SFS vs College

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
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Assuming an interest in international relations, but also in the humanities and social sciences
generally, as a precursor to a career in international policy and/or law, what are the pros and cons of applying to SFS and minoring in humanities/social sciences vs applying to the College, majoring in the social sciences or humanities and taking assorted classes (if possible) at SFS? D22 is trying to decide and really likes the CULP and IHI programs at SFS but we are concerned how it might foreclose exploration in other areas.

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Students at the College are allowed to register for SFS classes- space permitting, which is an important caveat. Afaik it’s not particularly common in practice. SFS students do take some classes at the College. The SFS requirements have recently been (very slightly) reduced, to increase the flexibility.

Tbh, though, SFS and the College are really different worlds. The students that I know who want SFS (including one of the Collegekids) have a really strong drive to international - ours started aiming for it at 14- and it is the program if you know that’s what you want. I don’t think it’s as happy a choice for somebody who is maybe kinda sorta perhaps interested in international.

Ofc, who the “we” in “we are concerned how it might foreclose exploration in other areas” is - and whose voice is strongest in that “we” matters a lot.

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Thanks. The We includes someone who has lived more than 17 years and has a slight notion of how the world works. The notion that a 17 year old can make informed career choices is pure nonsense.

4

Yeah, speaking as a student, this is not really accurate. The SFS and College are not truly different worlds, and a history/government/economics major in the College is going to take many of the same classes as a student in the SFS. SFS and College students are also in many of the same clubs and take many of the same jobs after graduation. To the extent that there even are specific “SFS classes,” pretty much anyone can register for them at the same time; you don’t get priority for certain classes based on what school you’re in with few exceptions.

Also, you don’t have to have your life devoted to IR to do well in the SFS, you just have to want to learn a language and take a pretty significant set of core classes. For a policy/law career and social science interest, you could really do well in either school.

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Thanks for your input, @somewhere2022- are you in the College or SFS?

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I’m in the SFS.

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If you had to apply to Georgetown all over again and you were interested in the intersection of global arts, history and politics with an undefined career track, to which one would you apply and why? My D22 is definitely applying and just did the one-week online IR pre-college program there, and is leaning SFS for the CULP major or IHI major as she finds the College’s majors more plain vanilla and less cutting edge than various SFS programs (eg Centennial Labs, etc).

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Think about this less in the abstract and more in a concrete sense. Look at the specific major requirements and core requirements for each school and decide based on which you’d prefer because that is the real difference: academic program.

You can transfer relatively easily after your first year as well if your grades are reasonable and you have some requirements for the other school met, which you would given those interests.

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Thanks. We have been unable to find those specific requirements on the website for the schools. Where would be a good place to find those? The main difference seems to be that SFS no longer requires three (no longer four) Econ classes for all majors. IHI seems to be a joint venture of SFS and the History department of the college; and CULP seems to be a joint venture of SFS and the drama department (looking at current co-heads); are those perceptions from the outside correct? Lastly, are there any urban legends as to whether it is easier to get into one rather than the other? The acceptance rates seems pretty comparable but I wonder whether the applicant bases are comparable as well.

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Colleges & Schools | 2022-2023 Undergraduate Bulletin | Georgetown University.

Yes, IHIS is basically the History major with SFS core requirements. CULP I would say is more like the overall humanities major of the SFS, yes there is some performing arts but also literature, etc.

They’re similarly hard to get into. People know they can switch once they get in which has the effect of mostly evening things out.

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11

More questions:

  1. Would you say there is a lot of cohesion and inclusion among SFS students in part because they are all more or less passionate about the same things? D22 is looking for a supportive, driven environment that appreciates intellectuality and academic seriousness while at the same time not being cliquey within the relevant group. She is a very genuine person and enjoys the same; has been impressed by how genuine Georgetown students seem in online presentations and programs.

  2. How is the College similar or different? Or is there no difference in everyday life between one and the other?

  3. Is there any advantage as an undergrad to having a dedicated separate body of deans etc at SFS vs the team serving the larger College?

  4. Does SFS have a BSFS/MSFS 5-Year program?

  5. What are some of the favorite ECs of SFS students vs College students?

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That is not our experience over the last number of years: SFS has been a noticeably tougher admit (I have missed the last 2 admissions cycles, so if that has changed, it is a recent change).

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  1. For the most part you will find said environment anywhere within Georgetown, maybe a bit less in the business school but that’s irrelevant here.
  2. No meaningful difference in everyday life.
  3. This is a small advantage to the SFS, but deans tend to be good in both schools.
  4. Yes, but it is competitive to get into.
  5. No meaningful difference. You will find plenty of students from both schools in almost any club at Georgetown.
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14

I would very much recommend the Culture and Politics (CULP) major if that’s where your D’s interests lie. CULP gives the most flexibility within the SFS, since half of the major’s requirements come from a list of classes that the student proposes. CULP tends to be best for people who have an interest in a topic that’s more niche and doesn’t fit neatly into any other majors. For example, I know a CULP major who studied defectors from North Korea and their integration into life in South Korea – that focus blended together a lot of East Asian politics classes and sociology/psychology classes. And in terms of careers, I wouldn’t worry too much about career prospects; having the SFS degree is enough, even if what you studied might not be directly applicable to the job market. (Sen. Ossoff is an excellent example of a CULP major doing very well for himself!)

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