Questions about GW

<p>So I was accepted to GW for Mechanical Engineering. I'm pretty thrilled and would love to go to GW. I just had some basic questions before May 1st comes by. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>How respectable is GW SEAS?</p></li>
<li><p>What would be the best dorm to pick for engineering major? A dorm where I'll be able to do my work but still party on the weekends?</p></li>
<li><p>Could someone explain the difference between the FB and Mt Vernon campuses? How far are they apart, where in DC are they?</p></li>
<li><p>With a 3.6 GPA 2140 SAT 700,730 subject test scores, how likely am I to receive any merit aid? </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks guys, hopefully your answers will make GW the right choice for me!</p>

<p>I just got accepted too, but ive visited the campus so i can answer your third question… </p>

<p>FB is the main campus thats right in the heart of downtown DC. Its nice because its a couple blocks from the whitehouse and is where the majority of students live. Im not sure exactly how far away MV is because I dont plan on living there so I didnt bother to visit, but I know that there is a shuttle that runs 24/7 (im pretty sure its 24/7 at least). From what ive heard its a good place to be if you dont want to live right in the middle of a big city. It has more open areas, and has kind of a small college feel to it.</p>

<p>I’m so psyched that I got accepted to GW, and as long as I get some kind of financial aid I’m gonna be going there :)</p>

<p>MV is about a 10-15 min drive from campus (depending on traffic). There are shuttles that run all day back and forth between the two campuses. I stayed there over the summer and it is very nice, a more traditional campus feel. It has mouses many of GW athletics and is its own private community. That being said, I don’t plan on going there because I prefer Foggy Bottom’s city feel, but for anyone whose uneasy about living on their own for their first time in a city-like environment, MV seems like a good option.</p>

<p>Ok I’m from right outside Philadelphia, so I guess Foggy Bottom is where I want to be. </p>

<p>Can anyone answer my other questions?</p>

<p>@Boddah1</p>

<ol>
<li><p>GW SEAS is really making an effort to become a more respectable engineering school(i am not an engineering student but their efforts are evident). </p></li>
<li><p>I would say Lafayette but as far as I know that dorm will be offline for the next academic year so I’m not sure what would be good for you. Thurston is good for partying but a lot of people have trouble studying there and go to gelman to do their work. </p></li>
<li><p>MV is easy to get to using the shuttle service GW provides its students. Freshmen will get stuck on the vern but don’t freak out. They built an awesome(and I mean awesome) dorm on the vern that is brand new. I checked it out a few weeks ago and it is beautiful. BTW the name of that dorm is Pelham. </p></li>
<li><p>I think you will get some pretty decent aid.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>@Boddah1,

  1. At this point SEAS is one of GW’s least prestigious programs. That is not to say that it is not a lot of work - it is. However, its facilities are lacking and it is known to be a weaker program. I know that GW is trying hard to improve it and this fact will likely increase your chances for aid. GW engineers receive a ton of financial aid because the school wants to recruit smart students to a lacking program.
  2. Unless you want 24/7 partying and noise, do not live in Thurston. Madison, Crawford, Lafayette would all be good choices. The truth is that you will probably party in Thurston regardless of where you live - this is the case for most freshman. The difference is that if you don’t live there, you can leave at the end of the night, get some sleep, and get some work done. It’s ideal.
    I definitely 100% recommend Foggy Bottom campus over MVC.</p>

<p>Thanks gonefishing. I’m doing integrated engineering and law and I know GW’s law school is highly regarded. So at the very least, I boost my chances of admission into the law school if that’s where I decide to go in four years. </p>

<p>I will try not to get stuck in Thurston, my education is definitely my priority here. So no constant noise, screaming kids in the hall etc.</p>

<p>I remember at the Engineering Open House last year that the Dean said that GW was putting in a huge amount of money into the Engineering program in the next couple of years. New facilities and a new building. Since I hope to get into the BS/MA program, I plan on being at GW for at least 5 years, so I should benefit.</p>

<p>Also, I hear that GW is great for getting an Engineering job right out of college so if I go that route … with the location, the business contacts and networking available to the GW students, I don’t think I can go wrong.</p>