Desert Hoya
A Letter to Incoming First-Year Hoyas
Congratulations on joining Georgetown University in Qatar! You are now part of the GU-Q community.
“First-Year Experience” Posts
Showing 10 “First-Year Experience” posts
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Desert Hoya
An Open Letter to my First-year Self
Dear First-year me, You just got into Georgetown University in Qatar. You’re excited. You’re anxious. You’ve already made three Pinterest boards titled “Uni outfits” and “college glow up.” You think you’re prepared. I’m writing to you from one semester in the future. Sorry to inform you that the glow up is still pending but it is safe to say that I have learned a few things. So before you overpack, overthink, and over-plan your entire academic career, read this.
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Desert Hoya
¡Yalla Hoyas! How GU-Q Became Home, One Moment at a Time
In the weeks before starting at Georgetown, I found myself worrying about something new. This time, it wasn’t the acceptance rate or the cost of tuition; instead, it was the campus culture. I had watched far too many American sitcoms and imagined college life as football games, cheerleaders at Homecoming, and crowded dorm parties. While Georgetown Qatar might not have those things, what we do have is something far more unique: a customized experience of an American education in Qatar.
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Desert Hoya
How To Not Waste Your Summer 101
For me, summer is usually a heap of unrealized plans, spontaneous travels, and the irritatingly slow mind marches of daydreaming on my bed. The summer of 2025, however, to my surprise, was completely different. In the spring semester of my first year, I knew I wanted to spend the summer doing what I love—writing. Good writing, nevertheless, flourishes when one is in a new setting, with differences capturing your every sense. So, I looked for summer writing courses in various countries, with the intention of challenging myself.
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Desert Hoya
I am the First Turkmen Hoya at Georgetown University in Qatar
On my 20th birthday this year, I left Turkmenistan, with excitement, nerves, and the pressure of walking into uncertainty. After a gap year following my FLEX exchange in Texas (Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) is a competitive, merit-based scholarship program funded by the United States government), I was finally traveling abroad, alone this time. In the U.S., I had always had a safety net: a host family waiting with warm meals, a host father who drove me to school, a host mother who answered every question I had – and yes, even the ones that probably made her question her life choices. This time was different.
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Desert Hoya
How My First Semester at Georgetown Led Me to Nepal
Starting my journey at Georgetown was exciting, but I never imagined it would lead to an adventure in Nepal within just two months of stepping foot in Qatar for the first time. When I found out I got selected for a fully funded, 10-day trip to Nepal under the Community Engagement Program, it was amazing news!
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Desert Hoya
First Year Reflections
I have transitioned from being a high school student in South Africa to being an international college student in Qatar within 8 months. It has been a thrill, but most of all, it has been one of the best decisions I have made in my early adulthood.
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Desert Hoya
Friends at Georgetown
At GU-Q, friendships are at the center of the student experience. Our tight-knit community made it easy for me to find my circle, full of fun, daring, and wholesome. They are my support system and a safe space.
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Desert Hoya
Embracing Change
As a first-year student, a new resident of Doha and this being my first time in the Middle East, broadening my horizon has been the most exciting aspect of my transition to college but also the most challenging one.
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Desert Hoya
Marhaba, Hello!
My name is Siya, a first-year student at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) and a student employee in the office of admissions. I am thrilled to welcome you to our Desert Hoya blog!
