<p>My D is a HS junior considering applying to Georgetown next year. She wants to major in Poli Sci and eventually go to law school. She wants to go to school on the east coast. We are from SF Bay Area and will be visiting GT, GWU, American, Penn, and Princeton in a few weeks. Will do another trip to the Boston area in a few months (Brandeis, Tufts, etc). I am concerned that D will be uncomfortable in a heavily Catholic/religious conservative environment. We are atheists with a Jewish cultural heritage and politically liberal. Will she fit in at GT?</p>
<p>GU may be a Jesuit institution, but I know several atheist/agnostic/non-practicing (as well as practicing), politically liberal Jewish students who loved it there and had no problem fitting in. I really think it’s a non-issue.</p>
<p>Thank you. Good to hear that perspective. I went to the Villanova website for example, and the first thing you see is a picture of a Catholic mass in progress. BIG turnoff!</p>
<p>I would take a look and see how it feels Would also take a look at Villanova. I know Jewish kids at both schools and Fordham too who have no problem with any of those schools.</p>
<p>OP, Georgetown is top of my son’s list. When we visited over spring break, the level of religious presence/commitment was one of the things I was worried about because we are not into organized religion. Those concerns were assuaged. Crucifixes weren’t everywhere you went, and our guide said she fulfilled her theology requirement with a religions of the world kind of class but that there are TONS of other classes from which to choose. The day we left was the day the new pope was named so the Jesuits were riding a wave of positive press.</p>
<p>And as a final piece of evidence I offer my sister’s disdain of the place. She’s a hyper-conservative Catholic (except when she doesn’t want to be), and she refuses to even congratulate ds on his acceptance because of its “liberalness.” That was enough for me; the school must be doing something right! ;)</p>
<p>Thanks for that, Youdon’tsay. Had to laugh about your sister. We’ll definitely try to get the “vibe” when we visit. Have to wonder, though, whether one can buy condoms at the campus store or get a birth control Rx filled at the campus health center, etc. Or are they going to look at her like she has horns growing out of her head if she asks?</p>
<p>DGDzDad: as previously expressed, although Gtown has a Jesuit heritage - - for which they do not apologize for or try to hide - - non-Catholics or non-religous types are wecome to the Gtown community and are not shunned or made to feel like outcasts in any way. We are a deeply Catholic family with strong conservative political beliefs. My daughter is involved with various Catholic organizations on campus as well as non-religious activities. From what we have seen, religion - or lack thereof - is a non-issue. Unlike your comment above about being a big turnoff, the presence of the Catholic/Jesuit faith (including Mass) is very comforting to us and something that we are happy exists at Gtown. However, as I previously stated, whether your family is Catholic or atheist, liberal or conservative, it is a non-issue at Gtown. All are welcome and respected for their opinion which my wife and I and daughter very much appreciate. Although we are comfortable with our religious beliefs and political views, we want our daughter exposed to all beliefs and political views from all over the world. With respect to whether condoms are available at the campus store or birth control Rx filled at the campus health center, the answer is a strong and resounding NO. These absolutely are against the tenets of the Catholic faith. Good luck to you and your daughter as you progress on journey to find the college that is a right fit for your family. We would love to see you all on the Hilltop!</p>
<p>The Jesuits are doing their job and have been doing it well for a lot of decades. Non Catholics and Non Christians need to step up and preach to the world that Jesuit Universities are very tolerant of other beliefs. There should never be a question about it.</p>
<p>The day we were there a table was set up by a group handing out condoms in the student center. I really don’t remember the name of the group. I was pleasantly surprised.</p>
<p>That’s awesome!</p>
<p>You can’t buy condoms on campus, but the walk to CVS (or, at last resort, the Exxon at the base of the Exorcist Stairs) is not long at all. Plus, H*yas For Choice hands out condoms for free periodically and you can always get some from them. The Student Health Center has a formal policy of only prescribing birth control for non-contraceptive reasons (although word on the street is that any reason, e.g. acne control, will suffice), but I don’t believe filling it would be a problem, for the same reason. To be honest, I’ve never heard of anyone using the pharmacy at the hospital for this, though - again, CVS and the like are much more convenient. Students generally get long-term prescriptions written for them at home by their PCPs or other regular doctors.</p>
<p>Georgetown has a fairly strong Jewish presence (you likely won’t find publicly available statistics on this, but it is over 10% self-reported) and the political atmosphere is much more careerist/pragmatic than doctrinaire (with some exceptions on both sides, naturally), either on the left or the right. I’m not religious, but I do think there are non-religious benefits to the Jesuit affiliation, specifically a strong emphasis on social justice and serving others, through public service and other means. There is also a big emphasis on inter-religious dialogue, which is very important for the education of people who will be going out and working in a very diverse country and world.</p>
<p>As others have mentioned, Georgetown was explicitly founded as a school where students of any or no religious profession could study. At the time, anti-Catholic sentiment was pervasive and precluded John Carroll from pursuing higher education in the colonies, so he wanted to create an institution that was not exclusionary. That value continues to be held dear today.</p>
<p>So, short version: I absolutely do not think that a liberal atheist of Jewish heritage would feel out of place at Georgetown. I know more than a few people who fit that exact description, and they loved their experience.</p>
<p>While Georgetown is Catholic, It is not the more conservative. Rather, laid back in its evangelization. So no need of worries about being forced to convert or considered a pagan etc.</p>
<p>It is much more convenient to fill prescriptions at CVS than the hospital pharmacy. The hospital pharmacy is very busy and extremely slow!</p>
<p>One of the beautiful things about Georgetown is the diversity of thought and expression. It boasts an international flavor beyond that of any other university I know of in the US except perhaps Columbia. There are requirements in religion and philosophy, but many interesting ways to fulfill those requirements that focus on history and social thought not indoctrination.</p>