Georgetown University Top Questions

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My favorite class this year was Play Analysis taught by Christine Evans. If you Google her, you'll understand why I chose to take her class. A former circus performer, an accomplished playwright, and a saxophonist, Christine was an incredible lecturer and shared such a wealth of experience. We covered everything from Aristotle's Poetics and Greek Tragedy to Brechtian and Noh Drama. I walked into Christine's class a naive kid, but walked out as a (relatively) sophisticated audience member. My least favorite class was a Core requirement, Political and Social Thought. It was as difficult as it sounds, with long, dense readings assigned every Tuesday and Thursday. I disliked PST not for the subject matter (I was intrigued to learn about Plato, Marx, Mill, etc.) but because the grading was inconsistent. I found it difficult to understand how to write about philosophy, something I am still working on. How hard do students study at Georgetown? It's Georgetown. We study hard. Some classes are rife with discussion and others have crickets chirping. Most of my classes have fallen into the former category, especially those with fewer students (e.g. seminars and literature classes). As a student in the SFS, I am currently finishing my core requirements - an extensive list which you can find on Georgetown's website. Some of the features include: 4 Economics classes (just two short of a minor in the College), 2 Philosophy Requirements, 2 Theology Requirements, 2 Humanities/Writing Requirements, and Proficiency in a Foreign Language, among others. I am most impressed by Georgetown professors' ability to make links between subjects. Their interdisciplinary references and connections make learning fun.

Choosing classes carefully is the most overlooked strategy to succeeding in college. I dedicated several hours each semester to choosing the right classes with the right professors. As a result, I had an awesome first year. My teachers knew my name and I did pretty well during my freshman year. My favorite class this year was Play Analysis taught by Christine Evans. If you Google her, you'll understand why I chose to take her class. A former circus performer, an accomplished playwright, and a saxophonist, Christine was an incredible lecturer and shared such a wealth of experience. I had never taken a drama/theatre class or acted in my life, but Christine made me want to star on Broadway. We covered everything from Aristotle's Poetics and Greek Tragedy to Brechtian and Noh Drama. I walked into Christine's class a naive kid, but walked out as a (relatively) sophisticated audience member. My least favorite class was a Core requirement, Political and Social Thought. It was as difficult as it sounds, with long, dense readings assigned every Tuesday and Thursday. I disliked PST not for the subject matter (I was intrigued to learn about Plato, Marx, Mill, etc.) but because the grading was inconsistent. I found it difficult to understand how to write about philosophy, something I am still working on. How hard do students study at Georgetown? It's Georgetown. We study hard. Some classes are rife with discussion and others have crickets chirping. Most of my classes have fallen into the former category, especially those with fewer students (e.g. seminars and literature classes). My major is Science, Technology, and International Affairs. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what that entails. As a student in the SFS, I am currently finishing my core requirements - an extensive list which you can find on Georgetown's website. Some of the features include: 4 Economics classes (just two short of a minor in the College), 2 Philosophy Requirements, 2 Theology Requirements, 2 Humanities/Writing Requirements, and Proficiency in a Foreign Language, among others. I am most impressed by Georgetown professors' ability to make links between subjects. Their interdisciplinary references and connections make my learning fun. Right now, I feel as though I am being prepared for my upper level courses more so than for a job. Until I figure out my emphasis, I can not say whether my degree is geared toward getting a job or learning for its own sake.

Professor knows each person's name. And the class size is 20 people per class.

Academics at Georgetown depend largely on the school and major you choose (there are four schools on campus; the McDonough School of Business - MSB, School of Foreign Service - SFS, School of Nursing and Health Studies - NHS, and the College - the liberal arts division). The MSB and SFS are specialty schools, and academics largely depend on the teachers you take and majors you choose. Students in the business school are usually able to double major with a minor if they schedule time appropriately, while the schedule for the SFS contains more requirements and students often either have one major or a major and a minor. The SFS is notorious for some very challenging courses, but each school has various majors and classes that continuously present challenges to students. Work load in the College depends entirely on choice of major (ranging from Medieval Studies to BioChem to English). The NHS is the smallest school, and thus most students are close with their teachers and able to maintain strong relationships with both teachers and fellow classmates - the drawback is there are more limited class options and more intensive requirements for some of the majors. In general, professors are highly willing to meet with students outside of class, and are usually quite helpful. Requirements are challenging but not overwhelming. Students are sometimes able to incorporate internships and jobs into their schedule, but your time commitments depend on extracurricular. Students are competitive, but against their own personal standards not usually each other. I have found that in classes where there is no mandated bell curve, students are very helpful and collaborative. Work at Georgetown is geared towards future employment, especially in the specialty schools (professors are very willing to help students acquire internships and jobs as necessary, and write very helpful recommendations).

