Georgetown University Top Questions

The first thing I would say to myself as a senior in high scool is never doubt your ability to achieve what you want. I knew at the end of my senior year that I wanted to attend Georgetown, but I was too afraid to apply and face rejection. My guidance counselor informed me that Georgetown was a reach and not a very probable option so I settled on George Washington University. While in the same city, these schools are completely different in character and student composition. I applied as a transfer student after my freshman year at GW and was accepted into Georgetown. Looking back, I realize I was actually a very strong candidate for Georgetown and may have been accepted out of high school. I was ranked 9th out of 450 students, I had a high GPA, I was captain of my crew team, I held the same job for five years and was an active member of my church teaching religious classes. I would tell myself to believe in my own talent and not be discouraged by critisism and lack of support.

It is important to keep your goals in mind and understand that you are going into a completely different environment with completely different people. Do not be intimidated by this, take this as an opportunity to learn more, meet new people and build a network. The transition to college life will be filled with temptation, but you must realize that although you are a very smart student living in a low income community your high school education has not adequately prepared you to continue directly into a 4 year institution. The qualities you posses should not be undermined, as they are irreplaceable and will serve to get you through the transition, life has thrown many hardballs your way and I know that the strength you have gained from experience will only help you overcome any obstacles in college. Never undermine yourself, the amount of books you?ve read does not matter, at the end of the day your desire to persevere and appreciation for education will lead you to success. Know your options, financial aid is available, do not limit yourself, and tell everyone you know that funds exist to make graduating from college a reality.

Prepare, prepare, prepare. Look for scholorship opportunites while you are still in High School. Review the courses that you want to take and familiarize yourself with basic information. Get a summer job to have extra cash to carry for at least the first semester for incedentals. Begin to develop you own unique reading strategy; there will be alot of reading to do. While making the transition try to list activities and thier deadlines to avoid stress, and last minute catch-up. begin to write your essays while in High school for scholarship entries. Then when you find a scholarship opportunity it will be earier to rewrite parts.

Deciding the college you will spend four years of your life at is a daunting task. I was overwhelmed and delayed deciding until the last moment. I wish I would have been reassured that the decision was my own and to not allow anyone or anything influence my choice. The choice should be made with your heart; you know there is one calling your name underneath all the other pulls. I for one let my fear of an unfamiliar place, guilt of leaving friends, and fear of loans override my gut feeling. I decided to stay in state and attend ASU because it was the most logical. I received free tuition and would be among friends in a familiar town. I regretted this decision and applied to other schools during the second semester. This year I have transferred to Georgetown University and love the change. From my experience of transferring schools my most important piece of advice is not to let the college decision overwhelm you into feeling like you must do what is most logical. Follow your heart and know that you always have the ability to transfer if you are not fully satisfied.

Finally escaping your hometown and arriving at an entirely new campus, with new people, new activities, and an entirely new lifestyle, gives you the opportunity to recreate your persona. In theory, you can be whoever you want to be. I would advise you, however, to be yourself. After all, it's worked pretty well for your first eighteen years. Don't be afraid to let your true personality, interests, and passions shine through. The great thing about college is that people of all types can find others like themselves and build meaningful relationships. Be good to yourself, and don't try to be someone you're not. As the stress of school work and activities start to build, keeping up a charade will be nearly impossible. If you try to conform to a certain image, you may wind up losing what makes you unique. Trust me, people will love you best for who you really are.

Dear 17-year-old Montina, Stop stressing about which college to pick. It may seem that each school has just as many pros and cons as the next. You may feel that you are more likely to make the wrong choice than you are the right choice. But that is not true. College will be what you make of it. Look at each choice carefully, and pick the best fit for right now. In the end, trust that you will be happy. If you do not get it right on the first try (although from the looks of things, you do), it is not the end of the world. The transition into college life will be easier than you expect. Distance from home may seem like a good idea now, but trust me, you will miss it more than you think. But, so long as you get yourself involved in college, you will be calling Georgetown home before you know it. Do not put off joining band or applying for internships until after settling in - the sooner the better, as finding your niche in the Georgetown community is what will help you adjust to life here. Hope that helps, Montina

Even after spending almost three years at Georgetown, I feel as though I?ve only just arrived. I put us on such a high pedestal going into Georgetown that life as we always wanted to enjoy it passed by underneath me. Unable to reconcile my feelings of anticipation from high school with the indifference I felt from my peers, I retreated into the shadows of my high school memories and took perturbed solace in the shade of depression for my entire freshmen year. Philip, your expectations for yourself and your first year at college away from everything and everyone familiar to you are simply too high. Upon arriving at Georgetown, I know you will refuse to call this strange new world home - How could you, in a place where no one understands your past, your present, your sense of humor, your love of music, your soul? But Philip, can you yourself proclaim to fully understand these things? No. The knowledge you have about yourself and the world is not yet complete. It may never be complete. But as unlikely as it will seem at first glance, being here will help, more than anything else we have ever experienced...I promise.

College is a different world. Nothing can prepare you for the adventurers and experiences you are about to embark on. There are no parents, teachers, or counselors breathing down your neck, calculating your every move. You are now granted the freedom that you have probably been itching to have. You now control your life. You call your own shots and only consult with your parents, professor, and advisors. That is a lot of power for a 17-18 year old to handle. Don't let it go to your head. Remember there is a monetary investment in you and your completion, so use your new found freedom and power wisely. You will now be a Freshman and what a perfect name for embarkers on higher education, being that you will be fresh to life without familiarities- different environment, different people, different atmosphere, etc. Use that freshness to learn your environment and the people you will be sharing that environment with. Don't be afraid to ask questions and share your ideas. Take on challenges, BE INVOLVED. Don't just go to class to get a degree. Go to college, be active in your classes and community and earn a degree.

Talk to your professors! Most professors like to have students come to them for help during office hours, so take this opportunity to interact with them one-on-one as much as possible. Not only does this clear up confusion or misunderstandings and help to complete the assignments, but the personal contact increases your motivation to do well in the course. Moreover, the professor gets to know you and he or she often can be quite encouraging. In some cases, professors find it very helpful to know what aspects of the lessons or assignments are especially confusing, so that they can spend extra time clarifying certain concepts in class. I discovered that I received the highest grades in the courses in which I regularly visited the professor during office hours, not only because I understood the material better, but also because I had to keep up with the material in order to discuss it with the professor on a regular basis. Realizing this, I started to make the extra effort to do this for all my courses-- even when I thought that I understood the material well. It took a lot of discipline, but it was well worth it!

If I could go back in time and talk to the high school Alex, I would give her the same advice my mother gives me everyday. This is the advice that I received on my very first day of elementary school, that guided me throughout these early years of my life, and that I would repeat to all young adults embarking on their journey towards independence: Everyday is a new day, just do your best. My mother says it in Chinese, but the meaning is not lost in translation. It means you should not dwell on how you excelled during high school, but double your effort for college. Do not hesitate when faced with an interesting opportunity, because if goes badly, tomorrow is a new day. Live with no regrets, because you did your best. College can only be the wonderful experience it should be if you let go of your inhibitions and make the most of every opportunity. Do not compare new experiences to past ones, just aim to make even better experiences in the future. Do not get bogged down in decisions pertaining to your future, concentrate on making every day as good as it can be.