The following blog post was written by peer advisor Michaela, a SEAS junior studying Civil Engineering and International Affairs. Learn more about Michaela here.
During my sophomore year, I was set on studying abroad in the fall of my junior year. I had everything: syllabi from four different schools, appointments set up with my department to approve courses, an Excel sheet set up to track my progress, even Pinterest board of travel ideas.
However, due to restrictions from my major, all of those plans fell apart. I would be staying on campus my whole junior year.
However, an idea struck me as I began my semester feeling like the one junior not studying abroad: why don’t I just go anyways? I had saved up enough money from my summer internship, and I had friends that were already abroad. Even if they were in classes, I’d be in a whole different city and could probably entertain myself. So that’s exactly what I did. My former roommate/other-half-of-my-brain Alyssa was studying abroad in Paris for a year. I booked a ticket to visit her over spring break and for nine days, I got to “study abroad.”
We visited everywhere: Louvre, Centre Pompidou, the Eiffel Tower, Musee d’Orsay, Sacre Coeur, all the things. Since Alyssa had been in France since the fall, she knew a lot about the city. I also got to go with her program to Barcelona and visit the Miro Foundation and La Sagrada Familia. But I also had a lot of fun on my own when she had to be in class or studying. I wandered around fabric shops and cemeteries and Japanese cheese cafes (no joke, wasabi goat cheese will change your life). While I loved traveling with Alyssa, I also learned a lot about myself in my many walks alone. I could only text US numbers with my phone, so I had to become a lot more reliant on maps and aware of my surroundings. I also realized that having barely any structure to a day was actually wonderful. I once literally followed my nose to a market stall in Barcelona and had the best baked potato of my life. I hadn’t planned to find the potato, nor did I know any of the English names of the ingredients (my limited experience with Spanish had not prepared me for Catalonian).
A lot of students dream of study abroad, but study abroad doesn’t have to be limited to semesters. There are numerous opportunities to study abroad during the summer and to work and volunteer abroad. Even with these alternate opportunities, I think that this experience traveling almost on my own was very rewarding. It may seem scary at first, but as long as you have a semi-plan and someone to turn to in case of an emergency (thank you Alyssa) you can really create a wonderful experience.
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Study Ablog: From Puerto Rico with Love
The following post was written by Peer Advisor Emily, a CCAS junior studying environmental studies and sustainability. You can find out more about her here!
During my time at GW I have realized that so many students love to give back. Practically every student has a cause that they are passionate about. In high school, I too was an active participant in community service. There are so many ways to get involved with volunteering on and off campus. There are service fraternities, community service clubs, and numerous organizations located all over D.C. that are always looking for volunteers. One day, during my sophomore year, I was searching around on the GW website to find service opportunities when I stumbled upon the page for GW Alternative Breaks. That click changed my life.
I was fortunate enough to spend my winter break that year volunteering on a sustainable farm in Las Marias Puerto Rico. I was drawn to this trip because protecting the environment has always been a cause very near to my heart. While on the farm we spent half the day performing various tasks on the farm and the rest learning in the classroom about green perma-culture practices. As an environmental studies major I am fascinated with the world of sustainable agriculture and the organic food system so this journey was not only educational but it also resonated deeply with me.
During my time in Puerto Rico I got to experience a new and healthier lifestyle, embrace a foreign culture, and form lifelong friendships. I learned how to ingrain sustainability seamlessly into my daily life and I formed a stronger connection with nature. By laying out under the stars and waking up to do yoga as the sun crept over the mountains, I found a sense of inner peace that is simply unattainable in the city. I spent time harvesting coffee, coconuts, and oranges and while doing so I observed a system of farming that works with the natural world instead of against it. I helped to build structures and create compost which taught me the value there is in hard work, especially when working with a team toward a common goal. These are lessons I could not have learned at GW. Sometimes you need to get away from the monotonous pattern of normal life in order to learn about yourself and experience personal growth.
