<p>I don't go to either, (got into ND EA, didn't apply to GTown), but from what I know of them, I can tell you this:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Georgetown is probably much better in terms of getting off campus. DC is fun; SB not so much.</p></li>
<li><p>Notre Dame seems to always be ranked higher, but both are highly reputable.</p></li>
<li><p>There are lot's of rumors about GT kids being jerks(verified by one of my teachers who's an alum) but I've never heard of an unfriendly fighting Irishman. This disparity is pretty true of the east coast vs. the midwest in general. (I'm from VT, by the way, so I'm not biased towards the midwest.)</p></li>
<li><p>GT probably has better weather. ND emphasizes the Catholic thing more, I think. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Sorry for the lack of input on the first three.</p>
<p>The biggest difference between the two schools, apart from location, is Catholic identity. The ND student body is more than 80% Catholic; at Georgetown, the figure is less than 60%. Notre Dame is intent on becoming a national research university while retaining its Catholic identity. Georgetown has, for all intents and purposes, gone in the other direction. It now has a lay president, the number of Jesuit professors has dwindled, and you certainly won't find 150-plus masses on campus every week.</p>
<p>1) Not sure the best way to truly judge this without experiencing classes at both, but both schools have esteemed professors and programs. If you want International relations or politics, Georgetown probably has the edge (partly from being located in DC). Business I think both schools have great reputations, but GU's alumni is probably more dominant on the east coast while ND might be more centralized in midwest businesses. Of course, this is just my impression.</p>
<p>2) Don't really know.</p>
<p>3) ND hands down. I've spent time in dormitories at both (even lived in GU's for a few weeks), and ND is enormously better. Even if some of their rooms are a little small haha.</p>
<p>4) Can't really say. But if you really want it, you'll find it at either.</p>
<p>5) Depends on who you ask. Those who hold a grudge against ND will definitely not call it prestigious, but those who are indifferent to it would probably recognize it as a good school. As for GU, it's less of a love-hate relationship, but where I live here in IL there are definitely fewer people who even know where it is, let alone if it's prestigious or not. </p>
<p>6) ND students are definitely nicer. I don't know quite how to explain it, but I just never got a good vibe from the GU students. They weren't rude or anything, but they were definitely less willing to intentionally go out of their way to help someone. That's just the impression I got, though that may simply be the result of being in a more urban environment. Plus, although there were a lot of international students around, they felt sort of isolated when they walked by talking in other languages. I'm sure they're very nice and would have great insights to share, but what's the point in that if they're not approachable? Just my impression after spending time at both schools.</p>
<p>7) It all comes down to individual taste. Both are great schools, and sometimes it's impossible to truly judge which is better. If you're in my shoes and have to choose between them, figure out which factors mean more to you, like living in the Midwest versus the east coast. What's good for one person might be bad for another, so it all depends.</p>
<p>Was just at GU recently (son is a soph in HS) and while I love the feel of the georgetown area of DC I was disappointed with the campus. The main quad has the large gray stone buildings but from there it becomes a hodge podge of architecture. The school is excellent and has a wonderful reputation, but it is a bit elitist, and I agree it doesn't seem to embrace its Catholic roots. If you have ever spent time in DC you know traffic is a nightmare and the metro purposely doesn't go to the Georgetown area. The closest stop is Foggy Bottom at GWU which is quite a walk. Having said that, buses and cabs are an option.</p>
<p>^agreed about libraries; I also find these to be very important. as for the alumni thing, i have to agree. It seems like anyone who goes to ND is REALLY gung-ho about it; they're all fanatics. Their alumni network sounds like one of the strongest in the country. I've not heard anything similar about Gtown.</p>
<p>Georgetown's endowment dropped to below $1 billion , ND's dropped from $6 billion to $4 Billion. One thing that has hurt Georgetown is their low endowment. Also, if you go their , it is very expensive off campus.</p>
<p>Georgetown is so poor that, according to the Chronicle for Higher Education, it pays its full professors about $15K per year more than Notre Dame in 2007-08.</p>
<p>But I bet the Notre Dame portfolio managers kick the crap out of the Georgetown ones on pay day.</p>
<p>And I have heard it rumored (by a priest friend of ours-not even a Jesuit- who I judge to have still been sober when he said it) that any time spent in South Bend, Indiana gets credited against whatever time you have coming against you in purgatory.</p>
<p>With the economic crisis and Georgetown's very low endowment (less than $1 billion), I would avoid going to Georgetown, watch their yield this year and how they handle financial aid. Remember, these schools look out after themselves before really helping the students.</p>
<p>Having gone to ND, they do a much better job of having tenured professors teach and that can speak english. Also ND's endowment is 4X of G'town.</p>
<p>I never understood why G'town had a good rating, it was an par with Catholic U in DC....I think the grad school in int'l relations made the school, who have idiots like Madeline Albright teach there.</p>