Advice to Incoming Students on Finding and Building Community

In a few short weeks, the Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses will be bustling with eager first-year students moving into their residence halls, marking the official start of their journeys at the George Washington University, where they will spend formative time cultivating lifelong friendships and memories.

And while the opportunities that lie ahead in the next four years are limitless, some students early on meet peers who will be by their side at some of their most memorable moments-both at GW and beyond.

Eight 2026 graduates-Eva Dudzinska, Alexandra Ennabi, Raina Jacob, Kelly Liu, Maggie Mahasin, Lindsey Mihal, Sophie O'Connell and Emma Rudzinski-met one another during their first semester on campus and remained a tight-knit group throughout their time at GW. They advise first-year students in the Class of 2030 to immerse themselves in their communities, which will only enhance their on-campus experience.

"Make an effort to get to know your roommate(s) and people in your freshman year building," Dudzinska said. "Some people look at roommates as just someone you live with, but that could end up being your best friend, and everyone is trying to make friends freshman year, so the people in your building are your best resource. Just put yourself out there, and you will find your people."

As the Class of 2030 prepares to move in to begin their own GW chapters, the eight newly minted alumni answered a few questions about their favorite traditions, residence halls, roommate experiences and advice for incoming students.

What is your favorite GW tradition and why?

Alexandra Ennabi: I always enjoyed First Night. I loved getting to see all my friends again and see everybody excited for the new school year. Everyone was always high energy and the vibes were great!

Kelly Liu: My favorite GW tradition is Buff and Bloom Week. I look forward to it each year with diverse events back-to-back that help strengthen the GW community. With the week at the end of the semester, it's the perfect time to enjoy the nice weather with your friends and attend exciting events such as activities in U-Yard or Spring Fling.

What was your favorite residence hall you lived in and why?

Eva Dudzinska: My favorite residence hall was Potomac House, which I lived in freshman year. It's my favorite because it is where I met my closest friends that first week of school, and they have remained my best friends to this day. We were all just figuring out college together, and I feel like that was where everything started. If I had not lived there I feel like my college experience would have ended up very differently and I am so grateful that I did.

Maggie Mahasin: JBKO was my favorite residence hall I lived in because of a few reasons. It was so close to the metro, only a few minutes from Duques and Funger Hall (where most of my classes were in my sophomore year), and almost all eight of us lived there, so it was really fun visiting each other's dorms to hang out in our spare time.

What was the best memory at GW you had with your roommates?

Sophie O'Connell: My favorite memories with my roommates were the parties we threw in South Hall, planning a theme and decorating the space, meeting each other's friends, then all working together to clean it up and making food for each other at the end of the night.

Kelly Liu: The best memory at GW with my roommates was watching movies in our dorm. All four of us, Alex, Eva, Maggie and I, were very busy with different classes and extracurriculars; it was difficult to find time for all four of us. When we could, I loved relaxing and laughing in our living room. We ordered food, made snacks and watched reality TV shows or movies on our TV or projector. You could hear us laughing until early morning, and I'll never forget these memories.

What advice would you give to future GW students living on campus?

Maggie Mahasin: A piece of advice I would give to future GW students living on campus is not to let what you're studying confine you or hold too much influence on the path you choose to embark. Instead, join clubs you think are interesting or that resonate with your culture or professional goals. It is completely OK to join a club, go to a few meetings and then decide it's not the right fit for you. All that matters is that you experimented, tried something new and jumped out of your comfort zone.

Raina Jacob: Take advantage of living near all your friends and peers on campus! Make your dorm comfortable and personalize your space.