Hicksville? Really?
^ Just a joke, relax!
I think the experience may be different for students of color than for white students. Both my students were accepted to Gtown but chose different colleges because there was some talk by classmates from their high school that the clubs are not user friendly for students of color. If you are white, this may be an okay college experience.
Given the number and diversity of student organizations on campus, from club sports to cultural groups to journalistic outlets to arts, etc. etc. I don’t think there’s any generalization that would accurately apply to “the clubs.” For what it’s worth, by way of example, I would offer up the current masthead of The Hoya - a quintessential Georgetown club: http://www.thehoya.com/about-us/staff/ Going by names and backgrounds alone, I would suggest that this club’s leadership has numerous students of color, among other kinds of diversity.
Staff
Toby Hung
Editor-in-Chief
editor@thehoya.com
Toby Hung is a junior in the College majoring in linguistics and economics, minoring in art history. Originally from Hong Kong, Hung previously served as executive editor, Guide editor and campus news editor.
Daniel Almeida
General Manager
gm@thehoya.com
Daniel Almeida is a junior in the McDonough School of Business majoring in finance. Originally from Sao Paolo, Almeida previously served as opinion editor and director of sales.
Matthew Trunko (MSB’ 18)
Chair of the Board
chair@thehoya.com
Board of Directors
Syed Humza Moinuddin (SFS ’18)
At-Large Member of the Board
Selena Parra (MSB ’18)
At-Large Member of the Board
Paolo Santamaria (COL’ 18)
At-Large Member of the Board
Amelia Fattore (MSB ’18)
Community Member of the Board
Board of Editors
Ian Scoville (COL ’19)
Executive Editor
ian.scoville@thehoya.com
Ian Scoville is a sophomore in the College majoring in political economy. Originally from London, Scoville previously served as the campus news editor for two semesters.
Marina Tian (NHS ’19)
Executive Editor
marina.tian@thehoya.com
Marina Tian is a sophomore in the School of Nursing and Health Studies majoring in health care management and policy. Originally from Tempe, Ariz., Tian previously served as the Guide editor.
Jesus Rodriguez (SFS ’19)
Managing Editor
jesus.rodriguez@thehoya.com
Jesus Rodriguez is a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service majoring in international politics with a minor in German and a certificate in diplomatic studies. Originally from Orlando, Fla. by way of Venezuela, Rodriguez previously served as the design editor.
Jeff Cirillo (COL ’20)
News Editor
Christian Paz (COL ’19)
News Editor
Maya Gandhi (SFS ’20)
Opinion Editor
Cynthia Karnezis (COL ’19)
Sports Editor
Dani Guerrero (SFS ’20)
Guide Editor
Meena Raman (MSB ’20)
Guide Editor
Peter Shamamian (COL ’20)
Design Editor
Stephanie Yuan (NHS ’19)
Photo Editor
Emma Wenzinger (COL ’19)
Copy Chief
Jarrett Ross (COL ’18)
Multimedia Editor
Tara Subramaniam (SFS ’19)
Social Media Editor
Mike Radice (SFS ’18)
Blog Editor
@londondad, we suggested transferring because the price of Georgetown is the same as other schools higher up the pecking order and those other schools have better financial aid. We are fortunate to be able to afford to pay for college without taking out loans, but that is because we saved and invested well over the course of our kids’ lives–not because of our current gross income. When certain universities have endowments so large that they reduce the tuition cost based upon parents’ gross income, it makes it enticing.
Yes, we know the kids at State U are scrambling to find housing off campus. We live in a State U town and one of the things we have invested in is rental properties. 
As to the “people of color” vs. “white students” comment, I think our son (white) has been a little discouraged by the lack of integration on campus, but not for the reason you would think. What I mean by that is that he has made some really good friends across cultural lines but as school has gone on, his friends have gravitated to culture-based clubs and, at least for our son, his cross-cultural friendships have waned. His impression is that the culture-based clubs are so good that many students get absorbed in them and find identity there. But then again, two of his best friends this past year were from Latin America.
The one instance where a friend seemed to have issues with depression or other mental health issues was a white, privileged kid. I think it can be hard when you are a privileged kid from “fly-over-country” and you are a rock star in your high school and suddenly you are just a regular joe.
Anyways, these are all just anecdotal examples which are all anyone can offer. Our son is shy, quiet, and introverted. He has no interest in government classes. He would rather work as a TA than work in a congressional office. He would seem to be the opposite of the typical Georgetown student. But he loves it, mostly, I think, because he buys into the cura personalis and service to others mentality. So, like I said before, it costs a lot of money–make sure it is for you.
I can corroborate that one’s experience at Georgetown may be very different if you are a student of color. In fact, two of the largest organizations on campus that also receive some of the largest sums of university funding–Students of Georgetown Inc. (The Corp) and the Georgetown University Alumni & Student Federal Credit Union (GUASFCU)–have been in hot water over the past year for accepting few students of color and generally for lacking in diversity as a whole. There was even an article published in the student newspaper (URL below) than highlighted some of these discrepancies, and it brought to light a particular case in which a fully qualified/capable girl was not accepted to GUASFCU because she was Muslim and would therefore not fit in with the “hookup culture” of GUASFCU. The University really had no response and has barely cracked down on these clubs, even though they receive funding from the university.
http://www.thehoya.com/viewpoint-a-dysfunctional-club-culture/
^^^Thank you @guthway One of my two students had heard this about specifically The Corp and GUASFCU, so pursued Berkeley Haas instead. Although she liked Gtown for its spirituality, relatively small campus, and its location, she heard she’d be beating her head against the wall trying to gain some business experience as a minority.
As a student of color at Georgetown I’m declined to disagree. Clubs like The Corp and GUASFCU are brought up time and time again as examples of the lack of diversity at Georgetown however, I’m sick of people looking only at a couple of clubs and generalizing their problems to the entire school. Georgetown is an incredibly international school where you’re likely to actually experience more diversity than at other peer institutions. The sheer fact that it’s in DC and has the SFS so attracts students from all over the world is a major point in its favor. Could it be better? Yes, of course it could. But it’s nowhere near as much of an issue as some are trying to make it seem.
It’s unquestionably true that diversity, particularly within leadership positions, has been a long-standing issue at both of those organizations (though the article you linked suggests that the latest group of Corp hires was the most diverse ever). What is NOT true is that either The Corp or GUASFCU “receive some of the largest sums of university funding.”
The Corp is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation - it generates its own revenue from its businesses and does not receive university funding the way that university-affiliated student clubs do. GUASFCU is, as the name implies, a Federal Credit Union chartered under the Federal Credit Union Act and tax-exempt under 501(c)1. It likewise generates its own revenue through fees, interest on loans, and other financial transaction and does not receive university funding in the way that university-affiliated student clubs do.
As independent organizations that are not funded by the university, neither The Corp nor GUASFCU are accountable to the Student Affairs staff at the university, they are not listed on the Hoyalink list of student organizations, etc. etc.
It is the height of absurdity to say that “if you’re white, Georgetown might be an ‘okay’ experience”. Are you kidding me? This year, we have more countries represented than any university in the world. Are you seriously trying to say that the university that is likely THE most international university in the world is unfair to non-white students? Any problems you find at Georgetown with diversity are ones you will have anywhere and either way, whatever they’re doing, it’s clearly sitting well with the non-white population because they keep on coming, and staying.