It is commonly said that studying abroad is the most enriching college experience, but sadly due to major requirements or financial issues so many students do not get the opportunity to spend a semester overseas. I have seen many of my friends denied the chance to view life from a different perspective and have a meaningful experience outside of the GW bubble. That is why the Alternative Break Program is so great: it allows students to spend time abroad or in a different community while simultaneously learning from and giving back to the community they are in. If you are unable to go abroad or merely interested in community service at any level, I highly recommend you look into participating in an alternative break. I promise you won’t regret it.
The Extra-Curricular: Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity
The following post was written by Peer Advisor Lindsey O’Connell, a CCAS sophomore studying Art History and Spanish. Find out more about Lindsey by visiting her Peer Advisor profile page here.
Hey everyone!
First off, here’s hoping that your mid-terms are going well! And if they aren’t, remember that Spring Break is just days away, and the UHP Townhouse has plenty of coffee and tea to get you through in the meantime 🙂 Woo!
For this week’s “Extra-Curricular,” I want to talk about something near and dear to my heart: Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity (because apparently, I just can’t get enough of that #HonorsLife).
Phi Sigma Pi, or PSP, was founded in 1916 upon the ideals of Scholarship, Leadership, and Fellowship. This gender-inclusive Fraternity uses this “Tripod” of values as a way to guide brothers through our academic, professional, and social lives.
Now, you’ve probably heard of PSP before, right? That is because all UHP students (excluding students in their first or last semesters) should receive semesterly invitations to participate in our rush process. That is, if you don’t assume the email is spam and throw it in your junk mail (which of course I totally did not do). Students must have earned a 3.0 GPA or higher in order to become a brother of PSP–which means UHPers automatically qualify!
Personally, I never imagined myself as someone who would go Greek, and yet since I became a brother in Fall 2015, Phi Sigma Pi has become a cornerstone in my college experience.
As my health took a downwards turn at the beginning of this year, minimizing my participation in my Honors course first semester and restricting me from taking further courses this semester, I found myself sorely missing the sense of community and camaraderie I experienced when I was able to fully immerse myself in UHP activities. While I could not handle the courseload, I still wanted to be around other academically minded, interesting, and just plain awesome people.
For me, becoming a brother of PSP has allowed me to bring the best parts of the UHP–the sense of community, the shared values, the common understanding–into a fun and flexible extra-curricular. Unlike other extra-curricular activities I have previously participated in, Phi Sigma Pi’s focus on scholarship ensures that my academics are never put on the back burner.
Not forgetting about the other parts to the Tripod, PSP’s wide arrange of events and activities for brothers includes museum outings, workshops, movie nights, and more! I have found so many wonderful people through this organization, and I am glad to have had the opportunity to get to know them in such a meaningful capacity.
If you think that Phi Sigma Pi could be a good fit for you, look out for the Fall Rush invitation! And maybe bookmark this page, because if you’re like me, you’ll totally forget by then 🙂
Have an awesome break!!
Intern Files: Interning During the School Year
This post was written by Peer Advisor Bridger, a junior in SMPA studying political communication. View his full profile here.
When summer rolls around, thousands of students, attending colleges all across the world, descend upon D.C. to pursue one of the many great internships that are available. In this environment, it can be extremely difficult to get a “dream internship.” But, as GW students we actually have a better chance at landing some of the most sought after and prestigious internships anywhere in the world. The reason: we can work at these places during the school year. Companies, charities, government agencies, etc. still like to have interns year round. Thus, if you’re willing to intern part time during the year, you can turn the supply-demand relationship between employer and prospective employee in your favor.
Since coming to The George Washington University, I have held three internships that have allowed me to pursue interests in legislative politics, 24 hour news, and political campaigns. I pursued two of these three internships during the school year., and I can definitely say that this was a great decision for me personally. It allowed me to balance family, professional experience, and academic studies in a way that allowed for the best of both worlds. I made friends and professional connections, and because I was the only intern, I was able to do a little bit of everything for everyone.
Before you go any further thinking about interning during the year, however, it will be important to take stock of the amount of time you have during a given week. The absolute low end of workable hours for an internship in D.C. is usually somewhere between 10 and 15 hours per week, so seriously consider whether you have the time to spare before you get further into the process. Alright, now that that disclaimer is out of the way, I can provide my pointers on how to intern during the year, while keeping everything else in (relative) order. Here we go!
