So You Got In, Now What? 5 Pieces of Advice from a Georgetown Student

This story is a part of the Student Life Blog, a blog written by Georgetown students about their experiences and life at Georgetown.

Juliette Robinson (SFS'28) is a second-year student in the School of Foreign Service. She plans to major in international politics and pursue a certificate in international business diplomacy. She conducts research as a Mortara Undergraduate Research Fellow and consults at Georgetown Global Consulting. For fun, she captains the Georgetown Women's Rugby team and enjoys exploring DC (especially the different food options) with friends.

First of all, congratulations! Getting into Georgetown is a huge accomplishment, and you should take a moment to celebrate. Whether you opened your acceptance alone in your room or surrounded by friends or family, that moment is one you'll remember for a long time. But after the excitement settles, a new question pops up: now what?

As a current Georgetown student, here are a few pieces of advice for the months between your acceptance letter and your first day on the Hilltop.

1. Let It Sink In (and Celebrate!)

Before you start planning your entire college career, take a breath. You did something difficult, and you deserve to enjoy it.

Call your friends. Go out to dinner with your family. Post the picture in your Georgetown sweatshirt. Whatever celebrating looks like for you, do it. College admissions can feel like a long, stressful process, and this is the moment where that work pays off.

At the same time, try not to immediately compare yourself to other admitted students online. Everyone arrives at Georgetown from different places and with different experiences. The important thing is that you made it here, and that means you belong.

2. Come to GAAP Weekend

One of the best ways to figure out if Georgetown is the right place for you is to attend one of the admitted students' weekends hosted by the Georgetown Admissions Ambassador Program (GAAP).

GAAP is a volunteer, student-run organization dedicated to helping prospective and accepted students discover Georgetown. Through a variety of admission outreach initiatives (winter receptions, high school visits, admitted student phone calls and three annual accepted students' weekends), GAAP works to give students a real sense of what life at Georgetown is like.

The admitted students' weekends are one of the highlights of the spring on campus. You'll sit in on classes, tour campus, talk to professors and meet current students who are happy to answer the questions you're probably already thinking about: What are the classes like? How hard is it to make friends? What do people do on weekends?

But more importantly, GAAP weekends let you experience the vibeof Georgetown. You'll meet other admitted students who may become your future classmates (and group chat partners). You'll hear stories from current students about their favorite classes, internships and campus traditions. And you'll get a sense of the energy of the Hilltop when it's full of students going about their normal week.

If you're deciding between schools, this weekend can be the moment when Georgetown suddenly feels real.

3. Explore the Neighborhood

One of the best parts of Georgetown is that the campus sits inside a vibrant neighbourhood. While the Hilltop itself can feel like its own little world, just a short walk downhill opens up an entirely different side of student life. Food is a big part of that.

Some Georgetown classics include grabbing a sweet treat from Thomas Sweets, picking up a bagel from Call Your Mother, or meeting friends for dumplings or noodles in the neighborhood. When the weather is nice, people love taking their food down to the waterfront and sitting by the river.

You'll also quickly learn that Georgetown students have strong opinions about their favorite spots: whether it's the best coffee shop for studying, the go-to place for a celebratory dinner or the perfect post-practice snack.

Exploring the neighborhood is one of the easiest ways to start imagining your daily life here. It's where study breaks happen, where club meetings sometimes spill over after events and where friends wander on Saturday afternoons when they need a break from Lauinger Library.

4. Don't Stress About "Figuring Everything Out"

Many admitted students arrive on campus feeling like they need a five-year plan already mapped out. The truth is that most people change their interests at least once, and often more than once, during their time here.

You might come in thinking you want to study economics and end up loving history. You might join a club you've never heard of before orientation and stay involved all four years. Some of the most interesting experiences at Georgetown come from unexpected places.

The first year is really about exploration. Take classes that sound interesting. Go to club meetings. Say yes to things that feel a little outside your comfort zone.

Georgetown is a place where students do a lot, but no one expects you to do everything right away.

5. Register for a Pre-Orientation Program

If you're looking for a way to make Georgetown feel smaller before classes even start, I highly recommend applying to a pre-orientation program. These programs bring together small groups of students around shared interests (whether that's leadership, the outdoors or social justice) and give you a built-in community from day one.

I personally participated in FOCI (First-Year Orientation to Community Involvement), a program centered on service and engagement with the DC community. Through volunteering, group discussions and reflection, I was able to explore DC communities while also forming some of my closest friendships at Georgetown. FOCI not only helped me feel more grounded in my new environment, but also showed me how much of my education here happens beyond the classroom.

No matter which program you choose, pre-orientation is an incredible way to ease the transition to college and start your Georgetown experience with a strong sense of community.