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Leaving the Nest: Georgetown University By Lauren Stabile, Editor

While film crews may be commonplace at El Segundo High School, Georgetown, a section of Washington, D.C. was an unlikely place for the filming of a horror movie. Just one or two blocks from the campus of historical and stately Georgetown University is the site where The Exorcist was filmed, including the infamous stairs. With its historical and unique brownstones, many worth over a million dollars a piece, this is possibly one of the best locations for a world-renowned university but an unlikely place for filming; Georgetown is a premier university located in only a few minutes walk from the Foggy Bottom subway station and, subsequently, only 10 minutes or so from the heart of Washington, D.C. A Catholic University, this institution retains its Jesuit roots; it emphasizes commitment to the community and community-based research and volunteer projects. However, Georgetown does not just emphasize the community; academics are extremely important. With an undergraduate freshman class of 1551, Georgetown is a very selective college, with a 21% acceptance rate. The average SAT for verbal is 640-750 and for math is 650-740. With the excellence of the student body, some prospective students might fear being “lost in the crowd”. However, there are a variety of programs that Georgetown offers as a supplement to academics, including ESL, independent study, student designed major, minority student services, and personal counseling. In addition, there are very few large lecture halls; most of the older classrooms are built for 30 or 40 people and are fairly up-to-date on technology. In the newer buildings, the classrooms are well-outfitted, but there are no 800-seat lecture halls like the ones found in other universities. While Georgetown offers a multitude of extracurricular activities, it does not have a Greek system. In place of sororities and fraternities, students can participate in the choral groups, film societies, bands, musical theater, the radio station, student government and much more. When students are not occupied with academic or extracurricular activities, there are plenty of relaxing places on campus. Healy Lawn is a favorite for pick-up games of Frisbee and the Yates Field House is open to all students and boasts a swimming pool, indoor track, large gym, tennis and racquetball courts, and much more. With original buildings opened in 1789 to the new nursing building, Georgetown University offers a beautiful environment in which to learn. Washington, DC is its main classroom and there is not a better place to study politics or law. With a dedicated staff combined with the safety of the Georgetown area, this university creates a small-town atmosphere in the middle of a big city. Georgetown University would be an excellent choice for all, a The Exorcist fan or not.

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