<p>My D is not a party girl. Well, she's in for the party but does not drink or smoke. She is a hard working, over achiever who genuinely loves learning and is openly agitated at "on level" students. That being said, she is far from a nerd, works the "girls in pearls" look because it comes naturally to her, runs, loves MTV and will pop if she has to study, study, study. She's in SFS. She's been accepted to 7 schools with another top choice being Vandy. While she's a southern girl she has the "northern mentality". I cannot see her with the big-haired TX girls at a Vandy sorority but in the same vein she is a stunning, GU-smart, young lady with a desire for a normal social life. Is there one at GU??? After 5:00pm tomorrow she will make her choice. I am just trying to supply her with all the amunition to do so. Thanks.</p>
<p>A large percentage of students do drink on weekends, as at any University (save for BYU, haha). However, there is a lot to do besides drinking on weekends, and the university attempts to provide events to further that. A lot of people go out to dinner on the weekends, as there are a lot of restaurants around campus (on M Street and Wisconsin Ave for example). There's a big movie theater nearby that a lot of students go to. There are lots of shows put on on campus by various groups, such as Urban Fare, Asiafest, Bayanihan (Filipino show), etc. There are also the theater groups that have shows, such as Mask and Bauble and Nomadic Theater. There are the music groups, including the usual symphony orchestra and various choirs. There are also a capella groups, such as Harmony and Saxatones. Basically, there's usually some sort of performing arts event happening on campus. Some go off campus to shows around DC, and the Kennedy Center is a nice walk away. During the warmer months the grilling society might grill late at night. The university sometimes holds Club Lau, a hilarious dance party in the library. So, your daughter will have a lot of options. She'll find people with similar views and ideals, and shouldn't feel left out of anything. But again, a large percentage of students do drink, and I don't want that to be a surprise or anything for your daughter.</p>
<p>hey I'm also having trouble deciding between vandy and Gtown sfs, along the same line of thinking i was wondering whether there's a vibrant on campus social life or is it pretty much centered on the city? i know there's no frats, but if i want to party on the weekends do i need to try and sneak into a DC club or are there places I can go on campus and have a good time?</p>
<p>
[quote]
but does not drink or smoke
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</p>
<p>That's what you think.</p>
<p>JasonHoya,
I truly appreciate all of the info. She doesn't mind if others want to drink; just not her thing. This is not meant to be offensive but I need to ask. Will she find a "normal" student population or is this going to be "revenge of the nerds"? This GAAP weekend may have been a bit misleading due to the weather. I was hoping to see more JCrew and instead I got a good deal of the "I don't give a damn, unhappy northerner, nerd" look. Wow, that was harsh but again, I'm just a mom in search of details to make a decision. She's in at BC Honors, UNC Honors, Vandy, UGA Honors, Wake, & waiting to hear from Princeton. I think her mind belongs in SFS but not sure about her heart.</p>
<p>NealJK2</p>
<p>I can bet my life on it!</p>
<p>I have a handful of high school friends at Georgetown and GW. They're whole social life is going out in DC, which is very different than my experience as a first-year student at Vanderbilt, where the social life is very much campus centered.</p>
<p>the weather this weekend was definitely annoying. But a lot of students do wear the "preppy" brands of clothing. There is actually a good mix, not everyone looks the same. As far as "normalness", Georgetown is not MIT. It won't be "revenge of the nerds". The thing about Georgetown is that generally everyone is really smart, but most like to hide it. What I'm saying is that I've generally not had a cutthroat experience, where people will do whatever it takes to get the best grades. That's just not how the school is run. People study very hard during the week, and have fun on the weekends (unless it's midterms, finals, or other big exams of course). The way I like to put it is that at Georgetown, people generally don't make a production about studying.</p>
<p>She will also have lots of opportunities to have "nerdy" conversations about whatever intellectual topic. You'll hear people talking in other languages in the Intercultural Center, talk about finance, economics, medicine, politics, etc around the campus. It's great because in some of our high schools (esp. those of us that went to public school ;) ) such conversations were shunned by other students. At Gtown, it's OK. </p>
