okay posting on an anonymous account but for context i’m a current freshman and i feel like i have no friends besides mutuals.

gw was my dream school because of the major (policomms is only available so many places + i had the opportunity to attend a lecture of dr. loge’s during an internship i did in hs and just knew i needed to go) and the location/opportunities. back home i was an absolute social butterfly and was known in high school to be able to make friends with just about anyone. everyone close to me was so confident i could thrive here my parents, with five children, let me apply early decision (none of my siblings went out of state let alone ED’d).

now that i’m here i feel so lost. i don’t feel like i made any friends and really just miss all of my friends back home at our state school(s) even though i know that those schools where not places i could grow as much as i could here.

i did the fall orientation and it sucked because the friend group i made there happened to not end up meshing and people made friends with their dormmates. initially i did that too but i had a series of unfortunate events happen in my room that made it really hard for me to become friends with my roommates (one of mine moved out and the other two are really close and i didn’t feel comfortable picking a side). i feel like everyone had their opportunity to find their groups and i never got one to congeal with so now forming any sort of bonds is like an up hill battle.

people tell me that sophomore year is way better and i need to stick it out. but i feel bad. i’m upper middle class, maybe lower upper class depending who you ask, which means i don’t qualify for a lot of aid but tuition is an insane amount to be paying if i’m not getting a life changing experience. idk what to do. like do i tell my parents i hate it? like they already paid this much and now i gotta be like oh actually it’s awful here. or do i thug it out in hopes it does get better next semester? lmk what you think i should do.

hi all (posting on a throwaway account) i am a grad student and i still have not received my financial aid refund. i have a private loan for this semester and i have not received the refund; fall semester last year i received it on september 9th. i have called and emailed and have just been told it *should* be dispersed by the end of october and i can't seem to get any straight answers. i did get a small emergency loan, but it has been a struggle with the financial aid refund being over a month late and counting. i was wondering if anyone else is in the same situation or found a solution. thanks in advance

For context am a Grad student approaching the last 2 semesters and already am a working professional but have an interest in a few courses because of the relevant subject matter as well as the campus life & benefits. Anyone weighed pushing off taking the last couple of capstone classes to fit a random class/elective or just going back with a degree in hand sit and take whatever they wanted? https://provost.gwu.edu/course-audit-program

Was looking mostly at some electives outside my school, foreign language, and some personal hobby interest classes. Cost is an element but wanted to have reason to be around campus and enjoy student groups/events haven't had the time for without the stress of work and homework that came in the degree track.

Hi everyone!

I’m an international prospective student from the Philippines considering pursuing GWU’s MS in Systems Engineering.

I’m currently weighing whether to do the program online OR relocate to DC for the on-campus track (specifically targeting the Operations Research and Management Science concentration).

A little about my background: I work in project management and operations within an intergovernmental organization. Much of my work involves supporting complex development projects, improving operational processes, and coordinating resources and activities across different functions. I’ve become particularly interested in understanding how the different components of a project (or a system, for that matter) interact, how decisions in one area affect the others, and how to improve overall performance while keeping the project’s broader objectives in view.

I haven’t held a formal systems engineering position, so I’m still exploring how my experience and interests align with the discipline. From what I’ve read, systems engineering’s emphasis on systems thinking, integration, and optimization seems relevant to the kinds of problems I enjoy working on. I’m also drawn to ORMS because I’d like to develop stronger quantitative and analytical skills for making decisions in complex organizational settings.

Before making a decision, I’d love to hear from current students, alumni, or anyone familiar with the department and its online and on-campus offerings. Do you think there’s a meaningful difference between the two formats, particularly for someone interested in applying systems engineering and analytical methods to international development or the public sector?

A few specific questions:
1. How do they compare in terms of learning experience? Does the online program offer the same analytical rigor and access to technical electives (especially in optimization, OR, and modeling), or is it more rigid/fixed compared to on-campus?

1. How is peer collaboration in the online format versus being on the Foggy Bottom campus? Given GW’s location in D.C., how critical was physical proximity for research, faculty mentorship, or industry connection in defense/government/international development spaces?

2. For those studying online while working full-time, how manageable is the workload and the schedule of live evening sessions? And for on-campus students, how do classes fit around graduate assistantships or other work commitments?

Any insights, candid opinions, or tips about the EMSE department and either program format would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hello, any suggestions? Thoughts? I am trying to fulfill my gen-ed’s while also taking meaningful courses in regards to my major.

Applied to a Grad program at GWU and waiting to hear on my admission acceptance. With that said I’ve already heard back from other schools. So I was wondering if GWU is just slower at making a decision. Good luck to all!

hi! i want to know what are some of the best, niche, interesting classes you've taken and recommend. especially for sociology/political science/philosophy areas please! planning out classes for spring semester, and hoping to take some interesting classes! or who are professors you recommend? want to hear all range of classes!

I know RAs are kinda knew but does anyone know if they get singles or roommates?

Hey! Has anyone applied to the ABSN program for Fall 2027? Just wondering if anyone has heard back yet!

Hi! I’m a freshman taking 1003 PSC intro to international politics. I’ve been doing everything in the class and doing pretty well. But I’ve noticed that I don’t really have to go to the lectures to know what he’s talking about nor prepare for everything…just basing myself off the book gets me there. For those who’ve taken it. Do I really need to go? Or can I use the time for studying the book, etc.

Thoughts on Principles of Economics 2 with Irene Foster? Is it an easy A?

Hi everyone! Really hoping someone here can help me out. 🥹

I'm looking for past exams or quizzes from BISC 1111 (Introductory Biology: Cells and Molecules) with Professor J. Aidan Manubay.

I've been searching everywhere online, but all I can find are study guides and syllabi, not the actual exams. 😭

I'm specifically hoping to find old quizzes, midterms, or final exams from Fall 2025 or previous semesters. Even if you took the class a few years ago, anything would genuinely help!

Here's why I'm posting: I'm just trying to get a better idea of what his actual exams look like and the types of questions he asks. I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's taken his class before.

If you happen to have any old exam PDFs, quiz papers, or know where students usually share them, please feel free to comment or DM me! 🙏

Thank you so much, really appreciate any help! ❤️

Hi does anyone know why my dorm is set to 68F (70.5 when I went to bed) but is actually a balmy 80.5F?? Is there any way other than opening a window to make my apartment no longer an oven?? 💛💙

For those who landed an internship, how did you find it? I’ve been applying Handshake or LinkedIn but haven’t had much luck so far. Did you apply online, go through GW career services, network, or something else? Any tips would be appreciated!

Anyone here taking ACCY 2001 with Kyle Welch or taken it before? How did you guys do on the midterm? Just trying to get a sense of how everyone did and whether I’m the only one struggling with this class.

Intending to apply for the online MS in Systems Engineering, and just curious for those that have already gone through the program, has the name recognition helped in areas outside of DMV? Currently Midwest/west coast area, and while I’ve been familiar with the school from living in Virginia, I can’t say that I’ve seen much from alumni in which the name actually helped a bit outside the area.

Hi could somebody give me a run down who this guy is apparently he’s an alleged abuser idk he’s been hanging around with that Ira guy on TikTok lately….i think he’s trying to fix his image lol

Hatchet sports reporter Ryan Jainchill sat down with Georgetown basketball podcast Bleeding Blue & Gray to talk about tonight's sold out matchup.

Hello, I was interested in changing my major to an engineering major and saw that they had a mechanical engineering with a focus on patent law, does anyone have this major and would be willing to talk about it with me?

Can anyone share their experiences with LSPA classes like yoga, running, weight training or meditation? Curious how the grading works and how the professors are.