G&EE Pre-Arrival Newsletter One: |
Housing, ISAB, and Orientations |
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Hello! Congratulations on your admission and acceptance to the George Washington University School of Business (GWSB)! My name is Elisa Boyea and I am the Program Manager for International Student Services in the Office of Global & Experiential Education (G&EE) at the GW School of Business.
My team and I have communicated via email with each of you to ensure the issuance and receipt of your I-20 or DS-2019. I am eager to meet you face-to-face and learn about your personal, academic, and professional goals. I also look forward to helping you make the most out of your time at GW!
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Here at G&EE, we aim to provide you with visa processing assistance, orientation and social programming, and general support. As a result, you will receive newsletters from our office starting now up to orientation. These newsletters will cover:
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Newsletter One (Today!): Housing, GWSB International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) & Orientation
Newsletter Two (December 1): Immigration, Arrival & Public Transportation
Newsletter Three (December 8): Health Insurance & Healthcare
Newsletter Four (December 15): Finances
Newsletter Five (December 22): Campus Life and Resources
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As always if you have questions or concerns, please direct them to me at sbglobal@gwu.edu.
Best,
Elisa Boyea
Program Manager, International Student Services
GWSB Global & Experiential Education
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| Due to the limited housing available on-campus, GW does not offer on-campus housing for graduate students. However, our team has collected a number of resources over the years that are designed to help you, as an international student, secure housing in Washington, D.C.!
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Graduate students have a number of different options for housing. As a first step, we encourage you to take a look at the following websites and documents:
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At this point, we also suggest thinking about your "must have" list. What features and amenities are you unable to live without? What's nice to have, but not a requirement? This will help you decide which apartments to visit once you arrive in Washington, D.C. For example:
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How many bedrooms do you need to have? How many bathrooms?
- Does it matter if pets are allowed?
- Do you want private outdoor space, like a private balcony?
- Is it necessary for the apartment complex to have a fitness center? A pool?
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You've got the tools, now it's time to decide where you want to live!
First, we recommend learning about your new city and virtually exploring the many different neighborhoods in and around Washington, D.C. A broad overview of D.C. neighborhoods can be found here, and below you will find information about some of the most popular neighborhoods in D.C., Virginia, and Maryland. The information includes average commute time to GW's Foggy Bottom campus and average rent prices.
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Personal preferences are generally the deciding factors in choosing a home:
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Is cost a key issue? The further away from the city, the less expensive the housing.
- Does the neighborhood match your lifestyle and the type of community you want to live in?
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Does the neighborhood feel safe to you? The safety of Washington, D.C. neighborhoods can vary, as can people's comfort levels. You may want to check-out https://crimecards.dc.gov/ for additional information regarding certain areas.
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Will you be using public transportation? Living in the city requires less travel time.
- Do you own a car? Parking outside of the city tends to be less expensive.
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We strongly encourage you to visit any apartment you're interested in - photos can be deceiving, so make sure to check it out in-person! You can use the Apartment Search Checklist when visiting a house or apartment to be sure you find an apartment that meets your wants and needs.
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If you have questions about tenant rights, legal issues, or signing a lease, you can always contact the GW Off-Campus Student Affairs office for assistance.
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International Student Advisory Board |
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Sometimes, talking to someone who has been in your shoes and knows exactly how you're feeling is the best way to ease your concerns!
The GWSB International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) is comprised of one international student representing each of GWSB's graduate programs that have significant international student communities. One of ISAB's main goals is to help incoming international students as they prepare to come to the U.S. and adjust to life in D.C. and at GWSB.
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Our ISAB members would love to hear from you! All our current ISAB members' contact information can be found on the ISAB website: International Student Advisory Board (ISAB). Don't feel shy about contacting any of our members, even if they aren't enrolled in your program - they're all here to help you!
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Spring 2026 Pre-Arrival Q&A Session |
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Join the GWSB Global & Experiential Education (G&EE) team and International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) for the Spring 2026 GWSB Pre-Arrival Q&A Session!
During this optional session you'll have the chance to ask questions, get advice on GW's processes and procedures, and connect with current GWSB international students to get their perspectives about life at GW. The Spring 2026 Pre-Arrival Q&A will start with a brief presentation, but the majority of the session will be dedicated to an open Q&A with Elisa and members of the GWSB International Student Advisory Board (ISAB)!
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Friday, December 5, 2025, 9:00-10:00am EST
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Spring 2026 Pre-Arrival Q&A Session
Hosted by GWSB Global & Experiential Education (G&EE)
Location: Zoom - Link will be sent in the registration confirmation email
Register Here!
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Note that the below-listed mandatory orientations will be held in the month of January and will provide pertinent information for international students relating to immigration and the academic culture at GWSB. These sessions are required of ALL GWSB international graduate students studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa:
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Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 10:00-11:30am EST
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ISO F-1 International Student Orientation
Hosted by the International Services Office (ISO)
Location: Zoom - Link will be sent in the registration confirmation email
Register Here!
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Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 1:30-4:00pm EST
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Spring 2026 GWSB International Student Orientation
Hosted by GWSB Global & Experiential Education (G&EE)
Location: Zoom - Link will be sent in the registration confirmation email
Register Here!
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PROGRAM-SPECIFIC ORIENTATIONS
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Please contact your academic department for dates and times of program-specific orientation sessions
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Our mailing address is:
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Duques Hall, Suite 550
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