Questions about life on the Hilltop?

<p>I am current freshman in the SFS. Last year, I really appreciated all the advice I found here. If you have any questions about Georgetown or applying (though those are probably better suited for the admissions office), I would love to try to answer them.</p>

<p>Thanks for the offer, hec2008!
I was wondering--what is the social life @ Gtown like?
What's a typical night or weekend like?
Is it particularly big on parties or is it more laidback?</p>

<p>Application-wise, did you submit three SATIIs?
Do you know if I can submit my October SAT II score for EA consideration even without rushing scores?
How long were each of your essays/EC short answer?</p>

<p>Sorry for overwhelming you with so many questions--it's totally fine if you can't answer all of them. :)</p>

<p>I love weekends at Georgetown. We only have one official social fraternity, so most of the parties are thrown through clubs, sports, or events in the off campus (which are usually just a block or two away) town houses. it sounds strange at first, but like this weekend Hoyas for Choice had a party that was an open house. I like it a lot because it frees the social scene up. It really depends on what you get involved with. for me personally, I work for the Corp which is the student run company and we always have something planned and I also am really good friends with the guys on the rugby team, who despite their reputation are really great people. They have a party every saturday on the roof tops of the on campus apartments. Last night was the American party, which is an annual thing. It's also tradition that as a freshman or sophomore you will never pay to get into a party because when you are an upperclassman you will do the same. Except for party fundraisers for different cases, but that's different. If you don't like going out all the time it's no big deal too. Last night before the party we went to Reventon Latino, which was a huge cultural showcase with amazing dancing, all student run, choreographed and performed. What else... The debates were huge here. It was so crazy. MSNBC came and interviewed the joint College Dems/ Republicans viewing party, and election night should be crazy. </p>

<p>I submitted 3 SAT II's for EA. If you are concerned they won't get there in time have your GC send them an email, which they will consider proof enough hinging on the fact that they report shows up eventually and confirms your scores. I did that with my ACT score. </p>

<p>My essays were both a page single spaced and my short answer was about a half a page.</p>

<p>Scores from the October test date will arrive in time to be used in the Early Action round. Just be sure to indicate (if you have not done so already) on Part II of your application that you took Subject Tests in October - there is a specific section on the application where you can do this.</p>

<p>Are chances of Early Admission pretty much shot if I have not taken SAT II's? I'm currently ranked first in my high school class, have decent SAT's, have pretty good EC's, and I am being recruited to play a sport at Georgetown, but does having no SAT II scores to my name really hurt me?</p>

<p>Also, I know that every freshman is biased to their own, but is there a particular freshmen dorm I should hope for, if I am admitted?!</p>

<p>Finally, how much do students take advantage of being in DC? Do they go into the city about once a week, or more like once a month?</p>

<p>Thanks for your insight!</p>

<p>im appling EA also but i only have one SAT II, but im taking the SAT II's in december. will this hurt against me for EA?</p>

<p>Thanks for your answers hec2008, sounds awesome!</p>

<p>At Georgetown, the organizations you are in are kinda like frats... examples are the Credit Union, Corp, and GERMS...</p>

<p>hec, I go to a small private school and it sucks having such a small class. I'm applying to SFS but I'm worried that I'm limiting myself once again, rather than applying to a larger university - the most important aspect of college for me is meeting new people from all kinds of backgrounds. How large is your class? Do you feel like you see the same people every day?</p>

<p>As far as SAT II's and admissions I have no idea. I submitted them, but I know people who didn't. The worse thing that happens is you are deferred early and your application is reconsidered in the spring with your SAT II's because no one is rejected early. But I think they have the policy for a reason and seriously doubt if it would impact your application so severely. </p>

<p>Dorms, when people say they love where they lived they really do mean it. It is so much more about the people than the building, though I do appreciate being able to roll out of bed and be at the ICC in 5 minutes. It makes morning classes so much more bearable. I live in Harbin, but have a lot of friends in New South. Darnell is just slightly more inconvenient, but compared to my friends at UCLA and Cal that walk is nothing. I think its all relative. </p>

