I’m a prospective political science major trying to choose between Georgetown and Notre Dame (I was admitted EA to both). I plan to pursue politics or law school after graduation. My extracurricular interests include percussion (marching band, jazz band, etc.), newspaper, ultimate frisbee, model united nations, mock trial, etc.
I’ve put together a pros/cons list (below). Please add/remove/comment on my list. If there’s anything else you think I should consider, please mention it. Thanks for your help!
Notre Dame
Pros:
Drumline !!
Football games/school spirit
Faith !!
Dorm system/community
PPE (Philosophy, Politics, Economics) program
Alumni network
Campus !!
5 hour drive from home
Intramural sports
Cons:
Binge drinking culture/alcoholism
Conservative
South Bend/isolated
Homogenous/lacking diversity
11 political science program (USA Today)
Parietals
Long winter walks
Georgetown
Pros:
1 political science program !!! (USA Today)
Washington D.C. !!!
Internship opportunities
Law school early admittance
Liberal
Diverse
International
Speakers on campus
Basketball games/school spirit
2 Model United Nations team in country !!
Cons:
No marching band
Less faith
Far from home
Inferior campus/less green space
Exclusive clubs
Hi! I just wanted to give my insight as I am also a prospective student to both schools. I am applying RD to Georgetown, and I applied REA to ND but was deferred. My ACT score and GPA have both increased since the admission decisions, though, so I am hopeful things will turn out well. I have two older sisters that have gone through Political Science at ND. One graduated two years ago with job offers from Bain and Deloitte. She accepted Bain’s offer but took a year off to travel to Korea which they were perfectly okay with! My other sister is graduating this year and is planning on attending law school or grad school immediately after. Both have found great mentors and had the most amazing opportunities due to their professors and the alumni they have connected with from Notre Dame. My middle sister has interned multiple times in DC over the summer and met some amazing people. The Political Science department at Notre Dame is also currently expanding and is having a brand new building devoted to this department. I really think this is the place to be. You seem to think that faith is an important aspect in your life and Georgetown just will not be able to offer you anything in that regard. I am unsure if you have visited both campuses but the Notre Dame campus is quite superior. My middle sister toured Georgetown with me this summer and we were both quite unimpressed with the facilities there. Georgetown was my oldest sister’s top choice but she was waitlisted. Notre Dame ended up being such a better option and environment for her. I do not believe that drinking is as much a problem on the Notre Dame campus as you believe. I have been there for tailgates and football events and never seen people ridiclously out of control. Overall, I think Notre Dame will be the most appealing school to you. While it’s Political Science department is not ranked as highly I think the connections and professors make up for that. The Notre Dame environment and family is truly superior to any other school I have visited or read about. I think you need to decide how important the school environment, faith, and overall well being are to you! If you have any more questions feel free to message me. I hope I helped
Ah, there’s that famous Domer holier-than-thou arrogance on display! Believe it or not, lots of people at Georgetown deeply and meaningfully engage with religion and spirituality, across a range of different traditions (not just a particular strand of Roman Catholicism). This happens both on campus and in the greater Washington area, which is a large, cosmopolitan place - I mean, it can’t offer the cow to student ratio that South Bend does, but it has its draws - that features many religious institutions, including the largest Catholic church in the Americas.
Aaaanyway, it’s certainly true that prospective students should think of schools as a place where they will live for 3-4 key formative years of their lives. That means thinking about the places holistically, which the OP’s list is getting at. To the extent possible, it’s good to try to visualize yourself at a place, think about the sorts of things you would be doing at various points throughout the year, and assess what seems most attractive on the whole.
I’m with @londondad – Georgetown. What’s missing at ND you can build yourself at Georgetown through campus faith groups, music groups (and a city with music!), etc. What’s missing at ND, best program and being in the heart of American political life, you can’t build at ND.
Both offer outstanding academics, so you should pick based on fit. And it seems for that, you may be leaning ND.
And while G’town is less conservative than ND, it is not really a 'liberal ’ place
Congrats on your acceptance to Georgetown and Notre Dame. Each is a great school. You can’t go wrong choosing either university.
You have done a good job analyzing the pros and cons of each university. I would, however, tweak your cons regarding Georgetown just a little bit as follows:
There are more than 300 clubs at Georgetown. Only a small percentage of them are extremely competitive. Opportunities abound. You will find your niche.
If you seek faith, you will find it at Georgetown. If you wish to live a secular life, you will find that as well.
The front campus at Georgetown is as beautiful as any campus in America. The back campus would benefit from more green space, but there are many new and beautiful buildings there. Moreover, the neighborhood abutting the campus is one of the very nicest in the country.
