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College Prowler

Academics

Most classes are very interesting and stimulating. In the international affairs program, a lot of professors have experience in the field and/or currently work for the government. Most professors are easy to reach outside of class and willing to help with anything you need.

Athletics

This isn't the school to come to if you're big on school spirit and the entire university coming out for a basketball game. When the basketball team is winning, there is more school spirit. As a rule of thumb, most students don't care about varsity sports.

Campus Dining

J street, the main dining hall, has improved but still has a ways to go. Unfortunately, freshmen are given a lot of money that is required to be spent there. We also have the GW Deli, the best deli south of NYC. There are also food vendors in a few of the residence halls. We are in a city, and there are tons of restaurants in the surrounding area, some of which even take GWorld money.

Campus Housing

As a freshman, I lived in Thurston Hall—it definitely has a reputation and is definitely worth it! I like to think of living there as a rite of passage at GW. Some may argue that everyone in the building parties all the time, but I would say with more than 1,100 freshmen, Thurston can be whatever you make of it. Living there teaches you how to live with other people who are different than yourself. I wouldn't change that experience for the world.

Campus Strictness

UPD will pretty much only bust you for drinking if your party is ridiculously loud, or if you are too drunk to get into the building and need to be taken to the hospital. They are a lot more strict on drugs, though. There's a zero-tolerance policy for hard drugs.

Computers

Everyone should have bring a laptop because there is only printing at main student locations, like the library. There is wireless in every dorm. If it is not working correctly, you are given an Ethernet cord at the beginning of the year. It's so much easier to keep in touch with family and friends if you have a laptop here.

Diversity

The campus is very ethnically diverse. There are people from all around the world that attend GW and from every different background possible. A lot of students here seem to be very wealthy, but they also work very hard for their grades. Everyone is usually pretty liberal and tend to fall on the democratic side. This is a politically active school, considering it is in the heart of DC. For girls, it is harder to date or have a boyfriend here because an overwhelmingly number of males are gay. Most girls here have long-distance relationships or date someone from another school.

Drug Scene

A majority of students drink, but it really isn't a big deal if you don't. Since we live in a city, students will drink on campus, at off-campus parties, and at clubs. There isn't a huge drug scene at GW, although there are definitely a lot of students who engage in recreational drug use. There are a lot of wealthy students here, so the drugs of choice are marijuana and coke.

Facilities

GW is a wealthy school that puts a lot of money back into the campus. Computers are updated every few years. The school recently opened a gym facility called the Lerner Health and Wellness Center. The student center is also great—it has offices for student organizations, a bookstore, food court, bowling alley, and pool hall.

Greek Life

Greek life is present at GW, but by no means does it dominate the social scene. Then again, it depends on whom you talk to. If you get involved, it will probably dominate your social scene, but I never got into it and never felt the need to. There are a lot of people who don’t get involved and just do their own thing.

Guys & Girls

Lots of people on the campus are very snotty and pretentious. It’s hard to get over people like that, but you will find them everywhere. Unfortunately, most of the guys are not hot and completely full of themselves. But DC is a great place for meeting people, so you never know!

Local Atmosphere

DC is a great place to go to school. It’s certainly a city, but in a very real sense, it has the qualities of an intimate town. It’s the most unique gathering of people and ideas I’ve ever experienced. Some parts of the city are sketchier than others, so make sure you know where you’re going when you get on the Metro. You’ll never run out of stuff to visit.

Nightlife

GW has a decent nightlife for those who seek it. It's not much of a walk north to Dupont Circle for clubs. The fraternities, which are a growing part of campus life, provide an option for those who would rather not walk or do not have documentation to say that they are 21. A good-sized group of students choose a calmer, nightlife of hanging out with friends. With 10,000 undergrads mostly living on campus, it isn't hard to find things to do.

Off-Campus Dining

There are amazing restaurants all around. Georgetown has some amazing restaurants in all price ranges, and Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan are great places that are not too far out of the way either. Even in Foggy Bottom, on the GW campus, are great restaurants.

Off-Campus Housing

Students must live on campus for two years, and many continue beyond that. There are a lot of apartments in the area, and some have deals with the University for lower costs. GW is generally viewed as being among the top nicest schools in terms of on-campus housing, so moving out is not a necessity.

Overall Experience

GW was exactly the school I wanted to go to. After high school, I was ready for change and ready to go out to the real world. To this day, I still know that coming to GW was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. DC is probably one of my favorite cities in the country, and since going to GW, I have made some of the best friends I have ever known. I also had the opportunity to study abroad, which I recommend to everyone. GW truly is a school that encourages independence and allows everyone their own path. The student body is so diverse that you’ll always find people who are similar to you at GW. GW is a school that becomes what you make of it. Everyone who goes there has a different experience. I would never change my decision to go here, and I’m glad I’m here.

Parking

Don’t bring a car; it’s not worth it. There are always taxi services and Metro subways that take you anywhere you need. You won’t need a car until at least junior year, if ever. Plus, in the city, it’s expensive to maintain a car.

Safety & Security

There is a plenty amount of crime, robberies mostly. However, the University Police is very good in terms of response time and investigation. The school sends out alerts about crime and things going around DC so the students can be aware of certain situations.

Transportation

The Metro in DC is amazing! It is cheap, clean, and convenient to campus and will get you anywhere in and around DC quickly and safely. The only negative to the Metro is that it closes at midnight on weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends. Other than that, it is the best public transportation system in the US.

Weather

Even though it gets chilly in the winter, the sky is usually clear and sunny. It rarely rains or snows! During the beginning of fall and end of spring, it's hot, so bring clothes for all weather types.