- Make the decision regarding interning before you make your class schedule
One of the most important aspects of interning during the school year is simply having the time during the week to do so. If at all possible, do your best to schedule at least two days during the week that are mostly dedicated to your internship. Otherwise, many places won’t be able to accommodate your schedule. It seems obvious, however for a lot of people the thing that prevents them from holding a Spring or Fall internship really is 11:10 AM classes Monday through Friday.
- Be honest with your potential employer about how much time you have
Adding 20 hours to your weekly schedule could get overwhelming fast, especially if you don’t have the time to undertake such an arduous time commitment. Whether it’s during the interview, in a cover letter, or after an offer is made, be sure to make clear how long, and when, you’re free to be at the office. These places understand that you’re in school, and they’re generally quite accommodating of your schedule. However, if you’re not up front about how much time you can dedicate to their workload, it could lead to greater problems down the road.
- Try to make a weekly routine, and stick to it!
During the Fall of 2015, I interned on a Sunday morning political talk show that required me to be at the studio by 5:00 AM. This meant waking up around 3:30 AM, and thus, made getting any other work done all of Sunday a near impossibility. However, I was able to weather this situation by getting in the habit of doing more work during the week, and by never letting anything due on Monday linger past Saturday. While your internship may not have such odd hours, it will be important to make weekly habits and to stick to them as best as you can, including your non-academic commitments.
So, there you have it: my three top tips for how to successfully intern during the year. While it may not be the best thing for everyone to do, holding a Spring or Fall internship can be an effective way to take advantage of some of the best opportunities available in the district. I hope this mini-guide to undertaking such a commitment has helped you in some way, and that whether it is during the Fall, Spring, or Summer, you’re able to pursue your professional interests during your time at GW.
#HonorsProblems: Knowing When to Quit
The following post was written by Peer Advisor Prakriti, a sophomore in CCAS studying economics and political science.
Making the Most of Student Organizations At GW: Knowing When to Quit
Student organizations are an important part of college; they are where you meet many of your friends, explore passions outside the academic realm, and become involved with your community. As a result, students often struggle with knowing if and when it is the right time to quit a student organization. In fact, it is probably one of the hardest things to consider about a student organization, especially for those of us who tend to overcommit and are highly motivated to be involved.
Quitting tends to come with a negative connotation. But ‘quitting’ is not always bad. There sometimes comes a point when being in an organization is not worth it anymore and quitting becomes the best action to take. It does not make you less smart or motivated or involved. Sometimes doing the right thing for yourself is leaving one organization so you can pursue something else more beneficial.
As a quick disclaimer, this post is not trying to promote quitting student organizations or not getting involved. I am not advising to drop every single organization that takes up some of your time or gives you one negative experience. At that rate, you wouldn’t be involved with anything. However, this post is to prompt students to consider the environment they are in and ask if they are getting the experiences that they want. If you aren’t happy in the organizations you are in, then you should at least reconsider your involvement.
If you are confused about leaving an organization, here are some factors to consider that will hopefully make your choice a little easier:
- Time. Consider how much time your organization is taking up and pay attention to whether you find yourself skipping classes, ignoring homework, or avoiding sleep on a regular basis. You may need to tone down your individual involvement or, if hours are not flexible, consider leaving the organization.
- Benefits and Opportunities. Consider the opportunities that the organization gives you. Sometimes an organization looks great on paper or social media, but it may not actually be what you hoped for, and it isn’t worth being in an organization just so you can list it on a resume; if you cannot genuinely speak to the ways in which it helped you grow, then it probably is not worth your time.
- The Opportunity Cost. Being heavily involved in an organization takes away from other things you could be doing. Keep your options open and know that it is okay at times to leave something when a better opportunity comes your way. You cannot do everything and need to pick and chose your commitments carefully with your personal goals and the future in mind.
- Socializing. Joining a student organization does not necessarily guarantee that you will make friends or more often times, that you will make the friends that you want. If you find yourself questioning the character of people you spend your time with or realize that you are not having fun, then you might want to consider leaving that organization for another one.
