<p>well, since I was accepted to both last year and currently attend one of them, I may as well post some experience-based perceptions and not ridiculous oversimplifications that tend to permeate the posts above mine (i.e. XYZ affair's #4, 6, and 7):</p>
<p>1) I am unsure about rigor, but in terms of medical school acceptances (the only thing I have specific knowledge of), Georgetown does slightly better than ND at placing students into really top medical schools like NYU, Columbia, Harvard, and the like.</p>
<p>2) There are many many opportunities available at both schools to do pretty much any kind of extracurricular activity you could imagine, as long as you have a passion and are willing to stir up interest. Both schools have very dynamic, outgoing students willing to take part in beneficial out-of-class activities.</p>
<p>3) ND is substantially better than Georgetown at providing quality on-campus dining, though Georgetown's prime location makes off-campus eating actually possible (and quite fun), so it's really up to whether you would prefer to have excellent, conveniently accessible food but limited options or a wealth of options off-campus (that may require some sleuthing) combined with on-campus food that leaves something to be desired.</p>
<p>4) ND's social life revolves around the campus, alcohol, and athletics. There is little to do on weekends in the order of going to movies, going out in the city (you would probably get shot), or clubbing. That said, its on-campus social life is considered very vibrant by some while others tire of the lack of changing scenery. Georgetown is the opposite. Located in Washington, there are local sports teams whose events you can attend (Wizards, for example), concerts, and overall more going on around campus. If you come from a city and love to be in the center of activity, I would recommend going to Georgetown over ND, since ND's location and local atmosphere (C.o.l.l.e.g.e. P.r.o.w.l.e.r. gives it a D-) can be significant drawbacks in the long run despite its many positive offerings.</p>
<p>5) In terms of academic prestige, the Midwest/Chicago provide many opportunities for ND grads. East Coast employers (e.g. Wall Street banks) and most academics would probably give Georgetown an edge, since it has more history and is generally considered more prominent in the academic community. The athletic programs at ND tend to cause some elitists to stereotype ND as a homogeneous, sports-based, party school, which while far from the truth may be indicative of a certain sentiment potentially held by some employers/academics.</p>
<p>6) ND students are very nice, yet tend to be more conservative/uptight about things. Georgetown students are more liberal, with overall more relaxed views towards things like Catholic teaching on sexuality. However, both types of students can be found at both schools. If you are a conservative Catholic, go to ND. If your parents are Catholic and you've been "Catholic" all your life without really buying into all the traditionalist norms and expectations, Georgetown is your place.</p>
<p>7) While both are good schools, Georgetown I feel is a better fit for those from large, bustling cities, since the presence of a city greatly enhances one's college experience over the course of four years. ND is a dream school for a narrow slice of the population that identifies with its values, and for those who don't, it can be frustrating to relate to an administration that seems adamantly allied with traditionalism (e.g. single-sex dorms, a priest in every dorm)</p>