<p>I know I haven't been admitted, but based on previous admits from my high school, chances are high that I will get into one. </p>
<p>Would I be crazy to choose Georgetown over one of those schools? I want to go to Georgetown, but I also wonder, long term, if the benefits of going to one of those schools will outweigh the current desire to go to Georgetown?</p>
<p>I'm a very politically active individual (holding multiple staff positions on national and statewide campaigns, and even running a smaller, district wide campaign). Internships wouldn't really be the issue, as I'd be at the point where I wouldn't be an intern anymore, I'd be staff level. I just wonder, with this, still being lower level (not like I'm going to be running a presidential campaign any time soon) would the advantages at Georgetown, being in DC, the connections to be made, possibly outweigh the advantages at Penn/Yale/Harvard/Princeton/Columbia? </p>
<p>I'm trying to figure out if an irrational decision can be made more rational...</p>
<p>I plan to major in Mathematics (focusing on statistics) and Government - meant to be applied to politics, not actual math (not going for MIT level math here...)</p>
<p>Given your interest in politics, you would not be crazy in choosing Georgetown over Penn. When I went to GU several students had done that. Never heard of anyone though who got into Harvard or Yale, but went to GU. In any event, plenty of students at GU go to top grad schools and so if you really want to be in DC GU is the best option.</p>
<p>It depends on what your career goals are. If you want a job in the diplomatic, intelligence, and public policy communities, or want to eventually run for office, there is no better place on planet earth than Georgetown to realize your dreams and that includes any of the schools you mentioned. Location is a big factor.</p>
<p>If your goal is to be tenure track academnician than Harvard, Yale or Columbia would be a better choice than Georgetown for top 5 PhD programs.</p>
<p>If you want to go to the top MBA schools. Georgetown is one of the top 5 feeder schools to Columbia and Wharton (see a site called poets and quants that has this information), but is less valuable than Harvard or Yale.</p>
<p>If you want T 14 law, then H Y or C are better at getting you placed at the very top law schools, and would probably be better choices.</p>
<p>Note, that even with a Georgetown degree, you can still become President of the United States or People Magazineâs sexiest man alive.</p>
<p>or Secretary of Defense, or a member of the Supreme Court or CIA Director or Commander of US forces in Afghanistan or President of MIT or âŠyou get the idea.</p>
<p>I am considering the same scenario. I am in Georgetown but have yet to hear back from other top schools (I interview todayâŠ). I am very open to the idea of turning down a school like Harvard for Georgetown. Itâs all about what is best for you and your future.</p>
<p>Yes, there are students who turn down those kinds of schools for Georgetown. My S graduated from Georgetown several years ago. In his circle, one turned down Yale for Georgetown (heâs now at Harvard law). Another turned down Princeton and is also at a top 5 law school. A former roommate turned down Columbia and is now applying to top Phd programs. </p>
<p>None of them ever regretted their undergraduate decisions.</p>
<p>TItle of the thread should be would I be insane to choose Georgetown over Harvard Yale or Princeton. Since you want to study statistics and government I donât see the non hyp schools offering anything compelling over Georgetown.</p>
<p>Youâre not crazy at all. I was considering Yale and UPENN but ultimately chose Georgetown. I have no regrets regarding my decision to attend Gtown. It comes down to where youâll fit in the most. Sit down and think about what college you can truly see yourself at for 4 years regardless of the hype attached to it. The brand name schools like Yale and Harvard will no doubt give you an amazing education, but you can receive a great education at Georgetown as well.</p>
<p>eb9811, my Sâs friends chose Georgetown over their Ivy acceptances mostly for the political scene in Washington and in two cases, the strength of the SFS program.</p>
<p>Bill Clinton selected Georgetown University for his undergraduate school. Presumably because of his interest in politics. It worked out well for him. Perhaps if he had attended the University of Pennylvania, he might have just become an unusually talented law firm partner somewhere.</p>
<p>thats my predicament also⊠Iâm applying to those three schools also, and Iâm not sure whether or not I want to go even if I get in because georgetown offers some really unique opportunities and because i love the school so much lol</p>
<p>I just couldnât even put effort into finishing the applicationsâŠthey were lackluster at best. I just, I secretly want to get rejected, so I donât have to explain why I chose Georgetown over Yale to everyone (especially my schoolâs faculty).</p>
<p>It is people like you, who come to georgetown for the right reasons, that make the school special. Just do it. You will get a lot
more out of it than if you go to hyp and pretend that you really want to be there, when in fact you would rather be in dc studying at Georgetown.</p>
<p>If you go to Georgetown, you will find that there are many of us who chose Georgetown over Ivies (yes, even Harvard, Yale, and Princeton) and other top colleges/universities (as well as people who transfer to Georgetown from those places). There are very, very few colleges that offer the combination of excellent academics with a focus on undergraduates, a commitment to applying what you learn and know in the real world (through service to others, outreach, internships, employment, etc.) tremendous social opportunities that are diverse and varied (not monopolized by Greek life), school spirit/tradition/pride, a great campus in a special college town in an amazing city. This is particularly obvious to individuals who have an interest in politics, foreign affairs, and public service; however, those of us interested in medicine, health fields, and science are also benefited by being in Washington, DC through resources like the National Institutes of Health and Naval Research Lab; and individuals interested in business and finance have the city (as well as unique campus opportunities that are completely student runâThe Corp and The Student Federal Credit Union) for tremendous internship and work opportunities. Yes, I know, very few people turn down Harvard for Georgetown (very few people turn down Harvard for any other schoolâdonât forget, Harvardâs yield is around 75%), but believe me, there are many people that should have, given what they want from an undergraduate experience. There is no way that anyone can say that going to Georgetown LIMITED their opportunitiesâthat they would have more opportunities or success going to Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. I do believe, however, that the experiences are/can be VERY different and that the Georgetown experience is unique in many ways.</p>
<p>I think it would be more âinsaneâ to go to a place for 3-4 years where youâre not happy. It really does come down to fit. All the prestige and name brand value in the world isnât worth it if youâre unhappy.</p>
<p>Case in point: I know someone who was admitted to both Georgetown and Harvard. She went to Harvard and hated it so much that she left before finishing her first semester. She reapplied to Georgetown and took the rest of the year off to engage in various pursuits and is now a Hoya.</p>
<p>Not everyone will have that strong of a reaction, of course, and most people can be happy at a number of different schools. But given the time, effort, and expense that goes into college, you owe it to yourself to go where you will be the happiest and get the most out of it in terms of personal growth.</p>
<p>One more thought to keep in mind. Itâs not unreasonable to expect that - because the average HYP student will have higher grades and scores than the average Georgetown student, youâll have higher grades at Gâtown than at a HYP school. Sure, there will be a zillion anecdotal exceptions, but since weâre all speculating about the future we can only go on probablilities. Some opportunities - say internships or grad school slots - will for all practical purposes go to the top X% of HYP students (say, the top 25%) and to a smaller percentage of the top students at Georgetown (still pulling figures out of my rear here⊠letâs say to 15%). So, you may not have the bragging rights around the nerd circles at your HS that youâre going to HYP (but you can still crow about the acceptance) and you may not be able to go to the Harvard Club in your town when youâre in your 50âs, but Iâm betting that professionally youâll end up pretty darn close to the same spot regardless of which school you go to.</p>
<p>Ursamajoric-And remember that there are many of the very highest prestige programs where Georgetown outperforms HYP such as the foreign service and the Presidential Management Fellows programs (see the OPM website).</p>