George Washington U vs American

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of a college freshman. My husband went to Georgetown for grad school and we lived in DC suburbs for 8 years. We are Pitt undergrads.

I agree with the upthread characterizations of GW vs. AU. They both used to be more hometown schools for DMV kids...but provide access into the DC job market. There are many professions where that applies...pre-law, politics, and int'l relations among them.

I don't think either school stands out from the pack of good options. unless Washington is a preferred locale for college or post-college jobs. That might be the case, but it seems your search is still broad.

I would recommend that you also look at Pitt (similar to GW in many ways) and Syracuse while you are looking at GW and American. Simply because I think they check some similar boxes.

Broadly speaking, there is also some DCUM crossover with the University of Rochester and this type of school.

I'm sure American offers a good education but it is currently having some financial issues. That precedes the issues the Trump Administration has caused with all the big R1 universities.

How on earth are Pitt and GWU "similar in many ways?" Cut me a break.

Why don't you tell me why they are not? The main difference is the DC location and DC job market. If your goal does not involve living in DC after graduation, and does not involve one of the fields (such as international relations) where it makes sense to go to school in a capital city, these are very similar schools. I've lived in both Pittsburgh and suburban Maryland. I've known multiple people who have cross-shopped these schools. My maid of honor went to Pitt and her sister to GW. My cousin's child looked at Pitt but decided on GW. And I've known people from outside DC who have come to take a look at DC schools and often decided against. Because DC isn't particularly relevant to their life plans. It happens. We lived there and left. It still is a fun place to visit with many smart people.

There. You may take your break now.

What the hell are you talking about? I’m talking about the universities. Not the city of Pittsburgh versus Washington DC. AI has it right:

The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and George Washington University (GW) are both highly regarded universities, but they differ in several key aspects. Pitt is a large, public university with a strong focus on research, particularly in health sciences and engineering, while GW is a private university known for its location in Washington, D.C., and its strengths in political science, international affairs, and business.

You may disagree with AI on this, but it’s a lot more persuasive than “my maid of honor went to Pitt and her sister went to GW.”

I do disagree with AI. AI oversimplifies and stresses the obvious.

Pitt was at one point private, and is not a full state university (it is considered state related, and still has qualities similar to a private university if you would like to define what those are beyond funding). The schools have many of the same majors in the areas I am familiar with. Both are urban, but not located right in the core of the center city. Nonetheless, both are well connected by transport to the local cultural attractions. Pitt is a university with deep emphasis on liberal arts classes beyond STEM (despite what AI says). Liberal arts college undergrads dramatically outweigh the number of engineering students (10K vs 2K-ish), ensuring a focus on all of the liberal arts. Pitt is also strong in humanities, social sciences, and business, and has a graduate school of international affairs that has produced some notable graduates. It is not in DC, but not everyone's political goals involve DC, which is why I think DC interest is a sufficient and distinguishing reason to select GW, but Pitt might be of interest to others. Pitt is likely to be less expensive. There are also buses at breaks to the NY metro area. Pitt attracts students from the NY metro who want to leave their home area for college, as many do.

My point was that they are similar enough for a New York family with the stated criteria to consider. I know people who have cross-shopped these schools because they fill similar niches for students. Also know MoCo students who went to Pitt because they didn't want to stay home for college, which would have likely meant GW/AU/UMD.

Your disbelief does not negate my experiences. Perhaps you aren't as familiar with Pitt as I am with GW.

You’re wrong about GWU’s location. GWU could not be more centrally located in DC. You can practically spit on the White House and National Mall from its campus. It’s half the size of Pitt, it’s private, and it attracts a much wealthier and more geographically diverse student body than Pitt.

67% of Pittsburgh students are from Pennsylvania. Only 5% are from New York. Almost 15% of GW students are from New York, and only 5 percent are actually from Maryland. In other words, you are both wrong in suggesting that lots of New York students choose Pitt, just as you were wrong and suggesting that GW attracts many Maryland students who stay home. It doesn’t and never has.

