by Ashley Lane
Why Georgetown?
As an indecisive person who overthinks pretty much everything, I waited until April to accept Georgetown’s offer. As excited as I was when I received my acceptance letter to Georgetown, the truth is that I didn’t have one “top choice” or “dream school” when applying to college. I applied to a wide range of schools, unsure of what exactly I wanted.
Why Georgetown?
Nearly two years ago today, I received an impossibly thin envelope in the mail from Georgetown University that I was sure could only be a rejection letter. When I finally brought myself to open the envelope, my jaw dropped to the floor: I was accepted! My mom and I were so excited that we proceeded to jump and dance around the house for the next hour.
As an indecisive person who overthinks pretty much everything, I waited until April to accept Georgetown’s offer. As excited as I was when I received my acceptance letter to Georgetown, the truth is that I didn’t have one “top choice” or “dream school” when applying to college. I applied to a wide range of schools, unsure of what exactly I wanted.
I ended up choosing Georgetown because of its great international relations program in the School of Foreign Service, and its location in Washington, D.C. Now in my second year at Georgetown, I can say that my reasons for choosing Georgetown have held true, but there have been a number of aspects that have surprised me and have truly made my experience here.
Here’s a snapshot of Georgetown from my perspective:
Academics
Georgetown has four undergraduate schools: the Georgetown College (liberal arts and sciences), the School of Foreign Service, the McDonough School of Business, and the School of Nursing and Health Studies. I am a Science, Technology, and International Affairs (STIA) major with a Persian minor in the School of Foreign Service, which has eight majors centered around international relations. Some of the quintessential aspects of the SFS academic experience include:
- Proseminars: Capped at 15 students, these classes are centered on different topics in international relations, taken during the fall of your freshman year. It provides a great way to learn more about a topic you’re interested in while building one-on-one relationships with professors. My proseminar, Water, was what led me to become a STIA major!
- Map of the Modern World: This pass-fail, one-credit class is taken during the spring of freshman year, and culminates with a final exam. It is all about how geography shapes international relations today. It is also requires students to memorize all of the countries and capitals of the world!
- Foreign Languages: All students in the SFS are required to pass an oral foreign language proficiency exam before they graduate. Georgetown offers many different foreign languages. My Persian language courses have been some of my favorite courses here at Georgetown.
Extracurriculars
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| The classy and sassy ladies of Classical Fusion, my dance group in Rangila this year! Our dance fused traditional Bharatanatyam dance with modern hip hop and pop music. |
Georgetown has over 200 student clubs and activities, which leaves a little something for everyone. Here are some of the things I’ve been involved with on campus:
- Alternative Breaks Program (ABP): This program through the Center for Social Justice sends students on social justice and service immersion trips on breaks throughout the school year. This spring break I am co-leading an ABP trip to Detroit and Columbus focusing on urban renewal efforts in Midwestern cities.
- Rangila: This South Asian dance showcase event brings together over 500 Georgetown students each year. Rangila, like ABP, is definitely a Georgetown bucket list item! Even better, all of the proceeds go to a chosen charity effort in South Asia.
Events
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| Seeing Ruth Bader Ginsburg speak in Gaston Hall last year. |
One of the awesome things about going to Georgetown is the endless supply of interesting events and speakers on campus. In just the past year that I’ve been here, speakers we’ve brought to campus include Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Bill Clinton (a Georgetown alum!)
Traditions
- Dahlgren Quad Christmas Tree Lighting: Dahlgren Quad is one of my favorite spots on campus, and during December it hosts our campus Christmas tree. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony takes place at the beginning of December, bringing together a capella and performing arts groups to help ring in the holiday season. Christmas cookies and hot chocolate top off an awesome night!
- Leo’s Thanksgiving Dinner: Right before Thanksgiving break, Leo’s -- Georgetown’s dining hall -- is transformed for Thanksgiving meal with all of your favorite classic dishes. The hot chocolate bar during finals is another classic Leo’s tradition!
