George Washington University is defined by its location—literally in Washington, DC, surrounded by power, policy, and politics. With 10,300 undergrads, it's the largest campus in this group, and it's genuinely integrated into DC's professional landscape. There is no real campus in the traditional sense; the city is your campus. This is a school for students interested in government, policy, international affairs, or business who want location advantage and access to internships and professional networks in the nation's capital. The location is everything—it shapes what you study, where you intern, and who you become. If you want serious academics combined with location-based opportunity, GWU delivers.
The academics are strong in policy, international affairs, business, and engineering. The School of International Affairs is particularly strong and well-connected to DC think tanks and government agencies. The business school is solid and pre-professional. The sciences and engineering are respectable but secondary to policy-focused programs. You'll find yourself in classes with visiting practitioners—actual policy people, international diplomats, journalists. Internship opportunities are unmatched—you can work on Capitol Hill, at a think tank, or at an international organization while staying in school. Class sizes are large in introductory courses but decrease as you progress. Your trade-off: the lack of traditional campus means community is harder to build. The student body is transient; many students are thinking about their next opportunity rather than being present.
The culture is professionally focused and politically engaged. Social life requires intentionality—you won't stumble into community because there's no central campus. The DC location is both the appeal and the limitation. You'll graduate with strong policy understanding, valuable professional connections, and real-world experience. Greek life exists but is less visible than at other universities. GWU is for students genuinely interested in policy, government, or international affairs who want location advantage and are willing to trade traditional college community for professional opportunity and access to power.