Uni in the USA: A British Guide to American Universities and Colleges > All New: Colleges and Universities Added in 2009 > George Washington (new review!)
Foggy Bottom, Washington DC
9,700 undergraduates
13,700 graduates
How many students does it take to change a light bulb at George Washington?
21 – One to change the light bulb and 20 to start a light bulb-saving campaign to petition Congress.
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George Washington University is often not included among America’s greatest schools, but whatever you do, don’t dismiss this hidden gem. A buzzing, urban community right at the centre of the most powerful city on earth, this university offers an international atmosphere in a politically charged environment. 14 elected representatives in the current Congress are GWU grads, and many more have gone on to high-flying positions across a range of (mostly political) occupations. With a hugely diverse student body, excellent quality of teaching, the best financial aid in the country and a glorious location in the capital, it’s not hard to see why students come here from across the world.
Campus
The origins of GWU do indeed lie with its namesake, the first president of America. But although it was Washington’s vision to create a national centre for learning in the fledgling country’s capital, it wasn’t until the Presidency of James Monroe that the Reverend Luther Rice, following Washington’s wishes, established the ‘Columbian College’ in 1821, and it wasn’t until 1904 that the university took on the name of the nation’s first liberator. Only in 1912 did the campus shift to Foggy Bottom, the part of the District closest to Washington’s home state of Virginia, where he had originally intended his educational establishment to be.
GWU’s campus may not be visually striking or particularly nice to look at – the buildings are mostly an unappealing mix of modern brick and concrete – but it makes up in location and cosmopolitanism what it lacks in architecture. Indeed, students generally commend the fact that you could walk through the university without knowing it was one of the capital’s most highly sought colleges. The city-centre atmosphere means that you can feel part of the bustle of everyday life whilst relishing the relative seclusion of being a student. And if you do want to relax and escape the city, GWU features at its centre (and in all the prospectuses) a delightful little red-brick courtyard, complete with fountain, where Washingtonians can go to breathe freely now and again.
Besides, if you want to see amazing and beautiful architecture, it takes mere seconds to walk to the White House, and not much more for the Lincoln Memorial and the other world-famous sites of Washington DC. The area is generally well served by metro, and the campus is set out in blocks among DC’s renowned grid-system, where the streets are named after letters (east to west) and numbers (north to south), so it’s impossible to get lost. GWU is also very compact, which makes getting to classes easier and adds to the city feel.
For anyone who really hates concrete, GWU has a second campus called Mt. Vernon, three miles away in the less intensely metropolitan northwest area of the city. Named after the original country residence of George Washington himself, the 23-acre Mt. Vernon campus was acquired in 1999 from Mount Vernon College for Women. Now happily coed, ‘The Vern’ still gives a nod to its female legacy with the Elizabeth Somers Women's Leadership Program, an academic course available only to first-year female students. The second campus provides a more spacious and aesthetically appealing alternative for GWU, with leafy boulevards and playing fields, not to mention more hi-tech facilities for science, art and dance. The campus is served by the ‘Vern Express’, a shuttle bus which operates 24-hours and connects students to the city centre.
The Washingtonian
Although the university suffers from many of the same stereotypes as its more famous brother Georgetown (‘preppy’, upper-class), GWU is distinctly not a Jesuit school. Having been created by an Act of Congress that specified its secular status, students at George Washington need not fear any Catholic dominance or other religious tension. Even if GWU takes its name from the man responsible for ridding the country of evil British control, the diversity and cultural mix to be found here means that Brits will be able to fit in with the student body much more easily than many other colleges in America. Students flock here from over 130 different countries and all 50 states of America, and there is a massive range of ethnic and social backgrounds represented.
First-year students at GW are normally divided into ‘Thematic Housing’ so theoretically your residence will be filled with people that have similar interests to you. The eight ‘themes’ range from a ‘science village’ to a ‘culture and arts house’. The system makes it very easy to integrate oneself into the community and make friends quickly, but it often means that there is little interaction between houses – not a problem in a university as compact as GWU, where sociability is almost impossible to escape. Accommodation at George Washington overall is top notch, though notoriously pricy: the university finished in the top ten for colleges with ‘dorms like palaces’ according to the Princeton Review.
Perhaps the most accurate stereotype for George Washington students (and indeed for any students in the District) is the political one. Students are frequently able to secure internships on ‘The Hill’ (ie the Houses of Congress) and participate politically in activities ranging from campaign management to think-tank work and demonstrations. The District of Columbia is known as one of the most liberal places in the country, and though this isn’t entirely true of the student body (protests arose when the university’s Young Americans Foundation promoted ‘Islamofascism Awareness Week’ in 2007), politics at George Washington is about as progressive as it gets outside of the Bay Area in California.
As might be expected, the politically charged atmosphere gives rise to a particularly dynamic student body. With more than 300 student-run organisations to choose from, a freshman might feel overwhelmed, though most quickly adapt to the snappy pace of life and the abundance of opportunities it provides. Events and activities are chalked onto the pavements in creative ways, advertising everything from Dodgeball to Bhangra. There’s a range of sports (basketball is big), academics and media (a daily online magazine, a bi-weekly paper over 100 years old, and at least one radio station). There are opportunities to volunteer with social groups working in the famously impoverished areas of Washington DC (not to mention the abundance of NGOs in Washington) and of course massive amounts of political activism to get your teeth into.