The bottom line is that there is virtually no overlap between GW students and Pitt students, and none of the schools that OP has identified as schools of interest remotely suggests that Pitt is a fit.

Foggy Bottom is off to the side of the core of DC. I have lived in the DC area and I worked near the Capitol and commuted by Metro for 8 years. If you are at Foggy Bottom, you will be staying in that area unless you are commuting to a job on the Hill.

DP but no, this part is completely wrong. Walk three or four blocks in any direction from the edge of campus and you are at the White House, middle of downtown, the Mall, Dupont, Georgetown, etc. If anything, the Hill is off to the side of the core of DC, and Pitt is more like a school on the other side of that.

I said that GW is outside the core but well connected by transit. By which I mean, it's not right at the convenient neighborhoods near the big Metro interchanges - Metro Center, Gallery Place, L'Enfant Plaza. Foggy Bottom-GWU is at least a mile to the White House. This is really just a GW concern, not a comparison with Pitt. My experience is that people use the neighborhood right by their dorms. I'd rather be in NYU's neighborhood than Foggy Bottom, for example. Of course you can get anywhere with Ubers and so forth. But what is right at Foggy Bottom is pretty charmless and office park like.

I would probably prefer to live at AU's campus but it's farther from Metro (needs that shuttle bus) and DCUM people complain that there are a lot of vagrants/loiterers at Tenleytown these days (I don't live in DC now, so can't verify this). OP asked about GW vs. American...so I think it's relevant to share opinions on the feel of the neighborhoods. I think both have some imperfections. Georgetown also...since not a quick walk to Metro.

Are you nuts? GWU is part of the very core of the city. It is literally three blocks from the main entrance to the White House, and borders State, Interior, OPM, and other agencies. Premier law firms like Wilmer Hale are literally in GWU owned buildings sitting on GWU's campus. Its hospital cared for both Reagan and Cheney as the closest hospital to the White House.

My own kids wanted a more traditional campus with rolling lawns and trees. Definitely not GWU. But for a kid who loves being in the city and wants four years of amazing internship opportunities, GWU would be perfect.

I should add that my own preference for an undergrad experience would be AU because it is a more traditional college experience. But for the right kid, GWU can't be beat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of a college freshman. My husband went to Georgetown for grad school and we lived in DC suburbs for 8 years. We are Pitt undergrads.

I agree with the upthread characterizations of GW vs. AU. They both used to be more hometown schools for DMV kids...but provide access into the DC job market. There are many professions where that applies...pre-law, politics, and int'l relations among them.

I don't think either school stands out from the pack of good options. unless Washington is a preferred locale for college or post-college jobs. That might be the case, but it seems your search is still broad.

I would recommend that you also look at Pitt (similar to GW in many ways) and Syracuse while you are looking at GW and American. Simply because I think they check some similar boxes.

Broadly speaking, there is also some DCUM crossover with the University of Rochester and this type of school.

I'm sure American offers a good education but it is currently having some financial issues. That precedes the issues the Trump Administration has caused with all the big R1 universities.

How on earth are Pitt and GWU "similar in many ways?" Cut me a break.

Why don't you tell me why they are not? The main difference is the DC location and DC job market. If your goal does not involve living in DC after graduation, and does not involve one of the fields (such as international relations) where it makes sense to go to school in a capital city, these are very similar schools. I've lived in both Pittsburgh and suburban Maryland. I've known multiple people who have cross-shopped these schools. My maid of honor went to Pitt and her sister to GW. My cousin's child looked at Pitt but decided on GW. And I've known people from outside DC who have come to take a look at DC schools and often decided against. Because DC isn't particularly relevant to their life plans. It happens. We lived there and left. It still is a fun place to visit with many smart people.

There. You may take your break now.

What the hell are you talking about? I’m talking about the universities. Not the city of Pittsburgh versus Washington DC. AI has it right:

The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and George Washington University (GW) are both highly regarded universities, but they differ in several key aspects. Pitt is a large, public university with a strong focus on research, particularly in health sciences and engineering, while GW is a private university known for its location in Washington, D.C., and its strengths in political science, international affairs, and business.