- Losing Friends. You might find that a student organization is not worth it for you personally, but you do not want to lose the great friends that you have made. Keep in mind that if these people are actually your friends, then it won’t matter that you quit.
- Time Investment. A major reason I didn’t want to quit an organization in the past was that I felt I had already invested so much time into it. I know it might be hard to negate the time you’ve already spent, but a lot of times, it is just cognitive dissonance and not a valid reason to stay in an organization.
- Quitting is “Bad”. Students feel like by quitting, they are admitting that they couldn’t handle the pressure or that they failed. However, quitting is not always a bad thing. Make sure that you are quitting for the right reasons and are following the path that you want.
Deciding to leave a student organization can be daunting and there are a lot of factors to consider. At the end of the day, however, there is really only one fundamental question to consider – Are you happy in the organization that you are in? If you don’t know the answer, then you should rethink your involvement. While I would not advocate making a rash decision, I would suggest reconsidering the pros and cons with your involvement. You might decide to reduce your involvement, rethink your approach to an organization, or quit altogether. Trust your instincts – you know what is good for you better than you may realize.
Study Ablog: Picking the Right Country
The following post was written by Peer Advisor Maggie, a senior in the Elliott School. Maggie is double majoring in International Affairs and Chinese Language and Literature, and was selected for the prestigious Schwarzman Scholars Fellowship to continue her graduate studies in China.
Choosing the right study abroad program can be hard. There are so many options for the places you can go and the types of programs you in which you can participate. This often is overwhelming, especially considering you prepare for your study abroad experience during freshman and sophomore year when your ideas about what you want to major in and do with your life are maturing. Despite having to make such an important choice so early on, I am here to share my own words of wisdom:
When choosing a study abroad experience you should maintain the perspective that study abroad should not be a vacation, but an academic endeavor. When selecting a program, it should line up with what you are studying in college, enhance your on-campus experience, and help solidify your career aspirations. Moreover, you should think about how you will capitalize on the experience once you return to the U.S.
Students should view study abroad as an opportunity to create a narrative for themselves that makes them stand out from the crowd. However, this means that from an academic and career perspective often times the study abroad experience you should choose will be much more challenging. And this can be more difficult when your friends and classmates participate in programs with less rigorous coursework and allow them more freedom to travel. For instance, while you might be spending your summer in Tajikistan working on your Persian, your friends will be posting photos of them eating baguette and cheese at the Eiffel Tower or from a beach in Fiji. Though this stark difference is hard to reconcile when you come back, putting in the time and effort to complete a rigorous study abroad program that adds to your academic narrative pays dividends.
While on the Critical Language Scholarship in China, I was able to try my hand at calligraphy
If you select programs that parallel your on-campus studies, these experiences can often be used in applications for grants and fellowships that will allow you to study and do research abroad for free – for example, through a Boren Scholarship, Fulbright, Critical Language Scholarship, to name a few. Moreover, if you are able to articulate why your experience abroad was significant, it can be used in applications for graduate school and post-graduation job interviews.
As a double major in Chinese and International Affairs, I began to study abroad the summer after my freshman year. Motivated by my Chinese classes at GW, I wanted to push my language development beyond the pace available in a classroom in the U.S. I chose to attend an intensive, immersive Chinese summer language program in Kunming, where we spoke Chinese 24/7 and the rate at which I felt my language improve was phenomenal. During all three summers I have been at GW, I have participated in three intensive Chinese language programs both in Mainland China and Taiwan. Of these three experiences, I have only had to pay in full for the first one.
My perseverance through a challenging summer in Kunming allowed me to craft a narrative about myself to apply to and be awarded the GW Sigur Center Language fellowship to study Chinese in Taiwan, and most recently U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship to study in Dalian, China. By selecting a first study abroad experience that was well suited to my academic pursuits, I was able to position myself as a serious student of Chinese and China and become a more unique applicant to grants and scholarships for continued language training abroad, and a more competitive applicant for post-graduation opportunities.
