Whether it’s your first year or fourth, college is confusing — and as The GW Hatchet’s wise and witty weekly advice columnist, I’m here to help with any of your dilemmas.
From cleanliness concerns to making amends with your Esports team, I’ve heard nearly every problem plaguing GW students. While it’s anyone’s guess where these next four years will take you, these three queries will put any campus newcomers on a positive track.
Dear Annie,
I’m coming to GW in the fall. Is it true that everyone here wants to be president?
XOXO,
Rather be a senator
Dear Rather be a senator,
A peruse of the GW alumni Wikipedia page highlights an abundance of journalists, the founder of Scientology and even several princesses but no United States presidents.
While the absence of U.S. presidents on GW’s resume doesn’t mean no alumni ever tried to run, it means GW students’ ambitions stretch outside the Oval Office. That being said, most GW students care about domestic and international politics. Living in the nation’s capital is part of what draws people to the University. A politically passionate student body doesn’t mean everyone aspires to work on Capitol Hill, but a network of high-achieving students do. Whether you want to avoid or join them, you can tell who they are.
Nicknamed the “Hillterns,” you can spot them catching the Metro in their suits and glossy loafers as they hurry to work for a senator or congressperson. Many may have sworn as a child that they would be president when they grew up but decided a seat in Congress was more attainable. They may attend a Comparative Politics lecture when they aren’t working because they know successful people never take a day off, draping their jacket over their knees but keeping their ties on as they take notes.
If sitting in committee isn’t your desired future, avoiding the die-hard Hilltern is manageable. Major in something other than political science, dress in civilian clothing and look for internships on Handshake rather than a congressperson’s website. If you’re aware that Nebraska has a unicameral legislature and your dream is to join it, swear allegiance to your fellow Hillterns. Wear your finest suit to class and replace your backpack with a messenger bag.
Whether you aspire to join their ranks or not, seeing zealous Hillterns may motivate you to take your professional aspirations seriously.
Advice Columnist-in-Chief,
Annie
Dear Annie,
I really want a boyfriend by the end of my first semester. How can I find one?
XOXO,
A Girl Who Came Here for Love
Dear A Girl Who Came Here for Love,
Like GW’s apartment-style dorms, split campuses and presidential motorcade delays, finding romance at GW isn’t your mother’s college experience. With a wider choice of networks, it can feel more like “Sex and The City” than flirting on the quad.
If you’re eager to get a boyfriend by the end of your first semester, make your dating pool as broad as possible. As a city school, GW students don’t have to only crush on classroom cuties and instead can connect with college students from across D.C. You may run into them at parties, bars or, most likely, swipe on their profile if you download a dating app.
About half of college students use apps to date. Besides GW, American and Georgetown universities dominate the District’s 18-to-22-year-old range on Hinge. When developing a relationship with a GW student, you may go on a neighborhood monument stroll. Perhaps a kiss by the Lincoln Memorial is just the sort of honest love you’ve always waited for. You can enjoy a Friday afternoon date at Western Market, where he can use his dining dollars at Chipotle and you can buy a sweet treat at Captain Cookie
With boys from American and Georgetown, you’re leaving campus and can expect a different experience. If you agree to go out with an American University student, make sure you’ve picked up your UPass and studied the District’s Metro system as they’ll probably ask you to meet somewhere between your two campuses. You’ll split the bill as he’s likely liberal-minded, respecting women too much to pay for them. By the time you’re official, you’ll be a professional at transferring at Metro Center and thankful UPass saves you money on Metro fares.
A date with a Georgetown boy brings a more refined experience. If he asks if you’re a Georgetown reject, leave the date immediately. If he doesn’t, you’ll have to inform us other GW students what happens next.
It’s also possible that you’re not a dating app fan, and you might encounter a potential beau in your Introduction to Microeconomics or University Writing course. Wherever you find him, make sure you feel comfortable, able to laugh and be yourself. Finding a boyfriend is not the most challenging — or important — part of your quest. Finding the right boyfriend is.
Swiping right on this question,
Annie
Dear Annie,
Like many people in college, i want to go out and get more out of my experience than academics. When I announced I was going to GW, all my friends told me i was never going to go out because everyone there is a nerd. I don’t want to fail my classes, but where can I go to find people who don’t just study?
If anyone cares,
not only a nerd
Dear not only a nerd,
Have your hometown friends ever heard of the “work hard, play hard” mindset? It may not be the healthiest, but chances are if you see someone at Gelman Library at 1 a.m. on a Monday morning, they were drunkenly devouring Carving’s mozzarella sticks less than 24 hours ago.
GW is not a stereotypical party school, but it’s far from a dry campus. Those of age can find wine at nearby Whole Foods or buy beverages at McReynold’s, a beloved liquor store less than a block from the White House. Unlike schools famous for tailgates and out-of-hand fraternity parties, their patrons are not frat guys or Cs-get-degree students but members of GW’s most rigorous student organizations. They have stress and steam to blow off, so they know how to party.
While it may seem counterintuitive, join academic and professional-focused student organizations if you seek people who don’t just study. The work hard, play harder mindset thrives among their members. While they may not throw every Saturday like a Sigma Chi or Tappa Kappa Beta, their bi-monthly celebrations are a night you will forget, unintentionally. They have better beverages and, best of all, most of their parties include a stocked snack table.
At the org fair in the fall, look for members with bags under their eyes and dry throats as they stifle a yawn. If they manage to balance their organization commitments with other commitments, then chances are they’ve managed to have crazy nights and stay on the Dean’s List.
Writing hard and (maybe) playing harder,
Annie
