New Student Timeline & Checklist

Log on to the GWeb Information System using your GW UserID and password. On the left hand side, select "Students". From the Main Menu page, under “Student Records and Registration”, click “Admissions.” Then, select “Pay Enrollment Deposit.” Deadline for Fall Admits: May 1, 2023

Head to GW’s Identity website, and click “How to claim your GW Identity”. Follow the steps to create your UserID and set your password.

Your UserID is essential to completing the remaining tasks of the checklist. You should activate your UserID as soon as your deposit is processed.

 The New Student Orientation experience consists of Orientation Week (August 20-23). Orientation Week consists of co-curricular programs, academic sessions, social activities, and opportunities to explore campus and the city.

Please register for Orientation Week through your admitted student portal.

If you plan to live on-campus, make sure you apply for housing. Please reference Campus Living and Residential Education for information regarding housing applications, move-in dates, and more. This applies to incoming first-year students, transfer students, and international students. The housing application will open in May. You can expect to hear from Campus Living & Residential Education about the housing application process in early May.

A GW Dining Plan is required for Students living on-campus. Students living in GW residence halls will be assigned a Dining Plan based upon the availability of a kitchen in a student's housing assignment. Review the GW Dining pages to discover places to eat on- and near-campus, what vendors and merchants offer Meal Deals, and more.

In order to obtain your GWorld Card as efficiently as possible during Move-In, make sure that you upload a photo for your GWorld card. Instructions for upload, including file size and type, are included in the email you will receive at your GW email address from the GWorld Card Office ([email protected]) over the summer. 

NOTE: Failure to upload a photo for your GWorld card prior to Move-In may result in needing to wait in lines in excess of one hour to receive your card at the GWorld Card Office.

Review and update your personal information in GWeb (https://it.gwu.edu/gweb) by choosing "My Profile" under the Personal Information menu. Here you can add or update your Chosen name (which will be your display name across university systems, including class rosters), pronouns and gender identity, and contact information. To update your legal name or sex, please use the Registrar's Biographical Update form.

The District of Columbia Immunization Law requires that all students under the age of 26 enrolled at the University, provide proof of certain immunizations prior to registration. Immunization records can be submitted to GW via the patient portal. Further instructions and information about immunizations can be found online at the Student Health Center.

GW provides a broad range of support and accommodations for students with disabilities through Disability Support Services, working collaboratively with students, faculty and staff across the campus to foster a climate of universal academic excellence, while also promoting disability culture and GW’s broader diversity and inclusion initiatives. If you would like to self-disclose a disability, please follow the steps located on the DSS website. 

Note: Incoming first-year and transfer students will not be able to access the registration portal until you have received a GW email address. Accommodations related to class registration are not active for incoming students registering for the first time. 

ALL undergraduate students and ALL international students holding a J1 or F1 visa are required to carry student health insurance while they study at GW. These students will be automatically enrolled in the GW Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). If you already have health insurance (for example, you are on a parent or family member’s health insurance plan), you will need to waive enrollment in SHIP in order to avoid being enrolled in that plan. Failure to waive SHIP coverage will result in being charged for the plan.

This university notification system sends emergency alerts to email addresses, cell phones (via text messages), residence hall phones, social media, and university web pages. Students should keep their contact information up to date by logging into the GW Alert Portal using your GW UserID and password.

Note: This is a great resource to share with your parents or family members. You can add their contact information to receive GW Alerts via the GW Alert Portal!

GW Guardian is a smartphone app that provides an additional layer of safety to the university's emergency mass notification services. The app enables users on an off-campus to: 

Receive targeted advisories and alerts from GW Division of Safety and Facilities Connect directly with GW Police and EMeRG

Learn more about the Guardian App!

• Access a directory of key phone numbers and websites
• Set a Safety Timer and assign a virtual Guardian to monitor the user's safety late at night or while traveling

Each college has their own processes and tasks that students must complete prior to advising, course registration, and/or arriving on campus. Please carefully review Part 1 of the Pre-Orientation Online Module to ensure that you have completed all items for your college.

In order to receive credit for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, you must have official score results forwarded directly to us from the College Board. GW's College Board code is 5246. Official AP scores and International Baccalaureate (IB) results should be sent as soon as they are available, but no later than the end of a student's first year at GW. 

For college courses taken in high school, in order to receive credit, you should have official transcripts sent to the Office of the Registrar as soon as possible.

Depending on your academic college and/or major, you may be required to take a placement exam to determine your first semester courses. There are placement exams for Math, Chemistry, and Foreign Language. Your Pre-Orientation Online Module will go over these in more detail.

Ensure that your high school transcript is sent to GW Admissions. If you have any questions about this process, please contact GW Admissions.

