Why Incoming College of Arts & Sciences Students Should Apply for First-Year Seminars

For many Georgetown students in the College of Arts & Sciences, taking a First-Year Seminar has become a highlight of their time on the Hilltop.

First-Year Seminars are unique courses created exclusively for first-year students in the College, and these courses are designed to enhance student experience with small, intellectually rich communities of faculty members and peers. Courses are capped at 16 to 20 students per seminar and introduce students to the intellectual life of the university. 

The application for 2025 First-Year Seminars is available now and must be submitted by Monday, July 7, 2025 at 9 a.m. EDT in order to be considered. Applying to a First-Year Seminar is optional but recommended.

We asked students and recent alumni why they enjoyed their First-Year Seminar and to share advice for incoming students. Read more about Fall 2025 First-Year Seminars here. 

Dhruvi Banerjee (C’25)

Banerjee is a recent graduate who majored in anthropology and minored in science, technology and international affairs (STIA) with a concentration in global health and biotechnology. Banerjee was accepted into the Early Assurance Program for Georgetown School of Medicine as a Joseph Sweeney, S.J. Scholar and will begin medical school this August. 

First-Year Seminar: Discovering Language Through Culture with Sylvia Önder, a teaching professor in the Department of Anthropology and also the head of the Turkish program and coordinator of small program languages

What did you enjoy about your First-Year Seminar?

I absolutely loved the course; it cemented my passion for anthropology. I especially enjoyed the immersive learning experiences, such as touring Gallaudet University while learning about deaf culture and language. We also had the opportunity to dine at an amazing Turkish restaurant at the end of the course, as we learned about the region. The class was quite small, so not only were we able to bond as classmates, but we received individualized attention as we learned how to navigate college classes and life. I still am friends with many of them after four years and look back fondly at our time together. The combination of a small class and intriguing topics culminated in some of the richest discussions I had in college and left me wanting to continue taking classes outside of my given area of study as a pre-health student. 

What advice would you give to incoming students?

First-Year Seminars are designed to be a safe place to explore new perspectives and ideas for students beginning college. In many ways, they represent the stereotypical elements of why we enjoy college and what college is really all about: learning about and doing things you never imagined yourself doing. Especially as the transition to college can be jarring from leaving home and being thrown into difficult classes, the close-knit community formed in these seminars is transformative.

Malín Morell (C’28)

Morell is a Class of 2028 student in the College of Arts & Sciences who is double majoring in government and sociology.

First-Year Seminar: Equality of Educational Opportunity with Karolyn Tyson, a professor and chair of sociology

What did you enjoy about your First-Year Seminar?

I loved having a small class size because it meant that as classmates we could build strong bonds with each other and, beyond that, with our professor. Over the semester, we conducted research about the equality of educational opportunity among our peers. Having access to one-on-one support throughout that process was so incredible and a tight-knit class helped to bounce ideas around and fully understand the material we were working with. This also meant that the class became a safe space for us; we knew it was a space where we were supported by both our peers and our professor, which I know meant a lot to all of us. 

What advice would you give to incoming students?

No matter what you take, whether it fits right into the career path you hope to follow or is completely out of your comfort zone, I truly don’t think you can go wrong with a First-Year Seminar. Which leads me to my second piece of advice: don’t be afraid to try something new! Use this application as an opportunity to cast a wide net of options (if you please) and see which one takes the bait! You never know how much you might start to love something if you never try it. Finally, if you decide to take a First-Year Seminar, take full advantage of it. These are meant to be a resource for you to get acclimated to Georgetown, so use them as such. Get phone numbers or Instagrams for your classmates, and take the time to get to know your professor. You are all there to help each other succeed, and it’s a great opportunity to meet people you might never have met otherwise and build connections to the university right away.

Isabella Trewhella (C’28)

Trewhella is a Class of 2028 student in the College of Arts & Sciences who is majoring in neurobiology.

First-Year Seminar: Disability, Culture, and the Question of Care with Libbie Rifkin, a teaching professor in the Department of English and the founding director of the disabilities studies program

What did you enjoy about your First-Year Seminar?

From bonding with my peers over book discussions to creating a virtual art gallery for my final project, my First-Year Seminar was incredibly valuable in shaping my first semester at Georgetown. My professor was not only incredibly engaging but also fostered a community of care both within and outside the classroom. My favorite day was getting to discuss the book we read outside on the lawn outside White-Gravenor. The class was an opportunity to express my voice, be a part of a group who shares my passions and to engage with a professor on a more nuanced basis. 

What advice would you give to incoming students?

Rosabel Liu (C’28)

Liu is a Class of 2028 student in the College of Arts & Sciences who is double majoring in global and comparative literature and justice and peace studies.

First-Year Seminar: Hager Scholars Program with Anne Thinglum, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. All first-year students in the College of Arts & Sciences with an interest in a major, double major or minor in a language or global and comparative literature can apply.

What did you enjoy about your First-Year Seminar?

I loved the close community we built over the course of the year and the opportunities to hear from Georgetown faculty members about the research they’ve conducted in their fields. Since humanities research possibilities can be a bit more elusive compared to STEM, it was especially inspiring for me to learn about how these professors have been able to travel all over the world and connect to so many languages and communities in their research. Professor Thinglum also planned some amazing outings for us to explore languages and cultures in DC by visiting museums and seeing plays, for example.

What advice would you give to incoming students?

Just apply! If something catches your eye, it can’t hurt to give it a shot, and chances are it will be worth it.