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Spring 2016 registration opens for all degree-seeking graduate students on November 9. Here are a few steps you can take to prepare for registration:

  • Check your student account in GWeb for holds.
    • If you have holds your screen will look like the image below. Each hold should have the contact information for the office that placed it. The advising office can only remove advising holds. If you have holds, resolve them by contacting the office that placed them well in advance of registration opening.

GWeb Hold Screenshot

  • Review your program's curriculum, your plan of study and the schedule of classes (which will be posted here, when available) to come up with a few schedule options. Tip: In addition to the course number and section, note the CRN for each course, which can be used to register.
  • Refresh yourself on the University's schedule adjustment policies to avoid tuition penalties.

If you recently submitted a plan of study, it is currently being reviewed by your advisor. Plans submitted prior to October 15 will be returned before Registration opens.

If you have questions, please contact your academic advisor.

Applications are being accepted for the International Dialogue Program! This is a unique tutor program and only for international graduate students at the Elliott School.
Program Overview:
Each international student is matched with a local Elliott School graduate student tutor and commits to two hours a week of sessions. These sessions are free but you must commit to two hours per week.
Sessions are not held during Thanksgiving week, during finals, or winter break.
You choose your session topic! Students in the past have focused on:
  • Presentation skills
  • Academic writing
  • Class participation
  • Knowledge of American culture
Additional activities include a mixer to start off the program and occasional group outings.
Apply now  to be matched with an Elliott School local student! Questions can be directed to Katherine Safon in International and Academic Initiatives at esintl@gwu.edu.

Today is New Graduate Student Orientation for incoming Elliott School Graduate Students! At check-in, you'll receive a folder with your agenda for the day and other helpful materials to get you started. All materials and presentations are also available electronically on GW First Class, which you can access through Blackboard.

If you have questions throughout the day, look for the Graduate Student Orientation Leaders wearing orange Elliott School t-shirts.

Don't forget to share your photos throughout the day using #19thandE! One photo will be selected to be featured in the September issue of the e-newsletter and the student who posted the featured photo will win an Elliott School giveaway!

FINAL Orientation Agenda-Fall 2015 Regional-Global Comm-ITIP

FINAL Orientation Agenda-Fall 2015 MAIA-IDS-SPS

As of June 15, all academic advising services are available to you as an incoming Elliott School graduate student. This means you can get in touch with your advisor before classes begin, even if you aren't in DC!

If you have general questions, consider Online Advising on Tuesdays, 11am -1pm. During this time you can chat with an academic advisor to get immediate answers to your questions. Please note that, while you may be able to access the chat at any time, advisors are only available during designated online advising hours.

If you have more detailed questions, consider scheduling an appointment with your advisor. If you're not local, you can schedule a phone appointment. Alternatively, you can email your question to your advisor. We try to respond to emails within 1-2 business days, but during busy times (like orientation and registration) it may take us a little longer to get back to you.

Picnic IDP

Announcing the Elliott School Graduate International Student Orientation!

August 17-21, 2015

The Elliott School of International Affairs

RSVP Today!

The Elliott School is hosting a graduate international student orientation the week before the International Services Orientation and Elliott School New-Student Orientation. This event will include valuable resources and connections and is highly encouraged for all Elliott School graduate international students. See below for an example of what will be included in the program:

 

  • Research workshop
  • Best practices for the career search for international students
  • Academic  Integrity
  • Health and Safety
  • Academic Advising
  • Elliott School faculty
  • A DC tour
  • Outings to Target, IKEA, and the grocery store, led by local Elliott School students
  • Evening activities with Elliott School domestic students

The day schedule will generally be from 9am to 5pm with optional evening activities and occasional free time to find your new apartment, get your books for class, buy your American cell phone, or set up your bank account.

Lunch will be provided every day

RSVP as soon as you can! We look forward to seeing you there

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If you're a new graduate student joining the Elliott School this fall take a moment to get to know the Fall 2015 Elliott School Orientation Leaders. These current graduate students have been selected as ambassadors to their programs  and will be present at Graduate Student Orientation to welcome you to the Elliott School.


Sheila Dollard 1Sheila Dollard is a second year master’s student in the Global Communication program at GW, concentrating in International Economics. A DMV native, she completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Spanish at the University of Maryland. Sheila has worked for the Department of State since 2011. She enjoys exploring the city, connecting with friends, and volunteering in her free time.


noraNora Hassan is a student in the International Development Studies program. She currently works as a Fellow in the Office of Graduate Enrollment. Nora's academic interests are in WASH, the environment, and climate change.  When she's not studying or working, she enjoys spending time outside- hiking, kayaking, at the beach, etc! She also loves being crafty in her free time. Nora welcomes all new students to the Elliott School and GW!


