George Washington University Top Questions

GW is a great place to be but it's not for everyone. There are people that love it and people who hate it and very few people in between. All of my friends love it like I do and couldn't see themselves anywhere else. If I could change anything it would be how much like a business this school can be. It sometimes feels like they're less about academics and more about making money and charging the students.

GW is what you make of it, like any school. Some people stick on campus and pretend its a state school, others take a big advantage of the city and live off campus, really exploring what DC has to offer.

The school is known for specific schools, otherwise it is not worth it. The tuition is overpriced with very little financial aid or scholarships. It is amazing that their is a college campus in the middle of the city and really cool that I could basically see the White House and the Washington Monument from my freshman dorm. Other than that, it

When I tell people I go to GW they react in different ways. Sometimes they ask me if I am really politically active or if I am rich...It really depends. Washington DC is an amazing place to go to school. There is always something to do.

I think the school's great. Overpriced, but location is amazing. A genuine campus feel even without a traditional campus.

I believe this school is just right. Its the perfect size. You may not know the name of every single person but you definately get to know a good amount of your class. It's in the perfect area, there is no better place than DC. I'm from Manhattan and i've had the best time here at DC that as a senior i've decided to stay here after graduation. It's become a home and like every other place college is exactly what you make of it.

GWU is developing a greater and more inclusive identity. Basketball and the campus' physical development are leading the unity. Although it does not initially appear as so, GW is a campus within a city.

Its great

GW has a great size campus. It is in a perfect location. I would change the some of the students that attend here. The majority of the students do not have a desire to change a problem in life, they just go on with their merry life. I think that the administration does an okay job in regards to everything. I do not see them overly active in anything, but this might have somethign to do with the recent change in presidents. There is no school pride

The best thing about GW is the location. I love DC and have really learned to appreciate all it has to offer.

GW is a great city school. It's right in the middle of everything-we have a metro on the Blue and Orange lines, which are really the only lines worth taking. We're also very close to DuPont Circle, Georgetown, Adam's Morgan, U St., and we're less than four blocks away from the White House. It's a great size; you see someone you know almost anywhere you go. There is a variety of restaurants, delivery services, etc. in the area, so you're never hungry--although there are no dining halls. Advising is tough; you don't really feel connected with any academic advisers. The GW Hatchet is a bi-weekly newspaper that has won awards, and the articles are often well-written and witty. The one thing that really bothers me about this school is how often people complain--about jobs, school work, or simply how much they hate DC. If you hate it so much, TRANSFER!

I love that GW is in a city and I love that their is so much history in one place. I think our school is the perfect size. You can walk down the street and see people who you know and people who you have never seen before. People always think well of me when I tell that that I go to school here. Mostly everyone has heard of the school and it is getting more popular to where more people know about it.

Size- just right! Location- perfect, close enough to the city but still feels like a campus

food and meal plan sucks big time. the summers here are amazing- intern intern intern in dc!! it's so worth it. registration and the amount of red tape can be a pain, but most professors and department heads are more than willing to work with you. not a lot of school spirit or interest in athletics, college democrats/republicans and greek life are bigger. it's a brand name school with dorms like palaces and if you're in the right program it has the academics to back it up. it's not always worth the price tag--but then, what school is these days??

my favorite thing about GW is the location. DC is an incredible place with so many things to do and see ranging from an exciting nightlife to some amazing monuments. the size, to me, is just right because i did not want a large state school setting but i also did not want a small school where you would know everyone in your graduating class. what's unique, and perhaps slightly disappointing, is that there is no football team here. that is maybe why there doesn't appear to be a large amount of school pride or school spirit. although the basketball games are a lot of fun and do demonstrate the pride and spirit the students do have for GW, it still seems to be a little less than schools with football teams.

GW is not your typical college. We don't have rolling green hills, crazy pride with our sports teams or that we're all blonde or super smart. Yes we have our stereotypes, but you will seriously find every kind of student here from the ones with the long hair playing guitar on the quad, to the frat boys throwing around the football in front of the sorority houses to the kid who never seems to not be in a business suit. Its almost like living in the real world but not quite. We're not protected by some big gate - walk five blocks in either direction and you're in the city, but you still sometimes get a sense of the bubble. So you can really chose how to live your GW experience, either in the bubble or taking a step outside.

The actual university is wretched. The way they use our money is shockingly irresponsible and offensive, and not at all what students would prefer their money actually go towards. I can honestly say that I do not feel like the university cares about me as an individual. That being said, my professors here have been top-notch, I adore the location, and I love the life I have built for myself here.

It's the perfect sized school. There are enough people that you can always meet new people and don't have to worry about drama but a small enough amount that you can walk around and know a few people here and there. It's in the middle of the city, which is amazing. There are endless resources, opportunities, and entertainment. You'll never be bored. GW's administration was laid back in the last few years, but with the new President, it's becoming more strict. This is good for parents and bad for students, especially those who have been here for a few years. Nobody likes to be told what to do after you've had freedom for so long. There's definitely a sense of school pride, although our basketball team wasn't too good this year. It's definitely a school for individuals though, which was perfect for me. But, for someone who needs hand holding, this isn't the place.