You may disagree with AI on this, but it’s a lot more persuasive than “my maid of honor went to Pitt and her sister went to GW.”

I do disagree with AI. AI oversimplifies and stresses the obvious.

Pitt was at one point private, and is not a full state university (it is considered state related, and still has qualities similar to a private university if you would like to define what those are beyond funding). The schools have many of the same majors in the areas I am familiar with. Both are urban, but not located right in the core of the center city. Nonetheless, both are well connected by transport to the local cultural attractions. Pitt is a university with deep emphasis on liberal arts classes beyond STEM (despite what AI says). Liberal arts college undergrads dramatically outweigh the number of engineering students (10K vs 2K-ish), ensuring a focus on all of the liberal arts. Pitt is also strong in humanities, social sciences, and business, and has a graduate school of international affairs that has produced some notable graduates. It is not in DC, but not everyone's political goals involve DC, which is why I think DC interest is a sufficient and distinguishing reason to select GW, but Pitt might be of interest to others. Pitt is likely to be less expensive. There are also buses at breaks to the NY metro area. Pitt attracts students from the NY metro who want to leave their home area for college, as many do.

My point was that they are similar enough for a New York family with the stated criteria to consider. I know people who have cross-shopped these schools because they fill similar niches for students. Also know MoCo students who went to Pitt because they didn't want to stay home for college, which would have likely meant GW/AU/UMD.

Your disbelief does not negate my experiences. Perhaps you aren't as familiar with Pitt as I am with GW.

You’re wrong about GWU’s location. GWU could not be more centrally located in DC. You can practically spit on the White House and National Mall from its campus. It’s half the size of Pitt, it’s private, and it attracts a much wealthier and more geographically diverse student body than Pitt.

67% of Pittsburgh students are from Pennsylvania. Only 5% are from New York. Almost 15% of GW students are from New York, and only 5 percent are actually from Maryland. In other words, you are both wrong in suggesting that lots of New York students choose Pitt, just as you were wrong and suggesting that GW attracts many Maryland students who stay home. It doesn’t and never has.

The bottom line is that there is virtually no overlap between GW students and Pitt students, and none of the schools that OP has identified as schools of interest remotely suggests that Pitt is a fit.

Foggy Bottom is off to the side of the core of DC. I have lived in the DC area and I worked near the Capitol and commuted by Metro for 8 years. If you are at Foggy Bottom, you will be staying in that area unless you are commuting to a job on the Hill. People generally spend a lot of time in the vicinity of their dorms and classrooms, and I personally don't think the Foggy Bottom area is very attractive and it sometimes feels a bit unsafe (as urban areas are prone to feeling). When we toured the campus on a quiet December day with my older kid (then junior), there were homeless people out wandering and yelling. The campus has improved a lot from the 1990s, but it's not lovely.

Half the size means nothing when you are talking thousands of people. You can only meet and hang out with so many, and both schools have tens of thousands. Neither of these schools are tiny SLACs. What really matters is the size of your cohort in your major. Many of Pitt's humanities majors are a nice size to get personal attention without having too small of a faculty base to be effective.

Perhaps the top students at Pitt/Honors College students were a bit more diverse than the general student body...but that was the crowd that I hung out with. When I was in school, the undergrad student body president was from South Africa. Pitt's webpage says that in 2023-24, 3,200 international students from 112 countries were at Pitt. And there's currently about 500 undergrads from NY and NJ - certainly enough to give the sense that there are NY metro people there. (The NJ people I knew were mostly either from NY suburbs or near Philly.)

PP, you seem really bothered by drawing an equivalency between these two universities...is it just that GW's student body is "wealthier"? That would follow, because the tuition costs are higher. Also international students tend to be full pay.

Not as different as you think.

You never lived in DC. You worked near the Capitol — which is nowhere near Foggy Bottom — and commuted into the city by Metro from the ‘burbs for eight years. And you find the area around GWU to feel “unsafe,” which is laughable and says a lot about you.