<p>So, Gtown is not "revenge of the nerds", but the students are still smart, have intellectual discussions, and have fun when it's time to have fun. Out of the other schools you listed, Georgetown SFS seems like the best option, especially when you're looking for international relations. Princeton would be a good option of course as well.</p>
<p>i was also just wondering what the on-campus social life is?</p>
<p>there are no frats or anything, so do ppl just usually go to clubs? or are there good on-campus parties?</p>
<p>there aren't any social frats or sororities associated with the university, but student organizations fulfill this role. On campus parties are pretty good, as there are various types of dorms and townhouses, leading to different kinds of parties. Some people go to clubs, a lot more probably stay on or around campus.</p>
<p>I was hoping to see more JCrew and instead I got a good deal of the "I don't give a damn, unhappy northerner, nerd" look.</p>
<p>You can definitely chalk that one up to the weather, plus the whole "being thrown back to the academic wolves after spring break" thing.</p>
<p>The thing that I always loved about Georgetown was that, unlike at a lot of Southern schools (including Vandy, though maybe to a slightly lesser extent), there was no set "in-crowd," your social standing was not determined by three Greek letters, you weren't forced to make decisions early on that dicted your social life for the rest of your time there. Instead, you basically get to pick your own path, get involved with the groups that share your interests, and do things at your own pace. It's much more relaxed socially in that way (though definitely not relaxed academically).</p>
<p>My interviewer told me something that I think applies to this question: "At Georgetown, when you study this hard, you have to play this hard too." Meaning everyone has fun on the weekends regardless of what their idea of fun is.</p>
<p>i’m applying as a transfer, but i was there over this past GAAP weekend staying with a few friends from HS who go there. unless she goes to a southern school, i’d say georgetown is as preppy as it’s going to get…i went to a very preppy HS, and the girls who went to gtown from there love it. as far as it being “revenge of the nerds,” gtown is definitely one of, if not the most, social school of its caliber. people definitely have a good time in the classic college sense.</p>
<p>as far as drinking/smoking, it sounds like i was just like your daughter in HS. a lot of my friends drank, but it wasn’t for me. the thing is that college changes that in a lot of people, and though she probably won’t become a “drinker,” getting wasted every weekend, she probably WILL start to drink a little socially. i currently go to the antithesis of a party school but have adjusted to having two drinks or so when i go out…it’s a huge part of college life.</p>
<p>all that being said, if your daughter is in at SFS, i can’t imagine a better place for her. it’s the top foreign service school in the country, and if she’s preppy but studious, she’ll definitely fit right in.</p>
<p>bump please</p>
<p>Why is your daughter deciding now and not by May 1st? No need to rush the decision…</p>
<p>Scootersmom, I am afraid that if your daughter actually becomes “openly agitated” at other students that she doesn’t perceive are as smart as her, is overly obsessed with her “girls in pearls look”, and uses her “Northern mentality” to look down on others because of how they wear their hair, that she is not going to be happy anywhere. The mean girl attitude generally is not pervasive nor is it popular in the elite colleges. I can only hope that is your attitude, and not hers. If she is friendly, non-judgemental and open to meeting different types of people then she will have a great social life anywhere she goes.</p>
<p>Scootersmom - I find several of your comments offensive and I am amazed that these young people are taking the time to politely answer your questions and help your daughter. Then again, I’m not surprised. These are Georgetown students and most, if not all, are wonderful, caring young people and they are very proud of their fabulous institution.</p>
<p>busdriver11, you sum up my feelings exactly.</p>
<p>I try to keep quiet most of the time, but sometimes you just can’t bear it anymore.</p>
<p>ahhh, this thread is making me nervous!! I’m seriously considering G’town, but I really don’t think I’d be able to handle the whole pearls and polos thing! I’m a really laid back person (I love jeans and t-shirts) and I don’t really like getting dressed up for class! I have a really great sense of humor and I love having fun (not necessarily partying all the time)! Does anyone think there are other people like me at G’town? And unlike, Scootersmom’s daughter, I appreciate a bit of nerdiness and that would actually be perfect for me, as I pretty much am a self-appointed nerd, in the sense that I love learning and I love having intellectual/philosophical discussions!</p>