What are Georgetown students called?

Georgetown University students are called Hoyas, a nickname derived from the school's traditional cheer, "Hoya Saxa," which means "What Rocks!" in a mix of Greek and Latin, referring to the stone walls around the campus. The name became popular for the students and athletic teams in the early 20th century, and their official mascot is Jack the Bulldog, but "Hoya" remains the common term for students.

Why are Georgetown students called Hoyas?

Georgetown is called the Hoyas because of the popular cheer "Hoya Saxa!" (meaning "What Rocks!"), a mix of Greek and Latin used by students in the late 1800s, which evolved from the original team nickname, "The Stonewalls," celebrating the team's toughness and the university's stone walls. The cheer became so iconic that the team, and eventually all sports teams, became known as the Hoyas.
 

What do you call a Georgetown student?

Hoya Saxa means “what rocks!” and has been Georgetown's cheer for over 100 years. But what does it mean to be a Hoya? This year, we welcome a new cast to Georgetown Stories, a series that documents a group of students throughout the year as they show what life as a Hoya is all about.

What do Georgetown University students call themselves?

Starting with the word itself, many people may know that Georgetown students are called “Hoyas,” but what is a Hoya anyway?

What is the nickname for Georgetown students?

Like the cheer of rival school Virginia (“Wahoo-wah”), the Georgetown College yell evolved into the nickname for the teams themselves, who eventually became known far and wide as the Georgetown Hoyas.

Appalled student calls out Georgetown's response to anti-Kirk fliers

What are people from Georgetown called?

Many years ago, when all Georgetown students were required to study Greek and Latin, the University's teams were nicknamed "The Stonewalls." It is suggested that a student, using Greek and Latin terms, started the cheer "Hoya Saxa!", which translates into "What Rocks!" The name proved popular and the term "Hoyas" was ...

Is Georgetown like an ivy?

No, Georgetown University is not an Ivy League school, but it is a highly prestigious university often considered in the same tier as Ivies, belonging to groups like "Ivy Plus" or "New Ivies" due to its elite status, particularly in fields like politics and international relations, despite the Ivy League being a specific NCAA athletic conference.
 

Is it harder to get into Duke or Georgetown?

It's generally harder to get into Duke University than Georgetown University, as Duke's acceptance rate is typically lower (around 6-7%) compared to Georgetown's (around 13%), signaling higher selectivity, though both are extremely competitive and prioritize different student profiles, making fit crucial. 

What do Georgetown fans say?

Georgetown fans were described as “encouraging their athletes with their college yell of 'Hoya-hoya-saxa! '” By the end of the century, the cheer had become established as the Georgetown College yell.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Is it harder to get into GW or Georgetown?

It is significantly harder to get into Georgetown University than George Washington University (GWU), as Georgetown is much more selective with acceptance rates around 13% compared to GWU's roughly 40-50%, making Georgetown extremely competitive, especially in programs like International Relations, while GWU is moderately selective. 

Why does Georgetown say Hoya Saxa?

Hoya Saxa is Georgetown University's official cheer, combining Greek and Latin words to mean "What Rocks!". It originated in the early 1890s from students familiar with classical languages, likely as a cheer for the "Stonewalls" athletic teams, referencing either the stone walls around campus or the team's tough, rock-like play. 

Why is Georgetown so famous?

Georgetown is famous for its beautiful historic neighborhood in D.C. with cobblestone streets and Federal-style homes, upscale shops, and vibrant Potomac waterfront, and for its prestigious university known for politics, international relations, law, and business, plus its strong alumni network in government and leadership. It blends historical charm with high-end culture, academic excellence, and political significance, attracting tourists, residents, and influential figures alike.
 

What is the hardest school to get into at Georgetown?

The hardest Georgetown undergraduate school to get into varies slightly by year but is often a toss-up between the McDonough School of Business (MSB) and the Georgetown College (CAS), with McDonough sometimes having the lowest acceptance rate (e.g., 11% for Class of 2028), while the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) often sees the most applicants and has a very low rate (e.g., 12%), making them statistically the toughest, though the difference is minimal and depends on the applicant pool. 

What is Georgetown's rival school?

Georgetown's biggest rivals in college basketball are historically Syracuse, Villanova, and UConn, all fierce foes from the old Big East Conference, though their matchups are less frequent now, while Maryland remains a local rival, and older football rivalries include Navy, Cornell, and Princeton.
 

Is Georgetown a historically black neighborhood?

African Americans have lived, worked, and worshipped in Georgetown since its founding—making up 30% to 40% of the residential population at one time.

What is the nickname of Georgetown?

Georgetown's nickname is The Hoyas, but its mascot is "Jack the Bulldog." Various breeds of dogs have been used by the sports teams as mascots since the early 1900s.

What movie was primarily filmed at Georgetown University?

In 1972, the supernatural horror film “The Exorcist” was filmed on and around Georgetown's campus. Released in 1973, it became the first horror film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Is Georgetown as good as Ivy?

Yes, Georgetown University is widely considered as prestigious and academically rigorous as Ivy League schools, especially in fields like International Relations, Politics, and Law (through its School of Foreign Service). While not an Ivy, it's often grouped with "Elite" or "Ivy Plus" universities due to its high rankings, competitive admissions (around 12% acceptance), strong global network, and focus on public service, rivaling many Ivies for top students. 

What is the #1 law school in the USA?

There isn't one single #1 law school, as rankings vary by source, but Yale Law School, Stanford Law School, and Harvard Law School consistently rank at the very top, often tying or trading the #1 spot in major lists like U.S. News & World Report, TestMax, and Times Higher Education. For the 2025 U.S. News rankings, Yale and Stanford tied for #1, while other sources might place Stanford first or Harvard first depending on the specific year and criteria. 

Who is Duke's biggest rivalry?

Duke's biggest rivalry is overwhelmingly with the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels, known as the "Battle of the Blues," a fierce, historically significant feud that dominates college basketball and extends across many sports due to geographic proximity (only about 8 miles apart) and deep cultural differences between the private Duke and public UNC. This rivalry is considered one of the most intense in all of American sports, fueled by legendary coaches, iconic players, and passionate fan bases, with games often deciding ACC titles and national rankings.
 

What are the 63 hidden Ivies?

The 63 "Hidden Ivies" are a list of excellent, selective colleges outside the traditional Ivy League, known for strong academics, often with liberal arts focuses, broken down into Northeast (37), South (12), Midwest (11), and West (3) regions, including schools like Amherst, Williams, Carleton, Duke, Emory, Stanford, Pomona, and UChicago, offering Ivy-level education without the traditional Ivy League name. 

Are Georgetown students wealthy?

The median family income of a student from Georgetown is $229,100, and 74% come from the top 20 percent. About 1.9% of students at Georgetown came from a poor family but became a rich adult.

Is Georgetown or Cornell harder to get into?

While both are highly selective, Cornell typically has a lower acceptance rate (making it statistically harder), but Georgetown is also extremely competitive, especially in popular programs, with some sources suggesting a slightly higher acceptance rate but fierce competition for specific fields like international relations and business. Your chances depend heavily on your chosen major, as some Cornell colleges (like Engineering, Arts & Sciences) and Georgetown programs (like SFS, McDonough) are much harder than others.