I live in Ward 1 within walking distance of GWU and have for many years. If Foggy Bottom isn’t considered part of the city core, then I don’t know what is. You couldn’t possible place a university in the District of Columbia in a more central location.

Funny too how you now have to add NJ to support your NY numbers. But ok, fine, all that means is that the overwhelming majority of Pitt students are from PA, NY and NJ. GWU students, in contrast, are from everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Surprised no one mentioned rankings.

USNWR:

GW ranked #63
AU ranked 91

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of a college freshman. My husband went to Georgetown for grad school and we lived in DC suburbs for 8 years. We are Pitt undergrads.

I agree with the upthread characterizations of GW vs. AU. They both used to be more hometown schools for DMV kids...but provide access into the DC job market. There are many professions where that applies...pre-law, politics, and int'l relations among them.

I don't think either school stands out from the pack of good options. unless Washington is a preferred locale for college or post-college jobs. That might be the case, but it seems your search is still broad.

I would recommend that you also look at Pitt (similar to GW in many ways) and Syracuse while you are looking at GW and American. Simply because I think they check some similar boxes.

Broadly speaking, there is also some DCUM crossover with the University of Rochester and this type of school.

I'm sure American offers a good education but it is currently having some financial issues. That precedes the issues the Trump Administration has caused with all the big R1 universities.

How on earth are Pitt and GWU "similar in many ways?" Cut me a break.

Why don't you tell me why they are not? The main difference is the DC location and DC job market. If your goal does not involve living in DC after graduation, and does not involve one of the fields (such as international relations) where it makes sense to go to school in a capital city, these are very similar schools. I've lived in both Pittsburgh and suburban Maryland. I've known multiple people who have cross-shopped these schools. My maid of honor went to Pitt and her sister to GW. My cousin's child looked at Pitt but decided on GW. And I've known people from outside DC who have come to take a look at DC schools and often decided against. Because DC isn't particularly relevant to their life plans. It happens. We lived there and left. It still is a fun place to visit with many smart people.

There. You may take your break now.

What the hell are you talking about? I’m talking about the universities. Not the city of Pittsburgh versus Washington DC. AI has it right:

The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and George Washington University (GW) are both highly regarded universities, but they differ in several key aspects. Pitt is a large, public university with a strong focus on research, particularly in health sciences and engineering, while GW is a private university known for its location in Washington, D.C., and its strengths in political science, international affairs, and business.

You may disagree with AI on this, but it’s a lot more persuasive than “my maid of honor went to Pitt and her sister went to GW.”

I do disagree with AI. AI oversimplifies and stresses the obvious.

Pitt was at one point private, and is not a full state university (it is considered state related, and still has qualities similar to a private university if you would like to define what those are beyond funding). The schools have many of the same majors in the areas I am familiar with. Both are urban, but not located right in the core of the center city. Nonetheless, both are well connected by transport to the local cultural attractions. Pitt is a university with deep emphasis on liberal arts classes beyond STEM (despite what AI says). Liberal arts college undergrads dramatically outweigh the number of engineering students (10K vs 2K-ish), ensuring a focus on all of the liberal arts. Pitt is also strong in humanities, social sciences, and business, and has a graduate school of international affairs that has produced some notable graduates. It is not in DC, but not everyone's political goals involve DC, which is why I think DC interest is a sufficient and distinguishing reason to select GW, but Pitt might be of interest to others. Pitt is likely to be less expensive. There are also buses at breaks to the NY metro area. Pitt attracts students from the NY metro who want to leave their home area for college, as many do.

My point was that they are similar enough for a New York family with the stated criteria to consider. I know people who have cross-shopped these schools because they fill similar niches for students. Also know MoCo students who went to Pitt because they didn't want to stay home for college, which would have likely meant GW/AU/UMD.

Your disbelief does not negate my experiences. Perhaps you aren't as familiar with Pitt as I am with GW.

