Thoughts on Georgetown

[Anonymous]

I thought would be at the top of my kid’s list, definitely checked every box on paper. We are not from DMV so being in DC in general would be a plus. Tour was chaotic and really leaned into the pre-professional/networking opportunities on campus much more than the educational/intellectual. DD disliked intensely and we skipped out partway through the tour. Facilities did seem kind of meh but that wasn’t a big issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought would be at the top of my kid’s list, definitely checked every box on paper. We are not from DMV so being in DC in general would be a plus. Tour was chaotic and really leaned into the pre-professional/networking opportunities on campus much more than the educational/intellectual. DD disliked intensely and we skipped out partway through the tour. Facilities did seem kind of meh but that wasn’t a big issue.

Did you read the OP? They specifically asked opinions of people from DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought would be at the top of my kid’s list, definitely checked every box on paper. We are not from DMV so being in DC in general would be a plus. Tour was chaotic and really leaned into the pre-professional/networking opportunities on campus much more than the educational/intellectual. DD disliked intensely and we skipped out partway through the tour. Facilities did seem kind of meh but that wasn’t a big issue.

DC's experience was similar. The biggest turn-off was that the students gave off a very entitled frat-bro vibe. DC and a friend, who visited at another time, both commented on the beer cans tossed into the shrubbery. Not their vibe at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought would be at the top of my kid’s list, definitely checked every box on paper. We are not from DMV so being in DC in general would be a plus. Tour was chaotic and really leaned into the pre-professional/networking opportunities on campus much more than the educational/intellectual. DD disliked intensely and we skipped out partway through the tour. Facilities did seem kind of meh but that wasn’t a big issue.

DC's experience was similar. The biggest turn-off was that the students gave off a very entitled frat-bro vibe. DC and a friend, who visited at another time, both commented on the beer cans tossed into the shrubbery. Not their vibe at all.

A friend's kid attends and said she's been disappointed by the quality of her student cohort. Not as academically engaged as she expected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought would be at the top of my kid’s list, definitely checked every box on paper. We are not from DMV so being in DC in general would be a plus. Tour was chaotic and really leaned into the pre-professional/networking opportunities on campus much more than the educational/intellectual. DD disliked intensely and we skipped out partway through the tour. Facilities did seem kind of meh but that wasn’t a big issue.

DC's experience was similar. The biggest turn-off was that the students gave off a very entitled frat-bro vibe. DC and a friend, who visited at another time, both commented on the beer cans tossed into the shrubbery. Not their vibe at all.

A friend's kid attends and said she's been disappointed by the quality of her student cohort. Not as academically engaged as she expected.

Non-DVM mom here (sorry!). The tour definitely had more of a "network-y" vibe than intellectual. The tour guides name dropped at least 15 campus visitors/lecturers. Don't think they mentioned classes once. But it makes sense for the location, no?

[Anonymous]

I went there for grad school (MBA)

The sfs and the b-school undergrad are great. Beautiful main campus and quad, but the dorms are a bit older. It’s very close to home for any DC area students so it’s not much of a change and I think that’s a detractor. It’s also in a very weird bubble, white, touristy part of town (my friend from out of town didn’t realize until almost her end of two years of grad school that the city is majority black) that is not very metro accessible, except if you walk to Foggy Bottom or Rosslyn. Parking is horrible and rent off campus is horribly expensive.

It’s not Greek so that might be a plus. There’s only a small amount of students undergrad (1,000?) so again that might be a plus or minus.

Because it is $95,000 a year, it tends to attract rich international students or rich US students. Not exactly my kid’s social strata.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went there for grad school (MBA)

The sfs and the b-school undergrad are great. Beautiful main campus and quad, but the dorms are a bit older. It’s very close to home for any DC area students so it’s not much of a change and I think that’s a detractor. It’s also in a very weird bubble, white, touristy part of town (my friend from out of town didn’t realize until almost her end of two years of grad school that the city is majority black) that is not very metro accessible, except if you walk to Foggy Bottom or Rosslyn. Parking is horrible and rent off campus is horribly expensive.

It’s not Greek so that might be a plus. There’s only a small amount of students undergrad (1,000?) so again that might be a plus or minus.

Because it is $95,000 a year, it tends to attract rich international students or rich US students. Not exactly my kid’s social strata.