Incoming new students should complete the required Pre-Orientation Online Module before arriving on campus and participating in Orientation. Students need their UserID (GW email) and password to access the Pre-Orientation Online Module. 

Students should complete all sections of the Pre-Orientation Online Module prior to their Orientation session. For new students starting at GW in the Fall, the Pre-Orientation Online Module opens in May. For new students starting at GW in the Spring, the Pre-Orientation Online Module opens in November. 

You will receive an email at your GW email address when the Pre-Orientation Online Module opens.

You will have the opportunity to schedule a webinar with your academic college toward the end of Part 1 of the Pre-Orientation Online Module. Be sure to attend this webinar and be prepared with any questions you may have so that you can be ready for course registration.

Students register for courses in Banweb. 

Students starting at GW in the Fall: Course registration takes place in July. Review the Pre-Orientation Online Module for more information about how to register for classes on your assigned date and time.

Some students may wish to elect a third party (parent, guardian, etc.) to access and review their financial records with the University. Students can add up to 5 authorized users in their Student Account eBill system. Authorized users have access to the eBill system only, and do not have access to view grades, course information, or financial aid award letters.

Note: If someone other than the student will be paying tuition, fees, and other charges on the Student Account, the student will need to complete the form.

Students can arrange to receive their refund (any funds from financial aid/scholarships that were left over after tuition costs) by direct deposit into their bank account. In order to receive the refund by direct deposit, students must create a refund profile on the Student Account eBill. Creating a refund profile is recommended so that refunds can be directly deposited rather than receiving a mailed check. Creating a refund profile does not initiate a refund. To set up a refund profile, log into the Student Account eBill. Once logged in, select Refunds, then Set up Account, then include your bank routing and account numbers.

All billing is done through the Student Account eBill. Payment for each term is due on the first day of the semester. Statements are available approximately 4-6 weeks prior to the start of the Fall and Spring semesters and approximately 3-4 weeks prior to the Summer semester. An email notification is sent when the bill is ready to view.

Note: This email is only sent to the student’s GW email address. You must share this information with your parent or guardian if they will be making payments on your behalf. 

Student admitted for the Fall: Over the summer, you will receive a preliminary e-bill from Student Accounts. Questions should be directed to [email protected]. 

GW uses a variety of sources to determine financial aid awards. Please review the application information from the Office of Student Financial Assistance for more information. 

Engage is the platform that GW uses as a central hub for all student organizations. Before you arrive, you can check out GW’s student organizations that you might want to join, events that will be happening on campus, and more. Login using your GW email and password.

For news and information about events and happenings going on around campus, check out and follow the following pages!

• StudentLifeatGW on Instagram and TikTok
• GW Student Association on Instagram and Twitter
• Office for Diversity, Equity & Community Engagement on Instagram
• HomeatGW on Instagram
• GW Dining on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

The GW University Calendar is another great way to stay up-to-date on GW events. You can filter events using a wide variety of filters (you can even filter events that have free food!) and look ahead to see what’s coming up on campus. 

All current GW undergraduate students with a valid GWorld Card get in FREE to all Athletics events!

Review the GW Athletics calendar to plan which events you want to attend!

Join George’s Army! George's Army is the official fan organization of the GW Department of Athletics & Recreation, supporting all 27 varsity teams. At GW men's basketball games, George's Army members have access to preferred seating in the student section. During the season, Army members also attend special events and tailgates, road trips, and receive official George's Army gear. Membership for George's Army is FREE and students can get more information by emailing [email protected].

These modules will help prepare you in your transition to GW. Please keep an eye out at your GW email address for more information about completing these modules. Completion of these modules is mandatory.

Before arriving at GW, review the Student Code of Conduct to gain an understanding on what is and is not allowed at GW.

GW Mobile provides instant access to information on key university resources from a web-enabled mobile device, and will be used to enhance your Weeks of Welcome experience! The app is available for iOS, Android and Mobile Web. Students can use GW Mobile to find out course availability, schedules and instructor information, access campus maps, access GW directory services, read about university news, find campus shuttle information and access GW email.

Learn more about GW Mobile.

Campus Living and Residential Education (CLRE) will provide you with your housing assignment and move-in information at your GW email address. If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to CLRE. 

After move-in, get ready for Weeks of Welcome! During your first days and weeks at GW, we will provide a plethora of events to get you hyped up to start your collegiate career at GW. More information about Weeks of Welcome will come through your GW email address.

*Only applies to students starting at GW in Fall semesters.

For all of your textbook and GW merch needs, the GW Campus Store is the official one-stop shop for everything you’ll need. After registering for classes, you just need to enter your GWid on their website, and it will pull up all of the textbooks and materials you’ll need, making it quick and easy to be ready for classes. Browse the Campus Store either online or on-campus and find what merch you want to rep your GW Pride!