I want to go to Georgetown but...

[Anonymous]

Tufts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP still hasn't returned to say WHAT he or she wants to study. Of course the thread turned into just a list of names thrown out there. OP, what you want to study matters. Its useless to give names if it turns out those schools don't have departments teaching what you need. Good grief.

Agreed. GU is a different experience depending on what school you're in - eg, college, business or foreign service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am drawn to nearly everything about Georgetown. Urban campus, broad range of LA classes, small class sizes, strong school culture, internship opportunity, etc. But I need to get out of DC. I was born and raised in the district. Parents and both sets of grandparents (all of whom are rather invested in my life shall we say) live here. Kisses to everyone but I need to be in a different city. What schools are similar? I’ve started looking at Emory, Barnard, Rice if that helps. I need some other suggestions though.

I have no advice for you but I need to tell you that your post has really captured my heart. I know that you will find the right place for you, whether that does indeed mean Georgetown or it means finding another school with similar qualities. It is easy to see why your parents and grandparents are "rather invested" in your life. You've got style and class! You are going to land someplace great. Hugs and best wishes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to Georgetown SFS because I wanted to work in the government (which I do). I think it was excellent preparation for my job. However, I don't necessarily think it's the best option for people who aren't very sure they want to pursue a career in the government, DC-based non-profits, international banking, or some areas of the law. I think Georgetown is particularly strong in those areas, but like others said, the facilities are not great and the overall campus culture isn't quite as strong as at other schools.

To make it worth it, you really need to want to use your college education to prepare you for a DC-based career.

I'm hoping Georgetown will improve their campus as they aim to raise more money -- it's worth noting that they've only had an endowment for 20 years.

Ummm. If you are pre-med/biomes/genetics, etc it’s a great school...with Georgetown hospital right there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Johns Hopkins University. It doesn't get a lot of love here on DCUM but it is a great school and every kid I know who has gone there has loved it.

My husband is an alum. I’ve been to many alumni events/homecomings.

It’s not exactly a fun school—-very high stress. Everyone is in the library all the damn time. Campus is not in a great area.

But, it is a fantastic school and very hard to get into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Johns Hopkins University. It doesn't get a lot of love here on DCUM but it is a great school and every kid I know who has gone there has loved it.

My husband is an alum. I’ve been to many alumni events/homecomings.

It’s not exactly a fun school—-very high stress. Everyone is in the library all the damn time. Campus is not in a great area.

But, it is a fantastic school and very hard to get into.

I can't think of any Top 20 school that doesn't have a hard-core study rep. At that level you DO have to study all the time. I can't tell you from personal experience because I went to a Big 10 party school lol. Our kids go to Top 20 schools. I know their schools are grinds and they are in the library all the time, too. Anyway, I don't think Hopkins is different from the others in terms of study and library expectations.

[Anonymous]

Barnard alumna here — I had to decide between Barnard and Georgetown. I think they’re very similar! Barnard wins on all the things you mention (urban campus, small classes, liberal arts, internship options). The only thing it doesn’t have as much as is school spirit, which is true for all the NYC schools. Don’t go to any of them if you want to go to a sports game or join a sorority.

Other options: Tufts, Rice, Emory

To the people saying Notre Dame — the only similarity with Gtown is that it’s Catholic! It’s not in a good city, and it’s VERY conservative. I don’t get the sense that that’s what OP is going for.

[Anonymous]

Barnard PP again. I wanted to add that I have a lot of friends who went to a lot of the colleges others are recommending. Wanted to share my thoughts about that too:

* Rice - the happiest people at any college. Really smart, great liberal arts college. Downside is it doesn’t have as much cache outside of Texas and might be hard to find a job if you want to move back up East.

* Tufts - smart stoners. Everyone I know there is super smart, creative, and nice, but not the most ambitious.

* Emory - all the women I know who went there are very sweet, quietly ambitious, and nerdy smart. A lot of the guys I know who went there are bro-y. Not sure what to make of that. Large Jewish community if you’re looking for that.

* Johns Hopkins - everyone who went there is brilliant and has had a great career since graduating, but they also HATED it. They were all miserable every second there. But appreciate how good the education was.

* Notre Dame - sorry to say but I have had a very bad impression of the culture. Lots of mini Brett Kavanaughs... lots of drinking and disrespect towards women and gay people. But good education.

