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George Washington University
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George Washington University - Local Atmosphere - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler5.00

Local Atmosphere

A+
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Quick Stats

Fun Local Trivia
  1. Students can attend the presidential inauguration on the National Mall and/or the inaugural parade on Pennsylvania Avenue. Those interested can either stand in the general admissions area or get free tickets, which allow for closer access, by calling their state representatives.
  2. DC's National Cherry Blossom Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators each spring. The 9,000 trees lining the Tidal Basin were a gift to the District from Japan in 1912.
  3. Foggy Bottom, the neighborhood of GW's main campus, is one of the oldest 19th-century neighborhoods in DC and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The name Foggy Bottom is said to be derived from its description by locals as a swampy "bottom land," its low elevation, location near the Potomac River, and collection of industries providing for an atmospheric combination of fog, smoke, and soot.
  4. District residents are fighting to get representation in the Senate and House of Representatives. Although those living in D.C. are taxed, they receive no representation other than a non-voting delegate because they do not technically live in a state.
  5. There are no skyscrapers in DC. Many believe that this is due to a law saying that the Capitol and Washington Monument were to be the tallest buildings in the city, but in fact, it was the city fire department that put limits on building heights in 1894 because their equipment wouldn't be able to reach tall buildings. In 1989, the Height of Buildings Act was passed to ensure that the city skyline wouldn't be dominated by skyscrapers.
Notable Natives
  • Dave Chappelle
  • Marvin Gaye
  • Samuel L. Jackson
  • John Philip Sousa
Local Slang
  • The Hill: Capitol Hill, where several GW students intern
  • The Mall: Not a place to go shopping, the National Mall is home to a variety of monuments and museums
  • The Metro: Washington's subway system
Points of Interest
  • Capitol Building
  • Dupont Circle
  • National Mall
  • National Monuments
  • National Zoo
  • Smithsonian Institute Museums
  • White House

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

GW’s location in the Foggy Bottom area of DC gives it a unique flavor with which no other university can compare. With government officials working nearby, the school often seems to blend into the city, but GW’s five-by-six block radius definitely feels like a traditional college campus. The University’s close proximity to bars, clubs, museums, national monuments, sports arenas, and theaters exposes students to the entire cultural experience that is DC. Students call the city an “amazing place,” and most can’t imagine living for four years in a rural environment after spending a day in DC.

 At most college campuses, students hang out on their universities’ quads between classes. Although GW students often toss around Frisbees during the spring and summer, they are also out and about in the District, constantly exploring new things. People interested in the arts can see a Broadway show on tour at the National or Warner Theaters, or they can go to one of the several movie theaters near campus, which show both commercial flicks and independent films. Sports fans can take a quick metro ride to the new Nationals baseball stadium or catch a Wizards game at the Verizon Center, which is also a major concert venue. Another perk of living so close to the monuments are the beautiful nighttime views—there is nothing like watching a breath-taking meteor shower while lying beside the reflecting pool, and you can’t spend four years at GW without hooking up at the monuments (your forefathers would be proud).

 

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George Washington Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at George Washington University

JakeM7

Anthropology and Archaeology '15

4.6
A

Local Atmosphere

The campus is situated right in the city with the White House only 4 blocks away. Also the university has its own stop on the metro transportation service which allows an easy access to the rest of the city. There are numerous city dining locations right around campus.

May 16, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at George Washington University

flyawayhoneybee

Clinical Psychology and Counseling '11

5.0
A+

Best City!

DC is a rare breed- it has all the culture and opportunity of NYC, but is a lot cleaner! In fact, most of NW DC is pristine.

May 01, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at George Washington University

lebert

International Studies and Government '05

4.6
A

Nation's Capital

Living in Washington DC has many advantages, particularly if you are into government or politics. Tons of opportunities to intern and get practical experience. Lots of cultural and artistic offerings, every museum you ever wanted, and fun bars and nightlife to be found as well.

Jan 03, 2012

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User rating for George Washington University - Local Atmosphere is 4.6 out of 5 based on 24 user reviews.

Photos of George Washington University's Local Atmosphere

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George Washington University - The gorgeous cityThe gorgeous city
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The gorgeous city A look at the cherry blossoms against the city backdrop.
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George Washington University - CityCity
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City A look at the city on a sunny day.
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George Washington University - TalentTalent
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Talent Some students performing for an audience on campus.
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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

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Facts

Shopping Centers
  • DC USA retail complex in Columbia Heights
  • Pentagon City Mall
  • The Shops at Georgetown Park
  • Tyson Corner Center
Major Sports Teams
  • D.C. United: Soccer
  • Washington Capitals: hockey
  • Washington Nationals: baseball
  • Washington Redskins: football
  • Washington Wizards: basketball
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • Baltimore: MD: 1 hour
  • New York City: NY: 5 hours
  • Philadelphia: PA: 3 hours

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

AMC Loews Georgetown
3111 K St., NW
Georgetown
(202) 342-6033

Regal Gallery Place
701 Seventh St., NW
(202) 393-2121

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
David Glidden
Hometown
Fuquay-Varina, NC
Major
International Affairs (Spanish minor)

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.