Last Updated on September 30, 2026
Quick answer: Georgetown student life centers on a global outlook: Jesuit values of service, internships and research across Washington, D.C., and study abroad in more than 45 countries. A Georgetown graduate shares what made it special, from the Hoya Saxa cheer to living a few blocks from Embassy Row, plus how to apply.
Georgetown Student Life: A Global Community
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 Walsh School of Foreign Service, founded in 1919 as the oldest school of international affairs in the United States. Together, the expression and the iconic location demonstrate Georgetown’s long-held commitment to internationalism. That mix of tradition and global curiosity is what first drew me in, and it shaped nearly every part of my four years, from the classes I chose to the friends I made.
What I loved most about Georgetown student life 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.
Internships and Research in Washington, D.C.
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 members of Congress 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 Berkley 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.
Making the Most of the City
Living in the nation’s capital shapes Georgetown student life well beyond internships. On an open afternoon, you can walk to the Potomac waterfront, visit a Smithsonian museum on the National Mall, or attend a public lecture by a policymaker or ambassador. Many classes bring the city into the syllabus through site visits and guest speakers who work in government, journalism, and nonprofits. My advice is to treat Washington as a second classroom from your first semester: sign up for newsletters from think tanks and embassies, go to events that sound slightly outside your comfort zone, and follow up with the people you meet. Those conversations often lead to research roles, internships, and mentors.
Jesuit Values and Service
Georgetown’s international orientation is grounded in a solid value system. Founded in 1789, Georgetown is the nation’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit university. [1] 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 solid 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. [2] Memorable CSJ offerings include DC Reads, a literacy project that brings students to low-performing local elementary schools, and Alternative Spring Break, a program in which students 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 remarkable stories to share!
Cura Personalis in Practice
You will hear the phrase cura personalis, care for the whole person, again and again at Georgetown. In practice, it shows up in small ways: professors who learn your name in the first week, advising deans who ask how you are doing outside of class, and campus ministry and service programs open to students of every background. For me, it meant that my academic goals and my wellbeing were treated as connected. When you write your application, think about how this idea fits the way you want to learn and the kind of community you want to join. Admissions readers notice when an applicant understands a school’s values from the inside, so draw on real conversations with students or alumni rather than phrases from a brochure.
Study Abroad at Georgetown
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. Georgetown’s Office of Global Education sends approximately 1,000 students abroad each year to more than 45 countries. [3] The university makes it easy to do so. Students can choose from many program types, from faculty-led programs to exchange partnerships, 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!
How to Apply to Georgetown
If Georgetown student life sounds like a fit, plan your application early. You can apply through either the Georgetown Application or the Common Application, and Georgetown requires SAT or ACT scores. The Early Action deadline is November 1, and the Regular Decision deadline is January 1. [4]
Choose One Undergraduate School
When you apply, you select one of Georgetown’s undergraduate schools, such as the College of Arts & Sciences, the Walsh School of Foreign Service, or the McDonough School of Business. Your second long essay responds to a prompt specific to that school, so your choice should match the academic interests you describe across your application. [5]
Plan for Four Essays
Georgetown asks for two short essays and two long essays. One short essay asks about the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved, and the other asks you to describe an experience with someone who held a different viewpoint and what you learned. The first long essay invites a personal or creative piece about your background, experiences, skills, and talents. [5] Our guide to the Georgetown supplemental essays breaks down each prompt.
Prepare for Your Alumni Interview
Georgetown describes alumni interviews as an important part of the first-year application process and aims to assign them as applications arrive. Some international applicants may not receive an interview, and that carries no negative consequence. [5] Review common alumni interview questions and be ready to explain why Georgetown’s global focus fits your goals.
Show Fit in Every Part of Your Application
Georgetown wants to see how you would contribute to its community, not just that you admire it. Connect your activities to service, global curiosity, or public life where that connection is real, and name specific courses, centers, or programs that match your goals. If you have studied a language, lived abroad, or organized a service project, explain what you learned rather than listing the experience. Keep your school choice, essays, and interview answers consistent so the reader sees one clear story.
Is Georgetown Right for 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!
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