What I Loved Most About Being a Georgetown Student
August 23, 2018
What I Loved Most About Being a Georgetown Student
I was standing outside of the Georgetown Intercultural Center the first time I heard the school's pride cheer, “Hoya Saxa!” I remember feeling excited not only that other Georgetown students shared my love for the school, but also that the situation summed up the university so well.
“Hoya Saxa,” a Latin and Greek phrase, derives from the school’s legacy as a multilingual haven. The Intercultural Center (ICC) is home to the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, one of the world's leading international relations schools. Together, the expression and the iconic location demonstrate Georgetown’s long held commitment to internationalism.
What I loved most about being a Georgetown student was this global atmosphere. My time at Georgetown was characterized by cross-cultural opportunities and friendships embedded in the heart of the nation’s capital.
Internship and Volunteer Opportunities
Georgetown is located in Washington, DC, just a few miles from the White House. Georgetown students take advantage of nationally and internationally oriented internships and volunteer opportunities in government, business, and philanthropy throughout the city. Many students enrolled in the Georgetown School of Foreign Service secure internships with a Congressman working in the US government or, as the politically savvy say, “intern on the hill.” Several have gone on to turn these opportunities into political careers. Former president Bill Clinton and former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates are both Georgetown alumni!
For students who want to stay close to campus, Georgetown offers research and internship possibilities with world-renowned professors and institutions focused on global politics, policy, and development. As a Georgetown student, I conducted research with Georgetown’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. When I was a Berkeley Center research fellow, I travelled to El Salvador and learned more about how education efforts advanced equality throughout the country. I held qualitative and quantitative interviews with teachers and students in the mountains surrounding San Salvador. I will never forget presenting my results to an audience of peers, education advocates, and former statesmen at a conference in downtown DC! Whether on campus or off, Georgetown students easily find opportunities to engage in real world work on the global stage.
Jesuit Values
Georgetown’s international orientation is grounded in a strong value system. Georgetown is by tradition a Catholic Jesuit university. While the undergraduate environment is largely secular, Georgetown’s Jesuit heritage shows in the school’s commitment to service for others and to education with a purpose. Students have a strong sense of social justice, while faculty are devoted to undergraduate teaching and community life. This means that Georgetown’s approach to world affairs emphasizes the advancement of human rights.
The University devotes significant resources to creating cross-cultural connections for the greater good. The Georgetown Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching & Service (CSJ), for example, offers community-based public service extracurricular opportunities and courses, including many located in the city of Washington. Memorable CSJ offerings include DC Reads, a literacy project that brings students to low-performing local elementary schools, and Alternative Spring Break, a program that provides funding for students to lead service and immersion trips. When I was a Georgetown student, I took a class through the CSJ that focused on the pursuit of peace through community building in international contexts. My professor was a former United Nations official and had incredible stories to share!
Study Abroad
Studying abroad facilitates deep intercultural understanding and allows students to truly engage in the world. Georgetown students’ commitment to internationalism is evident in their overwhelming participation in study abroad programs. About 55-60% of any given class studies abroad during their four years at Georgetown. The university makes it easy to do so. It provides students the opportunity to choose from nearly 200 approved programs that run for a summer, semester, or year.
Many matriculate directly in a foreign university, while others choose to spend their time at one of Georgetown’s satellite campuses in Italy or Qatar. Favorite destinations include Ecuador, the U.K., and China. When I was a junior at Georgetown, I enrolled at a university in Sevilla, Spain. Alongside other college students, I perfected my Spanish skills and visited friends studying around Europe. Those who would rather maximize their time on campus need not fear! Georgetown students can experience other cultures while sticking close to home. Campus is only a few blocks away from Embassy Row!
Does This Sound Like You?
Georgetown’s global focus is central to campus life and is why I loved the university. If you want to work for the U.N., become a foreign service officer, or simply love having friends from all over the world, I encourage you to think about how you could become a Hoya!
Demonstrating how you might take advantage of and contribute to this atmosphere is key to your college application. Remember that admissions officers evaluate students not only based on grades and test scores, but also for school fit. Showcase that you are the student who will take Georgetown’s global perspective to the next level!