dali99

I at first looked at craigslist and found some nice places that fit my criteria. But I am quite hesitant to sign a lease without inspecting the room in advance. (I won't be in the US until mid August.) So now I'm using GW's message board on offcampus housing to find a group of roommates and look for housing. If this fails, I'll just look for housing when I arrive DC in late August.

How did you find out about the link of the Vanderbilt Gateway? IIE asked me to sign an acceptance form if I want to attend this gateway. I did and haven't heard anything from them since. Anyway, is there anyone else going to the gateway in Vanderbilt?

I agree with bhikhaari. You can sign the lease if the landlord is ok. But it's strongly recommended that you inspect the room before signing any lease. As for my case, I'll be arriving D.C in the third week of August, and house-hunting for about ten days before classes begin. I know it'll be stressful, but I'd rather have the stress now than regret signing a long-term lease later. G'luck.

Hi Mal83, we'll be in the same program! Have you decided on which concentration? I already registered for classes: 2 required for first-year IDS and one anthro class. I'm also looking into Northern Virginia, but Clarendon/Courthouse and the surrounding neighborhood. Look forward to meeting you in fall!

I've been wondering the same thing. I signed an acceptance form about a month ago and haven't heard anything from the school. So I checked their website and found this: http://elliott.gwu.edu/academics/grad/advising/newstudent.cfm

Hi there, I'll also be going to Elliott. My program is International Development Studies. Did you start looking for housing? Any tips?

Did you make the final decision?

Hi all, I have to decide between the international development program at SIS and Elliott, and would like to know more about your perspectives on the two schools. Both are my top choices and offer me very generous financial packages. I also got external scholarships, so money won't be a problem. Frankly, I will be very happy to attend either school--but that's also the dilemma. About me: I did my undergrad in Europe, majoring in anthropology & development studies. Since then I've been working for international NGOs and UN agencies in different capacities such as program officer, consultant, etc. I apply to the International Development program at both schools because I am very interested in gender issues and applied anthropology. (I secretly hope that one day I will land in a Ph.D. in anthropology if I ever get bored with working for those organizations.) Both schools seem not to be heavily quantitative-oriented and offer tracks/concentrations gender and culture. There are also many gender/anthropologists in the faculties of the two schools. I am an international student, who actually never been to D.C. before. So much of my knowledge about these schools are drawn from their websites. Any information about the programs, student body, internship, career development, etc. at the schools will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance!