July 31, 2009   

MEDIA CONTACT: Michelle Sherrard
202-994-1423; mcs1@gwu.edu

GW STUDENTS ARE MOST POLITICALLY ACTIVE IN THE NATION ACCORDING TO PRINCETON REVIEW SURVEY

WASHINGTON--George Washington University students rank first in the nation for "Most Politically Active Students," according to the 2010 Princeton Review: The Best 371 Colleges.

At GW, politically active students are committed to public service and civic engagement. An estimated 72 percent of last year's incoming freshman class volunteered in their community before coming to GW. This commitment to the community continues after matriculation, as more than 2,500 undergraduates contributed 67,000 hours of service in the District and around the country during the 2007-2008 academic year. 

According to a Partnership for Public Service survey, more than half of the 2008 graduating class held one or more internships at some point during their time at the University. About 60 percent of students have held positions in the non-profit sector, while 50 percent complete internships in the public sector. The Partnership for Public Service also found that 82 percent of GW juniors and seniors would consider working for the federal government. Sixty-four percent of students said they had personally sought information on federal opportunities in the past year.

After graduation, an estimated 40 percent of students take jobs in the public, non-profit or college/university sectors. GW is among the top two schools that produce the most finalists for the prestigious Presidential Management Fellowship and is a top feeder school for Teach for America and the Peace Corps. In 2008, Teach for America was the No. 1 employer of GW students, and 66 graduates joined the Peace Corps.

GW students interested in public service have the opportunity to take part in the University's Call to Serve Campaign, which educates students about the career opportunities that are available to them in the federal government. This campaign is the result of a partnership formed between the Partnership for Public Service and GW, and is aimed at developing tools that will be used to teach students across the country about the ways that they can make a difference while building a successful career in the federal government.

Princeton Review surveyed 122,000 students at 371 top colleges and universities and asked them to rate their schools based on categories including best professors and tastiest campus food. Most all the surveys were completed online at http://survey.review.com.

Located in the heart of the nation's capital, The George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821.  Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in Washington, D.C. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business, and international affairs.  Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 130 countries.

For more information on the Princeton Review rankings, visit http://princetonreview.com.
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