Visit Report by gadad (Member since August 19 2004 with 1591 posts) Visit Date - June 2007
Visit to Georgetown University in June 2007 by gadad (Parent of Student, HS Class of 2008)
Visit Activities:
Admissions Interview:
No - Georgetown schedules alumni interviews with prospective students. They want you to fill out Part I of the app ASAP - six months in advance is OK - to open a file and let them schedule the interview. Information Session:
Yes - A narrated slide show - low tech, but customized to the audience - about an hour in length prior to the tour. My daughter, who generally doesn't care for these, found it valuable and enjoyable. Campus Tour:
Yes - About 45 min., led by a student. G'town's campus is really impressive, and distinctively Hogwartsian. Our D loved it; her little brother liked standing on the North Hall porch where Geo Wa Classroom Visit:
No - No classroom visit, but D got directions to Admissions from a passing Business prof who was very cool ("ter woot" to quote the D). Not only showed us where to go but walked us there!
Georgetown University Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 4 - Very Good -
Mostly tour guides to judge from, as the tour was in the summer. Nice job by the guide, though not all that polished.
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
Very helpful - all seemed proud and happy to be there. The Admissions rep who did the info session was quite good and engaging.
Appearance of Campus: 4 - Very Good -
Fabulous architecture mixed w/ some modern eyesores, but not so much that it detracts too greatly from the "WOW!" factor. Be sure to see the courtyard between the chapel and North Hall. Im
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 5 - Excellent -
Looked great - even the very old buildings. D's older sister goes to Harvard. Harvard's Physical Plant staff should visit Georgetown and learn a thing or two.
Dormitories: 4 - Very Good -
Several are new; some older ones are uninspiring but fine. The apt.s on the south of campus are typical, but have rooftop patios that overlook the Potomac. How much would those go for on the market?
Security/Safety: 5 - Excellent -
No issues whatsoever - seemed extremely safe, though many (other) parts of D.C are not. Dorm security is tight - swipe a card to get in the building, another swipe inside, and register all guests.
Overall Campus Impression: 5 - Excellent -
Our high-standards prospective student loved it - her sister from Harvard asked after the visit "Hey Dad - why didn't I consider this place when we were doing college tours?"
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 5 - Excellent -
The name of the school says it all. Georgetown's delightful. Our D loves the Harvard Square area and thought this setting had a very similar vibe. Nightspots, ethnic restaurants, abundant charm
City/Town/Community: 5 - Excellent -
D.C.'s full of activities; many are free and paid for with our tax dollars. Lots of great places to go, but you have to take a univ. shuttle to a station across the bridge in VA to access the Me
Campus Visit Notes for Georgetown University:
Visit Description:
Georgetown looked like a great match on paper. In person, it didn't disappoint, and our D is definitely planning to apply. A few concerns we had - it looks rather imposing, perhaps austere from a distance. On campus it felt warm and inviting. Also, we are not Catholic and wondered how she'd feel about the religious connection. It's clearly no problem for non-Catholics (who, by the way, make up a majority of the student body). Georgetown was the first Catholic campus to have its own full-time rabbi and imam (as well as Protestant chaplains). As a Catholic, the founder, John Carroll, could not study at an American university in the 18th century and intended to found a university that would welcome students of all faiths. Having to choose one of four schools to which to apply seemed limiting, but there appears to be little difficulty in changing schools after the freshman year. One interesting combination is that of a student body characterized by a heavy reputation for preppiness at a university with no Greek system - the existence of secret societies doesn't mesh with Jesuit values.
One very odd concern of mine - a statue of John Carroll sits out front of Healy Hall and our tour guide said that a lot of students dare to climb into his lap for a photo before graduation, but have to risk being thwarted by campus security. Why? It sounds as if it would make a wonderful tradition, in my opinion. Also, Friar John's chair used to be four-legged with open space under the seat and the students liked to put a chamber pot under him. The university responded by welding brass books around three sides of the chair legs to close in the open space. Again, was this a big enough concern to hire an artist and a welder? You don't really want to know what the students do to the staute of John Harvard up in Cambridge, and it's all considered good, self-deprecating fun. I wonder whether the stuffy responses to practical jokes at Georgetown reflect a sense of administrative authoritarianism.
Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:
Stay in VA to save money. We were visiting family in Leesburg, about 35-40 miles west, and got to campus in an hour.
Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:
Walked down M Street (main drag) to find a place - Nathan's was unexceptional and expensive. Walking back on side streets we passed a number of small ethnic restaurants that looked more interest
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
Register for the info session and tour online to be sent the voucher that gets you $5 all day parking. In town, you'd pay $30-50 for the same.
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Mostly tour guides to judge from, as the tour was in the summer. Nice job by the guide, though not all that polished.
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Very helpful - all seemed proud and happy to be there. The Admissions rep who did the info session was quite good and engaging.