You’re wrong about GWU’s location. GWU could not be more centrally located in DC. You can practically spit on the White House and National Mall from its campus. It’s half the size of Pitt, it’s private, and it attracts a much wealthier and more geographically diverse student body than Pitt.

67% of Pittsburgh students are from Pennsylvania. Only 5% are from New York. Almost 15% of GW students are from New York, and only 5 percent are actually from Maryland. In other words, you are both wrong in suggesting that lots of New York students choose Pitt, just as you were wrong and suggesting that GW attracts many Maryland students who stay home. It doesn’t and never has.

The bottom line is that there is virtually no overlap between GW students and Pitt students, and none of the schools that OP has identified as schools of interest remotely suggests that Pitt is a fit.

Foggy Bottom is off to the side of the core of DC. I have lived in the DC area and I worked near the Capitol and commuted by Metro for 8 years. If you are at Foggy Bottom, you will be staying in that area unless you are commuting to a job on the Hill.

DP but no, this part is completely wrong. Walk three or four blocks in any direction from the edge of campus and you are at the White House, middle of downtown, the Mall, Dupont, Georgetown, etc. If anything, the Hill is off to the side of the core of DC, and Pitt is more like a school on the other side of that.

I said that GW is outside the core but well connected by transit. By which I mean, it's not right at the convenient neighborhoods near the big Metro interchanges - Metro Center, Gallery Place, L'Enfant Plaza. Foggy Bottom-GWU is at least a mile to the White House. This is really just a GW concern, not a comparison with Pitt. My experience is that people use the neighborhood right by their dorms. I'd rather be in NYU's neighborhood than Foggy Bottom, for example. Of course you can get anywhere with Ubers and so forth. But what is right at Foggy Bottom is pretty charmless and office park like.

I would probably prefer to live at AU's campus but it's farther from Metro (needs that shuttle bus) and DCUM people complain that there are a lot of vagrants/loiterers at Tenleytown these days (I don't live in DC now, so can't verify this). OP asked about GW vs. American...so I think it's relevant to share opinions on the feel of the neighborhoods. I think both have some imperfections. Georgetown also...since not a quick walk to Metro.

Boy we really are bothered by “vagrants,” now, aren’t we? You really need to get a grip. And that you seriously are describing DC’s “convenient” neighborhoods by their proximity to the major Metro interchanges? Those interchanges are for commuters like yourself coming into the city for work, not for living. L’Enfant Plaza is central
and Foggy Bottom is not??? Seriously?? You are advising OP through your distinctly suburban lense and know nothing of the actual DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, OP, as you can see from this thread, this is what people are like in the DC area. Your kid may want to factor this into their college search! 😆

Nope. You’re wrong. This is what people are like when they’re NOT from the DC area, but work for a few years in the area while hiding in the suburbs and then pretend to be experts on DC itself while pushing for their alma mater that has no relevance to OP’s question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprised no one mentioned rankings.

USNWR:

GW ranked #63
AU ranked 91

They were close to tied (in the 70s) for a few years, then AU dropped due to the new criteria. I wonder if AU will rebound now that it has attained R1 status.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of a college freshman. My husband went to Georgetown for grad school and we lived in DC suburbs for 8 years. We are Pitt undergrads.

I agree with the upthread characterizations of GW vs. AU. They both used to be more hometown schools for DMV kids...but provide access into the DC job market. There are many professions where that applies...pre-law, politics, and int'l relations among them.

I don't think either school stands out from the pack of good options. unless Washington is a preferred locale for college or post-college jobs. That might be the case, but it seems your search is still broad.

I would recommend that you also look at Pitt (similar to GW in many ways) and Syracuse while you are looking at GW and American. Simply because I think they check some similar boxes.

Broadly speaking, there is also some DCUM crossover with the University of Rochester and this type of school.

I'm sure American offers a good education but it is currently having some financial issues. That precedes the issues the Trump Administration has caused with all the big R1 universities.

How on earth are Pitt and GWU "similar in many ways?" Cut me a break.

