The George Washington University-An Incredible Place

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello everyone, I just wanted to rave about The George Washington University(DC), where I am a freshman this year. I hope that all CC'ers take advantage of this awesome University.</p>

<p>Last year, I was experiencing all the trials and tribulations that you guys were. I was filling out college apps, stressing about paying tuition, and scrambling to meet deadlines, take the SAT, and keep up with my extracurricular activities/grades. I dreamed of going to an elite university where I could study International Affairs, but money was a serious issue. </p>

<p>I was 2nd in my class, had a 1540 SAT, and was seriously involved in my hs.</p>

<p>I applied to ten schools: John Hopkins(ED), Vanderbilt, Emory, NYU, Boston College(EA), Tufts University, Middlebury, University of Southern California, University of Chicago, and George Washington University. </p>

<p>Well, I was deferred, then later accepted by JHU, with no $ at all. I was rejected by Tufts, Middlebury, and NYU. I was accepted to USC with no money, Chicago with 8,000 a year(not nearly enough), Boston College with a little $, and none from Emory and Vanderbilt. However, I was granted a full ride to GWU.</p>

<p>After regretfully deciding to go here, I am so HAPPY! after my first semester. The Elliot School of International Affairs is incredible, the dorms are SO nice, I already have a great internship at the Mexican Embassy, and I love DC. I really encourage everyone on CC to take advantage of GWU, and see what makes this awesome school tick. If anyone has any q's, ask me, and I will let you know.</p>

2

<p>How did you get rejected from NYU with those stats??</p>

3

<p>We have sent several very good students to GW the past 2 years from our local HS. GW is a "hot" school ! By that, I mean it is more popular and highly regarded than it was a few years ago. (Certainly more highly regarded than when I lived in D.C. 25 years ago! )</p>

4

<p>Yep, it's a great school alright, with a motivated and involved student body. I hope that more people realize that there's great schools out there, and sometimes you have to go where the $ is. I am REALLY happy here, and I want all CC'ers to apply!!</p>

5

<p>I have heard from most people that a good portion of the GWU student body is either rich or snooty or both. How true is this? Are alot of the people preppy at GWU?</p>

6

<p>GWColonial, thanks for the write up about GW. We visited in October and were similarly impressed. When you say you got a "full ride," does that mean your tuition and room and board are all covered? I didn't think GW gave full rides for academics... I've heard of their Presidential Scholarships, but thought those were around half-tuition. Our son has applied to GW (got in early at Chicago) with stats similar to yours, that's the reason I ask.</p>

7

<p>Well, GW is a diverse school with lots of different backgrounds. I came from a low-income, Cuban family in the Bronx. I have met many rich folks and poor scholarship recipients. GW is very generous with financial aid, and grants lots of $ to good students, and encourages economic and racial diversity. In my International Affairs discussion class, there was a wealthy Egyptian, me, a wealthy Jewish female from Boston, a poor Kenyan immigrant, and a first-generation Korean and Black student. These different perspectives make the classroom dynamic. There's a large amount of wealthy students, probably because you have to be rich to be able to afford the full freight price to be here. However, half of the students here are on some form of fin. aid, so I assure you that not everyone is rich. </p>

<p>And I consider the students to be very down-to-earth and outgoing. My first week, I got confused as to where my class was, and a GW junior ended up walking me to class, and we've been friends ever since.</p>

<p>I think that there is more of a community at GW than most people realize.</p>

8

<p>Well, I qualified for a pres. scholarship, and due to my minority status and poor background, I got a need- based scholarship.</p>

9

<p>I enjoy watching Crossfire with James Carville, Paul Begala, Tucker Carlson and Bob Novak, which takes place at GWU. That's about it.</p>

10

<p>Is there really a rivalry between GWU and Georgetown?</p>

11

<p>Uhh...not really. We don't really talk too much, which is kinda weird, considering that I have met people from AU, and not GT. Georgetown is a really good school, but I guess you could say there is no rivalry between us. There is about as big of a rivalry between us as NYU and Columbia, or Boston College and Boston U. </p>

<p>And I don't really understand your comment flopsy, could you elaborate??</p>

12

<p>I know a lot of really bright kids who are at GWU right now...it is a good school, definitely better than American...</p>

<p>But GW, reiterating my initial question...how in the world did u get rejected from NYU with 1540, 2nd in your class, AND heavy HS involvement....i know ridiculously dumb kids with completely average stats who got in...its really unfair if they rejected you...</p>

13

<p>I don't really know. I really didn't know what to expect at the time, so I wasn't surprised by the decision. NYU is a great school, and it's random with admissions. Honestly, I wasn't that upset. I just applied there on a whim, and it didn't work out. So what, all I lost is an application fee. No biggie. I really don't care or have any hard feelings about the rejection, because I think I would be happier at GW anyways, and a NYU acceptance would have been just be another college that I would have to turn down due to finances...</p>

