Awe-Inspiring Architecture and Prestigious Academics: Our Candid Take on Georgetown University's Hallowed Halls

By John Akbar and Alan Flores, 10th graders at Brien McMahon High School

Arriving on the campus of Georgetown University, we suddenly felt as if we were in an isolated city on top of a hill with its own hospital. This prestigious college had attentive students, stunning architecturally designed buildings, an aura of structure, and a sense of belonging. Georgetown University was the sixth school we visited on Carver’s 52nd annual Spring College Tour.

We learned from our guide Sam that Georgetown is a private Jesuit Catholic University that was founded by John Carroll in 1789, and this was the first university to hire a Rabi and an Imam as faculty members.

The Georgetown University Hoyas compete as a NCAA Division 1 school. The Hoyas began an era called the "Golden Age" in the 1980s, which also included track and field and other traditional sports with the exception of football, and enjoyed unprecedented times of success from the 1980s until the 1990s. The motto of Georgetown is "Hoya Saxa" (HOY-e SAK- sə) Latin and Greek for “what rocks”, and legends say that a team would throw rocks at the opposing team’s walls to show competitive superiority, which was really unique to discover.

Georgetown is a university that surprisingly offers a well-rounded school experience for its students. It focuses on academics, ethics, and everything outside of academics. 

Diving into academics, Georgetown has a tuition of around $62,000, which is normal considering it's a private university, but they have many resources like scholarships and financial aid programs to help make tuition affordable for admitted students. Georgetown doesn't have a required GPA; it goes off the high school academic performance context.  Georgetown has a strict acceptance rate of 12% but a fantastic graduation rate average of 95%. Georgetown does have an SAT requirement with a typical range from 1410-1540 and an ACT score of 33 on average.

Since Georgetown accepts AP (Advanced Placement) and IB (International Baccalaureate) credits, it is very good for high school students who take those rigorous classes. Georgetown is a prominent institution locked in with religion and the humanities, such as business, economics, and government. Georgetown is very well-known for its STEM-based Medical Research. Learning about the depth and breadth of Georgetown convinces us that Georgetown is one of the best non-Ivy league schools in the country.

The Georgetown campus is quite beautiful and student-governed. Many programs, like the EMT program, are managed solely by students. Georgetown is very safe and secure. It has its own police station, with responses in under a minute. Georgetown is also a very spiritual school; it has “safe spots” and recognition for the Abrahamic and Dharmic faiths. This is essential these days because we live in a very secular world, and Georgetown University offers that decent sense of religious security.

After being with our tour guide Sam, we feel more knowledgeable about this benevolent university that offers many fields of study, social life, and leisure time activities. The city of Georgetown itself is very open, there's a lot to explore to discover. Georgetown University isn't just a University. It's a home.