George Washington University

Date: Jan 03 2005
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
I have just completed my first semester at GWU, and I really love it. I got a hefty scholarship to go here, and I reluctantly attended, having to turn down an ivy. I am VERY happy, and have really found my niche. Although most students here are very wealthy, they are extremely hard-working, independent, driven, and competitive. I don't feel like anyone flaunts their wealth, but it's fairly noticable when they go on $2000 shopping sprees in Georgetown.

I already have a great internship at an embassy as a freshman. I'm involved in the student newspaper(GW Hatchet), and have done some projects through Habitat for Humanity so far. The key to succeeding at GW is having goals, and continuously staying involved. I have had very good professors, especially one of my International Politics professors who took a group of students out for drinks one night!!! The professors are fairly mixed-from warm, interesting, and accesible to the foreign, difficult, and out-to-fail-you professors. The Economics classes are hard as %#*&, but I took mine at Mt. Vernon and I got lots of extra help and friendly profs. The clases are smaller there, which is cool.

I wish GW had a football team, but the B-ball games are spitited and give a little campus community. I have met some very genuine people here, and there's a lot more socioeconomic and racial diversity than I give it credit for.

The city is extremely tough on first-year students. I have never been so home-sick in my life as the first 2 weeks at GW. I hated the subway, my classes were really hard, and the students here seemed cold and too busy with internships and a gazillion other activities to hang out. However, I met people through my freshman dorm. I always kept my door open, and would go bowling/partying with strangers. I just had to be outgoing towards others. Few people at GW went to h.s. together, so we're all on the same boat. Eventually I landed an incredible internship other students at other colleges can only dream about, and I have gotten really involved in the student newspaper.

The Elliot School is really dynamic, and offers so many unique courses discussing different areas of the world and uses of int. affairs. My american art history class routinely visited The National Museum of Art and other museums like the Smithsonian to fully use DC to our advantage.

Don't go to GW if you don't want to be pampered. GW is tough academically and socially, and only a strong-willed person can survive here. If you want to be cradled in some scenic Rhode Island or Conneticut town, go to a LAC. If you want true real-world experience and training, and an almost guarrenteed job after graduation, go to GW.