<p>My D has our state flagship school as her safety, and NYU as a "dream" school / match. She's looking at some Ivy-type schools as reaches, and consequently attended a presentation last night where Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn, and Stanford were (very well!) represented. </p>
<p>She was very excited with the Georgetown presentation, having not been considering it prior to the evening. I'm concerned with the fit, and wondered who has enough info on NYU versus Georgetown. She's been to NY many times and visited the campus. But has not been to DC since she was very young, and we have not visited the campus. </p>
<p>I'd love it if anyone could speak to the differences in the cities, and the education. I'd consider her a high match/low reach for Georgetown, and more of a match for NYU. </p>
<p>She LOVES New York City. While I know that DC is obviously as vibrant, it has such a different "feel" to me. And my feeling is that a Jesuit school requires a very disciplined approach to their grades and studies (and I'm all for that), whereas NYU seems to be more ... liberal in policy and procedure. </p>
<p>What can you say to help me/her understand the differences in these two fine cities and schools?</p>
<p>a lot of it really depends on what she wants to major in. there are some opportunities a georgetown education affords that cannot compare to much else (eg. theology, government, polysic, INTL RELATIONS, internships, etc.)</p>
<p>As for DC, there is a bit of a different feel… NY is always bustling, and NYU is directly in the center of the city, in a very metropolitan area…whereas Gtown U is in the Gtown section of DC, which is like a smaller city / suburb area (while still being less than a mile from the white house) To me at least, DC feels more cozy, and the GTown area especially is a little “warmer” if you get what i’m saying… (that said i have nothing against new york )</p>
<p>agree with chocolate. DC is a small town (pop. < 500,000) vs. Nyc (pop. > 8 million). Nevertheless, DC offers many of the advantages of a big city, especially with regard to arts and culture, influence networks, entertainment, civic life, major events, world class internship opportunities, job opportunities, restaurants, clubs, pubs, intellectual stimulation, cultural diversity, shopping, tourism, transportation access, etc.</p>
<p>Georgetown would offer the traditional college experience and a strong alumni network without sacrificing big city opportunities. On the flipside NYU offers the “Sex in the City” experience first and traditional college experience and alumni networking a distant second. </p>
<p>If your D’s immediate priority is a big city experience go to NYU. If D wants a traditional college experience and can put off the Sarah Jessica Parker living experience until graduation or a junior year abroad to some place like London, go to GU.</p>
<p>I think GU offers the best of both worlds, but obviously that’s just my opinion. It should also be noted that NYC is just a 5 hr/ $30 bus ride from DC. A very easy weekend excursion, for when the need for the NYC “fix” arises.</p>
<p>They are very different schools. Though I am sure that she would be happy at either, the social environments are polar opposites. I looked at both schools when I was applying and I don’t how aware I was of these differences until I visited a friend of mine at NYU. Georgetown was a great fit for me, but NYU may be better for your daughter. I’ll try to keep my bias out of this Georgetown is a very traditional campus. Most students live within a few blocks of our main classroom buildings. Freshman, sophomore, and usually even junior year is spent in University housing. Seniors and some juniors live either in Georgetown owned town houses or town houses that have been passed down from Georgetown students over the years. These creates are very strong campus community. Walking to class, it is impossible to miss someone you know. This sense spills out into Georgetown (the neighborhood) and the streets surrounding campus, though outside of the front gates, feel like apart of the University, especially during basketball season. NYU truly feels like part of the city. I took a cab to my friends dorm and really felt like I was walking into another apartment building. She loved the sense of independent I missed feeling like I was part of a community. I think the biggest effect this has is on the social scene. Parties are held in Georgetown in upperclassmen housing a few blocks from where you live or at Georgetown bars. NYU kids go to bars and clubs all over the city, mixing in with a lot of different and interesting people. There are definitely NYU spots, but there advantages to knowing that if you walked into a Georgetown house it would be really hard to not find someone who you know or knows someone you know. Georgetown is also has a pretty decent basketball team (last year wasn’t so hot) our games are televised and played in downtown DC. There is a lot of spirit surrounding the team and it is a lot of fun to go to big home games. NYU isn’t as much of a sports school, but there is a lot of support of their arts program. The population of the school is also very different. I meet great people when I went to NYU and I love my friends at Georgetown, but If I had to generalize NYU feels a little more eclectic. There is a much larger LBGTQ community at NYU and has a tendency to be more socially liberal. While Georgetown is known for being a wealthy school, I felt like wealth was more ,I guess, in your face at NYU. Students went out a lot to expensive dinners and clubs. It’s definitely representative of everyone at NYU, but more present than my experience at Georgetown. Academically, Georgetown is stronger in most areas. Though the Stern, MSB (the Business school) debate could go on for a while. The feel at Georgetown is a little more old school for a lack of a better term. More professors in tweed in lecture halls and a lot of tradition. Academically, it really depends of what she is interested in, but regardless there are a ton of internships to choose from in pretty much whatever type of field you could think of. All in all the schools just feel different. Visit!! If you have an questions fill free to ask.</p>
<p>My D’s PROBABLE major (you know, AT THIS TIME) is philosophy So NYU would be the College of Arts & Sciences…though she had a brief interest in their new Abu Dhabi campus!). But physics is a very close 2nd, and wants to study music as well. But…things change. She’s very talented academically, but also very artsy. Not into traditional SCHOOL type sports at all, just Equestrian, which I know some schools do have. </p>
<p>We aren’t fortunate enough to really visit many of her college interests/selections, but I hope we can figure out a way…IF she’s admitted and is fortunate enough to have to choose. So we’re trying to do as much cyber-“leg work” as possible in advance, to narrow choices. </p>
<p>So all I can say is WOW…thank you all so much for these VERY thoughtful answers. They truly address the question. There is a lot of “pc” at Georgetown, eh? Some of the nicest responses I’ve seen on this forum to date! I really appreciate all the thoughtfulness you each gave. I “get” (and agree with) everything you’re saying. Thanks, and best to you all for devoting your precious time to my precious daughter’s future! That’s big of you.</p>
<p>Not necessarily “pc,” but diplomacy is definitely something a student learns at Georgetown. After all, we do have the school of foreign service that trains many of the world’s future diplomats (by the way they have a campus in the middle east as well). Despite one’s major the strength of SFS strongly influences the university’s community and culture. </p>
<p>Good luck with the process. I hope your D finds a good fit for her personality and a place where she feels like she can explore all of her various interests. Georgetown may or may not be the place. The good news is that G’town and NYU are so very different. By the time, it is for her to make a choice it should be pretty easy.</p>
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