Boston University vs. Georgetown: Which Is Better for a Career in Government?

The biggest practical difference is location: Georgetown places you in Washington, D.C., where congressional offices, federal agencies, embassies, courts, think tanks, and advocacy organizations are part of the everyday internship market. Boston University offers strong political science and international-affairs preparation, but most federal-government networking requires a deliberate move to D.C. through a semester, summer, or post-graduation job.

Georgetown has especially deep pathways through its Government department, the School of Foreign Service, and public-policy offerings connected to the McCourt School. Students can pursue internships on the Hill, at executive-branch agencies, campaign organizations, policy research groups, and nonprofits while remaining enrolled full time. Its alumni network is notably concentrated in public service, diplomacy, law, politics, and policy, which can matter when seeking informational interviews and early-career opportunities.

BU is still a credible route to government. Its political science program and Pardee School of Global Studies can be excellent foundations for policy, foreign affairs, and public-service work, and BU’s Washington, D.C. programs can provide a structured way to spend a semester in the capital. Boston also offers access to Massachusetts politics, municipal government, legal organizations, and policy-focused nonprofits, although it is less central to federal government than D.C.

For a career in government, Georgetown is the clearer choice because it combines relevant academics with convenient access to internships and a public-service-oriented network. BU could be the right decision if its cost, academic program, or campus environment is meaningfully more appealing, but a BU student should plan early to use a D.C. semester and multiple government-focused summers.