George Washington University Reviews

The nightlife in D.C. is amazing....

The nightlife in D.C. is amazing. If it weren't for the nightlife, I would probably have transferred by now. There are plenty of liquor stores that are known to sell without an ID, fakes will get you in pretty much anywhere (except McFadden's), and even without a fake the 18+ scene is great.

I sometimes regret going to a...

I sometimes regret going to a school with an urban campus, but most of the time, I love being a few blocks from the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Kennedy Center, and Georgetown.

There are amazing restaurants all...

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.

UPD will pretty much only bust you...

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.

Students should definitely bring...

Students should definitely bring their own computers—getting a computer in the library is pretty difficult during weekdays. A large part of the campus is wireless, so I'd definitely recommend bringing one.

Sports . . . what? We have sports...

Sports . . . what? We have sports at GW, but it is a community that I am not a part of. I have never been to any games. and I like it that way. I know we have intramural sports, but my friends are too busy for those.

I do not notice that many people...

I do not notice that many people doing drugs, although pot is probably more common than I even realize. It is not noticeable unless you are looking for it.

I love GW. The location is great...

I love GW. The location is great and the opportunities have been endless. I think that I am able to do much of my learning out of the classroom with the support of faculty and staff members. I am very glad I picked GW since it has given my the chance to intern for RAINN, the largest national anti-sexual assault organization, plan an event with Wendy Kopp, the founder of Teach For America, and meet hundreds of passionate and creative people.

There are so many dining options...

There are so many dining options on and off campus that it can be hard to decide what to eat. We're right next to Georgetown and Dupont, so I bet there's every type of restaurant in walking distance from campus.

Even though it gets chilly in the...

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.

Public transportation here is...

Public transportation here is really easy. There is one Metro stop right on campus, as well as two others right next to it. There are bus stops throughout campus, taxis going by, as well as the free 4-Ride shuttle after dark.

There's always something to do on...

There's always something to do on campus and in the city. You can always find a party happening in a friend's dorm room or at a Greek house. If you want to get leave campus, it's easy to walk or hop the Metro to one of DC's many hot clubs. Luckily, most of the popular establishments have 18-and-over nights, and many more of them are easy to get into with a fake.

Freshmen and sophomores are...

Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus. Juniors and seniors who want to live off-campus can, but it's mad expensive.

Each year the dorms get better,...

Each year the dorms get better, which is nice. If you can, avoid living in Thurston freshman year.

Off-campus dining is easily one of...

Off-campus dining is easily one of the best parts of this school. Go to Zed's for great Ethiopian food that you have to eat with your hands, one of many top-notch ethnic options.

There is a plenty amount of crime,...

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.

The police can be rather strict....

The police can be rather strict. They don't do random checks in the rooms, but it is pretty serious when someone is caught drinking underage or doing illegal drugs.

In DC you get the all four...

In DC you get the all four seasons. Some years you'll have a cold winter, some years it won't snow at all. I do recommend bringing rain boots, as they will be needed on several occasions.

GW is everything I hoped it would...

GW is everything I hoped it would be. I never expected that within my first year, I would work for a Congressman, find a boyfriend, speak to a protest of 10,000 about an issue I cared about, make amazing friends, and learn about a variety of new things both in and out of the classroom. The overwhelming feeling that I have is not so much that I like this school more than where I was, it is that I like myself more when I'm at this school than I did where I was before.

Students must live on campus for...

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.

Everyone should have bring a...

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.

I don't think drugs are a...

I don't think drugs are a noticeable part of campus life. Underage drinking is the illegal activity that most people partake in here.

Definitely bring your own...

Definitely bring your own computer. GWireless can be kind of a pain sometimes, but for the most part, it's pretty efficient. If you don't feel like dealing with GWireless, you can pick up a ResNet cable from the Student Technology Services, which is the plug-in Internet access option.

The campus is very ethnically...

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.

The weather is about as variable...

The weather is about as variable as it can get. Some days it will be in the 60s and warm, and the next it will feel like winter. It also gets very humid in the summer.