Georgetown University - Off-Campus Housing

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Students agree that off-campus housing is something to be faced with planning, ample time, and parental advice. There seems to be no shortage of landlords looking to screw-over Georgetown students; indeed, there is a quite vibrant realty market devoted entirely to renting ramshackle townhouses to the University students, at sky-high prices. These houses, generally located just beyond the swath of University-owned homes, can constitute either a form of domestic salvation or a sadistic third-year purgatory. At some point in their four years, almost all Georgetown students are forced by the limits of on-campus housing to delve into the off-campus market, and the results are all too often disastrous.

Caught up in a horrific cycle of neglect—a cycle perpetuated by the mutual contempt between tenants and landlords—the off-campus townhouses quickly deteriorate on what seems like a daily basis. Rats provide a veritable circus of activity in many of these houses: they live in the basements, floorboards, and heating ducts. Odors can also be seriously problematic, although it should be noted that little data exists on whether or not these houses might actually smell good if students would stop treating them like third-world hovels. All of this is not to say that there aren’t perfectly lovely townhouses available; merely that students interested in obtaining such houses had better be prepared to contact realtors on day one of the fall semester if they want any chance of obtaining rat-free housing for the following academic year. One bright spot is that, due to the recent construction of three new on-campus dorms, area landlords have been forced to make some small improvements in the quality of their offerings, such as installing fully-functioning doors.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

There is a full listing of... There is a full listing of off-campus places available on the housing Web site during the year, and they frequently have seminars on signing leases and landlord issues. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

They’ve increased the frequency of... They’ve increased the frequency of shuttles for students who live across the river in Virginia, but I’d recommend living in a group house off campus. Most are about a 5- to 10-minute walk, so it’s easier to meet up and go out at night. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Anonymous says:

There are lots of houses off... There are lots of houses off campus that kind of get passed down from person to person, so getting a house isn’t terribly hard, but you do have to start looking early. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

JaneHoya says: Georgetown University 2013 Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies

Most students spend at least one... Most students spend at least one year living off campus, if not two. It is nice to have your freedom. However, most of the places are cramped and overpriced. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: March 02, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Most upperclassmen live off... Most upperclassmen live off campus. You need to start looking early, and it is rather expensive. Most kids are rich, however, and their parents pay their rent. However, we have a lot of nice on-campus apartments. I only had to live in a dorm last year. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Christina Malliet
Hometown: Cedarburg, WI
Major: English

Christina's favorite place in the world is Walt Disney World.

Contributing Author Internship

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more about the internship.