<p>Congratulations on three great options to choose from!!! The three are actually quite different in terms of what your undergraduate experience would be like: ND–beautiful university with strong sports tradition in a not-very compelling (perhaps negative) location; Georgetown–traditional campus yet in an urban environment where the college town and DC play a huge role academically, socially, and culturally; Middlebury–New England LAC with a small, intimate feel. I am copying a response I gave to a CC’er who is deciding between Georgetown and Duke. Duke and Notre Dame are VERY VERY similar in terms of the student body and experience (although Duke is more diverse than ND), so you might find these differences helpful. Obviously, since I transferred from Duke to Georgetown, I believe Georgetown is the better option, and among the three schools you are considering, I believe Georgetown provides the most opportunities to provide a compelling, exciting, and diverse undergraduate experience. Best of luck, and congratulations again!!! You won’t go wrong with these great options!</p>
<p>Congratulations on your great options!!! I can tell you from first hand experience that Georgetown is the more compelling undergraduate experience (I transferred from Duke to Georgetown). Georgetown and DC will provide you with academic, social, cultural, and professional opportunities that cannot be obtained elsewhere. Here are the comments I provided to a poster who is considering Georgetown business vs. Duke–the same information applies to you–obviously Georgetown and DC generate phenomenal opportunities with the incredible faculty, unbelievable internship opportunities (State Department, the Hill, White House, embassies, IMF, World Bank, National Institutes of Health, Kennedy Center, Smithsonian, National Endowment for the Arts, National Gallery, etc.), an interesting and diverse student body, fantastic school spirit and community, and an international reputation that is impossible to beat! HOYA SAXA!!!</p>
<p>I know Duke and Georgetown very well–I transferred from Duke to Georgetown, and my sister graduated from the business school at Georgetown. Even though the schools are similar in many ways–talented student body, great school spirit–they are remarkably different as well in terms of the undergraduate experience. Duke has a beautiful campus–the “Gothic Wonderland”–with a “bubble-like” experience–that is, there is little that occurs off campus that has any relevance to the Duke experience, mostly because Durham doesn’t offer much. Social life is dominated by Greek-life (don’t let them tell you otherwise–they’ll state that only 50% of the students pledge Greek life, but 25% can’t as freshman, and there are “selective houses” that aren’t Greek but might as well be–the Greek-social life of heavy alcohol parties in frats/dorms is the major social experience) and basketball, and there is a work hard-play hard mentality that creates a divide between academic life and social life. Georgetown has the best of all worlds in that it has a wonderful campus located in a phenomenal college-town atmosphere that is part of one of the best cities in the world. Washington, DC provides tremendous opportunities socially, culturally, academically, and professionally, so the life of a Georgetown undergraduate generally is more integrated (socially and academically), and you will find that Georgetown faculty and students utilize the resources of the city in a very compelling way. The social life is far more diverse–yes, you will find dorm/apartment/house parties just like the Duke frat party scence, but there are so many additional options (bars, clubs, restaurants, Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, Georgetown the town, downtown DC–all within walking distance or a short metro ride away). School spirit at Georgetown is incredibly strong, but you won’t find students “camping out” days in advance for basketball games like at Duke simply because there are far more options and opportunities that exist. </p>
<p>Additionally, the undergraduate experience at Georgetown focuses on real-life applications of knowledge as well, using DC resources. A big difference between the educational experience is that Georgetown is much, MUCH more undergraduate-focused whereas Duke faculty are generally more focused on graduate students. The relationships with the faculty and administration that you will develop at Georgetown are definitely stronger–it is not uncommon to have faculty meet you at The Tomb’s (great student-hangout on campus) or have class at their home. Resources for international business are incredible with The World Bank and International Monetary Fund in walking distance. Business students generally will not have Friday classes and will use that time for internship and work experiences like at The Bank or IMF. Georgetown undergraduate business students are highly recrutied on Wall Street–my sister received multiple offers and is at JP Morgan-Chase in their young leadership program; the Georgetown network in business is incredible, with Georgetown’s Wall Street Alliance–alumni who assist Georgetown students and graduates to obtain positions on Wall Street as well as in business generally, including internationally. My sister also worked for The Corp, which is the largest student run business in the world that provides multiple services for students on campus (“Students Serving Students” is their motto–they run grocery stores, travel, storage, coffe shops, textbook resales, a credit union, etc.–completely operated and managed by students). With all of these experiences and the location, along with one of the best and most comprehensive study abroad program in the country, I cannot imagine a better place to be for international business than Georgetown.</p>
<p>Lastly, there is a commitment to serving others that is intrinsic to the Georgetown experience–a desire to use knowledge to make the community and the world a better place. This is part of the Jesuit tradition that makes the Georgetown experience unique as well. I am not Catholic, but I found the Jesuit tradition to be one of the most compelling parts of my undergraduate experience. This tradition, along with a cosmopolitan, diverse student body in an international city would seem to make your decision a no-brainer.</p>
<p>Transferring from Duke to Georgetown was the best decision I ever made!!! Best of luck with your decision! Hoya Saxa!!!</p>