Academics at Georgetown depend largely on the school and major you choose (there are four schools on campus; the McDonough School of Business - MSB, School of Foreign Service - SFS, School of Nursing and Health Studies - NHS, and the College - the liberal arts division). The MSB and SFS are specialty schools, and academics largely depend on the teachers you take and majors you choose. Students in the business school are usually able to double major with a minor if they schedule time appropriately, while the schedule for the SFS contains more requirements and students often either have one major or a major and a minor. The SFS is notorious for some very challenging courses, but each school has various majors and classes that continuously present challenges to students. Work load in the College depends entirely on choice of major (ranging from Medieval Studies to BioChem to English). The NHS is the smallest school, and thus most students are close with their teachers and able to maintain strong relationships with both teachers and fellow classmates - the drawback is there are more limited class options and more intensive requirements for some of the majors. In general, professors are highly willing to meet with students outside of class, and are usually quite helpful. Requirements are challenging but not overwhelming. Students are sometimes able to incorporate internships and jobs into their schedule, but your time commitments depend on extracurricular. Students are competitive, but against their own personal standards not usually each other. I have found that in classes where there is no mandated bell curve, students are very helpful and collaborative. Work at Georgetown is geared towards future employment, especially in the specialty schools (professors are very willing to help students acquire internships and jobs as necessary, and write very helpful recommendations).

Professors are a hit or miss. Either they are good or bad. You can definitely find a professor who has written 248572938572 books or journals on a particular subject and have 9875697 degrees from different prestigious schools but talks more to hear themselves talk, brags more to build up their ego, or has to be right at all times and doesn't do well at actually teaching. Certain departments are great! I love the sociology department, the theology/ catholic studies department, the theater department, the art department, and multiple others because I have had the best experiences with them. Georgetown has the reputation for being difficult which is completely true. Certain classes only give out X amount of As per semester making them extremely competitive. Overall, georgetown definitely is known for grade deflation which makes a B- extremely depressing but in comparison to some other schools it may be the equivalent of a B+ or A-. Students are always having intellectual conversations outside of class. You can be at a crazy party at one of the townhouses and sit with a group of people discussing the most recent republican debates while being "slightly" intoxicated. Students are always studying/ working, partying, or working out. Studies are almost everybody's main focus.

Georgetown is undeniably a lot of work. Students study a lot, but the majority of people find a good balance between school, a social life, and extracurriculars. Georgetown is a liberal arts institution, so there are certain course requirements that all students have to take--such as theology, philosophy/ethics, history, english, and science/math--but there's a large variety of choice within each department. Class size depends on your major field, but they tend to be on the smaller side. In my experience, professors emphasize learning for its own sake, but usually connect the material to the "real world." I'm an English major with minors in Theology and French, so I've been lucky to have small classes. Professors usually know your name and are more than willing to help in office hours--but it is up to you to take the initiative.

Georgetown is undeniably a lot of work. Students study a lot, but the majority of people find a good balance between school, a social life, and extracurriculars. Georgetown is a liberal arts institution, so there are certain course requirements that all students have to take--such as theology, philosophy/ethics, history, english, and science/math--but there's a large variety of choice within each department. Class size depends on your major field, but they tend to be on the smaller side. In my experience, professors emphasize learning for its own sake, but usually connect the material to the "real world."

The professors in my classes know my name by the second week of classes. I'm fortunate in that, as an English major and as a student who continues to pursue liberal arts, I get the advantage of having more intimate relationships with professors due to smaller class sizes, less lecture-style teaching methods, and professors that I continue to take again, after a class has completed. My favorite class, for these reasons, would have to be my Italian language course; I have only had two different professors over the course of five semesters. I have, therefore, fantastic relationships with these two professors, and I feel comfortable coming to them about anything. This has allowed me to seek mentorship within my professors and to establish deeper, stronger bonds with them - both based on academic and personal levels. In other classes, however, where there are more students in a larger lecture hall with one professor and about six T.A.'s, I feel that students a) miss out on the opportunity to have a strong, fulfilling relationship with such a strong, knowledgeable mentor, but they also tend to become more competitive and treat classes less personally; they don't get to know one another as peers or as friends, and many students also take the larger lectures as opportunities to zone out, a bit - and get away with it. I must say, however, that regardless of what you study at Georgetown University, it is ultimately up to you how you walk out at graduation; YOU are the one who should take initiative to form relationships with peers and instructors alike, and YOU are the one who must now apply what you have learned to the real world. In most cases of graduated Hoyas, I believe that our education - regardless of the teaching style or of the major - has led us to great success in the workforce.