Ask a Georgetown Grad!

<p>Hi everyone. I’ve been browsing the forum and thought my perspective as a Georgetown alum might be of interest to prospective students. I graduated from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service last year. I majored in Culture & Politics with a concentration in Latin American Studies. Unlike the majority of Georgetown’s student body, I’m mixed race (White and Afro-Caribbean) and Buddhist. Although I was born in the USA to American parents, I chose to complete my final two years of high school in Costa Rica. I’d be happy to answer any questions I can about campus life, academics, the DC metro area, and any other areas of interest.</p>

<p>Ive been wondering whether or not i should apply…i have a circumstance that mite intrigue the admissions commitee…worth a shot?</p>

<p>During the end of my sophmore and through my junior year my father was deported because he was technically an illegal immigrant. I had to see him in jail for 2 months for just trying to keep food on the table for us. He is still gone and we don’t anticipate him to have paperwork done until i graduate. Since then, my mom and my 2 brothers have moved to a smaller apartment and our income has been cut to about 28,000 a year. My mom has taken a lot more load and that meant i had to take care of my brothers significantly b/c i was the oldest. I also got a hardship license at the age of 15 b/c my mom needed me to drive. This extra time providing for my brothers has taken a toll on my academics those years. I had a 3.4 and 3.7 weighted GPA. However, I’ve managed to get my head straight during Jr. Year despite the circumstances and responsibilities and get a 4.2 and 4.4 for junior semesters. Here’s my resume</p>

<p>3.6 weighted (I go to Plano one of the hardest school districts in Texas)
33 ACT
1800 SAT ( SAT prep is very expensive)
4 years top orchestra(by audition)
4 years All Region Violin(By audition)
All state Violinist(by Audition)
North Texas Youth Orchestra Principal Violinist
Secretary and President of Orchestra (senior yr)
200 hrs of volunteer service
Big Brother and Big Sisters volunteer
Church Praise Band for 9th and 10th grade
Church orchestra conductor for 3 yrs (10-12)
2 jobs during highschool yrs ( baseball umpire and cashier)
SAT II:
US history: 780 French: 750 Math Level 2: 750
I have taken 9 AP courses and have progressively done well</p>

<p>Also how is the scene like in the DC metro areaa? Ive never been to a place like DC</p>

<p>Wow. Definitely apply. You are an extremely talented, intelligent and determined individual. In the face of immense personal and economic hardship, you’ve flourished. You should be proud of yourself and all you’ve accomplished thus far.</p>

<p>Thanks to a friend at the admissions’ department, I can list some of things schools such as Georgetown look for in prospective students:

  • strong and consistent academic performance
  • quality and quantity of extracurricular activities
  • evidence of personal responsibility
  • what you’ve contributed to your community
  • what you can contribute to Georgetown </p>

<p>Honestly, Scotti, you seem like the ideal candidate. I could go on and on about how impressed I am with your background, but I don’t want to embarrass you too much. :)</p>

<p>Georgetown may not accept all your AP credits, however, doing well in these courses goes a long way in demonstrating a student’s ability to handle college-level work.</p>

<p>As you might already know, a Georgetown education comes at a high cost. Tuition is expensive and the university itself is located in one of DC’s wealthiest enclaves. Luckily, a lot of cheap ways to have fun can be found only a short bus trip away. Overall, the city is pretty diverse, pedestrian-friendly, and has a lot to offer in terms of food, entertainment, and especially cultural and political events. Living in DC on a tight budget isn’t easy, but you can make it work. </p>

<p>Always remember when it comes to the application process, there are no guarantees. If Georgetown doesn’t recognize what a valuable student you are, I’m sure plenty of other schools will. </p>

<p>As a side note. . .you mentioned your father’s immigration status. May I ask where your family is from? Do you speak any other languages?</p>

<p>Could you talk a little about the financial aid at Georgetown? How are financial aid packages usually structured (i.e. more grants than loans, more loans than grants, etc.)? Are you/people you know happy with their financial aid? Georgetown is definitely my first choice school, but I’m a little worried that I’ll end up graduating with a ton of debt if I get in and choose to go there!</p>

<p>Hey, just wanted to let you know that I haven’t forgotten about your question. Financial matters are not one of my strong points so I want to make sure I verify what information I have before posting.</p>

<p>Did you study abroad? If so, where/when? 8)</p>

<p>Hey, thank you very much for such a helpful and noble offer :)!</p>

<p>I have a question for which I am seeking an answer! I am curious as to what courses I would be taking if I attended Georgetown next year as a freshman! I was accepted EA to the School of Foreign Service and am looking to study the concentration in Science, Technology, and International Affairs. I read the course curriculum online and am beyond intrigued by the fact that it looks like I could still keep up my sciences (which I would really like to do – organic chemistry sounds wonderful haha :)). The classes for the SFS seem absolutely incredible! If you could please give me any sort of an example schedule for my freshman year, I would be extremely grateful! I am also looking to take/continue a foreign language (or two) if possible! Anyway, I am also curious as to what sort of Model UN opportunities are available (both in terms of working on the staff and traveling!) :D. Thank you so much for your very gracious advice :D!</p>

<p>-Jeff</p>

<p>What made you choose Culture & Politics over the other SFS majors?</p>