Dear NHS Class of 2011 Parents,

It is hard to believe the first year of Georgetown is over and our students are entering Sophomore year! The upcoming school year promises to be an exciting time as your son or daughter settles into their academic career. We’re sure you will have questions throughout the year regarding academic and student life opportunities. Please remember that in addition to the knowledgeable team at NHS, the NHS Parents Council is here to help.

We thought we would poll this year's Junior parents to learn what issues came up during their student's Sophomore year and share with you some of those lessons learned. Below are the three most common topics on which parents offered advice.

Study Abroad: Georgetown students have the option of studying abroad. If your student is interested, encourage him or her to begin thinking about this opportunity now. It is important to research the diverse programs offered and to talk with students who have studied overseas to find the best fit. Application deadlines for each program vary. All four programs in NHS have a study abroad option. Health Care Management & Policy, Human Science, and International Health students may study with any Georgetown study abroad program, while Nursing students have a site in Perth, Australia and a summer program in Denmark from which they can choose. International Health students are also required to complete an international internship as part of their curriculum. Most students who go abroad do stay on their academic track and graduate in four years with no extra classes. For additional information please visit the Office of International Programs.

Changing Majors & Pre-Med: It is not uncommon for students to change majors after their first year of college. Changing majors within NHS is not difficult, but it is recommended that they begin working on their intended major requirements no later than the Fall of their sophomore year. While there are always exceptions, students should plan to establish their majors this year to allow plenty of time to fulfill the class requirements and graduate on schedule.

Some students express interest in going to medical school. Pre-med is not a major, but a concentration of classes students take as prerequisites for medical school. Therefore, your student can have any major in NHS and be pre-med. The required classes should be taken at Georgetown and completed by the end of Junior year. For more information visit Georgetown University's Pre-Medical studies web site or the pre-med office at (202) 687-4853 or premed@georgetown.edu.

Housing: Some students want to switch to an off-campus residence after their Sophomore year. If your student is interested in off-campus housing for next year, there are many houses and apartments available for rent in Georgetown and in the neighborhoods surrounding the campus. To avoid the stress of signing a lease, students should begin looking for next year's housing the same time they would be signing up for an on campus residence—February. The University's Off-Campus Housing Resource Services can assist your student in finding a residence, answer questions about off-campus living, and address safety issues. Contact the office at (202) 687-7764 or visit Georgetown University's Off-Campus Housing web site.

For students wanting on-campus housing, applications and selection will be held during February and March. Students can apply online for campus housing and will be selected based on the Eligibility Ranking Point System, which categorizes students by year and their past residences. For more information on the point system and on-campus housing, contact Housing Services at (202) 687-4560 or visit the Housing Services web site.

We look forward to another exciting academic year, getting to know you better, and watching our students grow at Georgetown. Throughout the year you will continue to receive information about NHS news, important dates, and events. Please do not hesitate to contact anyone on the Parents Council if you have questions or are interested in becoming more involved with the leadership of NHS. We can be reached at NHSParents@georgetown.edu.

Hoya Saxa,