Hi,
I’m a prospective political science major trying to choose between Georgetown and Notre Dame (I was admitted EA to both). I plan to pursue politics or law school after graduation. My extracurricular interests include percussion (marching band, jazz band, etc.), newspaper, ultimate frisbee, model united nations, mock trial, etc.
I’ve put together a pros/cons list (below). Please add/remove/comment on my list. If there’s anything else you think I should consider, please mention it. Thanks for your help!
Notre Dame
Pros:
Drumline !!
Football games/school spirit
Faith !!
Dorm system/community
PPE (Philosophy, Politics, Economics) program
Alumni network
Campus !!
5 hour drive from home
Intramural sports
Cons:
Binge drinking culture/alcoholism
Conservative
South Bend/isolated
Homogenous/lacking diversity
11 political science program (USA Today)
Parietals
Long winter walks
Georgetown
Pros:
1 political science program !!! (USA Today)
Washington D.C. !!!
Internship opportunities
Law school early admittance
Liberal
Diverse
International
Speakers on campus
Basketball games/school spirit
2 Model United Nations team in country !!
Cons:
No marching band
Less faith
Far from home
Inferior campus/less green space
Exclusive clubs
As far as I know, ND does not have a PPE major. It does have PLS (Program in Liberal Studies), which is a major providing a core curriculum, so perhaps that is what you are thinking of.
For someone possibly interested in politics, the opportunities to intern during the school year on the Hill would be very compelling. The opportunity to intern during the school year, and thereby have a competitive edge for summer positions, would be an important consideration. Students going to school somewhere other DC can only get summer internships on the Hill, when the competition is much higher and it is much more difficult to get summer internships.
@grinnellephant01 Notre Dame has a PPE minor. Speaking as a current ND student, as for your concern over parietals, honestly, they aren’t a big deal. As far as long winter walks, they aren’t great, but they aren’t too bad. Binge drinking is present at Notre Dame, but I don’t think it’s any more prevalent than at other schools. As far as internships in DC, ND does have a program that allows students to intern and take classes in DC during the school year. It’s usually only one semester, but it’s a great program.
I went to ND graduated '87. Majored in Program of Liberal Studies and went to med school. You can put together with electives what you need to to get your desired program. A friend’s dad is a retired Wall Street guy who told me once that their firm would always interview ND and Princeton grads even if they didn’t have an opening. That’s how much they thought of those schools. There really is nothing like the ND family. Don’t get hung up on same sex dorms and parietals (out of opposite sex dorm by midnight). Notre Dame is not ashamed of its Catholic nature as Georgetown seems to be. You may have an edge with internships etc with Georgetown degree in political science, but don’t be too sure. You are making a 40 year decision when you go to ND. Don’t miss out on it. Also, since when is “conservative” a con?
@steveo87 I agree with you about not getting hung up on same sex dorms and parietals. They are part of Notre Dame’s identity as a Catholic school and are pretty valuable. The reason ND is the face of Catholic higher education is because we’re not afraid of other people knowing we’re a Catholic school and are proud of being one.
You can’t go wrong with either school. As an alum, and the mother of 4 Notre Dame students, I have an obvious bias to ND. I sense you do, too. At ND, not only can you pursue your dreams, you are doing it at a predominantly undergraduate institution - which means that you can do research and have a closer relationship with your professors. Also, at Notre Dame, you can participate in a lot of great college activities, such as band, drumline, daily newspaper. And they have opportunities such as the Peace Studies program, and other international relations programs. And, they are more than just football oriented, there is a big following for the basketball and hockey teams. As well, you can play a lot of intramural and club sports at ND.
Diversity may not be as great at ND, but it certainly exists - there are many international students, as well as students of color and economic diversity. However, I doubt any private college campus is that diverse - usually a college tends to have a lot of people who think similarly, and people ending up having their closest friends be similar in outlook to their own.
Finally, while you may chose to move off campus in junior or senior years, most people find the single-sex dorms to be more of an all inclusive sorority/fraternity, rather than some sort of punishment. It allows for some down time at the end of the day - a chance to re-charge and a chance to be part of a group, without having to audition for it.
Perhaps you should try to visit both schools again, and stay with a current student you don’t know, attend some classes- see where you feel you fit in best. That is, ultimately, what may lead to you picking the school that will be the best choice for you.
Notre Dame blows Georgetown out of the water when it comes to school spirit, I would think. Also, our basketball team is better than theirs right now (and has been for the last couple years).
@grinnellephant01 I would go to Georgetown especially since its IN DC!!! Georgetown is a Jesuit school just like BC and has an outstanding reputation. In terms of school spirit, ND has the advantage but location wise, not so much.
Wanted to reiterate the Notre Dame Washington Program. I’m currently spending the semester in DC interning, living, and taking classes there. About 15 students go each semester. It’s an amazing opportunity to experience all that DC has to offer, but still be a Notre Dame student. I wouldn’t give up my Notre Dame experience for the world–and this is coming from a liberal, non-Catholic, girl from California 
Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!