January 2013 – Elliott School Graduate Student Services

Win the race to Colonial Central

GradAdvisorJanuary 30, 2013Leave a comment

As we approach the end of the third week of classes, we’ve seen a substantial increase in the amount of Registration Transaction Forms (RTF) being turned in for processing, which means we’ve seen an increase in the amount of incomplete forms we receive.

Everyone knows that classes at GW can fill up quickly, and when online registration ends you have to factor in the chance that someone else’s RTF may reach the Registrar before yours. Here are some tips to make sure your RTF wins the race to Colonial Central:

Include your correct GWID, name, and e-mail address. We need to know who you are, and the Registrar needs to know how to contact you in case there’s a problem with your form.
CRNs are important. This is the unique identification number assigned to each course. If one number is off or missing, you’ll be registered for the wrong course or no course at all. Take the extra minute to locate the CRN.
If you are attempting to add a course that is already full or has a 'departmental approval' restriction, obtain the professor or departments signature.
Sign the form! Unless your advisor has told you otherwise, we can’t send forms that aren't signed by you.
Bring the form to the front desk of the Office of Academic Advising and Student Services. Unlike the RTF-EZ, you can't take this form directly to the Registrar.

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Trending Question: I turned my graduation application in. Did you receive it?

GradAdvisorJanuary 28, 2013Leave a comment

Our office has been getting asked this question a lot, from graduate and undergraduate students alike. If you turned your graduation application in to our office, there's a 99.99999879% chance your advisor received it and is in the process of completing it for you before sending it on to graduation services for final processing. We receive several hundred of these forms each spring, and since our goal is to process them in a timely manner, we've decided not to practice sending out confirmation e-mails.

For this reason, among others, we discourage you from slipping your form under our door after hours. Instead, deliver your form by hand or scan/email it directly to your advisor.

On a related note, your graduation application needs to be turned in to the Office of Academic Advising and Student Services, not the Dean's Office.

Tip: If you receive a stand-alone e-mail in late February (and several leading up to May), this is an indication that your application has been processed.

Mandatory pre-registration for language exams is open.

GradAdvisorJanuary 25, 2013Leave a comment

Ready to take your foreign language proficiency exam? The pre-registration process and deadlines have been announced. The pre-registration process is required because it makes it possible to reserve space and faculty to administer the exams. If you don't pre-register, you won't be able to take the GW administered exam until Fall 2013.

Check your GW e-mail for links to the pre-registration website. If you didn't receive the e-mail, contact your academic advisor. Pre-registration closes February 11th.

Spotlight on: Pia Ulrich

GradAdvisorJanuary 23, 2013Leave a comment

Pia Ulrich studied international and comparative law at the University of Osnabrück, Germany, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in unified and Italian private law. In 2007, Pia started to work at the European Legal Studies Institute, and, being fluent in German, English and French, became part of the Working Team for the Study Group for a European Civil Code. During that time, Pia also worked as honorary arbitrator for the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court in Vienna, Austria, and studied Mandarin Chinese and the Russian language. In August 2011, Pia came to Washington to study at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. Her academic focus is on nuclear nonproliferation. She is currently the Nuclear Nonproliferation Research Assistant at the Partnership for Global Security, and is a candidate for graduation from the M.A. Security Policy Studies program.

Are you doing something exciting that you want to share with your peers? Students featured as the monthly spotlight are nominated by an Elliott School student, staff, or faculty member. To nominate someone you know, send an e-mail to advising@gwu.edu.

If you'd like to share your own story with your peers, please e-mail your story and picture to advising@gwu.edu.

2013 Commencement Activities

GradAdvisorJanuary 18, 2013Leave a comment

Ready to hear your name called and walk across the stage? 2013 Commencement Weekend dates have been announced and here’s the information that applies to you:

2013 Elliott School Celebration

Friday, May 17, 2013 at 11:30am

Charles E. Smith Center

All Fall 2012, Spring 2013, and Summer 2013 degree candidates are invited to participate

And, that’s not all! Only at GW does the culmination of the many hours, days, and years you put toward your graduate degree come to an end on the National Mall. Don’t miss your chance to be surrounded by your peers, family, friends … and the Capitol Building, Smithsonian Museums, and National Monument… at this year’s University-wide Commencement Ceremony on the National Mall on Sunday, May 19, 2013!