<p>Plus it's in my hometown, so I wan't to leave anyways....</p>

14

<p>lol its not that i'm feeling sorry for you...its that i'm applying there and now im scared as hell because your stats are probably better than mine :)...im from NY too and i thought that is an advantage hmm...</p>

15

<p>Off some website, GW's version of the "You know you go here when":</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Fire alarms going off bring the fire department, UPD, Metro PD, the secret service, the FBI, CIA...</p></li>
<li><p>Classes are cancelled for fear of flurries or IMF/World bank riots.</p></li>
<li><p>Georgetown sucks.</p></li>
<li><p>You can't leave your dorm without seeing someone with starbucks in one hand, a cell phone in the other, a hat loosely and crooked one their head, and pastel-colored polo collar popped.</p></li>
<li><p>George W. Bush interrupts lectures when his motorcade drives by.</p></li>
<li><p>You speak of the engineering majors as "those people."</p></li>
<li><p>You've been drunk at the Lincoln monument at 2 AM at least twice this semester.</p></li>
<li><p>Georgetown sucks.</p></li>
<li><p>The housing situation you're in is totally inadequate for your needs even though you have your own bathroom, a full kitchen, and a living room, and it's the nicest thing you'll live in for the next 10 years of your life.</p></li>
<li><p>The University's President bought a bronze cast hippopotamus while drunk, and it's now a monument in the world's most powerful city.</p></li>
<li><p>The biggest gathering ever of students on campus was a riot on H street after the Sox won the World Series.</p></li>
<li><p>The Nixon scandals were observed from your dorm.</p></li>
<li><p>You've studied for finals at any of the national monuments.</p></li>
<li><p>There's no alcohol or drug problem at your school. They're both very easy to come by.</p></li>
<li><p>Your mascots suck. A Colonial? A Hippo? Sedate me...</p></li>
<li><p>You know people who have never seen cows, or are afraid of the outdoors in general.</p></li>
<li><p>James Carville has passed you on the way to class.</p></li>
<li><p>John Ashcroft and Dick Cheney get rushed to your university’s hospital, across the street from your dorm.</p></li>
<li><p>The sports team you're on does workouts on the exorcist stairs.</p></li>
<li><p>You have at least 3 people on your buddy list whose screen names end in 2020 or 2024 because it'll be the year they can finally run for President.</p></li>
<li><p>You've been called by friends asking if protestors in town can crash at your place.</p></li>
<li><p>The former head of CIA told you that you're brave for attending your school because you'd be "totally screwed" if terrorists ever bring in a suitcase nuke.</p></li>
<li><p>You go to the same barber as Ben Stein, and you've seen Bob Dole buy Viagra at the Watergate CVS.</p></li>
<li><p>A primary concern when picking dorms is which monument you can see out your windows.</p></li>
<li><p>People you know have missed flights because they didn't know DC had 3 airports, and none are actually in DC.</p></li>
<li><p>The student center at your school has the only bowling alley in the city, aside from the White House.</p></li>
<li><p>Your school has its own Department of Homeland Security and Color-coded alert system.</p></li>
<li><p>You've gone trick-or-treating at the embassies.</p></li>
<li><p>You brag that you ran to another state and back for a workout, even though it's less than a mile away.</p></li>
<li><p>You have no clue if DC is in the North or the South.</p></li>
<li><p>Your school owns the land the World Bank sits on.</p></li>
<li><p>City Hall - rated the 4th nicest dorm in the country - is your backup choice for housing next semester.</p></li>
<li><p>Your school colors are based on the Continental Army.</p></li>
<li><p>You've paused a DVD to catch a glimpse of your dorm. (Forest Gump, Enemy of the State, etc.)</p></li>
<li><p>Getting drunk at school doesn't result in fist fights, rather, political debates. </p></li>
<li><p>You applied to American, were offered scholarsips, begged to go there, and still turned them down for GW.</p></li>
<li><p>Girls shower and put on make up before going to the gym.</p></li>
<li><p>Even though CNN's Crossfire is filmed on campus, Jon Stewart is still the #1 source for honest reporting.</p></li>
<li><p>Some schools have homecoming. We just have Inaugural day - a party so big it only happens every 4 years.</p></li>
<li><p>Commencement is on the White House's back yard</p></li>
<li><p>Tom Ridge convinced your mom to send you duct tape and plastic sheeting as a care-package.</p></li>
<li><p>You make everyone call it THE George Washington University</p></li>
</ul>

16

<p>Actually, I've been looking for a school in DC but I can't get into Georgetown, I'm not Catholic, and I hear American has an unsightly campus. Obviously, you have incredible stats. How selective is GWU?</p>

17

<p>GW is a great place don't get me wrong on that one. Located in the center of the political and international commerce of the world it offers many great opportunities. However, I have heard of a few drawbacks that people should be aware of.</p>

