Colleges George Washington University

George Washington University www.gwu.edu

George Washington University is a private institution that was founded in 1821. It sits on a 43-acre campus in downtown Washington, DC, an ideal urban location for fans of historic sites and city life. The school is spread out across the Foggy Bottom neighborhood, near the State Department and about a mile away from museums on the National Mall and the Washington Monument. Students have the opportunity to plug into the extraordinary world of Washington, the political, policy, and research centers that move the country and the world. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are required to live on campus. There are more than 400 organizations on campus, and students with an original idea can start their own clubs. The TRAiL program takes students on outdoor excursions like hiking, kayaking and horseback riding. Student publications include the GW Hatchet, The Daily Colonial, and The GW Patriot.

Academics

George Washington University is classified among R1 Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activities. It is the only member of the Association of American Universities in Washington, DC. GWU is organized into fourteen schools and colleges, each with a different dean and organization. The university offers degree programs in 71 disciplines, enrolling around 11,500 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students. Many of the colleges GWU are notable for their age and history. The law school is the oldest law school in the District of Columbia. The medical school is the 11th oldest medical school in the nation, and Columbian College was founded in 1821 and is the oldest unit of the university. The student-faculty ratio at GWU is 12:1, and the school has 58% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. Popular majors include International Relations, Nursing, and Political Science and Government.

Special Highlights

Traditions. Some of GWU’s unique traditions include: Celebrate Your First Night: We welcome all new and returning students to celebrate arriving to campus and starting the new academic year at First Night. There are many activities, food and even a movie on University Yard. Plus, there’s no better way to start your time at GW than by meeting thousands of your fellow students. Midnight Breakfast: Midnight Breakfast is an annual tradition that invites students to take a break from studying for final exams and enjoy some food and fun! Faculty and staff volunteer and connect with students throughout the event by serving food or hosting an activity. Commencement: Held on the National Mall, our graduates celebrate like no one else can. You’ll take your first steps as a GWU alum, listen to a world-class speaker, and throw your cap in the air with the nation’s most recognizable landmarks and monuments as the backdrop.

Campus Media. There are four major news sources on campus: the independent student-run newspaper The GW Hatchet, which publishes articles online daily and a print edition weekly; The Rival GW, an online-only student-run publication; the online-only radio station, WRGW; and the university’s official news source, GW Today. GW also publishes a peer-reviewed journal, The International Affairs Review, which is run by graduate students at the Elliott School. The student-run WRGW radio station was created as a result of efforts by GWU’s Radio Club, which was founded back in February 1929.

School Mission & Unique Qualities

GW has three fully integrated campuses in the Washington, DC area. These are the Foggy Bottom Campus, the Mount Vernon Campus, and the Virginia Science and Technology Campus. The Foggy Bottom Campus houses the vast majority of academic programming. Residence halls exist on the Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses. The main GW campus in historic Foggy Bottom is located a few blocks from the White House, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, State Department, and the National Mall. Mount Vernon, or “The Vern,” is a 25-acre campus located three miles by shuttle from Foggy Bottom and includes Eckles Library, six residence halls, Lloyd Gymnasium, The GW-Mount Vernon Athletic Complex, and other various campus facilities. The Virginia Science and Technology Campus is home to the first walkable solar-power sidewalk in the world.

Student Reviews…

“I received a very well-rounded education and was surrounded by a great community. The staff, professors, and students all left a positive impression. Plus, I established meaningful friendships and connections. GWU’s campuses are beautiful and safe, and the main campus is conveniently located near a metro stop, allowing students to easily explore DC.”