Experience of Being Accepted into Georgetown University

My journey to Georgetown University was both unexpected and profoundly transformative. As a first-generation college graduate from Germany, attending Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service was a dream that came true. However, my path to acceptance was neither easy nor straightforward. I had no real understanding of the competitive landscape that exists in the United States, and my high school GPA wasn't impressive. Thus, I did not expect to be admitted. But once I arrived, I was captivated by the intellectual stimulation and diverse experiences offered there.

A Journey Through Time

Reflecting on my time at Georgetown, it was a long time ago in a different Washington, D.C. While I had only briefly spent time there in my early teens in the 1960s, I found myself returning for a summer school program between junior and senior years of high school. My performance was good, earning mostly A and B grades. My acceptance into the School of Foreign Service (SFS) was due to a combination of lower application rates for admission during the Vietnam War era and my connection to Kentucky, where I became known as "Kentucky" among my peers. This period was quite unique; I was at Georgetown during the Watergate scandal and before the Metro system was fully operational. The campus was still in a state of development, with professors conducting cross-country races through it. The newly opened library and the presence of smoking rooms added to the atmosphere.

Innovative Yet Limited Facilities

The experience of attending Georgetown during that time was a blend of the old and the new. The computing facilities were far from modern; they were equipped with IBM 370 mainframes, punch cards, and tape. The premier game, Pong, was the state of the art. Moreover, there was a high level of manual involvement. Students had to attend classes or get class notes, with no CCTV of live lectures or internet access. The students had to rely on pay phones in dorms or landlines as they could afford them. The basketball team had an abysmal record of 3-23, yet it was possible to get student passes to all football and basketball home games for only $10. One of the unique aspects of the dorms was that some were located in the gym building.

Academic and Personal Growth

The academic environment was quite rigorous, with professors from Eastern Europe, particularly from East Germany and Algeria. While some were excellent, others were not. For instance, I had three professors for Comparative Government, and two of them passed away during the semester. The curriculum had remnants of the McCarthy era, and there was a prevalent understanding of the political climate.

Motivation and Challenges

My primary choice for university had been Vassar, but they only accepted 25 males in the first men's class, while I was 26th. The draw of Vassar was its proximity to IBM and the opportunity to create a customized curriculum in IT, not to mention the numerous women applicants who attended alumni teas as part of the admission process. This admission process was notably LGBTQ inclusive. My acceptance into Georgetown was both a relief and a challenge. While the resources and opportunities were limited compared to today, I was prepared to immerse myself in the experience.