If I knew what I know now . . .

<p>Calling all GW students. Please finish this statement "If I knew what I know now . . ." (Looking for helpful advice about attending GW).</p>

<p>1) i would have studied harder freshman year... college is NOT like high school; the classes are extremely demanding. DO NOT SKIP CLASS -- even the professors who claimed they didn't take roll docked my grades significantly for absences.</p>

<p>2) not be afraid to switch/meet new friends until you find the right people... as a freshman, you are so eager to please everyone that you sort of become friends with whoever you end up being around (whether they are good friends or not). i didn't meet my best friends until second semester of freshman year... </p>

<p>3) take advantage of the career services website right away if you're strapped for cash... it is pretty helpful.</p>

<p>I totally agree with the above statements.</p>

<p>I was caught off guard by the difference between high school and college academics. I felt as though my high school did not properly prepare me. College is reading intensive, so prepare to set aside blocks of time for your nightly readings.</p>

<p>There are more sophomore buildings than freshmen buildings, so make sure you keep in contact with the good friends you made freshmen year. </p>

<p>Don't get so caught up in school work and campus activities that you forget about DC. Take some time on the weekends to do the touristy stuff. I'm a rising senior and haven't done half of the things I wanted to do/see. </p>

<p>Don't let the GCR (general curriculum requirements) bring you down. You'll start questioning why will you need bio when you're an IR major. Classes will get more interesting sophomore year.</p>

<p>Don't be afraid to ask questions in any situation (inside or outside of class). You might learn so much more by just asking "why?"</p>

<p>Get to know your professors. You'll need faculty recommendations for internships, jobs, and/or grad school. Find a really awesome professor and develop a rapport with him or her. They'll give you great career and academic advice or help you out in your internship search. You never know who you professor might know. </p>

<p>Not something I wished I knew, because I'm doing one this summer:
Take advantage of internships! DC has many firms and organizations looking for unpaid student interns (free labor for them). It's a great way to experience how your major relates to the real world. By the end of the internship, you should get an idea of that line of work is really for you.</p>

<p>Hey, great advice! Where are you interning this summer, and are you staying on campus?</p>

<p>I have an internship with a major government agency. I'm lucky enough to have my older sister living in DC, so I'm living with her. Summer housing is available for not only GW students, but any student who wants to take GW summer session or intern in DC. I've heard that they waive the housing tax for GW students, but that could be a rumor. </p>

<p>If you want to stay in DC this summer, there are a lot of GW departments and offices that are seeking students to work over the summer. The majority of them will pay you AND give you free housing. I stayed in DC last summer and it was so much fun. It was really cool being on campus and in the city without the rest of the student body here. It felt as though I personally owned the city - that was the time I filled up on my touristy moments. </p>

<p>Another good thing about GW is it's location. You don't have to take a summer to intern or take off a whole semester to intern. Depending on the internship, you can work your unpaid internship part-time (anywhere from 8-20 hrs/wk) and still take a full load of classes (15 credits). My friend has an internship on the Hill and works part-time and goes to class (he's taking 12 credits). So it's definitely something you can fit in.</p>

<p>I think the internship scene at GW and in DC is flexible and something that a student in DC should take advantage of.</p>