Sarah Brannigan (B’28) is a sophomore at Georgetown University in the McDonough School of Business. She loves golfing, traveling, and Dunkin’ Donuts.
I absolutely love talking to prospective Georgetown students. From answering questions about classes to recommending places for lunch, there is something so exciting about helping someone better understand if Georgetown is the best place for them. That is why I thought it would be helpful to share the inside scoop and outline 15 things that would make anyone want to move to the Hilltop ASAP.
1. Farmers Market Trips
Every week, Georgetown hosts a farmers market on campus for students to enjoy. Regardless of what time you stop by, you’re guaranteed to see a familiar face and a booth that catches your eye. My favorites include the fresh-squeezed lemonade and margarita pizza, but you can find everything from warm bread to empanadas. This is also the perfect break from the dining hall.
2. Christmas Tree Lighting
Every year, Georgetown holds a holiday kickoff on the front lawn right before finals begin. Students bundle up and gather around with hot chocolate and cookies while acapella groups sing seasonal favorites. Everyone counts down together to see the giant tree light up with the gorgeous Healy Hall glowing behind it.
3. Basketball Games at Capital One
A uniquely Georgetown experience is cheering on the Hoyas at the world-renowned Capital One Arena. Part of the fun is piling onto charter buses with friends and flooding the student section. This isn’t your typical collegiate gym; it’s the same court where players like LeBron James and Stephen Curry have played. And right now, Georgetown men’s basketball is on a four-game winning streak.
4. Traditions Day
Every Homecoming Weekend, students participate in Traditions Day. Students, alumni, and family members spread across Healy Lawn and celebrate what it means to be a Hoya. There is food, games, music and even a giant inflatable Jack the Bulldog!
5. BellRinger
This is a bicycle race where students, faculty, alumni and other members of the Georgetown community raise money for cancer research. Student groups compete to see who can recruit the most cyclists and raise the most funds. Many students ride at least once during their time on the Hilltop, and the event brings the entire Georgetown family together for a great cause.
6. Georgetown Fall Market
Something else very special about the university is the fact that it is located in one of the cutest neighborhoods in DC. Every year, the neighborhood has a Fall Market where small businesses have sidewalk sales with everything from handmade jewelry to candles, vintage clothes, baked goods and fall-themed treats. It looks like a scene out of Gilmore Girls.
7. Picnics on the Front Lawn
On sunny days, Healy Lawn becomes everyone’s backyard. Students bring blankets to study, eat lunch, play spikeball or simply hang out. There’s no better place to catch up with friends or take a break between classes. My absolute favorite is leaving class and walking across the lawn to find my friends to catch up and have some Trader Joe’s snacks.
8. Jack The Bulldog
Not every college has a live mascot, let alone one that is downright adorable. Spotting Jack on campus can be tricky, but you’ll definitely see him at sporting events and other special campus activities. He is truly everyone’s campus celebrity, especially when he is driving around in his miniature Georgetown Jeep.
9. Hilltop Sunsets
Ask any student and they are sure to agree that Georgetown sunsets can’t be beat. Looking out a window at the McDonough School of Business or from a Village A rooftop, the shades of pink and orange that cover the sky are unbelievable. Every evening, looking over the Potomac, makes you fall in love with Georgetown all over again
10. Dahlgren Quad Weddings
It’s not uncommon to walk across campus and spot a bride and groom leaving their wedding ceremony at Dahlgren Chapel. You can hear chapel bells ring, see families smile and feel the love in the air. What’s especially meaningful is that at Georgetown, you don’t just see students your age like at many other universities. Rather, you see people at every stage of life who share a connection to the Hilltop. Georgetown isn’t just a campus, it’s a lifelong community.
11. Lau 2 With Friends
This floor of the campus library is the perfect place to be social and productive. There’s something special about getting work done alongside friends who understand exactly what it takes to power through certain assignments. Yes, it is chaotic. However, the people, snacks and stories somehow make it a place students come back to night after night.
12. The Coffee Shop Scene
Georgetown has one of the best coffee lineups I have ever seen. My favorites include Blank Street, Flor and Yellow. These are the perfect places to study, as each cafè has its own vibe. Oftentimes, student clubs will go on coffee runs for community bonding events, or friends will just explore different areas of the neighborhood with new latte flavors.
13. Running (or strolling) Along the Georgetown Waterfront
Just a short walk from campus, the Georgetown Waterfront offers one of the most beautiful paths in DC. There you will find classmates training for marathons or just taking a walk to get some fresh air. The walk to the Kennedy Center is unbeatable.
14. Georgetown Cookie Crawl
One of the sweetest traditions in the Georgetown community that many students participate in is the Cookie Crawl. You get a decorated box to go bakery-hopping on M Street and try 12 different cookies. It is the perfect excuse to get off campus and find your new spot for a sweat treat.
15. First Snow Snowball Fight
When it finally snows, campus becomes magical. Students meet at midnight for a giant snowball fight on the front lawn. Georgetown’s trees turn white, and the red brick becomes hidden for a little while. It is never too cold for a competitive activity for Hoyas to take part in.
By now, it’s probably obvious that Georgetown students never run out of ways to make life exciting. From cookie crawls and waterfront walks to snowball fights at midnight, the Hilltop is full of traditions that make college feel like so much more than classes and exams. These fifteen activities are just the start. So if you’re thinking about calling Georgetown home, get ready because the Hilltop has a way of making people fall in love fast.