There is so much to do at GW that you can find your way no matter what you are interested in. There is more of a campus than you would expect and there is always stuff to do on and off campus.

The best thing about GW are the opportunities you get to meet people from all different backgrounds: from Dubai, to Africa, to Hong Kong, there are so many people here with interesting stories to tell about their homelife and childhood.

GW is proud of it's diversity, whether it's through ethnicity, religious views, or sexual preference. We are very unique not only with our student body, but our location. Since we're the only school 4 blocks away from the White House, we have a lot of resources other American schools don't have. In the beginning when I told people I was enrolled at GW, then immediately thought Georgetown; however, now GW has it's own image. GW has grown a lot over the years after what SJT had done for the University, but the best way to see the progress is when GW reached a $1 billion endowment. There is a lot of red tape at GW for anything, but they have improved a lot of it when scheduling classes and selecting housing. Since GW is in the heart of DC, it is difficult to provide beds for EVERYONE, so some people can be forced to live off campus. Greek life has been growing immensely. When I first joined my fraternity about 11{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} were involved in Greek life, but now it is closer to or above 20{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. One complaint from some students and families is the food options. Since we don't have a cafeteria it is easier to eat unhealthy; however, this doesn't mean there aren't healthy options. It's all there but some choose some meals over others.

The best thing about GW is it's location. What other college student can say their dorm room is 3 blocks from the white house, or their dorm room has a great view of the Washington Monument? It's right in the heart of DC and walking distance from the Georgetown and Dupont Circle neighborhoods. Our campus also has it's own metro stop, connecting us to the rest of DC and Northern Virginia and Maryland. The size is just about right. We have almost 10,000 undergrads, which makes us medium size. Our campus is also very compact because we are an urban campus, so it seems much smaller and more connected than it really is. Students constantly run into other students they know on campus. People tend to mix up GW for Georgetown. I've been called a Georgetown student many times, and it is really annoying. The campus itself is just okay. It's really compact because it is urban, so we don't have those quintessential "college" quads or parks. We do have some nice areas though such as Kogan Plaza and University Yard, and in the spring time when it's nice out, everyone flocks to Kogan to sit outside. The GW administration could work a little harder on making GW more of a college community. People tend to do their own thing and just become DC residents rather than GW students. The most recent controversy was the "Swastika on the door" incident. This Jewish freshman girl faked a hate crime by drawing swastikas on her dorm room door for 8 nights in a row and said someone was committing a hate crime on her. However, we have video cameras in our dorms, and the university police caught her doing it. When our basketball team is good their tends to be lots of school pride, but our fans are very fair-weather and if we're not that good they don't care. My sophomore year our basketball team went 27-3, and our last home game was against Charlotte and we won on a last second put back in overtime. All of the student rushed the court, and it is something I will never forget!

The greatest thing about gw is its location. DC is an amazing city that is so student friendly and filled with opportunities. GW also has wonderful connections and can open so many doors for its students.

The best thing about GW is that it is in our nations capital and there are so many opportunities. The school is decently sized, however being in Greek life makes that campus seem smaller.

THe best thing about GWU is the location and the opportunities that being in DC provides. I have benefited incredibly because of the connections I have made in the city, and the people that I have come in contact with simply because of going to school here.

great opportunities, great atmosphere

The school lacks unity. Peple dont wear GW stuff around campus. Greek life is growing and is an excellent thing to get involved in. with the change in president of the university we are waiting to see what Knapp will do.

The best thing about GW is its location. It boils down to a simple equation: GW=DC. It seems everyone has found a way to integrate themselves into the world-class metropolis that is our nation's capital, and we love every minute of it. DC is the greatest city in the world (at least in our opinion) for which to study. GW is brimming with school pride, despite being in the center of a major city, with a campus that contains city blocks. From our great Colonial Inauguration freshman orientation program, to the pride we have in our 22 Division I sports teams, everyone has love for GW. There are also so many organizations and ways to get involved that everyone can find their niche, something worth writing home about.

GW offers a lot of opportunity for the students. It is in a big city so there is a lot of fields to get jobs in.

Great people, great quality of academics and a lot to get involved in

Give the school a football or lacrosse team. Try and regulate financial aid and high tuition costs

Great school, City school with strong Greek Life and it is fantastic for branching out and growing as a person, not only a student

we need better academics and students. no school pride

It's a really cheap school

people my age have rarely ever heard of GW. for some reason, parents know (or pretend to know)

It rocks!

It's a very unique experience and is very much a part of and is influenced by Washington D.C. as a whole. 10,000 students is a perfect size for me. The administration sometimes seems to overlook small student concerns that would make a huge difference, such as charging us 9 cents every time we print.

GW is the absolute, no doubt best school for anyone interested in a career in the Political/Legal/Foreign Service fields. The experience you gain in four years is invaluable and is not reflected in GW's rankings. GW is often overlooked when it should be considered a top-tier school in regards to overall experience and preparation, academically and professionally.

