@snicks1234 , GSP is amazing. Like it on Facebook, and you’ll see the kinds of things they do for the kids.
@snicks1234 Yeah GSP is amazing. They have a lot of events and programming to support and build the GSP community. It’s definitely a good program. I can’t tell you personally much more but I think they have info sessions and thinks like that.
@snicks1234 if you have particular questions you can PM me. Ds is in it.
@hoyabluegray Hello! My d was accepted RD SFS. She is extremely excited. It has been her dream for a very long time. However, now she is struggling between GU SFS, UChicago and the Dual BA Columbia-Science Po program and also debating Middlebury and Wellesley. Are the SFS students supportative of one another, or very competitive? She is also worried thare is so much focus on internships that it is hard to enjoy the actual classes? Also, I know a language proficiency is required, so how much time can you spend doing a study abroad? Ultimately, looking back, what are you thankful for about going to GU that you couldn’t have predicted would be important to you when you were deciding on which college to attend? Thank you so much!
@hoyabluegray Thank you for replying and @Youdon’tsay thank you for the info offer.I will definitely PM you. It sounds awesome.It sounds like everything I could hope for.
@gyunnzb I got the email yesterday and the video that comes with it explaining about the GSP.
@hoyabluegray Is it true that freshmen have to take the 14-meal plan? Thanks for all your informative answers!
Sorry to bother you again, but what would you say is the average income bracket of the families of the students? Thanks!
@hoyabluegray thank you for your time! My question is the following: When you applied to GTown, you obviously got in… If there was one thing you could point to or recommend for those looking to apply in order to strengthen their application and chances of getting in, what would it be? In other words, what is something that you would advise those looking to apply to put emphasis on in their application when they apply? What do you think contributed in your application to GTown selecting you for admission? Thanks in advance!
Bothering you again… #:-S What are some examples which you feel would hurt or ruin an applicant’s chances at Georgetown?
I would say SFS students are competitive but really only with themselves. It isn’t a cutthroat environment at all. People study with each other, even in classes that are graded on a curve, and help each other out with internship opportunities, editing each others essays, etc. SFS students are driven and motivated but they’re only really trying to push themselves to be the best that they can be. It can be an intense environment at times but it’s also a highly motivating one and the community is incredibly supportive and close knit. I’ve never felt like my classmates are rooting for my failure or anything like that.
To your second point about internships, they’re really what you make of them. Some people like to do a lot during the year, others only intern during the summer (if at all). Either way is fine and I would say that the majority of SFS students aren’t necessarily always juggling an internship on top of classes. At least for me, I definitely get the sense that most people prioritize their classes over getting internships, especially in the first few years. Her concern over the focus on internships is really nothing to worry about. It’s not nearly as overwhelming a presence as it might seem.
Language proficiency and study abroad sort of depends on how far you are along in the language before you get to GU. The SFS rule is that if you haven’t completed proficiency before you go abroad, then you have to go to a place that speaks the language that you’re trying to get proficiency in. In practice, if you have at least a little experience with the language you are studying before you get to GU, this isn’t really a problem. It only gets tricky if you’re starting a new language from scratch. Keep in mind though that approx. 70% of the SFS goes abroad so you can spend a lot of time going abroad if you want. You can go for one semester, a year, a summer, it’s really up to you.
Then finally I don’t think I could’ve predicted how amazing this community would be before I got here. Your professors and classmates, aside from being just incredibly talented and accomplished in their fields, are genuinely good and caring people who are always there for you. I remember just going to one of my professors’ office (not during office hours) after the election and we had like an hour long talk about what it meant and it was just a genuine experience that he was in no way obligated to do. Three weeks into school, when I got sick for the first time, one of my new friends brought me soup and sourced notes for the classes I had missed from my classmates. She was in no way obligated to do that but she wanted to. People here are really kind, funny, smart, talented, and accomplished. College isn’t just about the education that you’ll receive, it’s also about the community that you’ll live in and I’m so glad I found this one.
So all freshmen (since you guys don’t have a kitchen) are required to be on the meal plan. You guys also don’t have access to the block plans until sophomore year. I don’t remember all the options exactly but I think the lowest you can go is 14 meals a week which doesn’t sound like a lot but trust me, it’s plenty.
I honestly can’t tell you. It might be worth a search but I’m not sure if Georgetown posts those stats. I can tell you that I have friends who come from very wealthy backgrounds and I have friends who are GSP, first-generation college students. There’s people from all different backgrounds, although like most private east coast schools, Georgetown definitely skews towards the wealthier side of things.
Do you know anyone on the Pre-med track in the School of Foreign Service? Is it good? Thanks, again!
Georgetown does a really good job of trying to be holistic in their admissions so I would say the most important thing to do in order to strengthen your application is make sure your passion comes through in the essays and extracurriculars. Obviously it’s important to have good grades and test scores but what Georgetown really wants to see is that you’re passionate about something that is related to what you want to study. Like if you apply to the SFS, it’s important that you show that you’re interested in IR and politics. If you apply to the MSB, it’s important to show that you have an interest and background in business related affairs. Just focus on trying to show what makes you, you.
I mean Georgetown is no different from the majority of selective colleges in that having bad grades is a deal breaker. Having bad test scores is a deal breaker. Not taking the three subject tests, though not automatically a deal breaker, isn’t advisable. Being uninvolved through high school is a bad sign. Etc. There’s not many Georgetown specific things that would ruin your application except for maybe the three subject tests although they make exceptions if you’re applying early or if you live in rural areas or if you’re low income, etc.
Thank you so much for doing this AMA! Could speak at all to the “stress culture” that is associated with Georgetown?
I know a lot of people who are premed in the SFS. It’s a little bit harder because the SFS core is pretty big and it already doesn’t include any science but it’s definitely doable. Most premed people are STIA majors but there are some who are not. To be honest, your undergrad major doesn’t really make that much of a difference in premed. There’s no difference between being premed in the College and premed in the SFS except for the number of extra science courses you might have to take.
You’re saying there aren’t any science courses available in the SFS?
So while Georgetown stress culture definitely exists I also think it’s overblown. People here are stressed but it’s partly because they do so much. Hoyas tend to always be busy, juggling ECs, classes, and internships. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t have fun, it doesn’t mean that people don’t have lazy days, it kind of fluctuates. It exists, but it’s not as bad as people might tell you it is. I think there’s this idea that being busy and stressed is kind of like a status symbol but few people are as crazy busy as they say they are.