Choosing a study abroad program is not easy, and I encourage you to ultimately choose the less easy path. When selecting a program, think: “what program will enhance my studies and develop me for future pursuits?” For me, study abroad has been no walk in the park; it has been three summers of hard, hard work. But I would do it again year after year because it made me a better student and more competitive in almost all aspects of my life.
#HonorsProblems: Taking Contract Courses
The following post was written by Peer Advisor Sam, a CCAS junior double majoring in political science and communication.
A week into the semester and you’ve started questioning your course-load. “Why did I decide to take two WIDS at the same time?” “I don’t think I actually want to take acting as my GPAC arts credit.” “Was taking ALL the sciences this semester really such a great idea?”
You think about how you’re going to talk yourself through it. “I just need organization,” you might say. But soon you find yourself on the registrar’s website again, scrolling classes that seem perpetually full. Then you remember you’re in the Honors Program, and you have a sweet solution for this problem: CONTRACT COURSES!
But do you qualify? Is it even possible? CAN IT BE DONE?!
As you freak out, the Honors Program gods (*Cough* Catherine and Mary *Cough*) shine a light down on you when you ask “Who can take these classes?” They mix fairy dust, love, and magic together when they sprinkle you with the answer “Anyone who is interested.”
So you think to yourself, “This is too good to be true.” You’ve realized that you can get credit for an internship, do independent research, or even find an Honors research assistantship. All you have to do is find a professor who will supervise your work and meet with you regularly to review your progress.
This sounds amazing. Incredibly, it turns out to be even better than you’ve originally anticipated. You find that professor who you connect with, you talk to the boss at your internship, and you start drafting ideas for an incredible paper.
This paper helps you grow beyond that boring lecture you dropped. Your research makes you interesting to other students, faculty, and real-world folk. People start to ask about your research. Organizations and future internships become interested in you because you took initiative as an undergraduate. Future you looks back on current you and nods in approval.
Current you realizes that you need to take one of these classes immediately. So where do you start? Make an appointment with a Program Officer to talk specifics. Then, head on over to this page for some clarifying points, draft a proposal, and then jump right in to your new favorite semester. You done good, honors student.
The Extra-Curricular: #PreLawLife
The following post was written by Peer Advisor Zach, a sophomore History major minoring in Jazz Studies and Law & Society. Zach is also (spoiler alert) pre-law.
Happy New Year, UHP!
This week’s extracurricular is applicable to what I know to be a sizeable chunk of the Honors Program: individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in the legal field. As a Freshman entering GW with a defined career goal, I came to realize quickly that I knew little about how to approach my undergraduate career in a fashion that would advance my future interests most effectively. A year and a half later, I’m still figuring it out, but I certainly have a much better idea about what the #PreLawLife looks like. Below, I’ve compiled a survey of the multitudinous opportunities (mostly extracurricular, but some curricular as well) available to you as a GW student (and a UHP student) to advance your interests in Law.
A quick disclaimer: I’m a sophomore. I haven’t applied to law school yet. Who knows, I could be completely off my rocker with this stuff. Below is merely a summary of my experiences with the various Pre-Law organizations and opportunities that you might be interested in exploring. By no means are any of the below things that you should feel are “required” for your law school application. If you have any questions about the process of applying to law school, what’s required, and what’s not, get in touch with Michael Gabriel, GW’s Pre-Law Advisor, who can be reached at mgabriel@gwu.edu.
I’ll touch on four different items which have had an impact on my experience thus far and have helped me explore my interest in Law: my involvement with the Pre-Law Student Association and the Undergraduate Law Review, the GW Pre-Law Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta (Law Fraternity International), the Law & Society Minor, and an Honors course recommendation.
Let’s begin at the obvious starting point: The Pre-Law Student Association, a student group that seeks to educate undergraduates on the law school experience and expose students to the legal profession. I have been a member since the beginning of my Freshman year, and the experience has been well worth the price of dues for the sheer number of resources and opportunities afforded to me. For a meager $20, the PLSA provides LSAT workshops, professional development events, and writing opportunities that aim to educate students about the profession. Participation is entirely voluntary; if you are a pre-law student, there are few reasons to NOT pay your PLSA dues to stay in the loop about exciting opportunities.