Why don't you tell me why they are not? The main difference is the DC location and DC job market. If your goal does not involve living in DC after graduation, and does not involve one of the fields (such as international relations) where it makes sense to go to school in a capital city, these are very similar schools. I've lived in both Pittsburgh and suburban Maryland. I've known multiple people who have cross-shopped these schools. My maid of honor went to Pitt and her sister to GW. My cousin's child looked at Pitt but decided on GW. And I've known people from outside DC who have come to take a look at DC schools and often decided against. Because DC isn't particularly relevant to their life plans. It happens. We lived there and left. It still is a fun place to visit with many smart people.

There. You may take your break now.

What the hell are you talking about? I’m talking about the universities. Not the city of Pittsburgh versus Washington DC. AI has it right:

The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) and George Washington University (GW) are both highly regarded universities, but they differ in several key aspects. Pitt is a large, public university with a strong focus on research, particularly in health sciences and engineering, while GW is a private university known for its location in Washington, D.C., and its strengths in political science, international affairs, and business.

You may disagree with AI on this, but it’s a lot more persuasive than “my maid of honor went to Pitt and her sister went to GW.”

I do disagree with AI. AI oversimplifies and stresses the obvious.

Pitt was at one point private, and is not a full state university (it is considered state related, and still has qualities similar to a private university if you would like to define what those are beyond funding). The schools have many of the same majors in the areas I am familiar with. Both are urban, but not located right in the core of the center city. Nonetheless, both are well connected by transport to the local cultural attractions. Pitt is a university with deep emphasis on liberal arts classes beyond STEM (despite what AI says). Liberal arts college undergrads dramatically outweigh the number of engineering students (10K vs 2K-ish), ensuring a focus on all of the liberal arts. Pitt is also strong in humanities, social sciences, and business, and has a graduate school of international affairs that has produced some notable graduates. It is not in DC, but not everyone's political goals involve DC, which is why I think DC interest is a sufficient and distinguishing reason to select GW, but Pitt might be of interest to others. Pitt is likely to be less expensive. There are also buses at breaks to the NY metro area. Pitt attracts students from the NY metro who want to leave their home area for college, as many do.

My point was that they are similar enough for a New York family with the stated criteria to consider. I know people who have cross-shopped these schools because they fill similar niches for students. Also know MoCo students who went to Pitt because they didn't want to stay home for college, which would have likely meant GW/AU/UMD.

Your disbelief does not negate my experiences. Perhaps you aren't as familiar with Pitt as I am with GW.

You’re wrong about GWU’s location. GWU could not be more centrally located in DC. You can practically spit on the White House and National Mall from its campus. It’s half the size of Pitt, it’s private, and it attracts a much wealthier and more geographically diverse student body than Pitt.

67% of Pittsburgh students are from Pennsylvania. Only 5% are from New York. Almost 15% of GW students are from New York, and only 5 percent are actually from Maryland. In other words, you are both wrong in suggesting that lots of New York students choose Pitt, just as you were wrong and suggesting that GW attracts many Maryland students who stay home. It doesn’t and never has.

The bottom line is that there is virtually no overlap between GW students and Pitt students, and none of the schools that OP has identified as schools of interest remotely suggests that Pitt is a fit.

Foggy Bottom is off to the side of the core of DC. I have lived in the DC area and I worked near the Capitol and commuted by Metro for 8 years. If you are at Foggy Bottom, you will be staying in that area unless you are commuting to a job on the Hill. People generally spend a lot of time in the vicinity of their dorms and classrooms, and I personally don't think the Foggy Bottom area is very attractive and it sometimes feels a bit unsafe (as urban areas are prone to feeling). When we toured the campus on a quiet December day with my older kid (then junior), there were homeless people out wandering and yelling. The campus has improved a lot from the 1990s, but it's not lovely.

Half the size means nothing when you are talking thousands of people. You can only meet and hang out with so many, and both schools have tens of thousands. Neither of these schools are tiny SLACs. What really matters is the size of your cohort in your major. Many of Pitt's humanities majors are a nice size to get personal attention without having too small of a faculty base to be effective.

