Georgetown
Georgetown crowns a hilltop above the Potomac, where Healy Hall's gray spires rise over the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the country and the prettiest cobblestoned neighborhood in Washington. It's the Hoyas and 'Hoya Saxa,' a live bulldog named Jack, and a student body that treats a Capitol Hill internship the way other schools treat intramurals.
What to wear in Washington, month by month
This corner of the country breaks every generic packing list. It is not about surviving cold — it is about staying dry through a long gray winter and a famously short, beautiful summer.
| Move-in (Aug) | 72–90°F | Hot, humid Washington summer — swampy afternoons and warm nights, but the halls run A/C. |
| Sept–Oct | 52–84°F | Warm September easing into a crisp, gold October — the best stretch on the calendar. |
| Nov–Dec | 35–58°F | Cooling fast with early dark; a cold rain more often than snow. |
| Jan–Feb | 30–47°F | The cold, gray heart of winter — milder than New England, with the odd real snowfall. |
| Mar–May | 42–78°F | Cherry-blossom spring — the Tidal Basin blooms, then D.C. warms up in a hurry. |
What Georgetown lets you bring
- A surge-protected power strip — plain extension cords and multi-outlet plugs are banned, but a surge protector is fine
- Twin XL bedding (confirm your specific hall)
- UL/ETL power strip with a built-in circuit breaker — not a bare extension cord
- Damage-free wall hangings like Command strips — no nails or screws
- Low-draw LED desk and task lamps
- A fan, a reusable water bottle, and UL-listed electronics
- Open-coil / open-flame cooking: toasters, toaster ovens, air fryers, hot plates, electric grills, sandwich makers
- Candles, incense, wax warmers, and anything with an open flame
- Halogen lamps
- Extension cords without a breaker; outlet splitters and multi-plug adapters
- Space heaters and personal A/C units (unless your school provides/approves them)
- Hoverboards, e-scooters, e-bikes, and other e-mobility devices
- Weapons of any kind — including decorative — and fireworks
- Personal microwaves — rent a MicroFridge or use the floor kitchen instead
- Candles, incense, and halogen lamps — anything with a flame or an exposed element
- Extension cords and multi-outlet plugs without surge protection
- E-scooters, e-bikes, and hoverboards — lithium-ion rides can't come inside
- Space heaters and personal grills
These come from Georgetown's official housing pages and cover the essentials plus the genuinely local rules. Double-check the current official guidance before you buy — policies and renovations change every year.
Getting your room at Georgetown
- 01After you deposit
Housing application
First-years apply for housing and fill out a lifestyle and roommate questionnaire through the Office of Residential Living — living on campus is required your first year.
- 02Early summer
Roommate matching
Georgetown pairs roommates and assigns halls over the summer; you can search for a roommate through the housing portal or go potluck.
- 03Mid-summer
Assignment posts
Hall, room, and roommate details post to the housing portal before you arrive.
- 04Late August
Move-in + NSO
First-years move in over two days in late August and head straight into New Student Orientation before classes begin.
Where you'll live at Georgetown
First-year halls
Georgetown requires first-years to live on campus, and it clusters them in a handful of halls near the front gates and the Southwest Quad — orientation groups and floor communities handle the introductions before classes start.
The big, buzzy first-year hall on the hillside above the river — some of the best Potomac views on campus and a reputation as the loud, friendly one.
Ten stories of first-years arranged in 'clusters' that share a lounge — the classic, community-first Georgetown freshman experience.
Up by the front gates and Yates gym, Darnall is the tight-knit first-year community a little removed from the main quad.
The collegiate-Gothic stone hall right on the quad — storied outside, renovated within.
First-year rooms in the newer Southwest Quadrangle — suite-style comfort at the far end of campus.
The Georgetown move-in checklist
The “Shop” links are Amazon affiliate links — a purchase may earn AllDorms a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Bedding6
Bath5
Laundry4
Storage & organization6
Desk & study4
Electronics6
Cleaning5
Kitchen — within the rules5
Health & meds4
Clothing — see the seasonal guide7
Move-in day go-bag5
Washington logistics, sorted
How to send a package to a Georgetown student
[Residence Hall & Room #]
Georgetown University
Washington, DC 20057
Healy Hall is the whole postcard
Jack, the steps, and 'Hoya Saxa'
Washington & around
M Street & the Georgetown Waterfront
Cobblestones, shops, and the C&O Canal downhill from the gates; the Potomac-side Waterfront for kayaks, ice cream, and river sunsets.
The National Mall
The Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonians, and the whole marble spread of official Washington, a couple of miles east.
Dupont Circle
Bookstores, embassies, and a Sunday farmers market just across Rock Creek — the brunch-and-grad-student quarter.
The DC Metro
Georgetown famously has no Metro stop of its own — the nearest are Foggy Bottom and Rosslyn, a walk or a quick GUTS-shuttle ride away.
Where to stay near Georgetown
The Georgetown Inn
Wisconsin AveThe classic brick hotel in the heart of Georgetown, an easy walk to campus.
The Graham Georgetown
M StreetA stylish boutique hotel with a rooftop bar looking out over the neighborhood.
Rosewood Washington, D.C.
The WaterfrontThe luxury pick on the Georgetown Waterfront — special-occasion territory.
Georgetown gear & gifts
Georgetown — links & contacts
- Office of Residential Living: Visit page