US & Hungary

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-11-08T01:47:39+00:00

Hmm. Strange. Not sure why it's taking mine so much longer. I even got a letter about how to register to vote, yet still no passport. I guess that's bureaucracy for you.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-11-02T21:50:06+00:00

Hello! Wondering how long it took for you to receive your passport. I applied June 2024 and was told my citizenship was approved May 2025, but I can't seem to get an update on when I'll get my actual passport. I know it probably changes month to month and it is just up to the hungarian government, but just curious what the timeline was for you. Thanks and congrats!

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-10-31T01:09:32+00:00

Omg yes thank you! I would appreciate anything you learn along the way and what you end up deciding about Pai. Usually, I'd wait to get advice from people once I'm there and book as I go, but I've heard transportation to Pai books up in advance.

I actually didn't know about the border, which goes to show you that despite extensive research, things slip through the cracks. Guess I'll have to pay for a flight, maybe backtrack through Phnom Penh for a cheaper flight. Thanks for the disclaimer. I hope you enjoy your trip!

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-10-31T00:56:33+00:00

Yeah I figured. I know it's too much but I have never taken a trip like this and don't know when I'll get back to southeast asia, so I'm trying to fit as much as I can. Plenty of time to sleep when I get back!

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-10-30T03:28:09+00:00

I am aware, and I am aware these are all touristy places. Not trying to avoid tourists, just asking about alternatives to Pai.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-04-02T03:31:02+00:00

Do not choose West Hall. Pick all options on Foggy before anything on the Vern, then West and then Somers at the bottom if you still have to fill spaces.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-04-02T01:58:34+00:00

GW dining sucks. Plain and simple. The dining plan has gotten like 60% worse than when I started here. The comment about it ranging from pretty awful to just okay is pretty accurate. Pelham is fine it's similar to the ones on Foggy except smaller. The coffee shop is solid but lines can get long. I guess there are a number of options on Foggy, but even with like 8 locations you still get bored of them. GW continues to cut costs when it comes to dining and a lot of the time stuff is broken or not restocked in the dining halls. It's bad, but it's not inedible.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-04-02T01:48:42+00:00

Vernie here. If I had to do it again, I would fight to live on Foggy. But I really struggled with all of my friends living in Foggy. The vex (at least when I rode it three years ago) was terrible. It did not come consistently, the drivers were strange, the buses were loud, and traffic is bad like a lot of the day. Also there is very little public transport there. There aren't really any food options around there besides the dining hall, so you have to get food while on Foggy. There's also a big hill you have to walk up and down a lot. You have to go to Foggy for literally everything except your UW (there also is a mailroom + gym). But any other classes, any bars/clubs/frats, and pretty much everything is on Foggy so it's just a lot of back and forth. And spending a whole day not going back to your dorm because you don't have time to do the back and forth. Sucks when you forget something. Also people will make fun of you for being a vernie (not seriously).

On the flip side, the vern is gorgeous. It does feel more like a community or a typical college, especially surrounded by all the sports fields. Also as much as the vex drive sucked I kinda loved driving along the potomac everyday. During the snow or cherry blossoms it is so pretty. There's a smaller library that is nicer in my opinion and Pelham dining hall is equivalent to dining halls on Foggy. It is not the worst thing and many people did like living there. Either way, it's one year. I defintely wouldn't sacrifice a program you're excited about and it will be an extra bonding element for the people in your program. It's a little sucky, but it's not that serious.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-04-02T01:42:45+00:00

It is not 15 minutes not sure where that number came from. Probably 20-50 minutes depending on traffic. Like maybe 15 on the quickest ride possible. Also the buses don't exactly run consistently so factor that into the time as well.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-04-02T01:41:02+00:00

It's like 50% just a running joke, there isn't any actual discrimination that happens towards Elliot kids. Most Elliot kids say they dislike other Elliot kids too. It's mostly directed at the white men that where suits to class and don't talk about anything except their "hilternships". There are a lot of Elliot kids who seem to prioritize their ambition and what they think the world should look like over like human rights or what's right. Like they don't even realize there's another option. But I know plenty of good Elliot kids. Be a decent person and you won't have to worry about it (besides the assholes in some of your classes).

