Welcome to GW!

Bust of George Washington in front of green trees and campus buildings.

Congratulations on your admission to the Biomedical Laboratory Sciences (BLS) program. Please bookmark this page for easy reference to important information and resources included below:

Login to the GWeb Info System and Claim Your GW Email Address

Login to the GWeb Info System

The GWeb Info system allows you to register for classes, pay your bill, change your address, and check your grades.

To log in to the GWeb Info System:

  • Go to the MyGW portal.
  • On the left-hand side, click on "GWeb Info System."
  • Enter your User ID (i.e. your GWid). You can find your GWid on your acceptance letter or via GWid Look-up.
  • Enter your PIN (your birthdate) in the MMDDYY format.
  • You will then be prompted to change your PIN and set up a security question.

Claim Your GW Email Account

Within a few days of accepting your offer of admission you will receive an email from GW IT asking you to claim you assigned GW email address within 48 hours.

All official university communication will be sent to your GW email address only. You should plan to check your GW email a few times each week or forward your GW email to another email address you check regularly.

Access your GW email account through the MyGW portal or by going directly to the email login page.

Apply for Financial Assistance

Student Aid

If you wish to apply for federal loans, you must submit the Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year. In addition to the FAFSA, you may be required to submit supplementary documentation for federal and private loans. Students who receive financial assistance must adhere to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance at finaid@gwu.edu(link sends e-mail) or (202) 994-9000.

The Admissions Office must have your social security number (SSN) on file before financial aid can be processed. If you did not include your SSN with your application, please contact the Health Science Admissions office at (202) 994-8528.

Military Aid

If you are using tuition assistance (TA), please visit George Washington University's Military and Veteran Services website, for the admitted student checklist. A degree plan and cost verification sheet are available via email request to your advisor.

Army students, please refer to TA FAQs and visit the ArmyIgnitEd website

Please include your GWid and the last four digits of your SSN in the body of the email, and copy your advisor. Each semester, students are responsible for the registration fee, which is not covered by TA. Please pay your portion (the remaining balance owed after TA is applied) before the first day of classes.

If you are planning to use the G.I. Bill®, please use this checklist.

The GW Certifying Official(s) can be found at the Office of Military and Veteran Student Services at vetserv@gwu.edu or (202) 994-9570.

Review Your Degree Requirements

After receiving your welcome letter please review your degree requirements and degree plan, an online electronic semester-by-semester outline of your course registration. More information can be found on GW's Registrar website

Complete Orientation

Undergraduate and graduate students complete a self-paced orientation course, which opens up three weeks before the semester starts. After a student is admitted, they must create their NetID in order to be added to the class. The required orientation is the perfect introduction to the Blackboard online classroom, allowing admitted students to understand the tools, expectations, and additional requirements of their certificate/ degree program. Students should budget up to four hours to complete all of the modules in the orientation course.

Orientation can be accessed via Blackboard within the student community. 

Blackboard - Your Learning Environment

Blackboard is the platform for your online courses and the portal for syllabi, course-related materials, assignments, assessments, and communication features for each instructor. Your GW Blackboard account is active 24 hours after you create a GWNet ID (GWMail account).

Before classes begin, students are encouraged to login to Blackboard and review the Blackboard Student Guides, which are located in the upper right hand corner of the course administration homepage. Here, students learn how to navigate the Blackboard environment through several instructional videos. Enrolled students may access these guides at any time.

More information about Blackboard is found in your orientation. 

Review the GW Code of Academic Integrity

The GW Code of Academic Integrity governs all students at the university and is a symbol of the commitment to academic honesty, mutual respect, and moral integrity that the GW community values and nurtures. As a new student in the university, your entry into the GW community is an agreement to these standards and principles.

Visit the Students Resources Webpage

The Student Resources webpage includes links to the following areas:

  • Advising and Registration
  • Paying for Classes
  • Academic Resources and Policies
  • Technology Support
Clinical Student Requirements

Criminal Background Check & Drug Screen (Completed in your first semester)

A criminal background check and drug screen through Certiphi Screening, a third-party vendor, is required for all admitted clinical students. You will receive instructions via an email directly from Certiphi Screening within the first month of classes to initiate your background and drug screen. If you accidentally delete the instructions email, please contact Certiphi Screening at 800-803-7859.

  • Drug Screen: Upon creating your account, a list of lab locations in the DC area will be displayed, however, there are many lab locations throughout the United States. Contact Certiphi Screening at 800-803-7859 to find a lab near you. You must provide the following when you visit the lab for your drug screen:
    • An official government-issued ID (e.g. driver’s license or passport)
    • A six digit code: 906968

For technical assistance with the system, please contact (888) 291-1369 extension 2006. 

A hold preventing registration beyond your first semester will be placed for those who don't complete this requirement.

State Licensure Requirements

Some of the programs in the BLS department prepare you for board certification exams. We advise prospective applicants for these programs to refer to state licensure requirements before accepting admission.