Isn't that the price for every private school, give or take a few grand? Why do I hear this complaint about Georgetown more than others?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went there for grad school (MBA)

The sfs and the b-school undergrad are great. Beautiful main campus and quad, but the dorms are a bit older. It’s very close to home for any DC area students so it’s not much of a change and I think that’s a detractor. It’s also in a very weird bubble, white, touristy part of town (my friend from out of town didn’t realize until almost her end of two years of grad school that the city is majority black) that is not very metro accessible, except if you walk to Foggy Bottom or Rosslyn. Parking is horrible and rent off campus is horribly expensive.

It’s not Greek so that might be a plus. There’s only a small amount of students undergrad (1,000?) so again that might be a plus or minus.

Because it is $95,000 a year, it tends to attract rich international students or rich US students. Not exactly my kid’s social strata.

There are 6-7k undergrads

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went there for grad school (MBA)

The sfs and the b-school undergrad are great. Beautiful main campus and quad, but the dorms are a bit older. It’s very close to home for any DC area students so it’s not much of a change and I think that’s a detractor. It’s also in a very weird bubble, white, touristy part of town (my friend from out of town didn’t realize until almost her end of two years of grad school that the city is majority black) that is not very metro accessible, except if you walk to Foggy Bottom or Rosslyn. Parking is horrible and rent off campus is horribly expensive.

It’s not Greek so that might be a plus. There’s only a small amount of students undergrad (1,000?) so again that might be a plus or minus.

Because it is $95,000 a year, it tends to attract rich international students or rich US students. Not exactly my kid’s social strata.

Isn't that the price for every private school, give or take a few grand? Why do I hear this complaint about Georgetown more than others?

Yes. It’s because they give less financial aid.

[Anonymous]

And thoughts as the previously discussed thoughts on this forum a zillion times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:middling private for the price it seems with no real stem quality or offerings. SFS is unattractive given the state of DC.

Is this true? Even with the med school and hospital affiliation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went there for grad school (MBA)

The sfs and the b-school undergrad are great. Beautiful main campus and quad, but the dorms are a bit older. It’s very close to home for any DC area students so it’s not much of a change and I think that’s a detractor. It’s also in a very weird bubble, white, touristy part of town (my friend from out of town didn’t realize until almost her end of two years of grad school that the city is majority black) that is not very metro accessible, except if you walk to Foggy Bottom or Rosslyn. Parking is horrible and rent off campus is horribly expensive.

It’s not Greek so that might be a plus. There’s only a small amount of students undergrad (1,000?) so again that might be a plus or minus.

Because it is $95,000 a year, it tends to attract rich international students or rich US students. Not exactly my kid’s social strata.

Isn't that the price for every private school, give or take a few grand? Why do I hear this complaint about Georgetown more than others?

Yes. It’s because they give less financial aid.

Exactly this. They are known for stingy aid, and don't even participate in QuestBridge. The result is a very affluent student body, which is evident in the vibe some have commented on.

[Anonymous]

Any more info on stem, Georgetown for premed? Can undergrads get research positions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:middling private for the price it seems with no real stem quality or offerings. SFS is unattractive given the state of DC.

Is this true? Even with the med school and hospital affiliation?

It's decent for pre-med, in terms of course offerings and hospital access, but is not known for research opportunities and advising is weak.

[Anonymous]

I’m a Georgetown professor. In my experience GU students are (almost) all very sharp and hard working but they are not all openly intellectually curious. I think many students are so focused on getting on to investment banking/consulting/med school that being in school is just a hurdle to clear like all the ones they cleared to get into Georgetown, so they do the minimum they need to get As and move on. That being said there are some deeply intellectual and curious students and they are able to work with professors if they want - we actively support undergraduate research and I’ve had amazing undergrads I’ve worked with.

The campus is constrained because of space and neighborhood relations. If you visited recently there’s a lot of construction in the main areas. Lots of new dorms are going up and students tell me they are very nice. Food isn’t great from what I hear.

I posted in another thread that I went on the tour and thought it was not awesome. My belief is that being a tour guide is prestigious and hard to do so students do it for the resume rather than the joy of being at Georgetown.

Our big advantage is our location in DC. We get many great speakers and visitors and the off-campus opportunities are fantastic. If you are from DC this isn’t apparent but I’ve hosted many friends kids on visits and they love the idea of being here.