George Washington University Campus Life

There are many restaurants at GW. When you are enrolled in the school, you will get two types of money (dining dollars and colonial cash). Dining dollars are used only for J-street and those around J-street (pretty much school cafeteria). Colonial cash is used outside J-street (for example, CVS). Food is not excellent, but it's edible and you get used to it. If you are tired of restaurants at Foggy Bottom (GW campus), you can try exploring outside restaurants in D.C.. For example, Founding Farmers is a great restaurant.

As a freshman, you are required to spend a percentage of your gworld dining dollars on JStreet, which is a bummer. The food is more expensive there and not very appetizing. Food places around are great, though some are a bit expensive. Off Campus dining can be a bit limited by who accepts gworld. Nearby grocery stores include: Trader Joe's (doesn't accept gworld), Whole Foods (expensive), and Safeway (far and inconvenient).

Dining is okay, but you've got DC all around you, who cares.

The main spot for dining and food on campus is located at the Marvin Center in the middle of campus. Its dining area includes many non-brand restaurants and food stands that serve delicious and respectable dishes and recipes. However, there are some stands that I do not favor, mainly because it serves foreign food from a specific culture that does not taste good to me (forgot the name, but its right next to the Chinese restaurant stand in the left corner of the entrance on 21st street). There is also an Auntie Anne's within the dining area, and it has quickly become a student favorite in the first year it has been there. For those looking for a healthier option, there is also a food line in the middle that serves fruit, greens and vegetables (especially useful for those who are vegan or vegetarian), and cold food. Pita Pitt, Dunkin Donuts, Potbellys, and Gallery in the Ivory Tower dining area are also options. There is also a deli called GW Deli that is just like a regular deli for those looking for a humbler and genuine eating experience. Whole Foods, Roti, and Burger Tap and Shakes, 7-11, and Sweetgreen are all across the street from GW Hospital. Chipotle, Bertucci (Italian restaurant), and Johnny Rockets are in 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue. Fridays, Panda Cafe are also on Pennsylvania. CVS is also located in 2000 Penn. and E Street NW, respectively. Fobogro is a GW-owned sandwich spot that is also a popular spot on campus. Starbucks is also located in Gelman Library. Then, you have Carvings (located in Potomac Hall and is like the Deli), Subway, and 7-11 on the other edge of campus. For Mount Vernites, students have dining in Ames Hall and West Hall, as well as off-campus places such as Panda Cafe and Safeway.

The dining halls are awesome and a lot of restaurants around the city take Colonial Cash, which is really convenient. Make sure you're eating your vegetables! City life never stops, so you DON'T want to be getting sick.

Many good places around DC to find food, and the food offered on campus is good.

Dining through GWU is alright but there are many restaurants on campus that accept their dining plan like Chipotle and Whole Foods.

With GW's GWorld program, you have the ability to dine at many area restaurants using the Colonial Cash put on your card at the beginning of the year. This makes dining and shopping extra convenient. However, many places close pretty early so if you eat at odd times you'll have to go a distance to find somewhere to eat that isn't ridiculously crowded.

The GWorld card is awesome. It allows you to eat tax free at a bunch of different locations throughout the city (TGI Fridays, Bertucci's, etc.). You can even use it for grocery shopping at SafeWay and Whole Foods. The only downside is freshman year you are required to spend $1400 at the cafeterias in West Hall or the Marvin Center.

The food is decent, the best benefit is the ability to use GW card outside campus in affiliated stores, such as whole foods.

Greek life is huge at GW. I, myself, am Greek. However, I am part of the Multicultural Greek Council, which is under the supervision of the Multicultural Student Services Center. As a result, we are not represented hugely on my campus, which means we are to an extent, marginalized. Within the MGC are several Greek letter organizations that are multiculturally distinct in origin, practices, and membership. My own fraternity (Phi Beta Sigma) does not have a house on campus, despite the fact that our chapter was chartered on campus. However, we try to make our presence felt as much as we can. In terms of commenting on the Caucasian frats and sororities on campus, I couldn't comment on their programs, structure, and practices much because of our lack of integration with most of them. I do, however, know that they do hold most of the townhouses devoted to Greek organizations. The way they garner membership as well is through a process known as rushing in which they host a variety of events publicly (like a large cookout) and promote their organization, while providing paper and pen for interested students. Then for several weeks, they have their prospective members engage in several activities openly to become members. Among my favorite Greek-letter organizations beside my own include Tau Kappa Epsilon, Chi Omega, Pi Detla Psi, Sigma Psi Zeta, Alpha Phi Alpha, Pi Kappa Phi, Zeta Phi Beta, Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Kappa Alpha Psi, etc. Greek life is a great way to engage in campus life, make connections, and provide services to the community.

Average, small houses.

I am personally not interested in Greek life, but from what I have observed they are welcoming people and the people on my floor are enjoying their experiences. Some of the sororities welcomed their new members by decorating their doors.

It's there if you want it, but you don't need to be involved.

25% of the school - I would strongly recommend thinking about rushing.

Greek life is a big deal and everyone are in one.

Greek Life is definitely on the rise! Sometimes GW may seem like a big campus (it's not), so if you want that smaller community, Greek life is definitely an option. You meet so many different people and suddenly you're walking down the street and know everyone.

Greek life is a pretty large part of life at GW. With a little over 1/3 of the undergraduate population being Greek, the presence is pretty large.

Amazing, I love it!

It's there if you want it but it's easy to avoid if you don't.