The Philosophy

Small (1,000) liberal arts college in large town
Smart goofballs

The Classes

Over 200 classes

The Path

EA Nov 1, notified Dec 15
RD Jan 10, notified April 1
Financial Aid Priority Feb 1, notified April 1

Most students come in undecided
Classes may be taught by grad students
30 majors

The People

Graduate 97% of first generation college students
55% students of color
50% female faculty

The Aid

42% of students get some kind of financial aid, maority of which are scholarships and grants
2019 average scholarship was $40,000

For anyone who wants to be a master of the political universe, this is the place. Strong international and multicultural environment. In the excitement of studying in D.C., students may pay little attention to the Jesuit affiliation, which adds a slightly conservative tinge to the campus. Actively confronting its historical links to slavery. Occupies a tree-lined neighborhood that is home to many of the nation’s most powerful people.

As the oldest and most selective of the nation’s Roman Catholic schools, Georgetown University offers students unparalleled access to Washington, D.C.’s corridors of power. Aspiring politicos benefit from the university’s emphasis on public policy, international business, and foreign service. The national spotlight shines brightly on this elite institution, drawing dynamic students and athletes from around the world. A senior says, “Georgetown balances academics, social life, and faith in an all-encompassing college experience based on ‘care of the whole person.’”

From its scenic location just blocks from the Potomac River, Georgetown affords its students an excellent vantage point from which to survey the world. Established in 1789, the 104-acre campus reflects the history and growth of the first university in the nation to be founded by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). The Federal style of Old North, which once housed guests such as George Washington and Lafayette and is now home to the McCourt School of Public Policy, contrasts with the towers of the Flemish Romanesque-style Healy Hall, a post-Civil War landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

Although Georgetown is a Catholic university, the religious atmosphere is by no means heavy-handed, and the student body tends to be liberal. Roughly half of the undergraduates are Catholic, but all major faiths are respected and practiced on campus. That’s partially due to the pronounced international influence here. The school’s hefty endowment is the largest among the nation’s Jesuit colleges and universities. Georgetown has worked to atone for its historical ties to slavery by offering preferential admissions status to descendants of 272 slaves who were sold in 1838 to keep its doors open. In addition to offering a formal apology, it has created an African American studies department and has been developing an Institute for Racial Justice.

Through its broad liberal arts curriculum, GU focuses on developing the intellectual prowess and moral rigor its students will need in future national and international leadership roles. All students must complete requirements in humanities, philosophy, theology, engaging diversity, and writing; other requirements are specific to each school. Optional Ignatius Seminars, which focus on educating the “mind, body, and spirit,” give first-years the chance to form close relationships with professors and reflect on their work. Would-be Hoyas may apply to one of four undergraduate schools: Georgetown College for liberal arts, the School of Nursing and Health Studies, McDonough School of Business, and the Walsh School of Foreign Service, which gives future diplomats, journalists, and others a strong grounding in the social sciences. Prospective freshmen must declare intended majors on their applications, and their secondary school records are judged accordingly. This means, among other things, intense competition within the college for the limited number of spaces in Georgetown’s popular premed program.

International affairs, international history, international economics, and regional and comparative studies are among the hottest programs, as evidenced by former secretary of state Madeleine Albright’s return to the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS). SFS offers several five-year undergraduate and graduate degree programs in conjunction with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The most popular majors include international affairs, government, international politics, finance, and nursing. Of course, the theology department is also strong. The business school balances liberal arts with professional training, which translates into strong offerings in international business as well as an emphasis on ethical and public policy issues. Curiously, given its location in D.C., Georgetown does not offer an undergraduate public policy major. The School of Nursing and Health Studies runs an integrated program combining the liberal arts and humanities with professional nursing theory and practice. The Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, the only undergraduate program of its kind nationwide, grants degrees in nine languages, as well as degrees in linguistics and comparative literature.

“Students take their coursework very seriously,” says a senior. “The courses are challenging, but it certainly isn’t impossible to do well.” Sixty percent of classes have fewer than 20 students. Georgetown likes to boast about its faculty, and it should. “The professors are outstanding and the teaching is first-rate,” says an American studies major, and TAs are used only to lead discussion sections and recitations. That GU views most subjects through an international lens is evidenced by the fact that 58 percent of the school’s undergraduates study abroad. The Office of Global Education offers more than 210 programs in 57 countries.

A senior says GU students are not the stereotypical “pastel polo and pearl-clad preppies from Long Island.” Eighty-four percent come from states outside D.C., and another 14 percent are international. African Americans make up 6 percent of undergrads, Hispanics 10 percent, Asian Americans 11 percent, and multiracial students 5 percent. A student committee works with the vice president for student affairs to improve race relations and develop strategies for improving inclusiveness and sensitivity to issues of multiculturalism. Georgetown offers no academic merit scholarships, but it does guarantee to meet the full demonstrated need of every admit, and more than 350 athletic scholarships draw athletes of all stripes. The Georgetown Scholarship Program offers financial and academic support to eligible low-income students.

University-owned dorms, townhouses, and apartments accommodate 77 percent of undergrads, and “housing is extremely nice,” says a senior. All dorms are co-ed, and some have more activities and a stronger community feel than others. Two dining halls serve “steadily improving” but expensive fare. GU students feel relatively safe on campus, thanks to the school’s ever-present Department of Public Safety and its walking and riding after-dark escort services.

Jesuits know something about secret societies and thus frown upon fraternities and sororities at their colleges. The lack of a Greek system and the university’s strict enforcement of the 21-year-old drinking age has led to a somewhat decentralized social life, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Alcohol is forbidden in undergrad dorms, and all parties must be registered. The dozens of bars, nightclubs, and restaurants in Georgetown-Martin’s Tavern and the Tombs are always popular-are a big draw, but they can get pricey. Bulldog Tavern, a campus pub in the spectacular student activity center, is a more affordable alternative. Popular annual formals such as the Diplomatic and the Blue/Gray Ball inspire students to dress up and pair off. “Social life is a major part of campus,” says a student. “Kids can easily find their niche.” Georgetown has a reputation as a gay-friendly campus, and regular events include OUTober, a month of LGBTQ pride and awareness events held in October.

Washington offers unsurpassed cultural resources, ranging from the museums of the Smithsonian to the Kennedy Center. “Washington is an ideal place to spend your college years,” says a student. “The city has everything students could want, including culture, shopping, museums, monuments, social life, and the clean and convenient Metro for transportation.” Given the absence of on-campus parking, a car is probably more trouble than it’s worth. Road trips are said to be infrequent.

Should you notice the hills begin to tremble with a deep, resounding, primitive chant-“Hoya Saxa Hoya Saxa”-don’t worry; it’s probably just another Georgetown basketball game. Hoya is derived from the Greek and Latin phrase hoya saxa, which means “What rocks!” Some say it originated in a cheer referring to the stones that formed the school’s outer walls. The Hoya men’s basketball team has a long history of prominence. Recent Division I Big East champions include men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse, as well as men’s cross-country. The thrill of victory in intramural competition at the superb underground Yates Memorial Field House is not to be missed, either.

For anyone interested in discovering the world, Georgetown offers an outstanding menu of choices in one of the nation’s most dynamic cities. Professors truly pay attention to their undergrads and the diverse students, who are “hardworking, diligent, caring individuals,” says one sophomore. “Georgetown is a place where students of all backgrounds, all traditions, and all faiths come together for a common purpose of educating each other and making an impact on the world.”

-Fiske Guide