Theme-based housing?

Colleges & Universities A-Z George Washington University
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<p>Hello, I sent the deposit last week and now I need to choose housing. It seems that all freshmen need to choose dorms based on "themes" or "programs" not on actual building names. I'm not interested in those "themes", so it does not matter. </p>

<p>However, there is program-something in Thurston--
•School of Engineering and Applied Science* – Thurston Hall.</p>

<p>I'll be a engineering student in SEAS.
So it sounds like I might need to apply for that program.</p>

<p>However, I have no huge desire to go to Thurston, for few reasons:
1) Many rooms are for 4, 5, or even 6 people. (only 16% double)
2) Reading this forum, I see many comments that Thurston is a party dorm.</p>

<p>I like quiet environment (I live in suburban Tokyo, hearing only noise of sparrows)
so, probably, many-people-partying dorm is not well suited for me.
(No offense to Thurston-ers. I've never been in DC, so what I've heard here is what I know. If it is wrong, please correct me.)</p>

<p>So these are my questions:</p>

<p>1) Is Thurston really a partying dorm?</p>

<p>2) Do I have to I choose Thurston because it has a SEAS program?</p>

<p>3) If I am not to choose Thurston and prefer other buildings instead,
do I need to participate in those "themes"?
(I read this question in another thread - Freshman</a> Housing - College Confidential ,
but I could not find answer.)</p>

<p>4) Which building is the quietest in your opinion? (among buildings available for freshmen)
-I am thinking of Crawford, Madison or Potomac. Not considering Vern at the moment.</p>

<p>Thank you. Your advices and comments will definitely help me.</p>

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<p>chocoberry: in the most respectful way possible, you do need to have contact with people. Engineering program ere is already like a club on its own. We don’t know the students that much. I think you could benefit from going to a more social dorm like Thurston. Why, because despite the reputation given as a party dorm, it is not different form the other dorms at all. The difference is that has 1000 freshman in one bulilding. HAving said that, I still encountered vomit in elevators in Madison that I stepped on by accident. You do need to realize that college is a total experience and you need to explore it, and that means having people around you.</p>

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<p>Engineering student here too.</p>

<p>At the Admitted Students Open House, the Admissions rep said that this year they are setting up the 2nd Floor of Thurston for Engineering majors since Lafayette which use to house the Engineering students is being renovated.</p>

<p>The rep said that they are offering this housing option to Engineering students this year. He said that the 1st floor of Thurston is going to be for Honors students, the 2nd floor is housing Engineering students, and 3rd floor is going to be like a study floor (whatever that means). The remaining floors of Thurston will be for freshman and the themed based housing. </p>

<p>So if you want to room with other Engineering students, then select SEAS housing. Just because this floor will be mainly Engineering students probably means that it will be somewhat “quieter” since we will be swamped. </p>

<p>But you don’t have to live at SEAS housing at Thurston. It is an option.</p>

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<p>Chocoberry: Although I generally would like to live in a quiet place, I was seriously considering Thurston. However, I opted for the Vern because 1) I loved its scenery and 2) because it housed the program I am extremely interested in. </p>

<p>Now, my advice. I spent a weekend at Crawford and yes, it was extremely quiet. To the point that I barely heard anyone’s voice in the hallways in over 48 hrs. I have to agree with Multitasker in saying that everyone needs that social scene. Thurston won’t be a party dorm for all its 1000+ people; there must be some mixture of characters. If you like studying in a quiet area, just use the library or some other spot on either campus. I am sure you can find the right place that suits your needs, if you end up at Thuston. I would suggest that if you really like the program, look beyond where it is being housed. If the dorm bothers you that much, then just look at other programs that do not necessarily relate to your school/major. Like I did.</p>

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<p>thanks insomniac. I am trying to help him/her. GW motto is that of integration, not isolation.
Besides, Thurston may be crazy the 1st 2 weeks, but then it quiets down a little, since some studying needs to be done!
My point with you, the new student, is that you need to look beyond your career goal is, because you’ll be away from hom, and isolation will lead to depression.Moreover, a computer can never replace human contact! Good luck</p>

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<p>Is there difference between The Culture and Arts House at Thurston and Politics and Public Policy House at Thurston?
How is the Politics and PUblic Policy House at Thurston?
I was admitted to Elliott School so I chose Potomac House as my first choice.
On the housing portal, it says that I have to choose 7 preferences.
What happens if I only choose less than 7? Also what dorms, other than Potomac House, do you recommend for Elliott School students?
Also, I heard that Early Decision students get housing assignments before Regular Decision students. Among the Regular Decision students, do they look at the date and time we submit our housing application to determine who gets assigned to dorms first?</p>

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<p>KAiley: I chose 2 dorms in Freshman, and didn’t bother with the theme. In my sophomore, I chose 2 as well, I got the one I wanted. I never bothered witht he Day 1 to register, I was only concerned with the dealine. They ask you your roomate preferences and they scramble and try to match the better roomate for you. I was lucky both timas, in fact I liked these roomates that much that we requested each other for the junior yr.!</p>

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<p>1) Is Thurston really a partying dorm?
It depends on the floor you live on. For some reason the floor number correlates with craziness, so 2nd floor generally isn’t too much of a problem. I know GW is trying to improve Thurston’s reputation by housing its special programs there, but honestly when you put one thousand students in one dorm, it is bound to be slightly crazy. If only plan on studying in college and want to be able to study in your room, Thurston may not be a good option for you.</p>

<p>2) Do I have to I choose Thurston because it has a SEAS program?
Nope. You don’t need to live with other engineers if you’d rather live elsewhere.</p>

<p>3) If I am not to choose Thurston and prefer other buildings instead,
do I need to participate in those “themes”?
The themes are essentially pointless. They talk about them for the first week or so and you’ll get a TShirt with your theme on it, but that’s basically the extent.</p>

<p>4) Which building is the quietest in your opinion? (among buildings available for freshmen)
-I am thinking of Crawford, Madison or Potomac. Not considering Vern at the moment.</p>

<p>Probably Crawford or Madison would be a good option for you, although any of those three would be fine. Housing is a lottery system, so you may end up in Thurston or the Vern without requesting it anyways. Whatever happens, many people transfer within the first few months of school, so you won’t necessarily be stuck where housing places you. Good luck!</p>

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<p>When we called housing recently I got the impression that all freshmen housing had a theme, but that participation (or not) was up to the individual. Could be wrong-</p>