IMG_1865Michael Nair is a current graduate student in the M.A. Security Policy Studies program specializing in Transnational Security Issues and Non-State Actors. Before graduate school Michael was a congressional relations intern at the German Marshall Fund and an analyst intern at GardaWorld. He received his Bachelors in International Affairs from the Elliott School with a concentration in Conflict & Security. During his undergraduate studies, David was on the varsity squash team for three years and interned on the Hill for Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and loves to travel, try new foods, play/watch soccer and is an avid snowboarder.


DavidOkun_photoDavid Okun is a rising second year in the M.A. Latin American and Hemispheric Studies program and a Brazil Initiative Fellow, with specializations in Security and Economic Development. He serves as an associate editor on the GWU International Affairs Review and is active in the DC performing arts community. While at the Elliott School, he has interned at a democracy & human rights non-profit, the Organization of American States, and is currently at the State Department transitioning into a Pathways position. David is excited to welcome the Class of 2017 to Foggy Bottom!


Jan Schwarzenberg is a second-year Security Policy Studies student, focusing on Emerging Transnational Threats. Jan is currently a senior federal officer with the DoD. Combining his military and civilian government careers, Jan is working primarily in special operations, counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency. He has lived, studied and worked in numerous countries.

Yuxuan Shen is a rising second year student in the M.A. International Trade and Investment Policy program with a concentration in Yuxuaninternational business. She graduated from the Elliott School in 2013 with a B.A. in International Affairs. Currently, as a GWU Presidential Administrative Fellow, Yuxuan works in the GW Finance Division.

lindsey informal bio picLindsey Spanner is a student in the M.A. Global Communication focusing on International Development. Her main areas of interest are education, women's and gender issues, and humanitarian settings, specifically how communication can be used as a solution to problems in these areas. She currently tutors international students as part of the Elliott School's International Dialogue Program, and has interned at the American Red Cross, Institute of International Education, and the National Alliance to End Homelessness. She came to GWU directly after graduating from Ohio University in May 2014.

Alexa Stroh
Alexa Stroh is pursuing a M.A. International Affairs with concentrations in U.S. foreign policy and global gender policy. She is from Arizona and received her bachelor's degree in international affairs from Northern Arizona University. She has studied abroad in Denmark, Egypt, Spain, and at sea. In addition, she interned in the consular section at U.S. Embassy Reykjavik in Iceland.

Lebanon Picture

Anne Wagner is a student in the M.A. International Affairs program with a concentration in Conflict Resolution. Anne's  research interest is the Middle East, and she is currently on an Elliott Exchange with the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, where she is taking classes on Social Inequality, Middle East Studies, and Arabic language. Currently, Anne is working with a small NGO in Lebanon dealing with educational inequity, and last semester she interned on the Hill with her Congressman. Anne feels both opportunities have been incredibly valuable experiences.  Feel free to reach out to Anne anytime or say hello when you get to DC in the Fall--she's happy to help!


DD
DD Wu is a student in the M.A. Asian Studies program at The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. Her research interests center around East Asian topics. She worked as an editor in an influential market-oriented daily newspaper in China before she came to the United States to pursue her master degree.

Orientation Leaders not featured above include:
Meghan Gable, M.A. International Development Studies
Timothy Jensen, M.A. Middle East Studies
Maya Sharma, M.A. International Science and Technology Policy
Lev Vladimirsky, M.A. European and Eurasian Studies

The most commonly asked question among incoming students this week was regarding preparing for economics coursework and/or meeting the micro- and macrcoeconomics admissions requirement. Here is one available option to review economics prior to your first semester:
The Institute for International Economic Policy will offer two separate sets of economics review sessions immediately prior to the fall semester, located on the Foggy Bottom campus.

Introductory economics sessions (one in Microeconomics and one in Macroeconomics) will provide a review for students who have only taken one or two previous economics courses. The introductory sessions are particularly appropriate for those students preparing to take ECON 6250 (Survey of Development Economics) and ECON 6280 (Survey of International Economics). If you can only attend one, micro is more helpful for ECON 6250.Intermediate economics sessions (one in Microeconomics and one in Macroeconomics) will provide a review for students who have a more extensive economics background. The intermediate sessions are more helpful for students planning to take ECON 6283 (International Trade Theory and Policy) and ECON 6284 (International Macroeconomics Theory and Policy). Also note, Micro sessions are a better preparation for ECON 6283 and the Macro sessions are better for ECON 6284.Students will not receive graduate credit for these sessions.

Students who are required to complete an introductory OR intermediate Micro and Macroeconomics requirement may do so by passing a proficiency exam, offered on the afternoon of September 12th.

(Note: The Security Policy Studies program's economics requirement cannot be fulfilled by taking the summer review sessions and passing the proficiency exam).

Review Session Dates:

August 17-22, 24-27, 29 (a total of 11 sessions of review)

Proficiency exams will be offered on Saturday, September 12.

For more information, visit the Institute for International Economic Policy (IIEP) website.