live there or for your University Writing class. Speaking of which…
Mount Vernon Campus: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9177217,-77.0900389,3a,75y,70.94h,79.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1seY5fHDTDYp1wAsc1FwKQaw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 This one is pretty small so you can probably find your way around. It’s mostly smaller dorms, a few academic buildings, and of course the athletic areas.
I hope this was helpful. If you have any other questions let us know, or feel free to private message me.
Never been to NYU, but GWU is a city school, and there is no real “campus” if that’s what you’re absolutely looking for. You could opt to room at the Mount Vernon Campus, which does have an enclosed, campus-y feel, and some of your classes would be there, but you have to shuttle back and forth (which I find inconvenient, since most classes are on the urban Foggy Bottom campus). It’s still really nice though; it has its own pool, tennis court, etc and is worth the commute for some people. Regardless, GWU is ideal for politics, and the city is really nice & imo not so crowded like NYC. It has a more pleasant feel since it’s not AS touristy and you really feel integrated into the city’s community there, even if there isn’t a clear barrier between that of the city and that of the university.
i was accepted to both schools and visited both. gwu is vastly more consolidated than NYU. there isn’t a regular campus at GWU per se, but there is still certainly a campus feel/atmosphere (despite being in the heart of DC). i wouldn’t say foggy bottom and the village are that different in terms of “urbaness,” but they do have different vibes i guess.