Georgetown vs. WashU--please, please help

Hello thanks for reading my post and please respond with any insight,

I committed to WashU two weeks ago. Today I got an email from Georgetown basically saying that I could get off the waitlist if I say I will enroll. I have to respond before noon tomorrow (5/11). These two schools have always been tough for me to pick which one I like better. I see pros and cons with each. Georgetown has great government and biology programs, D.C. with all its resources, basketball, more prestigious, but Georgetown is really close to my home (15 min) so I already have explored and experienced D.C.–and it is jesuit, and I am jewish, so Im not sure what that would mean. WashU has academic flexibility, great advising, great dorms and food, and a positive environment, but has no sports, St. Louis is meh, and a lot of people don’t even know what WashU is. Please give any more insight you have to help me make my decision. THANKS!!!

If Wash U were in a city worth spending 4 years (sorry St L), I could see the advantage to heading to explore new environs. But D.C. Is a way more interesting city to complement a college experience, even if it is already somewhat familiar to you. And Georgetown is as secular as a Jesuit school gets, I’d not think twice about attending as a Old rather than New Testament guy.

Wash U and Georgetown are comparable academically, but Georgetown is a bit more prestigious and well known to the general population simply because of sports. For people that matter, i.e. employers, both are held in high and similar regard. It seems that Georgetown is better for your intended major, and I don’t think it being Jewish at a Jesuit school will give you a negative college experience. How important is D1 athletics and school spirit to you? Are you interested in Greek life? What are the costs of attending each school?

You’ve had a couple of votes to go to Georgetown, here’s one for Wash U. St. Louis is actually a fun town and Wash U is a great school. Wash U and Georgetown are ranked about the same and as far as I’ve seen, employers will respect them both equally. The individual departments are ranked about the same. Being further from home in a new city will give you a better opportunity to grow and have different experiences. Also, Wash U. said they wanted you right out of the gate and that has to mean something. There is no wrong decision here. Best of luck in whatever you decide!

Both great choices. Which School at Georgetown? I am still hoping for waitlist email/call. Did they call too? What time did you hear Wednesday? Good luck with your decision. If I hear I’ll have a similar choice, but I’ll pick the school farther from home for the new experience.

@ryanordy88 Congratulations on both acceptances! Can you clarify what you mean about receiving an email basically offering you a spot from the waitlist? To my knowledge, you are the only person who has heard anything from Georgetown, and in years past students seemed to receive a call prior to an email. Everyone is anxiously waiting for any news, and until your post it seemed Georgetown would releasing results on the 15th. Also, can you provide any details on updates you may have sent to strengthen your application? Thanks, and again - good luck with your decision - both great schools!

Down to the wire! My guess is you’ve gone with Georgetown. I’ve toured Georgetown with my daughter, and walked around WashU and the area around it when I was on business. My impression is that WashU may have things like nice dorms, positive attitude, etc. (which are great), but that unless you really felt a lot more comfortable there than at Georgetown you wouldn’t pick it over Georgetown. WashU is across the street from a big park with nice museums, but other than that I didn’t see a whole lot going on. It’s not in the city the way Georgetown is in DC.

Not sure if you’ve already responded but I’d lean to Georgetown, but a lot will depend on how you felt at the campus if you visited WashU and your major, along with cost. Social sciences, pre-med, nursing would be Georgetown, STEM probably WashU. Not sure about core humanities (Lit, English).

Thank you so much everyone for your help. I picked WashU. Both schools are great, but I felt like I needed a new environment for undergrad–which Georgetown didn’t provide. Thanks again!!

Both great choices, but I think you will appreciate a new locale for college. New surroundings is part of the education as well.

They are peers. It sounds like you chose according to fit variables that are important to you, so you made the right choice.

Great choice. Here is some info from Hillel re: Wash U. http://www.hillel.org/college-guide/list/record/washington-university-in-st–louis

Great decision. Though both are excellent schools, I would have picked WashU.