Should you wish to get more involved with the PLSA, you can apply to be a writer for the GW Justice Journal, the PLSA’s weekly blog, or the prestigious GW Undergraduate Law Review. Both publications provide invaluable writing or editing experience, but the latter is one of the most exciting opportunities imaginable for an ambitious pre-law student. Over the course of a year, you will conduct in-depth research on a legal issue of your choosing, write a full-length law review article on your findings, undergo a rigorous editing process with students and professional editors critiquing your work, and ultimately be published in one of the nation’s roughly twenty undergraduate law reviews. Writing is one of the most important skills you will need in law school and for the entirety of your legal career; it’s never too early to begin thinking critically about the complex issues you will tackle as your career begins.
Membership in the PLSA automatically qualifies you to write for both of the above publications. And, if all of the above wasn’t enough, your $20 dues gets you a pretty swagtastic t-shirt. What’s there to complain about?
Next up, GW’s Pre-Law Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta, Law Fraternity International. I rushed PAD during the Fall of my freshman year, and it’s an experience that I would unquestionably recommend to any student interested in law. Like the PLSA, PAD seeks to educate its members about the legal profession, offering law school workshops, LSAP prep courses, and professional development opportunities. What sets PAD apart is the inherent qualities that come attached to Greek Life: brotherhood, social camaraderie, and community service. I think of PAD as a place where I can commiserate with fellow aspiring lawyers, network, and grow as a person by sharing in the wonderful experiences of my brothers. PAD is by no means for everyone, but it is an incredible way to connect with other people of similar interests.
Though there is a formal Rush process in the Spring and Fall, you can join PAD at any time in the semester. Another interesting note about PAD is that it is not an “exclusive” organization; our National Mandates requires we accept all applicants, regardless of career or major interests. Thus, PAD is a great organization to join if you’d like to explore whether or not Law might be the right career path for you—many of our most prominent alumni, former Presidents, etc. ultimately do not go on to law school after graduation (many, of course, do as well). Spring rush is upcoming; stop by at the Spring Org Fair or check out our Facebook page for more information.
Now, we move on to some more “curricular” items. I’ll preface this second half by reiterating what you’ve hopefully heard from a whole lot of different places in your time at GW: There is no specific major or classes you need to take in order to qualify you to attend law school. Unlike medical school and other professional schools, law school admissions factor in two basic statistics to make their admission decisions: your GPA and your LSAT score. You can major in anything you want, provided that you are passionate about the subject material and thus can excel academically. What’s that? You thought you had to major in Political Science to have any chance of getting into law school? Bah humbug! I’m a History major with minors in Jazz Studies and Law & Society. Remember, law school is where you learn how to be a lawyer, not as an undergrad. That being said, there are certainly some opportunities to take advantage of your inherent interest in the law starting NOW.
Like, for instance, the Law & Society minor—the closest thing that GW has to a Pre-Law minor, though you don’t need to declare it in order to be considered “pre-law” at GW, nor is it exclusive to Pre-Law students. It’s essentially a convenient packaging of many of the courses that GW offers that address legal topics: US Constitutional History, Sociology of Law, Patent Law for Engineers, Media Law, etc. Housed in the Sociology Department, entrance to the minor requires that you have maintained a minimum 3.3 GPA and at least 30 hours of coursework at GW. Visit http://sociology.columbian.gwu.edu/minor-law-society for more information, or contact Dr. Fran Buntman, the Law and Society Minor Coordinator, at fbuntman@gwmail.gwu.edu.
And finally, I’ll throw in a quick plug to one of my favorite courses from last semester, a course that should be required for any pre-law Honors student: HONR 2047—Justice and the Legal System I with Professor Jill Kasle. Make no mistake: JLS is not an easy course. It is mentally challenging and requires you to think and write critically in a way you otherwise will not need to until law school. Prof. Kasle makes it clear on Day 1 that the goal of JLS is to expose you to what a first-year Constitutional Law class is like. She unequivocally succeeds; you will walk out on the final day of class with a clear picture of what 1L Day One will look like.