Dahlgren Quad Christmas Tree Lighting last Friday
night.Chaplain’s Tea: Every Tuesday afternoon, Campus Ministry hosts this event, filled with tea, snacks, and fellowship, followed by an interfaith prayer for peace and justice. In no other space but Georgetown will you see a Catholic priest, a Protestant chaplain, a Rabbi, an Imam, a Hindu priest and students from all religious backgrounds gathering and praying together. This interfaith aspect of Georgetown is something I’ve found truly special.- The Tombs: Just blocks away from campus, this restaurant and bar is full of Georgetown traditions. It’s a tradition for students to go here on their 21st birthday, and for seniors to go here every night for the last 99 days of their senior year to be inducted into the “99 Days Club.”
- Georgetown Day: On the last day of classes of spring semester, the entire campus comes together to celebrate the end of the school year and everything we love about Georgetown. Georgetown Day is an even bigger display of school spirit than our homecoming!
Washington, D.C.
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| Free National Symphony Orchestra concert on the Capitol Lawn for Labor Day. |
Living in D.C. is great not only for internships, but for all of the fun (and free!) events and opportunities, especially for students. Being able to access everything the city has to offer is one of the huge advantages of going to school in D.C. Here are just a few of my favorite things:
- Monuments: If you’ve never visited the monuments at night or sunrise then you’re really missing out on the best time to see them! The path to the National Mall from Georgetown goes right along the Potomac river, and is a beautiful morning run or walk with friends.
- First Bake at Farmers Fishers Bakers: Another Georgetown tradition, First Bake happens Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 10:30 am at Farmers Fishers Bakers, a restaurant on the Georgetown Waterfront. Everything on the menu is under $5 and really good! My friends and I try to go at least a few times a semester.
- MyTix at the Kennedy Center: This program allows university students to get really cheap tickets to some of the Kennedy Center’s shows. Last year, I was able to get see the National Symphony Orchestra (with orchestra seating!) for only $25. The Kennedy Center also offers free shows during the week at the Millennium Stage.
- Museums: Almost all of the museums in D.C. are free admission. Some of my favorites are the Hirshhorn and the Renwick Gallery! The National Portrait Gallery courtyard is also a great study spot.
Jesuit Values and Social Justice
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| Practicing time for reflection and self-care on an interfaith retreat called "Women in Faith." |
When I was applying to Georgetown, I didn’t really know what it meant for Georgetown to be a Jesuit university, or what getting a Jesuit education meant. However, this has turned out to be one of the most important parts of my college experience. Here are some of Georgetown’s Jesuit values and what they have meant for my experience:
- Contemplation in Action: Reflection was not part of my daily life before coming to Georgetown, but learning how to reflect has been one of the most valuable things I’ve learned at Georgetown for my personal health and growth. Georgetown shows its commitment to reflection in its many worship spaces on campus and retreats at the Calcagnini Contemplative Center, located in the Shenandoah Valley.
- Cura Personalis: Meaning “care of the whole person,” this Jesuit value for me has translated into taking time for self care. I have really felt the spirit of cura personalis in my interactions with other students, faculty, and staff at Georgetown, and I think this is absolutely crucial to have as a part of a university’s culture.
- People for Others: Georgetown’s commitment to social justice has made social justice work a huge part of my involvement on campus. I participated in a pre-orientation program last year focused on social justice and community engagement, which sparked my interest in social justice and transformed the path I’ve taken at Georgetown. Through this program, I also met my roommate and some of my closest friends here.
FOCI, or First Year Orientation to Community Involvement,
the pre-orientation I participated in last year.Interreligious Understanding: The diversity of Georgetown’s Campus Ministry staff demonstrates its commitment to interreligious understanding. Getting involved with interfaith work on campus and attending religious services outside of my own has been one of my greatest learning experiences here.
These values have ultimately become my “Why Georgetown.” The Jesuit focus of educating the whole person has made my education here more full than I could have ever imagined, and I believe that these values will stay a part of my life beyond Georgetown, in whatever direction I take. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have here at Georgetown
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