The Student Association (SA), which controls all student activities, is a typically Washingtonian affair – modelled on the US government and divided into a legislature, executive and judiciary. The SA runs some of the most famous student associations in the country, from a world-renowned Model United Nations to one of the most illustrious chapters of the Students Global Aids Campaign. Partly as a way to get your mind round all these activities, all GW freshmen on arrival are given a complicated student-led orientation by a group which calls itself the Colonial Cabinet, one of the biggest such orientations in the US.
Hitting the books
GWU is divided into nine ‘schools’ covering areas such as law, engineering or business. Despite its political reputation, expert education is provided in quite a spectrum of academic subjects, from media to medicine. There is an excellent Study Abroad Program, which sends about 900 students to 50 countries around the world.
The most famous school at GWU is the superb Elliott School of International Relations, where future diplomats, ambassadors and politicians may find training. Any kind of political study cannot be underrated here. Students have unique opportunities to interact with incredibly important people, and lectures have been given by the likes of Mikhail Gorbachev (last Soviet Premier), Abba Eban (Israeli Foreign Secretary), and both Bill and Hillary Clinton. GWU’s political proficiency does come with a few strings attached – the administration at the university can be as bureaucratic as the government itself.
With a student-faculty ratio of 13:1, individual attention is higher than average, but there is room for improvement. Another potential drawback is the number of ‘adjunct’ professors. These part-time tutors can be wonderful to work with because they normally are involved with DC-based projects and careers which give them first hand experience they can pass on to their students (as well as priceless contacts in powerful spheres). However, not being fully integrated into the university, they often find themselves pulled away to other pastures, leaving students without any real continuity of teaching. The turnover rate is worrying, but most students feel it is made up for by the scintillating expertise that comes with it.
For those whose only reaction to political energy is a yawn, don’t discount George Washington out of hand. The business program is also excellent, and comes with almost as many internship opportunities as lectures, and the computer science program is world famous and one of a select group accredited by the National Security Agency. The medical school was responsible for saving the life of Ronald Reagan in 1981 after he was almost assassinated, and Vice President Dick Cheney has also received emergency treatment there. There are 87 available majors, of which 76 have less than 100 students. This makes the university much more expensive, but it does mean it offers respectable courses in a wide variety of subjects in a stimulating cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Social Life
There is plenty of opportunity here for those who like to party, and not just parties organised by the university. One area where GWU definitely has the edge on Georgetown is the Greek community, which generates events and activities for those who want to fraternise and, er, sororitise. Those who prefer a more chilled approach to socialising will feel at home too: students extol the lack of peer pressure and their ability to enjoy themselves in whatever way they choose. The diversity of the student body is helpful here – students can be who they want to be and will always find like-minded souls to share the experience.
Washingtonians insist that their campus is the best situated in DC. Whether you fancy a spin round the incredible Air and Space museum, a gig at the famous 9:30 Club or Black Cat, or just the legendary ‘midnight monument tour’, it’s all there for the taking. DC is full of cool little (and not so little!) bars and clubs of every description, not to mention great restaurants and a budding music scene.
Getting In
Although GWU has a great reputation, in most people’s minds it sits in the second tier of universities. This means that entrance is a little easier than rivals such as Georgetown, though by no means a safe bet. The university accepts around 1 in 3 applicants, as opposed to the 1 in 10 at Georgetown, or 1 in 12 at Harvard, making it an appealing choice for those who feel they might not be judged well by the terrifying standards of the Ivy League and other big-shot unis. But GWU doesn’t turn out successful statesmen by accepting just anyone, and applications must be strong to secure a place. A rigorous academic program at your previous school is important, so British students could be at an advantage. Interviews and SAT IIs are often not required. It is recommended, as usual, that you visit the university or talk to a representative in the UK (they can sometimes be found at school fairs) before applying, just to get a feel of what the university can give you, and what it wants from you.
GWU operates an early decision system, which is highly recommended if you know this is the place for you. You must submit your application a couple of months earlier than normal, and if accepted, the decision is binding. Applying on an early decision demonstrates enthusiasm for the college, and often brings a greater chance of success.
Fees at GWU are not pretty. Tuition costs are nudging the highest in the country, and are rising at astronomical rates (up 58% between 2000 and 2007). It was the first school in the country to announce that its total tuition and necessary expenses had exceeded $50,000. Fortunately, a couple of factors make the pain more bearable. Firstly, all fees are quoted under a fixed rate scheme which means that the price of your whole four years is known from day one, and the university guarantees that this won’t change.
Secondly, if you’re lucky enough to have permanent US residency or citizenship, GWU provides the most needs-based financial aid of any university in the country. The average aid package in 2007 was a whopping $33,809, and roughly 60% of undergraduates receive some kind of aid. Sadly, international students are not eligible for such aid.
Famous Grads
Harry Reid – Senate Majority Leader
Colin Powell – Bush’s first Secretary of State
Courtney Cox – Actress: Monica on Friends (contrary to her perfectionism on the TV, she dropped out after a year!)