GAAP 2025: A Welcome Like No Other

By Radiyah Ahmed (SFS’28)

Radiyah Ahmed is a first year student at Georgetown University in Qatar.

There’s something magical about the Georgetown Admissions Ambassadors Program (GAAP), a program that celebrates newly admitted students to GU-Q. Something special about the way we welcome new students into a space where they’re already celebrated. Maybe it’s the energy. Maybe it’s the noise, the cheers, the laughter. Or maybe it’s just that quiet feeling of walking into a place for the first time and thinking, oh… this could be home.
This year, we welcomed our new Hoyas in true GU-Q fashion: with a full-blown carnival. From the moment our admitted students stepped onto campus, GAAP Ambassadors lined the Walk of Fame, cheering them on with all the energy in the world. And who else showed up to welcome them? None other than Jack the Bulldog himself – our mascot, and the honorary king of GAAP. There was also a giant “Welcome Home Hoyas” banner draped across the entrance, sending the message: you belong here.

As new students walked through the crowd, they were handed bags packed with small surprises and yes, their official acceptance letter, because nothing says “You made it!” like opening your future from a shiny blue bag.

And then the real fun began. Carnival games, trivia competitions about Qatar and GU-Q, and a campus-wide scavenger hunt that turned strangers into teammates and teammates into friends. Everything was done in small groups, each led by a GAAP Ambassador — basically the ultimate campus tour guides, hype squad, and unofficial big siblings all rolled into one.

Of course, we didn’t forget about the parents. Families were hosted in the library, where Georgetown staff answered every question, from living in Qatar to life and academics at GU-Q. It wasn’t just about sharing information; it was about making sure families felt just as welcomed and reassured as their students.

Inside the breakout rooms, we set up booths dedicated to all things GU-Q; from academics and student life to scholarships and clubs. It was a chance for admitted students to explore what their future could look like, one cozy conversation at a time. And for the international admits who couldn’t be there in person, we made sure they were included through our online Hoya Dialogue, because no future Hoya gets left behind!

Daphne, one of the GAAP Ambassadors this year, summed it up best when she said, “I’m so happy and honored to be cheering for the admitted students, because I know they’ll do amazing at GU-Q.” It wasn’t just an event. It was a welcome. A real one. 

And honestly? This is just the beginning. There are so many more memories waiting to be made, and we can’t wait to see our new Hoyas back on campus! Until then, GAAP 2025 will live on in group chats, photo booth prints, scavenger hunt jokes, and the hearts of everyone who got a little taste of home that day.

Welcome to the family, Class of 2029.

“The posts and comments on this blog are the views and opinions of the author(s). Posts and comments are the sole responsibility of the authors. They do not represent the views, opinions or policies of the University.”