So What Exactly is the Deal With Club Culture?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Georgetown University
1

I recently toured Georgetown and I really liked the school. However, I’m concerned about the mixed things I’ve heard about clubs at Georgetown. Since there is no Greek life, I have come to understand that clubs are the center of the social scene. I’ve heard mixed things about club exclusivity. Is that an issue at Georgetown? I’ve also heard that some companies hire exclusively from some clubs, such as The Corp or Hilltop Consulting. As a potential MSB student, would I have any problems getting jobs or internships? How does social life at Georgetown compare to a school with Greek life, such as Penn? Thank you so much in advance!

2

bab54251,

Here are some things to consider:

  1. Notwithstanding the urban myth to the contrary, fraternities do exist at Georgetown. The confusion arises because the university does not officially recognize them. Nonetheless, they are alive and quite well at Georgetown. And they generally enrich the social and extracurricular lives of their members.
  2. Clubs are an important component of social life at Georgetown. So, too, will be your freshman dorm, the classes you take, and any athletic teams to which you belong.
  3. Georgetown has roughly 200 to 250 clubs of which only a handful or so are uber competitive.
  4. I believe most Georgetown students belong to one or more clubs. By contrast, only a relatively small minority of Georgetown students belong to one or more of the most highly competitive clubs. Hence, the vast majority of students enjoy the social benefits of clubs without being members of these uber-competitive clubs.
  5. Some companies recruit from the most highly competitive clubs like the Corp and the Credit Union. No company, to my knowledge, does so exclusively. Georgetown students routinely obtain excellent internships and jobs. It appears that about 90 percent of the class of 2016 is employed, attending graduate school, or participating in a fellowship. Of those employed, 40 percent are working in consulting or finance. Most graduates work in New York or the District of Columbia.*
  6. Greek life can dominate schools like Penn and Dartmouth. Some people like this; others don’t. If you want fraternities, Georgetown has them. If you don’t want fraternities, Georgetown offers an excellent social life without the pervasive influence of the Greek system.

Good luck!

*https://careercenter.georgetown.edu/career-exploration/exploring-your-options/senior-survey-outcomes