<p>Everyone uses DC differently. I think as freshman we go out into the city less just because everyone is still adjusting, but the metro is great. I am really into art and music so I love being able to go to different galleries and museums and last week I went to the 9 30 club to see Minus the Bear and I'll be there again to see the Mountain Goats next week. I have friends with internships so they are in the city a lot, but it really depends on the person. If you want to be there you will be. </p>

<p>I think our class is about 1500 freshman, 6,000 total undergrads. I love the size. It's big enough that you are constantly meeting new people but small enough that you recognize people on the street. I went to a very small middle school but a huge public high school and really again the difference is what you make of it. Either way you have a close group of friends within a much large community. It's only been a few months but I am still meeting new people everyday.</p>

<p>Here's another application question--did you put anything down in the Special Talents/Skills section. Is this a section where it's okay/expected to be somewhat silly? I don't mean unprofessional like "Hey, I'm good at stealing cars" or something like that but can people really put things mentioned on CC like "flying" and not have an adcom be appalled when reading the app?</p>

<p>I copied and pasted that last question from another thread but since no one's given me a real answer, thought I'd ask an actual student, heh.</p>

<p>I put the random things I'm proud of that and love but have no way of measuring them. I don't remember exactly what I wrote, but it was slightly corny. Like birthday cake making and finishing runs even when I'm exhausted. Its another opportunity to tell something about yourself. Have fun with it, but I'm not sure about flying unless you really are a pilot</p>

<p>Thanks! :)</p>

<p>Haha and yeah, I was referencing to something someone else on CC wrote.
I was thinking of putting down something on the corny but endearing side as well. :D</p>

<p>I live in harbin as well, and I must say it is a bonus to be a short distance away from basically anything on campus...</p>

<p>About the metro: I will caution that Georgetown makes itself sound slightly more convenient than it actually is. The GUTS buses are great...when they are running. On weekends they have a very limited schedule and often come at erratic times from when they're scheduled. Walking across the bridge isn't SO bad, but it can get annoying especially in bad weather. My boyfriend goes to GW and we find it easier to just walk it. It's not too far but a pain if it's late or something.</p>

<p>Haha don't mean to hate on Gtown or anything though, I do love it here!</p>

<p>I live in Village C...we're close and have our own bathrooms!</p>

<p>I agree, GUTs is great but their amazing schedule really only runs on weekdays. The weekend schedule is more erratic, but then again weekend GUTS service was much worse until GUSA (georgetown's student govt.) came in to extend Saturday services to midnight adding Sunday afternoon service.</p>

<p>I agree as well, usually we end up taking a taxi one way to the metro and splitting the fare so it's not that bad. I guess its all relative because i'm from la, completely metro free . Anything is a step up from the 405 freeway.</p>

<p>I live far off-campus and depend on GUTS. Like others have said, GUTS is great- it makes living in Arlington feasible for me- but GUTS still has serious problems. For me, one of the biggest issues is over-crowding. For example, in the evening, the buses run only every 20 minutes, but the buses fill up (some standing room only) before even getting to the Car Barn stop. Those buses aren't properly designed for standing passengers.</p>

<p>Also, as far as I know, GUTS service stops late afternoon on Saturdays. If any plans to extend service have been approved, they have not yet been implemented.</p>

<p>I know it keeps coming up when talking about Georgetown, so my apologies! But can you address the "preppiness" level? Specifically, how hard is it for student's (esp. girls!) who don't have a lot to spend on the "right" clothes?</p>

<p>How cliqueish is the social scene?</p>

<p>Georgetown is known for preppiness, but it applies to a minority of the campus. I'm a girl and I rolled around for four years in jeans and sweatpants and did not feel out of place. Sure, there was a group of people really invested in their looks, but that's the case anywhere. Most people start out caring but then the fact that you are living where you are working catches up to you and you stop caring about going to the library in your pajamas. Georgetown is cliqueish in that the social scene is organized by certain groups. There is no Greek life, so parties are thrown by sports teams, theater clubs, college dems, Black Student Alliance etc...so your social scene will probably be determined by what your hobbies or interests are. What makes it different from High School I think is that those groups don't hold up in the academic world. In class you make friends with the person sitting next to you no matter what club you belong to. Same for the living arrangements, you're going to hang out with your floor no matter who is living on it for the first few months.</p>