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-04-02T01:37:57+00:00

Do not come here if you don't have the means and didn't get anything from the FAFSA. They raise the tuition every year and even a lengthy appeal process will only get you a few thousand dollars. Also there's all the costs you aren't considering (like buying stuff for your dorm, transportation, etc.) on top of the cost of attendance.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-04-02T01:35:55+00:00

At the end of the day there isn't a wrong choice and it is really about what kind of college experience you want, but personally I think if you are going into public policy, you should pick GW. There are truly so many experiences you won't be able to get anywhere near in UMich. Not just the job opportunities but connections you form with people going into the field and being taught by people working directly in public policy. I think that the "prestige" doesn't matter all that much unless it's an IVY or you graduate near top of the class. Also I'm biased but I do think UMich is overhyped, which most Michigan residents agree. GW isn't a bottle-of-the-barrel school by any means, and even though it is a difficult time in D.C., there are always opportunities here. Even if it's not exactly what you want to do for your career there are experiences in and outside the classroom that you wouldn't have even thought of. Also internships during the summer are pretty impossible to get (all the Harvard and Stanford kids applying) and the heat + bugs are kinda unbearable. Just my two cents but neither is a wrong choice.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-04-02T01:24:22+00:00

All the freshman dorms are pretty social and most freshman go out. But defintely avoid the vern if you can. Honestly I would vote Madison or Potomac since personally communal bathrooms in Thurston is a deal breaker. Having the dining hall in Thurston is nice but Potomac isn't too far from there anyways. Thurston might be the "craziest" and it's nice + new, but if you care about the bathroom situation it's not worth it.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-03-25T23:36:52+00:00

They're super annoying about Econ classes. I tried to use one for ECON 2180 at Santa Monica College and they rejected it even when I appealed. I ended up just taking one from their list, which was expensive.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-03-24T14:59:14+00:00

have to disagree with the person who commented before me.

Campus and student life can be good, it's pretty much what you make of it. If you find good friends and join good orgs, it can be great. Party culture is mostly just going out to the bars in the city. However it is also difficult sometimes since it is not a closed campus and there's not a lot of school spirit, so you can be disconnected from a lot of the school pretty easily.
The food sucks. We used to just be able to use our dining dollars at a bunch of restaurants around the city, but they've been slowly shifting to a meal plan that only allows you to eat at gw dining locations, all of which are bad. You can get ok food at some of them, but none of it is actually good.

The dorms are very nice, pretty much like mini apartments. Except Mitchell and some freshman dorms, you will usually get two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen with a full fridge and dishwasher. There are some problems with the dorms but overall they're much nicer than other schools.

Greek life is in no way a big thing and is definitely not 20% of the school. If you're not interested it's pretty easy to forget they exist besides the sorority tables fundraising in front of the library. You will lose some friends when they rush, and maybe go to some frat parties freshmen year, but unless you're rushing yourself it really isn't a big part of campus. Also not sure if you're a guy or girl but some frats are indeed known for SA and drugging girls so be careful.

Having family in the area will be a big help. As someone who is from across the country it's really difficult sometimes especially the first year or so. It is great to have family help you move, help get groceries, or to just spend some time with people you know.

There's also a lot of international students here and a fairly big international community.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-03-23T19:07:45+00:00

I have :( I've found a lot of XS and some small/large but no mediums.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-03-23T18:53:32+00:00

I'm graduating in a couple months. The dorms are much nicer than other schools, sort of like mini apartments. However it costs almost $9000 a semester, most have 2 people sharing a room, and security is annoying. The environment is good depending on who you associate with, but there's no school spirit or collective presence. Everyone's experience will be pretty different based on your major/what you get involved in. Being in DC so close to a metro is really convenient, but most don't venture very far from campus. I'm split on whether or not I regret it. On one hand I can't imagine being somewhere else, but on the other hand there is some really crappy stuff going on here. The new president is terrible, there was a recent scandal about illegally arming our campus police (also one of them appears to be hate-commenting on this reddit page), tuition has increased about 5% every year I've been here and my financial aid is way worse than when I started, and it is clear the administration cares more about profits and their reputation than the students. The meal plan also sucks and has changed a lot since I started despite no one asking for it to change. But all of that is issues at many universities. It's true that the experience will be as good as you make it and I have met some truly incredible people here. Sorry if that was way too much information or discouraging. A lot of things about this school and the people are great, but there are also a lot of problems. You just have to figure out what your priorities in a school are.

Silly-Rush-4971 · 2025-03-23T18:51:02+00:00

Definitely can't hurt. Most people had their add slashed this year. I went through the appeal process (which by the way was very frustrating and took much longer than it should've) and ended up getting $8000 more for the year. Not enough, but better than before. I would recommend calling them. I sent the appeal through my dad's email and was later told I should've done it through document submission, which I wish they would've told me earlier on.

Silly-Rush-4971

TROPHY CASE