GW alum here, DC area parents can be snooty about GW, its rep is stronger out in the world. I could have gone to more selective schools but chose GW.

A lot of ignorant dumping on GW. I have no personal connection but I know families that sent kids there and were very happy. I think it has a better reputation than most locals realize.

The most expensive colleges are the ones with low professor-student ratios. There are some small colleges that really focus on the students and emphasize the attention they receive. That costs bucks.

Here's the November 2012 Forbes list of the 10 most expensive colleges:
GW is not on this list.
http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

Hi OP -- I'm a career director at one of GWU's schools. If you did well in undergrad -- you'll be fine. I'm assuming you went to The Elliott School? I'm not a booster because I do think GWU is really expensive, and I was actually surprised this year that The World Bank HR folks told me they hire more people from GW now than any other school including Harvard. That shocked me to be honest. (But, of course, TWB is right next to GW.)

The PMF program, the feds prestigious program for grads actually hires tons of GW grads too. So, I don't think you have anything to worry about as long as you do well on the GREs or whatever test you are taking. Make sure to have strong recs and statement of interest. Good luck! I didn't go to GW but my husband went for MBA School here and has done well.

Anonymous wrote:The only GW reputation I am familiar with is $$$$$$ - EXPENSIVE.

LOL. My first thought. It is or was the most expensive undergrad college. And think the president is or was the highest paid college administrator in the country. The law school and maybe the med school might be ok. But I don't think this brand carries much weight outside of the immediate area except for those two programs.

OP,

What are the top international Masters programs? Why not apply and take it from there?

16:22 I'm not sure "cheating" is the right word. They were extrapolating class rank of students whose high schools did not rank them, and realized during an internal audit that the extrapolations were skewed. It is possible that other schools are doing the same, but have not turned themselves in.

GW took a big hit this year when they were forced to admit to cheating on the admissions stats used in rankings. The school has been improving.

The Law School is, of course, top notch.

Anonymous wrote:No one I know outside of DC has ever heard of it. I always wonder why people pay so much for it.

This is 100% not true. Ridiculous.

Well obviously people outside of DC have heard of it because it isn't filled with only locals.

No one I know outside of DC has ever heard of it. I always wonder why people pay so much for it.

Don't know if this still holds true, but it used to be that it was considered better to go to a different school for grad.

OP here--I am looking in the international relations space. and yes it's f*cking expensive and was filled w a lot of jerks in undergrad.

I think this depends heavily on the program. For example, GW's law school is very well respected and considered "top tier," though not quite on a level with the very top law schools like NYU, Columbia, Yale, etc. Other programs may be very different.

The only GW reputation I am familiar with is $$$$$$ - EXPENSIVE.

I went to GW for undergrad and got a great education. I didn't have a hard time finding a job and now I am six years out and doing well. I am thinking about grad school and I do want to go name-brand. I feel like I am too close to the issue to see it for what it is. What is GW's reputation in DC? All over the US? Have people heard of it? Is it impressive I went there for undergrad? Would it be if I went for grad school? I know it's not Harvard but I need more context then that.