Life as a GW Medical Student

Life on Campus

GW’s location in the heart of the nation's capital creates plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, enjoying cultural events, exploring, or even discovering a new favorite hobby. Ross Hall is the center of activity for medical students with its own library, cafe, and student lounge space. Medical students also have access to several campus buildings, including the state-of-the-art Science & Engineering Hall and the Milken Institute School of Public Health building, where students may study or conduct on-campus research.

A variety of restaurants and cafes abound on campus, including Sweetgreen, Chef Jose Andres' Beefsteak, Tonic, Whole Foods, Chef Bobby Flay's Bobby's Burger Palace, and Circa. GW student organizations and associations sponsor a variety of activities, including educational and social events. Nearby Lisner Auditorium presents speakers, plays, musicals, and major concerts. GW maintains a calendar with campus-wide events and opportunities and sends out a weekly digest via email announcing campus events. 

Students interested in athletics can participate in a variety of activities, such as intramural sports and aerobics classes. The state-of-the-art Lerner Health and Wellness Center, located only two blocks from Ross Hall, is an 188,000-square-foot facility that hosts: gymnasiums with basketball, volleyball, badminton, and racquetball courts; an indoor three-lane jogging track, an indoor lap pool; a wide variety of fitness and instructional classes; club and intramural sports; and wellness programs and services.

Life in Washington D.C.

The GW campus is within walking distance of the White House, the World Bank, the Department of State, the Lincoln Memorial, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institution, and many other governmental, historical, and cultural landmarks. The campus is subway accessible; the Foggy Bottom/GWU Metro stop sits immediately outside Ross Hall and connects our campus with the entire DC metro area.

Students have easy access to a wide variety of museums, including the Air and Space Museum, the Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of American History, as well as art galleries, such as the National Gallery of Art, the Hirshorn Museum, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, most of which offer free admission. The National Theater, the Warner Theater, Arena Stage, the Shakespeare Theater, and several others, bring a range of shows to the city.

A diverse and exciting nightlife surrounds the campus. Three nearby neighborhoods - Georgetown, with its historic charm, Dupont Circle, with its social and artsy feel, and Adams Morgan, characterized by ethnic diversity and flavor - offer restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and nightspots galore.

Washington is a beautiful city for outdoor activities. Friday evenings in the summer can be spent at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Jazz in the Garden series. The downtown and neighboring communities are filled with trails for hiking, biking, running, and inline skating, or you can visit and picnic at the many public gardens. For those who prefer the water, there are paddleboats for rent along the Tidal Basin and canoeing down the Potomac River, all within easy walking distance of the campus. Adults and children alike enjoy the excitement of the National Zoo, where the pandas from China are always the main attraction. Washington is uniquely situated near the mountains for hiking and skiing, the Chesapeake Bay for fishing and water sports, the beach for a relaxing getaway, and the scenic Skyline Drive in nearby Luray, Virginia for camping or nature watching.

Housing

The Washington D.C. area is abundant with off-campus housing options, check out  a guide linked here. Specific housing opportunities will be shared with accepted students.


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