Experience Georgetown
Welcome to Georgetown University! Founded in 1789, Georgetown is the nation’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit college. Overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, DC, it is certainly easy to understand why Georgetown’s early students often referred to the University as The Hilltop. Part of experiencing The Hilltop, however, transcends the traditional information session and campus tour. In this vein, our hope is to provide you with a complete campus experience as seen through the eyes of students. Whether navigating the Georgetown neighborhood, sampling the many restaurants in the area, or taking in historical sites, Georgetown University is far more than the world within our front gates.
Getting to The Hilltop
Given the traffic and congestion of the Georgetown area, we strongly encourage visitors to utilize public transportation. For those arriving by car, we recommend several parking garages in the Georgetown neighborhood, as the University itself has very limited parking. Please view Directions to Campus page for more detailed information.
Exploring the Campus
We encourage all prospective students to participate in our information sessions and tours. Information sessions are led by members of the admissions staff and provide ample time for you to learn about the admissions process in detail. Sessions are followed by a student-led tour. Please view Information Sessions and Tours page for more detailed information.
Exploring the Georgetown Neighborhood
The campus is nestled in the Georgetown historic neighborhood of Washington, DC. The experience of a Georgetown students seamlessly merge two worlds: the University campus, and the Georgetown neighborhood. We strongly emphasize that prospective students should explore both the campus and the surrounding neighborhood to better obtain a full understanding of the day-to-day life of a Georgetown student. The charming “village” of Georgetown, twelve square blocks in size, retains the spirit of the colonial town in which the University was founded more than two centuries ago. The immediate neighborhood boasts federal-style townhouses and cobblestone, tree-lined streets leading to the intersection of M St. and Wisconsin Ave., which represent the heart of the Georgetown neighborhood.
Experiencing the Nation’s Capital
No visit to the Hilltop would be complete without exploring the dynamic and bustling city of Washington, D.C. The university rests in close proximity to the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court as well as major theaters, concert halls and museums. In addition to attracting notable guest speakers, Georgetown provides unparalleled access to internship programs across multiple sectors, a wide variety of cultural events, and all that DC has to offer.
While at Georgetown, students develop a more thorough understanding of themselves and of the world around them, not simply a set of professional skills. This is evident in the achievements of distinguished alumni, including many ambassadors, numerous members of Congress, a current Supreme Court justice, and one former U.S. president. To be part of the academic experience at Georgetown is to join a multifaceted dialogue focused on intellectual, personal and spiritual growth.
Below are links to five different categories of activities, all of which will give you a strong picture of the typical experience of a Georgetown student and their favorite places to eat, shop, and explore.
