<p>My first choice is Georgetown (I was accepted early SFS), but I've gotten into many other good schools. My top three as of today (not in any particular order) are Stanford, Princeton, and Georgetown. I was wondering if you guys could help me compare Georgetown to the rest of the schools. FA is also a big determining factor in my college decision.</p>
<p>Well it really comes down to what you want to do. If you want to go into Foreign Service, you just can’t beat Georgetown for that (for undergrad anyway). You should wait on you Fin Aid before making a choice, because you would hate to choose a school then find out you can’t afford it. Congrats on getting into those amazing schools!!!</p>
<p>Most cross admits would not choose Georgetown. It’s a great school, but not on par with either of the others. That said, if foreign service is what you want, it has no competition.</p>
<p>Actually, many people have turned down HYPS for Georgetown SFS. Search through the discussion boards on CC.</p>
<p>GU is on par with every school in the country. For SFS, it beats pretty much anywhere, with the exception of a select few which parallel it.</p>
<p>If you want to go to GU, go! It’s a wonderful school with a huge sense of spirit and camaraderie, and it’s in a great location for internships and whatnot. Good luck!</p>
<p>A guy at my school applied to Georgetown CAS EA, and was admitted because he had an outstanding academic record, strong test scores, and impressive accomplishments in debate and other extracurriculuars.</p>
<p>He applied to Harvard for ****s and giggles. He was admitted, of course, and decided to refuse the offer, much to the chagrin and disbelief of our guidance counselor. His parents didn’t mind, because apparently they were both Georgetown alumni and instilled a love of the school into their son. He, too, must love Georgetown, and made the very personal decision to spend the next four years of his life there. It demonstrates a great deal of strength of character and resolution to figure out what you want and stick with it.</p>
<p>That being said, you have a somewhat easier time because you’re considering SFS.
Go for it.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, but Georgetown’s Foreign Service is good, but not unmatchable. Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School is arguably just as good, if not better. If you do a forum search, Foreign Policy Magazine released a ranking of undergraduate international relations programs. Princeton and Harvard were top by a wide margin. Georgetown was third. </p>
<p>If you have your heart set on Georgetown then go ahead, but I advise you to take a closer look at Princeton as well.</p>
<p>Narrow it down to Princeton or Georgetown. Even if you’re not in Woodrow Wilson, Princeton is still no laughing stock and could easily prepare you for graduate schools, probably even better than Georgetown (which currently also has some economic issues that are unraveling faster than that at comparable institutions.)</p>
<p>If money is the issue then follow the money. And play them off each other too!</p>
<p>I looked online and only 90 juniors are accepted into Woodrow Wilson for an AB. If you or anybody else can answer this, is there a huge drop off between an AB from Woodrow Wilson and an AB in Politics w/ concentration in International Relations?</p>
<p>listen kid.
I am going to try and tell you what I would do if I were in your situation:</p>
<p>I would go to Georgetown SFS.</p>
<p>I mean, honestly, it seems like you were already in love with it before Princeton and Stanford…why not afterwards? it’s a wonderful school, and it seems like your gut is still somewhat with Georgetown. GO There, be happy, and succeed. If you don’t You will probably still wonder “what if” when you are at Princeton or Stan.</p>
<p>Georgetown SFS has a lot of smart kids and is very impressive, but it is not at the level of Stanford and Princeton. A lot of SFS kids decide to go into law, business and other professions and Stanford and Princeton would provide more opportunities in that. I really cannot answer it if you absolutely want to be a career diplomat, but most people would choose Stanford or Princeton, which both have incredible IR departments as well.</p>
<p>My S was in a similar situation 3 years ago. Most SFS students do not end up in the foreign service…they’re in think tanks, NGOs, etc., even Wall Street. There are many options within SFS…international economics, international politics, science & technology, etc. All SFS graduates are fluent in at least one foreign language. S thoroughly researched both SFS and Woodrow Wilson. He chose Georgetown and has never regretted it. He has friends who turned down HYP for SFS. Right now, he’s spending the year at Oxford studying philosophy, politics, and economics. Grad school plans may include Princeton. Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>Stanford, hands down. It is the best school in the united states, and anyone who even second guesses choosing it shouldn’t have applied in the first place =P</p>
<p>But that is just my humble opinion!</p>
<p>[Edmund</a> A. Walsh School of Foreign Service - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_A._Walsh_School_of_Foreign_Service]Edmund”>Walsh School of Foreign Service - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>With this faculty and alumni list (which is also incomplete since it does not include current and recent past US and Foreign Ambassadors) no one, not even the poster above (Bescraze), can make a categorical, unequivocal statement that any insititution, whatever its name is, is superior to Georgetown SFS. The array of influential institutions and even nations, that have been led or are led by alumni and faculty of this tiny school with its undergraduate class of about 350 per year and grad school class of about 200 per year is unassailably impressive.</p>
<p>Go with Princeton…the name will open doors.</p>
<p>You should also look at other factors besides the name. Georgetown has a huge basketball team, as does Stanford…some years. Princeton, while D-1, is definitely not on par with the level of athletic passion students at Stanford and GU display. If school spirit is a big deal to you, you may want to strongly consider 'Furd and Georgetown. </p>
<p>Also, consider location. GU is obviously in one of the largest political hubs in the world, great for internships. If you want to live on the West Coast, Stanford will give you more connections out here.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses everyone. They have been somewhat different from the suggestions I’ve been receiving from friends and family (most urged me to go to Stanford).</p>
<p>My S was in a similar situation last year, having to choose between Georgetown SFS and Princeton. He ultimately chose Princeton because of the overall better depth and breadth there. Remember that many students enter college completely sure of what their major will be, and soon change their minds after being exposed to other disciplines in their Freshman year. While it certainly does not compare with DC in terms of being a center of power, Princeton attracts a large and varied group of outside speakers to supplement the offerings on campus.
In terms of Georgetown, it is a terrific school and if you feel like you want to be in DC, it certainly would not be a bad choice. Remember also, however, that of the three schools you mention, GU has the smallest endowment and may be somewhat less able to weather the economic storm without noticable cutbacks than Stanford and Princeton.
Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>ProjectStanford-</p>
<p>Although I do agree that Stanford is ONE of the best schools in the nation, and can even be said to be the best school, it doesn’t mean that it is the best school for this person. Some people might be happier at a community college even if they have the grades to get into a much better school. Same applies to this situation. USNWR says that Princeton and Stanford are ranked higher than Georgetown,but the OD has been in love with Georgetown all along.</p>