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FactsSlang
- 4-RIDE - The University Police Department on-campus safety shuttle service that runs at night
- CDs and CRs - The College Democrats and College Republicans student organizations
- GCRs - General Curriculum Requirements, the required lower-level introductory classes
- GWID - The student identification number
- GWireless - Wireless Internet system found throughout campus
- Hell Well - The Lerner Health and Wellness Center, the GW gym
- House Proctors, House Scholars, and House Mentors - Older in-dorm student advisers for freshmen, sophomores, and upperclassmen, respectively, similar to a Resident Adviser at other college campuses.
- Metro - The DC subway system
- Pizza I - Pizza Italia, the pizza restaurant across from Thurston Hall
- ResNet - Internet connection service in the dorms
- The Vern - The Mount Vernon Campus
- U-Yard - University Yard, the biggest patch of grass on campus and frequent hang-out spot during nice weather
- 2000 Penn - GW’s closest thing to a mall, located at 2000 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
- ABP - Au Bon Pain, the French bakery/cafe in 2000 Penn.
- Big George/George - GW’s two Colonial mascots
- CCAS - Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.
- CI - Colonial Inauguration, GW’s freshman orientation program.
- Club G - The Gelman Library during finals—everyone who is anyone is there.
- Colonial Cash - GW’s meal plan.
- CRN - Course Registration Number, the five-digit number that identifies a course, used when you register.
- EMeRG - Emergency Medical Response Group, a 24-hour, student-employed medical service.
- ESIA - Elliott School of International Affairs
- Fall Fest and Spring Fling - Outdoor concerts/festivals sponsored by the student-run Program Board.
- GWorld - GW’s ID card.
- Hippo - GW’s unofficial mascot.
- Hippodrome - Fifth floor of the Marvin Center, with bowling, billiards, and Big Burger.
- HOVA - Hall on Virginia Avenue.
- J Street - GW’s food court on the first floor of the Marvin Center.
- Kogan Plaza - The outdoor area in the center of campus.
- Manouch - GW’s favorite hot dog vendor, comes out late on weekend nights next to the Marvin Center
- MPD - Metropolitan Police Department.
- PB - Program Board, GW’s student programming organization.
- SA - The Student Association, GW’s student government.
- SEAS - School of Engineering and Applied Science.
- Sexiled - Getting kicked out of your room when your roommate is gettin’ busy.
- SJS - Student Judicial Services.
- SMPA - School of Media and Public Affairs.
- STAR - Student Admissions Representative, a campus tour guide.
- The GW Hatchet - The independent student newspaper.
- UPD - University Police Department.
Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming To School
- It can get very windy and cold in DC during winter.
- It’s best to get up early to register for classes as soon as registration opens on registration day or else you won’t get the classes you want. Even then, it will be a stretch to get every class you wanted, so make one, two, or three back-up plans.
- There are a lot of students who wear nice, designer clothes.
- There’s a lot of red tape to get through and a lot of forms to fill out wherever you go if you want to get anything from the University.
- Thurston Hall is the fun party dorm. The other freshman dorms are quieter, but you can still find parties if you search them out.
- You walk pretty much everywhere, unless you are going way off campus, in which case you can take the metro or a taxi.
- The majority of the students are from the East Coast, specifically New England, New York, and New Jersey.
- Try not to schedule a lot of morning classes because you will want to sleep late. Also, don’t take Friday classes because Thursday is a party night. You may want to intern on Fridays.
Tips to Succeed
- Don’t give yourself the excuse that just because in DC that you can go see the sites anytime; unless you’re proactive about getting out to see them, before you know it the year has passed and you haven’t seen anything.
- Figure out whether attending lectures or doing the readings is more important for each class. It will help you prioritize your time.
- Get involved in student organizations. That’s where you’ll meet the most people, make the most connections, and learn the most useful life skills.
- Get an internship.
- Keep updated on campus news by reading the Hatchet. You can’t complain about GW policies and procedures if you’re not informed.
- Research your professors before choosing your classes.
- Spend some time at the Gelman Library.
- Stay active—the Health and Wellness Center is great; there are some fun one-credit exercise classes. Intramural and club sports are also a great way to get involved.
- Stay for a summer at GW—you will have a lot of fun, plus there are great job opportunities available.
- Work hard, but above all, enjoy yourself. This is the only time in your life when you’ll be away from home, taking classes, and living with people your own age, unless you go to grad school. Going away to college is a unique opportunity, so make the most of it.
Urban Legends
- Students cannot access the roof of Thurston Hall because Secret Service does not allow it, given its close proximity to the White House.
- The construction of Funger Hall was funded by the Shah of Iran.”
- Thurston Hall is said to be one of the most sexually active dorms in the country.
- Touching the Hippo in front of Lisner Auditorium will apparantly bring you good luck.
Traditions
- Martha’s Marathon - Every February since 1966 the Residence Hall Association has raffled and auctioned off the best rooms on campus to raise money for the University scholarship fund.
- Commencement on the National Mall - Unless there are severe weather conditions, GW students graduate on the National Mall in front of the Washington Monument every year. Ending your four years at GW at this prestigious spot is beautiful and memorable.
- Late-night trips to the monuments - When it’s a quiet, warm night, students love hanging out at the monuments. Whether with a date (it’s a really romantic spot) or a group of friends, nothing compares to staring at the reflecting pool from the top steps of the Lincoln Memorial at 2 a.m.
- Midnight Breakfast - Each fall and spring during finals, the University hosts a midnight breakfast at the Marvin Center. Students race to get in line for eggs, tater tots, muffins, and fruit. There are also games and activities throughout the Marvin Center to help students de-stress.
- Spring Break - Whether partying on the beaches of Cancun or Mexico or backpacking around Europe, most GW students take advantage of spring break to get out of DC with their GW friends. There are several special student deals to places in and out of the country. The most popular spots are the Bahamas, Florida, Jamaica, and Mexico. Get ready for a week of drunken madness.
School Spirit
Because GW athletics are not overwhelmingly popular, school spirit is definitely lacking. Although some students enjoy attending men’s basketball games, GW’s most popular sport, most rarely show up to cheer on the team.
Most Recent Contributing Author
Name: David Glidden
Hometown: Fuquay-Varina, NC
Major: International Affairs (Spanish minor) David thoroughly enjoys 2 a.m. trips to the national monuments! Contributing Author Internship
College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating
the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally
recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is
really like at your college. Read more about the internship.
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