Perhaps the top students at Pitt/Honors College students were a bit more diverse than the general student body...but that was the crowd that I hung out with. When I was in school, the undergrad student body president was from South Africa. Pitt's webpage says that in 2023-24, 3,200 international students from 112 countries were at Pitt. And there's currently about 500 undergrads from NY and NJ - certainly enough to give the sense that there are NY metro people there. (The NJ people I knew were mostly either from NY suburbs or near Philly.)

PP, you seem really bothered by drawing an equivalency between these two universities...is it just that GW's student body is "wealthier"? That would follow, because the tuition costs are higher. Also international students tend to be full pay.

Not as different as you think.

GW offers the Vern option, with library pool and caf and some classes there. It’s more suburban, green, and quiet.

[Anonymous]

Fun fact AU and GW share the same tennis courts on Foxhall road.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Surprised no one mentioned rankings.

USNWR:

GW ranked #63
AU ranked 91

I consider anything 50-100 equivalent. It's always worth looking into the strength of programs of interest though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, OP, as you can see from this thread, this is what people are like in the DC area. Your kid may want to factor this into their college search! 😆

Nope. You’re wrong. This is what people are like when they’re NOT from the DC area, but work for a few years in the area while hiding in the suburbs and then pretend to be experts on DC itself while pushing for their alma mater that has no relevance to OP’s question.

This. It’s like someone living in Brooklyn Heights and working in the financial district for several years and then chiming in on Columbia’s location because they were up that way once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it's funny to me that adults are so put off when kids like - and even apply! - to a variety of schools. I dont get the "how dare you consider Haverford and GW!" drama. Apply! Those admitted students weekends are a long time away from now. Kids mature.

We toured all the DC schools and kids really liked GW the best, but they were specially looking at the IR programs, which is a GW strength.

My kids also like JHU on that same week of tours and our naviance (nyc but private) showed that ED was possible and counselors said "especially for humanities"

I completely agree. Applying to a variety of school types is the best idea, how ridiculous people sound when they chastise others for doing this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, OP, as you can see from this thread, this is what people are like in the DC area. Your kid may want to factor this into their college search! 😆

Nope. You’re wrong. This is what people are like when they’re NOT from the DC area, but work for a few years in the area while hiding in the suburbs and then pretend to be experts on DC itself while pushing for their alma mater that has no relevance to OP’s question.

Sigh..

[Anonymous]

If you want to go heavy into the sciences, engineering or med, I’d go with GW, otherwise AU particularly for Law, business, or international work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, OP, as you can see from this thread, this is what people are like in the DC area. Your kid may want to factor this into their college search! 😆

Nope. You’re wrong. This is what people are like when they’re NOT from the DC area, but work for a few years in the area while hiding in the suburbs and then pretend to be experts on DC itself while pushing for their alma mater that has no relevance to OP’s question.

This. It’s like someone living in Brooklyn Heights and working in the financial district for several years and then chiming in on Columbia’s location because they were up that way once.

If Foggy Bottom was a more attractive neighborhood, I would have spent more time there. I also lived for a summer at Dupont Circle - and that is a more fun neighborhood than Foggy Bottom - I repeatedly visited it after moving out. So is Georgetown. I admit as a short female, I'm skittish about places where I might want to walk alone at night and don't feel fully safe. Gibbering vagrants are not my fave. Another fave DC memory is riding the bus from Georgetown to the middle of DC in broad daylight, hearing 3 fellow passengers discussing their next robbery and past successes. New York subway in Manhattan has seemed better to me than some of my DC bus rides. Also preferred NYC's taxis to what DC used to offer.

I know there are urban dwellers who are unfazed by this stuff. There are plenty of people like me as well who need or want to be a bit more cautious.

[Anonymous]

To answer your question, I think quirky kids are more likely to attend American. GW has more of a global student body and attracts people with deeper pockets, it’s larger, diverse with more variance in the type of students who attend. I prefer the American campus, but the student body wasn’t varied enough for my child. I grew up near campus so I do have a soft spot for it.