Ten Reasons to Live Off-Campus at GWU

Students at George Washington move off-campus sometime during their studies. Sure, the dorms are close, unless they exile you to the Vern.

Dorms are limiting and restrictive. Eventually, you cut the cord and move into The District.

Here are the top 10 reasons that GW students move off-campus.

1. The District

You came to George Washington University, at least in part, to live in one of the most exciting cities in the world. Dining from around the world is a step outside your front door. See a Nationals game. Spend an afternoon gazing at great portraits. Bump into your Congressperson while getting lunch.

Foggy Bottom is a wonderful neighborhood to live in. It is safe and close to the National Mall and its monuments. There are many excellent restaurants to choose from.

We’re just across the street, off Washington Circle, NW. This means we are surrounded by great restaurants, shopping, and city life. We are a quick jog to Riverfront Park and all its trails. Everything around you is steeped in history and rich with culture.

To fully appreciate the fast pace of city life, immerse yourself in it. One of the easiest ways to do this is with the free entertainment that The District offers. You won’t have to pay for entertainment unless you want to.

  • Museums – National Museum of African American History and Culture or Planet Word.
  • Parks – five parks within 1.8 miles.
  • Performances – The Kennedy Center and on the Mall (OK, you might have to pay for a big name).
  • Animals – The National Zoo.
  • Speaker’s Corner, street performers, poetry readings, talks by all the biggest and brightest in politics.

2. Freedom!

Dorms put a lot of restrictions on you. You are living with 100 other people, some rules are necessary. But you are not a first-year student anymore.

Now:

  • You can have more than two guests per resident.
  • Bring in outside guests, too.
  • Guests can stay overnight.
  • You decide what to eat and when.

You are the captain of your own ship now.

3. Single Occupancy Bedrooms

Your bedroom is your own. If you want to stay up late playing Guitar Hero, nothing stops you.

We have spacious, modern apartments, full of natural light, and with all the furnishings and amenities you need to feel right at home.

Need quiet time to study for your nursing test? No problem. The room is all yours, although we can’t stop your roommate from knocking on your door.

Complete privacy in the bedroom – and the bathroom. Ah, sweet solitude.

4. Live In a Place That Is Politics

The District of Columbia is one of a kind. It’s not a state – but it’s fighting to become one. Need a worthy cause? No taxation without representation!

Step out your front door, and you will see a rush of people tied to the political process. Go to a bar? Your congressman is there. Get your coffee in line behind an Ambassador. Politics infuse the air of the District.

You are 5 minutes from the White House. Research your term paper at the Library of Congress. Intern with the Supreme Court. It’s all right there waiting for you.

5. Break Free from Cafeteria Food

You have your kitchen now. If all you are eating this semester is vegan yogurt, stock your fridge and be complete. Cook big meals for your friends, or pack a lunch to campus. You can fill all the cabinets with breakfast cereal if you want.

Our apartments come with brand new, fully-equipped kitchens. They have modern cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and quartz countertops.

If you don’t want to cook, great restaurants (and a couple of just OK ones) surround you.

And if you cook, you do not have to do the dishes immediately. But you do need to wash them pretty soon. Or at least put them in the dishwasher.

6. Pets

Yes, you can have a pet.

(We are covering our ears from the half of you that just squeed loudly.) The Varsity on K allows cats and dogs, with certain restrictions.

7. Try Out Adulting

Don’t know if you are ready to adult? Try it out! Taking control of your life is a prime benefit of living off-campus.

  • Pick out your outfit (from your large closet).
  • Cook your breakfast (on your stainless steel appliances).
  • Do your laundry (in your apartment).
  • Remember to lock up your bike. (We’ve got a safe space for that.)
  • Don’t have a bike? (Try Capital Rideshare)

It’s all yours: a little more responsibility and a lot more independence. Living in The Varsity on K is easy. We provide some top hacks to help you make the transition.

8. Game and Entertainment Room

And billiards.

And TVs to watch the game with friends. And an outdoor patio with a fire pit.

Do you want to host an event but don’t want to have it in your personal space? Enjoy our entertainment area with a chef’s kitchen attached.

We have a gym, too.

  • Free weights.
  • Machines.
  • Cardio equipment.
  • Peloton.
  • Other workout equipment, medicine balls, mats, and more.

And a shared gourmet kitchen.

Studying? We’ve got a quiet study room. And a conference room to study not-so-quietly and in a group. And a computer lab.

9. Spend More Time on the Metro

Do you geek out about public transportation? The Metro is legendary and will take you from your front door to everything in the District and beyond. (Beyond being Virginia and Maryland.)

Washington, D.C. has the best public transportation in the nation. Grab a SmarTrip Card to link you to everything: your Metro trip, your buses, your parking, and much more. We are only 2 blocks (a 1-minute walk) from the Foggy Bottom Metro Station. That’s two blocks from the world.

10. Live Somewhere Modern

You’ve got style, and you want to express it in your living quarters. With a dorm room, your only option is a couple of posters. Those walls, floors, and skinny beds are tired.

We are a pet-friendly building that features studio, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments in the vibrant Foggy Bottom neighborhood.

We designed the Varsity on K for contemporary living for young people. It’s got style. Each apartment is a little different. We have places for you, you and your bestie, or you and your crew. 

The most significant benefit of living off-campus is the District of Columbia itself. This is your life now. Step off-campus and begin to live it.