High School Students Sample University Life at Georgetown

Press release

Published August 3rd, 2017 - 05:04 GMT

Georgetown Pre-College Summer (GPS) program closing ceremony

Thirty five high school students received a taste of life at university as part of the annual Georgetown Pre-College Summer (GPS) program. For three weeks during their school holidays, the students attended full time academic classes at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) and took part in a number of fun and educational activities on and off campus.

The program, which is run by current GU-Q students and staff, attracts students who seek a competitive edge in the university application process during their final years of high school.

“GPS is a summer program where we bring students from all over the country – from all different schools, and all different backgrounds – and they all get to have classes,” explained GPS peer tutor Lina Noureldin (SFS ’20). “GPS provides them with a pathway into university.”

In addition to helping students prepare for the standardized tests required for university admission, the program’s busy schedule included classes in English, math, and international affairs. This helped students improve their knowledge and skills, while introducing them to popular subjects at GU-Q, such as politics and economics. The program also included a number of extracurricular activities and a field trip to the Mathaf Arab Museum of Modern Art for a fast-paced scavenger hunt.

“I am passionate about politics and international relations, so stimulating my mind over the summer and discussing these topics with people who know about it interested me,” said GPS participant Abdulla Al-Rumaihi. “It’s been even better than I expected. It was a perfect balance between fun and educational.”

GPS is one of a number of programs at GU-Q designed to make help students gain experience developing and practicing the academic and personal skills necessary for university-level success. Other programs include Planet Georgetown (a year-long workshop series), and A Day in the Life of a Georgetown Student, which gives prospective applicants an inside look into the student experience at GU-Q, including a campus tour and sample lectures.

Background Information

Georgetown University in Qatar

Established in 1789 in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions. Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), founded in 2005 in partnership with Qatar Foundation, seeks to build upon the world-class reputation of the university through education, research, and service. Inspired by the university’s mission of promoting intellectual, ethical, and spiritual understanding, GU-Q aims to advance knowledge and provide students and the community with a holistic educational experience that produces global citizens committed to the service of humankind.

Located in Doha’s Education City, GU-Q offers the same internationally recognized Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree as Georgetown’s Capitol Campus in Washington, DC. This unique, interdisciplinary program prepares students to tackle the most important and pressing global issues by helping them develop critical thinking, analytic, and communication skills within an international context. GU-Q alumni work in leading local and international organizations across industries ranging from finance to energy, education, and media. The Qatar campus also serves as a residency and delivery location for the Executive Master’s in Emergency and Disaster Management along with the Executive Master’s in Leadership.