George Washington Universitys urban location in downtown Washington, D.C., is ideal for fans of politics and city life. The school is spread out across the D.C. Foggy Bottom neighborhood, near the State Department and about a mile away from museums on the National Mall and the Washington Monument. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, and, starting with the Class of 2018, juniors are required to live on campus as well. The schools sports teams are nicknamed the Colonials, and compete in the Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. A costumed student called George, named for George Washington, is the school mascot, though an 10-foot inflatable character known as Big George and an on-campus statue of a hippopotamus are unofficial mascots. There are more than 400 organizations on campus, and students can start their own clubs with an original idea and nine other members. About 25 percent of students are involved in the schools large Greek system. The TRAiL program takes students on outdoor excursions like hiking, kayaking and horseback riding. Student publications include the GW Hatchet, The Daily Colonial and The GW Patriot.The school has broad graduate offerings, and its Law School and Graduate School of Education and Human Development are particularly well regarded. Among the scores of famous GW graduates are politicians Harry Reid and Eric Cantor, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and performers including Kerry Washington. Alec Baldwin attended GW but did not graduate.

Loyola Marymount Universitythe largest Catholic university on the West Coastis located in Los Angeles. LMU provides housing to more than 3,000 students in its residence halls, apartments, and houses. There are about 150 student clubs and organizations on campus, including nearly 15 Greek chapters. Students interested in media can join the radio station; The Los Angeles Loyolan, a student newspaper; The Tower, a university yearbook; or ROAR Network, a television channel. The Loyola Marymount Lions field a number of Division I athletic teams and compete in the West Coast Conference. Club sports like the surfing, rugby, and ski and snowboard are also popular among students.LMU is comprised of seven schools and colleges. Graduate programs include the College of Business Administration, Loyola Law School, and School of Education. All undergraduateswhether members of Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering, College of Business Administration, College of Communication and Fine Arts, or School of Film and Televisionmust complete the core curriculum. More than 500 students study abroad each year through LMU programs in Melbourne, Australia; Bonn, Germany; and Seoul, South Korea, among other locations. Notable alumni include Brian Helgeland, who wrote the screenplays for films Mystic River and L.A. Confidential, and famous lawyer Johnnie Cochran, who defended O.J. Simpson.