I lived at Columbia Plaza during my undergraduate studies at GW thirty years ago. I came back again for graduate studies at GW Law.

There are so many pluses with these apartments.

Pros:
All utilities are included.
Prices are extremely reasonable for the area.
Apartments are HUGE.
Balconies are also huge and very private.
Huge walls of windows in most units, with a sliding window door to balcony.
Views are great for most units.
Building management is very nice and they take care of everything you need. They will even change light bulbs for you.
There is a small gym included, and laundry in the buildings.

Cons:
Hard to think of any, but I guess the lacking of windows in many units can be annoying.
There are large window doors going to the balcony, but the screens they provided don't really fit the entire door so not great for keeping out bugs.
Units facing 23rd street do get a lot of noise.

Love it, highly recommend it!

The buildings are old, but fine. Maintenance responds decently quickly. Slow elevators. Large spaces for the cost. Utilities included is nice. Good location close to campus for the cost too. Gym isn't super fancy but it's adequate. No pool or rooftop access.

This is a no-frills apartment, best for those who want to save money and live close to the university or GW Hospital. It has good square footage, floor plan, light, and a balcony. It does not have updated amenities and AC/heating are by the season, so it can get quite warm when the seasons change and the AC is not on. Amenities (gas, electricity, water) are included which is nice. There is a gym, which is very basic. The biggest issue is that it overlooks a highway and so it is very loud, which makes it difficult to enjoy the nice weather and balcony. The view of the Kennedy Center and sunset is very nice, though. Just a few minutes walk from the monuments, Georgetown waterfront, and metro.

Very easy commute to school, very spacious, accessible gym, friendly front desk, overall very happy. Sometimes inconveniences such as water shutting off or electricity going out for maintenance purposes but nothing major.

I have enjoyed living here and the rent is a bit high but makes sense for the area. I have a studio and it's plenty big. Another big perk is that I don't need a cosigner as a law Student (also true for graduate students). Would recommend if you prioritize convenience and want utilities other than Internet included in your rent.

While I pay more in rent than some of my peers, it still feels reasonable for living alone in Foggy Bottom. I don't have great views from my windows, but it's a spacious apartment with room for a small living area and dining table. The front desk staff are very nice and recognize you if you visit frequently.

The apartment is a good size/price (comparable to the area), a great location in regards to proximity to the law school (especially in your 1L year I recommend staying close to campus). Also close to the Foggy Bottom metro (~ 5 min walk), Whole Foods (~ 5 min walk), and Trader Joes (~10-15 minute walk). Overall a nice apartment for price and location.

Spacious and close to school

As a law student, my apartment is the place where I go to unwind after a long day and do my readings for class. Columbia Plaza is a quiet community that allows me to live and study undisturbed. The fact that that have communal heating and air conditioning is a little annoying, but apart from that it is an excellent place in which to live as a student.

I spend more than most at Columbia plaza because I upgraded to a larger, upgraded one bedroom. I have a very large walk in closet and plenty of space for my partner and I to both work from home. The building is older without the newer amenities (pool) but it’s worth the price for the square footage, proximity to GW Law, and utilities included. I also pay extra to park my car in the garage parking (another $200/month). It is in Foggy Bottom so there is not much night life or trendy restaurants nearby