George Washington University students are the “most politically active” in the nation, according to the 2015 edition of the Princeton Review’s college guide, “The Best 379 Colleges,” released on Monday.
This is the second consecutive year that GW students have earned the top spot, which was awarded following the Princeton Review’s annual survey of 130,000 students at 379 colleges nationwide.
“Students are attracted to GW because of their passion for service and for many of us that translates into a love of politics,” Student Association President Nick Gumas said. “GW also has very active political student organizations that bring established political figures to speak on campus, and provide the student body with ample opportunities to get involved.”
GW boasts three active political student organizations, including GW College Republicans, GW College Democrats and GW College Libertarians. Not only do students experience a university-wide commencement on the National Mall, located just four blocks from the Foggy Bottom Campus, they also witness history in the making every four years as the nation celebrates the presidential inauguration in their own backyard.
“Students are attracted to GW because of their passion for service and for many of us that translates into a love of politics."
- Student Association President Nick Gumas
The university’s unique location at the center of the seat of government also offers students the opportunity to engage in their political passions through experiential learning with faculty experts and as interns at the White House, on Capitol Hill and a variety of government agencies and non-governmental organizations, such as the State Department and the World Bank.
The university also attracts top-flight political leaders to campus. Just this year, GW has had visitors like former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor; former Secretary of State Colin Powell, M.B.A. '71; and Vice President Joe Biden.
The Princeton Review also recognized GW among colleges in highly rated cities, universities with the best residence halls and schools with the most popular study abroad programs.