George Washington University

Date: Aug 09 2008
Major: Economics (This Major's Salary over time)
Listen. I had a tough time my first semester, not gonna sit here and act like it was freshman bliss and tell you I walked around with an indelible smile on my face or something. Kids from all different parts of the country, or all different parts of the world, rather, converge at one institution and it's not as glorious as campus diversity propaganda would have you believe. I don't know what it is about GW, but as soon as kids step on campus suddenly all the Europeans become eurocentrist, even if they're really from Florida, and all the kids from California are convinced their state surpasses the remaining 49. For instance never in my life have I seen a kid be proud of hailing from Luxembourg… three generations ago. But all of a sudden everyone becomes proud of where they're from, I'm sitting there like I don't really care about all this, can't we just enjoy ourselves without dropping into conversation that we're Parisian every ten minutes, big deal, we are all something anyway. But everyone's really "nationalist" about whatever lineage they happen to pop out of and that can get irritating.

The student body doesn't consist of the kindest souls you'll ever meet, some ARE downright condescending and some ARE snooty. Part of this arises from the socioeconomic distribution of GW's students, either you're from a lifestyle so lavish you can't count on one hand how many yachts you own or you're so lower middle class you've never been on a yacht before. This class polarization can give way to a certain loneliness and self-deprecation until you find fellow paupers like yourself that you can share crass jokes and drink cheap wine with and sunlight is suddenly restored in your life. Good times.

But I'm done downplaying GW, because now I LOVE it. Bare with me and I'll tell you why. While the most expensive school in the country, it is statistically the number one most GENEROUS school when it comes to disseminating financial aid to need-based students. Think—a first rate education at a fixed tuition contoured to your family need? Awesome! I applied to transfer after my first semester, and scrapped my application after thinking about how fortunate I am for GW to be dishing out thousands of dollars to me to go to their school and not be burdened by titanic loans in the long run. I am so fortunate! Not only that, I LOVE the academics at my institution. I am challenged to the fullest extent, this is not pansy high school AP tomfoolery. This is grade A, challenging material and professors will make you work hard for that A. But when you get one, you're like yes, I deserve this, and I am so much smarter than I was at the inception of this semester. And the sapience of each professor is just awe-inspiring; they are pragmatic and rigid, yet will make time for you during office hours. Despite large introductory classes, some even will get to know your name! As you delve deeper into your major the classes will dwindle in size.

GW will recognize your excellence by upping your scholarship money if it thinks you deserve it. I think if you attain a cumulative 3.7 GPA it will bestow you a hefty presidential scholarship. GW wants you to do well, and it will install those incentives for that reason. I love this school, and despite my initial complaints about the student body, with time I found my niche and couldn't be happier.

To top it off, the city that surrounds the campus is indeed breathtaking, hairraising, toecurling—whatever tickles your fancy—and I'm being modest. From the free Smithsonians to a catch on the National Mall to a swanky night (with 'ID') in Adam's Morgan to delicious foods in the most diverse selection of gourmet restaurants. I love this place and if I could choose it one thousand times over well actually I wouldn't. But five times over, yes.

And while it might not be perfect… the world isn't perfect, and it prepares you emotionally, academically, and socially for an imperfect world. Because in the real world you're not spoonfed your job duties like you're spoonfed your education in small liberal arts colleges, no disrespect there. But I have developed as a person here and can't wait to get older and donate back to the institution that has given to me.