An added benefit of the class: Prof. Kasle is an invaluable resource to anyone who wishes to pursue a career in law, but she only advises students who she has had as students. So, if you want to have access to one of GW’s best-kept advising secrets, sign up for JLS when fall registration rolls around!
A few parting thoughts: Remember that participation in extracurricular activities can only provide as much of a return as you put in. Joining an organization to say you joined it won’t even have the faintest of relevance on your law school application. Law schools will place a higher premium on a display of passion for a specific activity than mere nominal involvement. Don’t just write for the ULR because it will look good on your resume, go into the experience expecting to learn something and defend your passion for writing. Don’t just rush PAD to put it on your resume, plan to attend social events and professional development sessions to enhance yourself. Don’t just join any of these organizations or incorporate any of my curricular suggestions into your Four-Year Plan because you think they themselves will help your chances at admission to your dream law school, but rather because you are passionate about the mission of the organization or the course.
Have more questions about Pre-Law? Feel free to shoot me an email at zsanders@gwmail.gwu.edu! Can you tell I love to talk about this stuff?
Apply to Be a Peer Advisor!
Honors Peer Advisors are an integral part of UHP advising, providing mentorship to new Honors students and providing a student perspective for the Honors community at large. They advise on honors experiences, classes, housing, and all the facets of life at GW as a Honors student.
Are you interested in applying to be an Honors Peer Advisor? Applications are now open!
- Apply here if you’re applying as a new Honors Peer Advisors
- Apply here if you’re applying as a returning Honors Peer Advisors
- Apply here if you’re interested in a leadership position with the Honors Peer Advisors. Please note that leadership candidates should also fill out a regular application.
The application deadline is Friday, January 15. Please contact uhppeers@gwu.edu with questions regarding the application.
#HonorsProblems: Going Home for Winter Break
This post was written by Peer Advisor Naomi, a CCAS junior studying biology and English.
Finals have finished, your bags are packed and you’re about to say bye to your friends for the first time since you met them. You get some snacks for the road and head out of the dorms for three weeks.
You try to control your excitement as you imagine sleeping in your bed, seeing your family and probably doing no school work during this much needed vacation.
Except you’re forgetting one important thing: The freedom that you have enjoyed for four months won’t be present over these next three weeks. You will be living with your family again, following their rules, and doing what they say. It’s difficult, considering you have been able to decide your own curfew for the past four months … will you be able to adjust?
When I left West Hall mid-December to make the (soOoOo incredibly long) trek back to Mclean, VA, I had to keep reminding myself that being back home after four months of college would be familiar, but different. And that is not necessarily a bad thing! There would obviously be great home-cooked food and a lot of Netflix with the family. My parents are very understanding and gave me a lot of freedom in high school (hi Mom!), but when I came back for break, I was expected to adhere to rules and still do the same chores as I did as a high school senior. I still had to tell my family where I was going before I headed out for the evening and was told I had to be back before 12. All these rules were not difficult to follow, but make sure you are able to sit down with your family before winter break is well under way to discuss guidelines. Will you have to check in with your siblings or parents before taking the car? Does your mom want you home on the Sundays for family dinners? The earlier you have this conversation, the more stress free your winter break will be!
Family time is awesome, sometimes. That’s why we have our friends back home: for complaining, laughing, crying and everything in between. Hopefully, some of your friends from high school will be in town at the same time and you all will get to catch up! Don’t feel disheartened if your friends seem to have changed a little bit. You never know: maybe they think you have changed as well! College is an essential part of finding ourselves. Through our various experiences and interests, we develop a personality by a combination of the new and the old. Talk about these new experiences and reminisce about the old with your friends. Grab coffee at your favorite place in town or go bowling at the neighborhood bowling alley! Things may not be the same as high school, but nothing is stopping you from having a good time like before.
Winter break will always be bittersweet, but it is all about attitude. If you approach break with a general idea of what you want to do, whether it be catch up on sleep, friends, family or all three, you will feel much more energized come spring semester when it is time to crack down for class!