* BU - tons of smart people with big plans. But the school is really big and impersonal so I don’t think it’s what OP is going for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Barnard PP again. I wanted to add that I have a lot of friends who went to a lot of the colleges others are recommending. Wanted to share my thoughts about that too:

* Rice - the happiest people at any college. Really smart, great liberal arts college. Downside is it doesn’t have as much cache outside of Texas and might be hard to find a job if you want to move back up East.

* Tufts - smart stoners. Everyone I know there is super smart, creative, and nice, but not the most ambitious.

* Emory - all the women I know who went there are very sweet, quietly ambitious, and nerdy smart. A lot of the guys I know who went there are bro-y. Not sure what to make of that. Large Jewish community if you’re looking for that.

* Johns Hopkins - everyone who went there is brilliant and has had a great career since graduating, but they also HATED it. They were all miserable every second there. But appreciate how good the education was.

* Notre Dame - sorry to say but I have had a very bad impression of the culture. Lots of mini Brett Kavanaughs... lots of drinking and disrespect towards women and gay people. But good education.

* BU - tons of smart people with big plans. But the school is really big and impersonal so I don’t think it’s what OP is going for.

+ 1.

Most on target post of a set of schools. Ever.

I wish I knew you because I love your easy insightfulness. Fun and smart!

[Anonymous]

OP, I liked your post too.

How about Northeastern for your list? More urban, some great programs, fun city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Barnard PP again. I wanted to add that I have a lot of friends who went to a lot of the colleges others are recommending. Wanted to share my thoughts about that too:

* Rice - the happiest people at any college. Really smart, great liberal arts college. Downside is it doesn’t have as much cache outside of Texas and might be hard to find a job if you want to move back up East.

* Tufts - smart stoners. Everyone I know there is super smart, creative, and nice, but not the most ambitious.

* Emory - all the women I know who went there are very sweet, quietly ambitious, and nerdy smart. A lot of the guys I know who went there are bro-y. Not sure what to make of that. Large Jewish community if you’re looking for that.

* Johns Hopkins - everyone who went there is brilliant and has had a great career since graduating, but they also HATED it. They were all miserable every second there. But appreciate how good the education was.

* Notre Dame - sorry to say but I have had a very bad impression of the culture. Lots of mini Brett Kavanaughs... lots of drinking and disrespect towards women and gay people. But good education.

* BU - tons of smart people with big plans. But the school is really big and impersonal so I don’t think it’s what OP is going for.

Your post about ND is SO off base..,fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Barnard PP again. I wanted to add that I have a lot of friends who went to a lot of the colleges others are recommending. Wanted to share my thoughts about that too:

* Rice - the happiest people at any college. Really smart, great liberal arts college. Downside is it doesn’t have as much cache outside of Texas and might be hard to find a job if you want to move back up East.

* Tufts - smart stoners. Everyone I know there is super smart, creative, and nice, but not the most ambitious.

* Emory - all the women I know who went there are very sweet, quietly ambitious, and nerdy smart. A lot of the guys I know who went there are bro-y. Not sure what to make of that. Large Jewish community if you’re looking for that.

* Johns Hopkins - everyone who went there is brilliant and has had a great career since graduating, but they also HATED it. They were all miserable every second there. But appreciate how good the education was.

* Notre Dame - sorry to say but I have had a very bad impression of the culture. Lots of mini Brett Kavanaughs... lots of drinking and disrespect towards women and gay people. But good education.

* BU - tons of smart people with big plans. But the school is really big and impersonal so I don’t think it’s what OP is going for.

Tell me more about Notre Dame. My daughter applied there. Should I be concerned about her safety?

[Anonymous]

Northeastern, NYU, Emory

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Notre Dame?

+1

Down a notch:
Boston College

And the next lower tier:
Villanova
Fordham
Holy Cross

-1000


You're not even comparing apples to apples. A school like Villanova isn't as highly ranked (although still roughly a top 50-60 school) because they aren't big enough to support PhD programs and professional programs like MD etc. Schools like Fordham and Villanova provide excellent educations on par with Gtown at the undergrad level because that's only what they focus on.

It's hilarious how much people get hung up on rankings even though they're largely influenced by graduate and professional programs that peole may never seek out in their lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Johns Hopkins University. It doesn't get a lot of love here on DCUM but it is a great school and every kid I know who has gone there has loved it.

Jhu isn't even in the same league as GTown. It's waaaaaaay better.