First-Year Orientation to Community Involvement
Incoming First-Year and Transfer Students
The Center for Social Justice invites incoming first-year and transfer students to join Georgetown’s longest-running pre-orientation program. A group of 50+ first-year students arrive on campus to spend six days working together in the larger DC community with 15 student leaders experienced in community service and committed to social justice issues. Throughout the week, FOCIans engage in a series of reflections to explore issues of social justice, social responsibility, and identity. FOCI ends immediately prior to the beginning of Georgetown’s New Student Orientation, in which all first-year students participate. All interested incoming first-year students are encouraged to apply. Past service experience is not a prerequisite.
Fill out this form if you would like us to contact you when the application is available.
Email CSJ’s Deputy Director, Ray Shiu, at ray.shiu@georgetown.edu or the FOCI student leader team at foci@georgetown.edu with questions. Follow us on Instagram @georgetownfoci.
Participant Testimonials
Kayla B | SFS ‘26
FOCI 39, FOCI 40, 41, & 42 Leader
“FOCI has become my family during my time at Georgetown. Coming into Georgetown, I was incredibly nervous coming to a new place and a bigger city. Doing FOCI gave me the chance to digest DC with a smaller group of people while actually focusing on meeting my new neighbors and not just sightseeing. Getting to interact with people who have lived here for decades and have poured their love into advocating for the people of this city deeply touched me and made me excited for becoming a part of this community. I made some of my closest friends during my time in the program, and I learned so much each and every day from our site visits and speakers. I loved FOCI so much that I came back as a leader multiple times because of the special community we create each year. Do FOCI !!!”
Joshua S. | CAS ’29
FOCI 41
“FOCI was probably one of the most impactful programs I’ve ever done in my life. Past being able to spend a week volunteering and helping those who need it, the friends and people I’ve met through FOCI will be people I hope to keep around me for the rest of my life. FOCI gives you a community you won’t get from any other pre-orientation program and the memories that come with it are worth every second.”
Sophia R. | CAS ’29
FOCI 41
“FOCI gave me a chance to get to know the DC area as a student from the other side of the country. I was so honored to meet all the incredible community partners and learn about the work they were doing. I also met so many incredible friends – FOCI really is a place where you can meet the most passionate and caring people.”
Gina K.
FOCI 34
“FOCI was an incredible way to start off Georgetown! I am truly grateful to my mentors for exposing me to DC, its history, and its social justice issues. It’s a warm community that will never leave you and continues to grow as you meet upperclassmen FOCIans and (soon for me) incoming FOCIans!!”
Leigh B.
FOCI 33
“FOCI was one of the best experiences of my life. Before most people even arrived on campus, I had formed bonds through service with individuals who were in many ways so different but who all shared a commitment to service and justice. Many of my closest friends remain FOCIans, and they have consistently had my back long past FOCI week itself ended.”
Matt R.
FOCI 33
“FOCI was the perfect way to start my Georgetown career. I was introduced to an entire community that challenged my thoughts and ideals in the best ways imaginable and I am thankful for the opportunity to participate in it every day since.”
Kelly K.
FOCI 28
“FOCI has been an experience that has truly shaped my time at Georgetown. It has re-framed my thinking on how to work with (instead of for) the community, and it has given me hope for how to promote social justice both in DC and wherever life takes me next!”
“Leading FOCI the past three years has created a community at Georgetown that I could have never imagined finding — being able to meet so many wonderful people in the leader team, throughout DC, and in the FOCIans has provided me friendships, mentors, and opportunities for amazing shared experiences. I also found so much value in learning about justice through the centering of community leaders and organizers across DC, gaining a huge appreciation for the city and a desire to be more engaged off of Georgetown’s campus. I really recommend leading FOCI if you’re interested in finding a community of people with similar interests and values as you, and have the desire to practice leadership and mentorship skills in the justice sphere!”
– Miray (CAS’25)
“FOCI is and has been an incredible and intentional home on campus for me for three consecutive years. Similar to other peer leaders, I did not participate in FOCI as a FOCIan myself, and yet, engaging with the FOCI program as a leader has been one of my proudest and most exciting journeys in my college time. Through FOCI, I have enjoyed a deeper engagement with the Center for Social Justice, the development of incredible friendships and community, and confirmation in my aspiration to become a future educator and teacher. FOCI is fun, innovative, and a catalyst of endless growth, and I am proud to recommend it to anyone ready to show up for and work alongside our campus, our DC community, and our world.”
– Caed (CAS’25)
“FOCI was the beginning of my transition into the most rewarding, stressful, and challenging time of my life. FOCI taught me, encouraged me, and forced me to ask meaningful questions, some of which I’m still trying to answer. You get to choose how much FOCI ultimately impacts you. I opened myself up to everything it had to offer and have not regretted it for a single moment since.”
– Anthony S., FOCI 30 participant
Questions?
Questions? Email CSJ’s Deputy Director, Ray Shiu.