In 2023, I arrived at Georgetown University as a first-year with my heart set on majoring in public policy. Thus, in my first semester, I took “PPOL-2000: How Public Policy Works.” To this day, it was one of the most engaging classes I’ve taken. I developed a genuine interest in the mechanics of legislation and the capacity it has to shape lives. Others interested in this may look to a government major, but for me, while the government major lays the groundwork for understanding institutions, public policy feels immediate, hands-on and deeply connected to the world beyond academia. It wasn’t just about studying systems; it was about actively working within them. I left weekly lectures thinking I had found my path.
So, when I first heard about the new public policy major, I was all in. I was aware of the logistics: moving to the downtown campus for junior and senior year, a city apartment, my own kitchen (though my culinary prowess is limited to instant ramen), internships at my doorstep and the prospect of adulting before actual adulthood. It sounded like leveling up.
But after experiencing life on the Hilltop, doubt slowly crept in. It revealed itself in late-night conversations sprawled out on dorm room floors, spontaneous debates in Intercultural Center classrooms and the small rituals that stitched my days together — grabbing Whisk with my friends or sitting on the lawn when it was just warm enough to pretend it was summer. Somewhere in the chaos, I realized I wasn’t ready to trade the community I had built on the Hilltop for apartment walls and a new lounge area.
This community is the one reason I’m no longer pursuing the public policy major: It requires students to move to the downtown campus. I overestimated how long my first and second years would feel and underestimated how close I’d get to my friends. I didn’t anticipate how many on-campus opportunities I’d have to leave behind — the chance to build relationships with my favorite professors and take part in student organizations have become central to my experience. Georgetown Political Strategy, for example, has allowed me to consult for a nonprofit and advocate for causes I care about. While I could do this from the Capitol Campus, the student organizations are ultimately based here, and having to leave early from one of these prized meetings to catch the bus home sounded uncompelling.
Many of my classmates share this same sentiment. While some immediately rejected the idea of moving downtown, others, like me, were initially committed to it but reconsidered as the year transpired. For us, staying on the Hilltop means attending Rangila at Gaston Hall, participating in discussion groups in the GU Politics living room and, most importantly, spending time with students who aren’t all studying the same thing. The diversity of thought here, like overhearing a philosophy major and an economics major debate the implications of a recent White House foreign policy decision, is one of the best parts of Georgetown.
After considering this, I deviated from my initial plan and declared a double major in government and Black studies. Government keeps me grounded in the systems I’m fascinated by, while Black studies forces me to interrogate those systems critically. Studying both of these topics allows me to engage with public policy in a way that acknowledges and challenges the structural inequities woven into U.S. governance.
In deciding not to pursue the public policy degree, I’ve realized that college isn’t just a stepping stone to the “real world” — it is the real world. The choices we make here aren’t purely academic; they shape how we navigate life beyond campus. For me, that meant staying grounded in the bustling and diverse nature of the Hilltop.
As Georgetown continues to evolve and introduce new programs, I hope it remains mindful of how much students value the connections they form here. While opportunities like moving closer to the heart of Washington, D.C., can offer enriching professional experiences, it is important to consider what you risk leaving behind. Community isn’t just a backdrop to academics; it’s an essential part of the college experience.
So, to my fellow students — what makes Georgetown feel like home to you? What aspects of your college experience are you willing to sacrifice for professional growth and what parts are non-negotiable? The answers may not always be clear, but it’s important to take the time to reflect on them before deciding on your major. Ultimately, I chose to stay not just for what I’m learning on the Hilltop, but for who this environment is helping me to become.
Sara Eyob is a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences.