2021 Next Stop GW #2 - Getting Your Bearings

We hope the start of your summer has been fantastic and filled with celebrating  your decision to join the GW family. We continue to be incredibly excited to welcome you to campus this fall. As a staff member within the Division for Student Affairs, I am entering my third year at GW after joining the team from Indiana in June 2019. The transition from the Midwest to D.C. was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. I did not know what to expect or how I would ease into the new campus environment. Rest assured, I was welcomed with open arms by students, faculty, and staff members ready to make me feel a part of the GW community – and our priority is to ensure the same for you.

I imagine there are many things on your mind as you think about your move to campus very soon. I am here to highlight one of the most anticipated experiences for first-year students – living on campus. Living on campus is one of the most rewarding experiences you can take advantage of during your first year. Our Campus Living & Residential Education (CLRE) team is excited to facilitate opportunities for you to explore your new campus community with fellow residents, elevating your ability to cultivate communities of connectedness. The vast number of programs and events, as well as our Residence Hall Association (RHA) and Faculty in Residence Program, will offer meaningful ways to engage with peers and contribute to thought-provoking conversations, all centered to elevate your success. This year, the CLRE team is proud to introduce our newly formed neighborhoods. These neighborhoods, led by our Community Coordinators, will help support you in your residential experience and connect you with resources to enhance their journey at GW. We will share more information about these neighborhoods upon your arrival to campus.

We encourage you to visit living.gwu.edu to learn more about CLRE and how we can assist you during your time on campus. Again, we can't wait to meet you in August.

As you wind down celebrating with your friends and family, you will likely soon be more keenly aware of a back-to-school mass marketing spree. Trust us, we've seen sales start as early as the last week of June.  This is where we say, don't buy into the pressure. Go at it at your own pace. Start by creating a Pinterest board to find room inspiration and narrow down your aesthetic . Browse TikTok and YouTube for must-have items. PRO TIP: definitely purchase a storage cart or drawers to store snacks like this one from Target. Plan to bring storage cubes or hanging organizers to save space.

What's it really like to live in the residence halls, you ask? Take a peek inside a double room in Madison Hall. Get some more room decor inspiration from current student, Anne Joseph, who did a tour of her room on-campus this semester. PRO TIP: Consider bringing an extra light (lamp, string lights, etc.) because the lighting in the residence hall rooms can be harsh!

Through small group discussions, and upcoming webinars, our colleagues in CLRE along with your Orientation Leaders will share with you tips to help you prepare. Like, what to pack & bring, ship directly to the residence hall and what to hold off on purchasing until you arrive and settle in. We'll also start letting you know about some of the programming we'll be offering this fall like GW Late Night, a series of evening and weekend events, providing space for students to have fun and socialize without the temptation or risks involved with drinking alcohol or being in an environment where alcohol is present.

In addition to nearly 2,500 first-year students, we will have 4,000 sophomores, juniors and seniors who will be making our Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses their home.

The first-year summer checklist is in your admitted student portal.

PRO TIP: write down your login information to the portal and keep it in a safe place - this is different from your netID (GW email). You will use both often.

Tasks to Complete This Month:

• REGISTER for First-Year Fall Orientation
• COMPLETE the GW First Year Academic Interest Survey
• SIGN-UP for a date/time to register for your fall courses.
  • Your session will be virtual.
  • Note: First-year students in the School of Engineering and Applied Science are pre-registered for fall courses. See the online orientation module for more details.
• REGISTER with Disability Support Services, if you would like additional support to accommodate a disability for your classes or living on campus.
• TAKE palcement exams if you plan to enroll in ECON, MATH, CHEM or a language course.
• SUBMIT a photo for your GWorld card (GW student ID). An email with instructions was sent to you from [email protected].
• COMPLETE the Academic Support & Study Abroad, Student Support Services, and Living On-Campus sections of the Online Orientation.
  • Continue working on the Academic Advising & Class Registration sections if you have not yet completed them.
• DOWNLOAD the Buff & Blue Book and start reviewing! Pay close attention to Academics, Student Support Services, and Living On-Campus this month.

• REGISTER for a Co-Curricular program.

  • Note: students in SEAS, WLP, and UHP are not eligible; you will be participating in your own program.

• REVIEW the preliminary invoice issued by Student Accounts and emailed around 6/25. Discuss with a parent/family member who has permission to access and make payments on your behalf. You are the only one who can grant access.
  Note: this email goes to the student's GW email.

• ATTEND your virtual Orientation small group meeting.

Reminders

• As you review your BanWeb for holds, you will notice a First Year Registration hold on your account. This hold will remain on your account until the date/time of your class registration, at which time it will be lifted. The hold will be placed back on your account until the add/drop period (August 12 at 9 a.m. ET). through the COVID-19 Campus Assistance Portal.

Mark Your Calendars

The Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) is hosting virtual Orientation sessions in July and August for students interested in accommodations for the fall.

• Tuesday, July 13 at 1 p.m. EDT
• Tuesday, July 27 at 3 p.m. EDT
• Tuesday, August 17 at 1 p.m. EDT

Links will be provided in the July newsletter.
**Students must attend an Orientation to receive accommodations.**

At last...D.C. is reopening!

Your new home-away-from-home is currently in Phase 2, and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced some changes lifting many pandemic restrictions that will go into effect starting May 21, like some museums and restaurants at full capacity. You can read more about the reopening updates online and get excited to explore the city in the fall!

Living at GW

There are some college memories that stick with you forever. Your first residence hall experience is one of them. Thurston Hall may be empty this fall while renovations continue, but we are so excited that campus will be buzzing with the return of students in all the other residential buildings on Foggy Bottom and the Vern. While you're waiting for your housing assignment, be sure to check out the virtual hall tours.

WATCH a mini-doc about the iconic Thurston Hall

As one of the great, beloved landmarks of GW, Thurston Hall has not only been home to tens of thousands for more than half a century, but is also truly the house of a million memories.

We'll have a bacon, egg, avocado and cheese on an everything bagel, please.

Every GW student has an order for the GW Deli, a hole-in-the-wall, locally owned convenience store with some of the best food on campus. It may not look like much on the outside and the inside may take you back a few years, however once you take a bite you'll understand why this is one of the best places around.

• WATCH the GW Deli documentary for yourself, and plan your first trip (and breakfast sandwich order) accordingly.