Justin Higgins (C’28), originally from Albany, New York, is a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences and a Georgetown Storyteller studying government with a minor in journalism.
When I reflect on my college search and decision process from two years ago, I think about all of the factors I weighed: academics, access to internships, a sense of community, clubs. When I considered location, it was mostly in the narrow sense of distance from home. I’m from New York, and two of my top three choices that I was deciding between were in the Midwest. At the time, I was mostly concerned about if this distance would be manageable. Still, I didn’t think location was a big deal. After all, wouldn’t most of my time be spent on campus anyway?
However, after three semesters at Georgetown, I’ve come to appreciate living in DC and not living in a “traditional” college town. I’ve even decided to stay here for a few years post-grad, which is a pivot coming from the guy who thought he’d live in Boston in his 20s before heading back home. Here are a few reasons why.
Access to the City
One of my favorite parts about studying in DC is the ease with which I can venture into the city and explore. While Georgetown doesn’t have a Metro station, it is home to several Metrobus stops, including my favorite, the C91, which leaves right from the front gates of campus every half hour. The university also has the Hoya Transit Program, which operates on a semesterly lottery system and provides students with a monthly Metro credit each month (not to jinx anything, but my friends and I have luckily been selected every semester, which makes traveling across the District so much easier).
While people say time and time again to get out of the “Georgetown bubble” because it would be a disservice not to see the other 130+ neighborhoods in DC, I also think that getting away from campus is a good mental health break. In addition to the Metrobus stops close to campus, the GUTS buses make it easy to get to grocery stores, Metro stations and internships, which is what I’ve been doing this semester.
Professional Opportunities
Speaking of internships, a major perk of living in DC is that there is far less competition for selective internships during the academic year. College students nationwide swarm DC over the summer and compete for internships or spend a semester here at a neighboring university. Being based in the city means you have sustained internship opportunities and access throughout your years of study.
This means you can try out many different gigs and see what you like and what you don’t. DC is unique in that it’s like any major city — you can work for a corporate office or headquarters if you’re into business. It is also a major media market (I am interning in that industry now!). However, DC allows government and politics nerds like me to also experience working in a congressional office, executive agency, think tank or lobbying firm.
Campus Speakers and Adjunct Professors
Being in such proximity to power means that you will hear from the powerful. It wouldn’t be a Justn Higgins blog without working in a GU Politics mention… But seriously, from GU Politics’ fellows program, to speakers brought in by the Georgetown University Lecture Fund, like Zach Fox, to U.S. senators that have spoken with other campus organizations, one thing is clear: people want to talk to Georgetown students.
Last semester I was able to organize an event with Dr. Dorcey Applyrs, the mayor of my hometown of Albany, New York.
Not only do public officials enjoy speaking to Georgetown students, they enjoy teaching them. As a journalism minor, I enjoy the fact that many faculty are adjunct professors that work as full-time journalists.
One highlight of my freshman spring semester was taking an international affairs elective course with Ambassador Zion Evrony, Israel’s former ambassador to Ireland and the Holy See.
There’s Always Something to See
Because DC is so rich in history, there is always something interesting to see and explore. Oftentimes, you don’t have to go far.
For example, a few months ago while walking back to campus from dinner, my friends and I stumbled upon JFK’s old home in Georgetown, just a few blocks from the front gates, on N St. The home, called the Marbury House, is named after an earlier resident, William Marbury of the famed Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison.
Right down the road is Embassy Row and Dupont Circle, home to the majority of DC’s 175+ resident embassies.
And of course, DC is home to many museums. My goal is to visit every Smithsonian museum at least once by the time I graduate but also check out some others like the International Spy Museum.
With all that there is to see and do throughout the District, I’m already working on an itinerary for when my friend from home comes to visit later this semester.
Being a student in DC is an experience that I wouldn’t trade, and one that feels more and more “right” as time goes on. Visiting friends at other universities has only deepened my appreciation for the value of location, and how living in such a vibrant, opportunity-rich city has shaped and elevated my college experience.
