Timothy Peck October 27, 2022 5 Applying to College,College Application Tips

The Ultimate Guide to Applying to Georgetown

What’s Covered:

• Average Stats of Accepted Georgetown University Students
• Georgetown University Application Process
• Georgetown University Financial Aid
• What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

Founded in 1789, Georgetown is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher learning in the United States. Georgetown is counted among the best universities in the nation and is commonly thought of as the most prestigious Jesuit college in the U.S. Georgetown’s location, just minutes from downtown Washington, D.C., has significantly influenced the school’s academics—its Walsh School of Foreign Service is the oldest school for international affairs in the U.S. and alumni have gone on to serve in the Senate, Congress, Supreme Court, and even as President of the United States. 

Average Stats of Accepted Georgetown University Students

Georgetown attracts some of the highest-achieving and most motivated students in the nation. Earning great grades and outstanding test scores are the first steps to gaining admission to this excellent university. 

• Average GPA and rank: Georgetown doesn’t publish the average GPA of its admitted students, but most Georgetown students graduate at or near the top of their class—85% graduated in the top 10% of their high school class, and 97% in the top quarter 

• Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1380-1530/33-35

A strong GPA and test scores aren’t enough to guarantee a spot at Georgetown, but they will ensure an application receives serious consideration. Selective schools like Georgetown use a tool known as the Academic Index to screen applicants. Academic Index summarizes an applicant’s academic performance with a single numerical score. Failure to meet Georgetown’s academic benchmarks can deem a student unqualified and remove them from the admissions process. 

While many schools have transitioned to test-optional admissions in recent years, Georgetown still requires applicants to take either the SAT or ACT.

Georgetown University Application Process

Here’s what to expect when applying to Georgetown University. 

Application Overview

Georgetown uses its own application, aptly named the Georgetown Application. There is a $75 application fee and fee waivers are available for qualifying students. 

Georgetown has two paths to admission: early action (EA) and regular decision (RD). The deadline for EA applications is November 1 and the deadline for RD applications is January 10. 

Georgetown’s early action program is nonbinding—meaning students are not committed to attending Georgetown if admitted and have the same reply date as regular decision candidates. However, early action Georgetown applicants are prohibited from applying to binding early decision programs at other schools. 

Those applying for early action typically have an admissions advantage, but the margin is slim at Georgetown. Statistically, students applying to Georgetown via EA and RD have similar rates of admission. 

• Early action acceptance rate: 9.97%
• Regular decision acceptance rate: 11.98%

Application Components

• Georgetown application
• Application supplement
• Secondary school report
• Teacher’s recommendation
• SAT/ACT scores 

Supplemental Essays: All Georgetown applicants are required to compose two supplemental essays as part of their application. Furthermore, five of Georgetown’s undergraduate schools require an additional essay. Georgetown’s two required essays are: 

• Essay 1: Briefly discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved. (Half page, single-spaced) 
• Essay 2: As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you. (One page, single-spaced)

Georgetown’s school-specific essays should be approximately one page, single-spaced, and are as follows: 

• Georgetown College: What does it mean to you to be educated? How might Georgetown College help you achieve this aim? (Applicants to the Sciences and Mathematics or the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics should address their chosen course of study).
• School of Health: Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care. Please specifically address your intended major (Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, or Human Science).
• School of Nursing: Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care. Please specifically address your intended major Nursing.
• Walsh School of Foreign Service: The Walsh School of Foreign Service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders to solve global problems. What is motivating you to dedicate your undergraduate studies to a future in service to the world?
• McDonough School of Business: The McDonough School of Business is a national and global leader in providing graduates with essential ethical, analytical, financial, and global perspectives. Please discuss your motivations for studying business at Georgetown.

Students preparing to apply to Georgetown will want to read our guide to Georgetown’s essays—How to Write the Georgetown Essay Supplements 2022-2023—for insight into the questions and advice to strategically compose answers that will grab the attention of admissions officials. Those who have already begun to compose essays will want to check out our  CollegeVine Essay Review, which provides free essay feedback from other students and paid expert essay evaluation.

Interviews: All first-year applicants must sit for an alumni interview as part of their application. Interviews are conducted by members of the Alumni Admissions Program committees, which are located in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with numerous foreign countries. Georgetown considers the interview an “important” part of the admissions process, although the requirement is waived for those where no alumni interviewers are available. 

Supplements: Most students will find that the Georgetown Application provides an adequate opportunity to spotlight their extracurricular activities. However, those with exceptional talent in music, theater, dance, and studio art and who hope to pursue it on campus are able to submit supplemental materials as part of their application.

When Will You Hear Back?

Early action applicants will receive notification on December 15, while those who applied for regular decision will receive notification on April 1. 

Georgetown University Financial Aid

Financial Aid Generosity

The cost of attendance at Georgetown for the 2022-23 academic year is $84,696, making it one of the most expensive colleges in the country. Helping ease some of the economic burdens is financial aid, which more than half of Georgetown undergraduates receive. Georgetown students are also rewarded for their investment in such an esteemed institution—the website Payscale ranks it 56th (out of 1,978 schools) on its list of best-value colleges. 

Georgetown students are expected to contribute a minimum amount of money to their education, regardless of their income. The amount of the contribution is dependent on the class year.

Georgetown was one of the first colleges in the country to offer need-blind admissions and continues the tradition today for both domestic and international applicants. This means all applicants are considered for admission, despite their economic circumstances. Georgetown also meets 100% of the demonstrated need of its students. Georgetown doesn’t offer academic or merit-based scholarships. 

Read our article What Does it Cost to Attend Georgetown University? to learn more about what it actually costs to attend Georgetown.  

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Georgetown requires students seeking financial aid to submit both a FAFSA and CSS Profile—those pursuing just federal aid only need to send in a FAFSA. Both the FAFSA and CSS Profile are due February 1st.

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?

Georgetown is known for its super-selective admissions and for attracting some of the nation’s top students. The odds of gaining admission to this prestigious university vary from applicant to applicant depending on a number of factors. CollegeVine can clarify your unique odds at Georgetown as well as hundreds of colleges across the country. Our free Chancing Engine uses aspects like academics, extracurriculars, and demographics to estimate your individual odds of admission at Georgetown and provide valuable insight into improving your profile!

Learn more about Georgetown, including diversity stats, majors, and how long your application should take.