<p>After all no school is pure heaven on earth and people should be made aware of other aspects of GW as they will encounter a bit of the good and the bad at GW and at any school that they choose to go to for that matter.</p>

<p>I have heard the administration is very tough to deal with. Simple things such as scheduling classes, etc... is made unusually difficult. </p>

<p>Also the dorms like palaces. Yes, for some dorms are like palaces. For freshman and sophomores the dorms are NOT palaces by any stretch of the imagination. I know a case where an apartment that had an original occupancy for 2 people was filled with 4.</p>

<p>Also the student body is one other aspect that I have heard both good things and not so good things about. For example, I have heard that a large portion of the student body consists of wealthy, upper class kids whose parents let their kids go on shopping sprees to the likes of Gucci, Prada, Dolce Gabanna, Burberry etc.. I have also heard that some students are very materialistic in that they only care about their brand new Mercedes, Audi or BMW, their new polo shirt and what night club they will go to next. Also a large amount of the population hails from ritzy northeastern areas such as Fairfield county, westchester and long island. Also they wonder why many of their classmates didn't get the acceptance from Georgetown...</p>

<p>The previous paragraph maybe viewed as a positive or negative depending on your preference.</p>

<p>On the other hand I have also heard that the student body consists of very self motivated, hardworking students who want to do well. The students are generally on the brighter end of the spectrum and have a knack for getting things done when they need do. This might be due to the fact that city life does not come with someone to hold your hand every step of the way.</p>

<p>Some professors are also not easily available for their students. While having high profile faculty is always a plus. The drawback is due to their busy schedule outside of the classroom it makes it tough for students to access their professors.</p>

<p>These are just some common things that I have observed about George Washington University. I believe prospective students should look at both the positives and what they like about the school as well as what they don't like. If the positives outweigh the negatives and everything falls into places (i.e. the prospective student knows that he/she will be happy at the institution, get a good education, be able to afford the price and just have an overall good experience that will stay with them and help them progress in their careers which will hopefully reach high levels of success) then the student should strongly consider going.</p>

<p>However, the drawbacks or negative aspects about the school should also be examined closely. That way hopefully no one will be kicking themselves while sitting in their college classroom about what they could have done differently in picking colleges in their senior year.</p>

<p>I believe these examples of GW are true to some aspect and should be examined by each prospective student closely.</p>

18

<p>I think that a rich, snobby student body can be found at any private university, especially as big as GW. This should not stop someone from applying because the people that you want to avoid you easily can. There are many great students that come here, and these are the ones you should try to get to know. I think the people that complain about the students are the ones that aren't willing to get involved in activities, which is probably one of the best ways to meet people, and there is definitely a good selection of student organizations. Anyone can find something for him/herself.</p>

19

<p>linzi that is true to some point that at any private school you will find a larger percentage of wealthy kids. That is because private schools cost more then public schools so therefore it is more likely that the private schools will have wealthier students since the students can obviously afford to pay the higher prices.</p>

<p>I'm going to throw a very interesting comparison into the mix. How would you guys compare GW to BU and NYU. I name those schools for the primary reason that when people think of city schools in the same relative area of the country Washington D.C. New York and Boston naturally come to mind.</p>

<p>The schools are very similar with NYU probably being the best due to the strength of their acting (Tisch) and business (Stern) programs. BU and GW are very similar so which one is better?</p>

20

<p>Yes, I have met a lot of rich, ritzy kids, but they(from my experiences, not everyone elses) have been really nice, and reluctant to flaunt their wealth. Most of my friends on my hall work, take part in community service, or have an internship. The student body is VERY driven, and it seems like everyone here wants to be/will be a US senator or big time journalist some day. The student body is very independant, but all freshmen are in the same boat, so we have been through the same things getting acclimated to the city, and trying to make friends. </p>

<p>My profs are incredible, and most of my profs even provide "discussion" classes weekly so we can go over the material again. Plus, the Mt. Vernon campus, which is still in DC, just on the other side, offers classes with an average size of 20 ppl, which is a great option for people scared of large classes. Also, I have MAJOR trouble in Econ. and Stat, so I was provided a tutor to help me work some things out. The advisors are fine. I haven't had any problems, except one of the classes I wanted got closed before I could sign up.</p>

<p>And as for your comment on the dorms, I would love to differ. The two freshman dorms, Hall on Virginia Avenue(HOVA) and Thurston are great!! I live in HOVA, which is an old Howard Johnson Hotel(the lookout place during the watergate scandal),converted to a dorm. My room, which is a triple, has plenty of space, with a bathroom just for my room, red carpeted floors, a roof-top pool, house-keeping services, a fitness center, and internet connection. I have no complaints, and I hear that Thurston is pretty nice, too, but not as nice as HOVA. =)</p>