Should I transfer to SFS? PLEASE HELP

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
1

<p>Hello! I was accepted to Georgetown SFS as a junior transfer this year. I come from a small liberal arts college in the Northeast.</p>

<p>For the name value, ranking, etc. I think Georgetown is a better school, especially for my major (intl econ). However, there are few things that are making me indecisive..</p>

<p>1.
I was planning to study abroad at Oxford, and if I transfer, I will be losing that opportunity. I heard studying abroad can be a big plus in the job market... and it was one of my dreams to study in England.</p>

<p>BUT! Does studying abroad matter more than where my diploma is from, is the question... And I guess I can always travel to England, or try for grad school.</p>

<p>2.
I'm getting a full ride at my current school, but I will have to pay around $2,500 at Georgetown.</p>

<p>BUT 2500 a year really isn't that much, and I will probably get outside scholarships.</p>

<p>3.
Core courses... I have about 10 that I will have to take, and they don't seem too interesting. Like, I'd much rather take one more econ course than some theology course in my senior year.</p>

<p>...Can't think of any BUT for this one.</p>

<p>4.
Because I am a junior transfer and I have a lot of core courses to take, I might be unable to graduate in time.</p>

<p>BUT if I push myself, I probably can... and I don't mind graduating late too much.</p>

<p>So what do you guys think? Should I transfer or not? What will be the best for my future??? I really don't know and the deposit is due this Saturday. I'm freaking out.</p>

<p>Please help! Your insight will be much much appreciated. Thank you!!!</p>

2

<p>Answers come with a healthy helping of bias. YMMV, as they say.</p>

<ol>
<li>Study abroad is certainly a great experience, particularly at a place like Oxford, but as you said, grad school makes it possible to add that to your resume. In terms of the value that employers and others assign to it, study abroad generally doesn’t rank too high unless it is for specific linguistic and cultural exposure. A year at the American University in Beirut is impressive. A year in jolly old England, not as much.<br></li>
</ol>

<p>It’s also the case that many study abroad programs are quite light academically, at least by upper-tier US standards. Oxford is absolutely an exception to that, but it does tend to depress the overall weight assigned to these programs.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>$2500/year for Georgetown is an unbelievable deal. You could get that back just in free catering at lectures.</p></li>
<li><p>On the core courses: you’d be surprised. I’m very much an IR/IPOL geek and not a philosopher, but Political & Social Thought was an excellent course and a very positive experience for me (it helped to have a fantastic prof and an even better TA). Same with theology and Problem of God: no one will confuse me for a theologian, but POG was excellent.</p></li>
<li><p>It depends on what transfers and how, obviously, but you could probably graduate on time if you took some summer courses. If you don’t mind graduating late too much, then it’s not a huge concern regardless.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>What’s best for your future is wherever you will be happiest for the next 2 (or slightly more) years. If that’s Georgetown and the SFS, then that’s the right move. If it’s Oxford for a year and then one more year at your small Northeast liberal arts college, then that’s the right choice. It comes down to where you think you will have the best experience.</p>