THRIVEGUIDE THRIVEGUIDE THRIVEGUIDE THRIVEGUIDE THRIVEGUIDE THRIVEGUIDE 2022-23 GSP GSP LIVING IN DC 101 BOOK 4
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S 02 TRANSPORTATION 03 SHOPPING 05 THINGS TO DO 01 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 This document has hyperlinks, so be sure to click on the yellow underlined words! 04 BANKING, INSURANCE & EXPENSES
T R A N S P O R T A T I O N 2 GUTS BUSES THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION SHUTTLE (GUTS) OFFERS FREE SHUTTLES THAT TAKE STUDENTS AROUND THE DMV AREA. THE GUTS BUSES HAVE ROUTES FOR THE LAW CENTER, ROSSLYN, DUPONT CIRCLE, ARLINGTON & WISCONSIN AVE. DC CIRCULATOR THE DC CIRCULATOR IS ONE OF THE CITY’S PUBLIC BUS SYSTEMS (ONLY COSTS $1). THEY ARE THE RED BUSES, AND THE CLOSEST ONE CAN BE FOUND ON WISCONSIN AVE. CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE TO VIEW THE DIFFERENT ROUTES!WMATA THE DC METRO RAIL AND BUS SYSTEM IS RELATIVELY EASY TO LEARN. TO RIDE, BUY A SMARTTRIP CARD AT ANY STATION (OR GET THE VIRTUAL ONE ON YOUR SMARTPHONE). YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD THE DC METRO AND BUS APP TO YOUR PHONE SO THAT YOU CAN BETTER PLAN YOUR TRIPS! GOOGLE MAPS IS ALSO GREAT FOR PLANNING ROUTES! MOBILE APPS Apps like Uber, Lyft, and Empower will be great to use if you're in a rush, but they can be pricey, so walking and public transport is encouraged! ZipCar, Free2Move, and Turo cars are available around campus and great if you need a car for a day. There are many bikes and scooters (Lime, Capital Bikeshare) available around DC that can get you around the city for relatively cheap prices. SAFETY Whether you are on or off campus, download the LiveSafe App for Georgetown. It offers direct communication with the Georgetown University Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department. Check out the GERMS site to see what services they provide. On/near campus, you can request a SafeRide, a free service that provides a safe alternative to walking alone at night.
CVS Safeway Trader Joe’s (We find that this is the most affordable!) Target (multiple locations across DC and one in Rosslyn!) Walmart Whole Foods Costco (A membership is needed, worth the cost if you like to buy in bulk!)
PRO TIP: To increase your financial literacy, a student group called Common $ense holds helpful workshops throughout the year on a variety of topics!
PRO TIP: Always ask if they have a student discount! Campus Restaurants (Beware of your dining out budget - while fun, it can add up!) Travel (during breaks or around DC) Activities Miscellaneous Expenses (anything from room décor to personal hygiene products- these little expenses can add up!) If you have a refund, SAVE IT! You will need to purchase your flights at the beginning and end of each semester and fund your books and supplies! Funds from a refund or a loan should be prioritized for these expenses (not a shopping trip at TJ Maxx)!
CLOTHING
WHAT TO EXPECT!
Join
Social
Georgetown is pricey and so are its stores. Closest to campus is what we call M St, which has a lot of retail stores. Some of the cheaper stores to shop at when looking for clothes are H&M and TJMaxx. Other options we recommend are thrift stores and online retailers or breaking the bubble and heading to Virginia which has a few malls and other options!
SAVVY SPENDING loyalty programs at stores you love to shop at! Your points go a long way with free rewards or extra offers! you are shopping for a credit card for the first time, look at cards with cash back rewards! Sites like NerdWallet help you compare and find cards that are best for you! Online shopping? We love handy browser extensions like Honey that search for codes! prepare for unexpected expenses! Even though you can apply to our Necessity Grant for emergency expenses, sometimes you do have to fund these upfront and submit a grant for review to get a reimbursement - you definitely want to have a little tucked away just in case!
BUDGETING
Off
If
FINANCES: GROCERIES
You want to consider these expenses outside of school related expenses! S H O P P I N G 3
All of these stores are either a short walk away or nearby after taking one of the GUTS buses. (Costco is a ride away in VA, but worth it). Make sure to sign up for their savings programs for extra discounts!
Always
EXPENSES
BANKING Georgetown is a PNC campus, which means that all campus ATMs are for PNC Bank. A PNC branch is located on the corner of Wisconsin and M St. Our student run credit union, called GUASFCU (Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union), is located in the wing across from the Cawley Career Center in Sellinger. You can walk in and sign up for an account. They also have a credit builder program. When preparing to arrive, make sure your bank has a DC branch (especially if you have a local or smaller bank)! Most bank branches are a short 15-20 minute walk from campus on Wisconsin or M St.! Be sure to ask about special accounts and deals for students if you are opening a new account! We find having apps like CashApp or Venmo is helpful too!
PRO TIPS We recommend having your bank account set up as soon as possible so that you can set up direct deposit to receive your grants, refunds, and paychecks faster. Having a bank (debit or credit) card is helpful because all of The Corp locations around campus have gone CASHLESS (and many businesses in DC are cashless!). Make sure to ask your financial aid team about the Student Health Insurance Scholarship at the beginning of every fall semester to see if you are eligible. In the MSB? Look up the MSB Success Fund! Have an emergency expense for something not included in the Cost of Attendance? Submit a Necessity Grant Request! Don't miss out on the First Year Specific Grants we offer! Looking forward: In your 3rd and 4th year, make sure to get those Professional Development Funds! PRO TIPS
ON CAMPUS We recommend that you save up some money during the summer to start off your first year right! Your budget should come around to $1,000 $1,500 for a less stressful year! Contact your financial aid team directly for any questions about your aid package. Your counselor is your BEST resource, but they can only help if you ask! Find out your team's contact information OR call (202) 687-4547. Make sure to check out scholarships for books and computers offered by The Corp and the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access (CMEA) in the beginning of the semester. There are always ways to save money on food, books, etc. Just stop by the GSP office to ask!
B A N K I N G & E X P E N S E S 4
T H I N G S T O D O 5 GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS ARE MOSTLY FREE IN DC! YOU CAN FIND MORE INFO ABOUT THEM ON THE SMITHSONIAN WEBSITE! STAFF SUGGESTIONS! EASTERN MARKET IN CAPITOL HILL IS A GREAT PLACE TO TASTE TEST, WINDOW SHOP, AND ROAM! EVEN IF YOU DON'T BUY ANYTHING, YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT TIME! LIVE! AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS HAS FREE ENTERTAINMENT EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT! YOU CAN EXPERIENCE AMAZING PERFORMANCES, EXHIBITS, AND MANY MORE! THE GEORGETOWN WATERFRONT IS A GU STUDENT STAPLE! YOU CAN EXPLORE THE MANY EATERIES, ENTERTAINMENT, AND A GREAT VIEW OF THE POTOMAC! A LOT OF GU STUDENTS LOVE TO GO TO WOK N' ROLL KARAOKE! IF YOU EVER WANT TO GO OUT WITH FRIENDS AND SING YOUR HEARTS OUT, WE RECOMMEND YOU GO HERE! (STUDENTS GET 10% OFF ON THURSDAYS) PRO TIP: A healthy balance is a MUST. While academics, finances, and responsibilites can be stressful, and at times feel overwhelming, make sure to enjoy your time here! DC has so much to offer!
G E O R G E T O W N S C H O L A R S P R O G R A M @GSPHOYAS GSP.GEORGETOWN.EDU