Great campus, very diverse student body, great social atmosphere

GW is large enough so that not everyone knows you but small enough at the same time so that if you want a scene you can have one or if ou want school spirit just go watch a GW basketball team.

GWU is a great school on paper. Everyone can recognize it as an excellent university. When i tell people I go to GW they assume that I am smart and wealthy to pay for it. I love the school and its accesibility to DC and everything DC has to offer. The students that attend GW are a breed of their own. Students at GW are the most driven college kids I have ever met. I am light years ahead of my friends from home because I attend GW. It is very cut throat, students love to talk about their internships and one up eachother on them. The faculty at GW is very credible, I am in the SMPA and I love each and every one of my teachers. They are absoutely brillant. I think there is a lack of school spirit for some reason. The morale of the school is low, for a reason I can not pinpoint. It could jsut be because a lot of the students are just into themselves, doing their own thing, and dont like to conform. I wish we had more land, and more grassy areas, but thats what you get for going to school in the city.

So much to do here in DC. As a senior, you focus more on all of the amazing jobs and internships rather than classes.

GW breeds mid-level government managers, and it shows. The administration has so many levels of bureaucracy it's unnerving. The location is great, right between Georgetown (the area not the school) and the White House, and everyone I know has great internships. We used to have a lot of school pride until our basketball team (mens) fell apart. The recent biggest controversy on campus was the last protest in Washington. We always host people for that.

No school spirit, excellent location, join Greek life

I love GW because of the urban environment. It is definitely in the city but it is not too overwhelming and there is a real feel of a campus at the same time. There are also so many great opportunities for internships and jobs that it would be stupid not to come. I love it!

perfect location, its walking distance to georgetown and dupont circle where the nightlife is and its the business district so afte 5 pm its only students around. its really like a bubble green campus, kind of a college town. you're in the city but all the buildings are right next to each other so its not like NYU at all. --- the size is perfect too. you can always see people you know and always meet new people. -- if you're a jap or like jappy kids then definitely go. otherwise be cool and come with cool kids. i was lucky and found some awesome people and so i love it.

A lot of people complain about the GW bureaucracy and how long it takes to get something done or a question answered. If you use your head and look up the proper place to go, you should get your question answered or your needs addressed. The school is here for the students, and while the students are the solid foundation that make GW great, the administration and faculty can be incredible helpful. I recommend getting to know one or more faculty members - a professor, a dean - really well so that you can always go to him/her for help and answers.

The best thing about GW is that its in a good part of DC. I mean Georgetown is in a good part of DC, but the school sits in a residential area and is kind of isolated on a hill. GW is in the thick of things, right in downtown near the mall, near offices (if you land an internship), near good restaurants, near the metro (subway), and better or worse, GW took over the neighborhood where people used to live so there are lots of students mixed in with working folks. We're not an isolated entity, but there are times when the residents of Foggy Bottom wish we were, like Thursday nights through Sunday Morning. Catholic is in the hood, Howard is in a hood that is undergoing substantial gentrification, American is isolated, but they have metro. People say that GW is a good school, usually because they don't know much about it. If they do know anything about it, they know that its expensive as hell. Its not like Georgetown which has immediate name recognition and reputation, so whatever. I spend most of my time on campus in either my place or a friend's place. Its not like there are any places that students just hang out in, though GW has tried to create that in the Hippodrome. I refer to GW's "college town" as GWorld (also the name of our ID cards). Its not just limited to Foggy Bottom, but GWorld is the totality of everything that is GW. Pentagon City Mall is part of GWorld, Dupont Circle clubs and bars, Adams Morgan bars and clubs, Georgetown bars and clubs. There are places that people will go and say "oh I know DC", but really DC is so much bigger than their concept of the city. GWorld is a mindset that if you go further than three stops away on the metro, its not worth going to. Students will hardly ever venture outside of NW DC, and will seldom discover some things even in NW like Tenleytown, which is on Wisconsin Ave, but beyond Georgetown. They will go to Adams Morgan, but not Cleveland Park, or down U Street. GWorld is buying an Ipod on your GWorld, or having a $400 impulse buy at Coach on a Tuesday afternoon with daddy's credit card. GWorld is getting EmerGed and not getting in trouble because your mother who is a lawyer in Jersey called to "smooth things over". GWorld is the complete lack of real-world consequenses because we keep ourselves insulated to our concept of "college life". Karl Rove was the biggest controversy on campus lately, but this is being rivaled by the commencement speaker who is equally polarizing on the other side of the political arena. Most people at GW are "too cool" for school pride.

GW is a great school! I love living in a city, being so close to Georgetown is great too! The night life is amazing! You can never get bored because there are so many things to do.

The best thing about GW is the social scene, as there's pretty much everything anyone could want to do here. Frats, clubs, protests...you name it, it's going on. Additionally, GW dorms are amazing. A bathroom split between 2-4 people as a freshman is the best thing ever. However, as exciting as DC sounds, Foggy Bottom is dreadful. It shuts down around 9 pm, and there is nothing to eat but junk served by the very WORST waiters you could imagine. If you can get out of Foggy Bottom the city is fun, and its easy to do with the METRO, but it's still a HUGE let down.