My heart has been set on this college... but is it really the right one for me?

<p>In the past few months, I’ve basically set my heart on going to Georgetown. There are only a few setbacks, and ANY input on my questions would be amazing.</p>

<li><p>3/4 of the time I hear that the Catholic prescence is not noticable and that its Jesuit roots are good academically but do not affect you outside of that. I am a Jewish girl, and a heavily Catholic university would not be for me. Am I right to believe the Catholic prescence is small?</p></li>
<li><p>I want a school with a very workhard/playhard mentality, but I am unsure if Georgetown is more workhard/playlittle. Is there a party scene? More chill, laid back is good, as long as students there still like to have fun.</p></li>
<li><p>I am fairly liberal, and close-minded conservatives would drive me nuts. I’ve heard that Georgetown leans right slightly, but is there still a large conservative population where I will feel as though I am the minority?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>try posting these questions- which are good ones to ask- on the Georgetown forum as well.</p>

<p>First of all, I don't mean to attack your political leanings, but why is it that conservatives to you are automatically close-minded? This makes you sound "close-minded" yourself, although I wouldn't assume you are. </p>

<p>Georgetown may be a bit more socially conservative due to its Catholic background, but other than that, I'm certain it has liberal leanings.</p>

<p>I wasn't saying all conservatives are closed-minded, I was saying I don't want a campus filled with conservatives who ARE closed-minded. I don't want a superliberal school either, I want a school with a nice balance of people to agree with and people to debate with.</p>

<p>You'll probably get answers to your questions by visiting Georgetown.</p>

<p>I already have my visit scheduled in October.</p>

<p>fyi-I recall this thread, salpert, on pct Jewish enrollment. I don't think I saw G town on it, but I did not look that closely. </p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=388149&highlight=hillel%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=388149&highlight=hillel&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Search The Washington Post newspaper online for an article on Georgetown's party scene. It ran within the last few days. Georgetown is really cracking down on alcohol and on campus parties.</p>

<p>Georgetown doesn't seem to be on it. The hillel website says the school is about 10% Jewish, which is very comforting. I freak myself out a lot that I'll end up at a school that isn't truly the right fit and be unhappy.</p>

<p>If Jewish life is important to you, George Washington beats Georgetown hands down.</p>

<p>We are Jewish, and my S graduated from a Jesuit high school. We toured Georgetown a few years ago during his college search. This is just our impression, but both of us felt a snootiness there.</p>

<p>I pay special attention to political leanings of a school when I'm looking at it because I am conservative. As a student who is also interested in Georgetown and doing research, I would say that you won't have to look hard to find people with similar ideological views. It seems to have a healthy balance of views. (Unlike most universities where conservatives are the overwhelming minority)</p>

<p>We went and visited Georgetown, and I feel that I can try to answer some of your questions. Yes, it is a Catholic University, but it is taught by the Jesuits, which makes it quite different than a school such as Notre Dame. Jesuit teaching seems to be very open to the existance of other religions, and while there is a religious requirement, I was told that you can satisfy it by taking courses in Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and many other types of religions. Secondly, I would agree that it is a farly conservative school--almost everyone we talked to was planning on going to Law, Medical or Business Grad School--there is not that "excitement or buzz" in the air that you find at GW--everything is neat, ordered, and manicured--it is a beautiful campus, close to (but at times it seems far) from the urban energy of Wash. D.C. I think that a Liberal student who is self-assured with their thoughts would be fine there--the students are smart enough to know that there are people who think differently than themselves--and I know many people who have gone there and been happy--it just seemed to me to feel like a big prep school.</p>

<p>kinshasa- Yes, Jewish life is important, but I much prefer Georgetown's academics to GWs. I wish I could have Georgetown's academics with GW's personality. Though Gtown's personality is not bad.</p>

<p>Ummm, that would be good if people are conservative. That way nobody agrees with you, and it teaches you how to think and argue, as well as opens you to views that similar people to yourself do not have.</p>

<p>BIGTWIX, I agree with you, where I want a balance, but I prefer a more liberal leaning school.</p>

<p>It sounds as if Georgetown would be fine for you, but try to set your sights on a group of schools, not just one. Investing too much emotionally before the fact is not a good thing.</p>

<p>Yes, you would fit in Georgetown just fine. Although it has religious connections, it has a very open atmosphere. You will find many liberals as well. You will find people of all religions. It is very diverse, and being located in Washington D.C., a diverse city, adds to its diversity.</p>