What is Georgetown University Known For?
Thanks in part to its location in the nation’s capital, Georgetown University is home to prestigious programs in political science and international relations. With over 475 student clubs and organizations, many of which focus on service, Georgetown is true to its Jesuit traditions of cura personalis, meaning a profound care and responsibility for others. Keep reading to learn more about Georgetown’s academic opportunities, extracurricular activities, resources, and more. Location: Washington, D.C. Undergraduate Enrollment: 7,833 Acceptance Rate: 13% Middle 50% SAT: 1400-1540 Middle 50% ACT: 31-35 Georgetown is consistently ranked among the top national universities, and its rigorous admissions process reflects that. Georgetown’s programs in politics, law, international relations, and particularly programs within the School of Foreign Service (SFS) have similar admissions requirements to the Ivy League. Other programs at Georgetown have less stringent requirements for academics, test scores, extracurriculars, and essays. The School of Foreign Service is a unique and competitive program. Students who speak more than two languages have a better chance of standing out in the admission process. Unlike at other schools, applying early action at Georgetown will not help students’ chances and will partially restrict a student’s ability to apply early to different colleges. Also, keep in mind that Georgetown is not on the Common App, so you should budget extra time to fill out their school-specific application. See our guide for how to write Georgetown’s supplemental essays. With notable alumni like former U.S. President Bill Clinton, many government leaders and U.S. diplomats have walked the halls of Georgetown. Georgetown is most known for its School of Foreign Service, where students are prepared to become empathetic and committed leaders in global affairs. The McCourt School of Public Policy is among the most popular schools and one of the top-ranked public policy schools in the country. Students learn cutting-edge policy analysis skills to help drive forward the social policy agenda. The liberal arts curriculum at Georgetown College allows students to cultivate various intellectual skills, including analysis, interpretation, expression, and inquiry. Georgetown boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 that encourages curiosity and open dialogue between students and faculty. Students are required to fulfill a core curriculum that is integrated with most major tracks and is typically completed in the first two years of study. Students are taught by esteemed faculty—for example, Madeleine Albright, an American politician and diplomat who served as the first female United States Secretary of State, taught at the university for nearly 40 years. The most popular majors include political science and government, international relations (ranked number one in the country), finance, and economics. Students may choose to pursue a minor in addition to their major, as well as earn a certificate in a regional study, which is offered through the School of Foreign Service. Other undergraduate schools include: Georgetown also has a campus in Qatar (GU-Q), which offers a four-year undergraduate program in international affairs that leads to the Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BSFS) degree. If you are interested in a less traditional undergraduate experience, consider the Capitol Applied Learning Lab (CALL). This innovative program allows students to live, work, and study in the heart of Washington, D.C., gaining valuable work experience while continuing their studies. There are 213 different study abroad options in 57 countries available to undergraduates. Many students become Fulbright Scholars after graduation, traveling all over the world to teach or pursue research. In fact, Georgetown is consistently a top producer of Fulbright scholars. The most popular extracurricular activities at Georgetown include writing for the campus newspaper, The Hoya, and working for the Corp, a popular student-run coffee shop. Many students also join clubs like the International Relations Club or one of the 127 advocacy and social justice clubs on campus. Georgetown takes pride in its dominant men’s NCAA Division I basketball team, which plays most home games at Capital One Arena in the heart of D.C. A number of former Hoya basketball players went on to careers in the NBA, including: If you are interested in joining a sport at a more recreational level, Georgetown offers 36 club sports, of which some, like running, are quite competitive. [amp-cta id="9459"] There are numerous traditional residence halls and all students except seniors are required to live on campus. For freshmen, there are four dorms called Village C West, Harbin, New South, and Darnall Halls. Students also have the option to reside in living-learning communities, which are residential communities where students can share their passions for particular cultures like the Muslim Interest Living Learning Community, the Asian American Pacific Islander House, and the Spanish Living Learning Community. Of course, students in the Capitol Applied Learning Lab (CALL) live in downtown D.C. Learn more about Georgetown’s dorms in this post by a current student. Georgetown has many traditions, some more serious than others. If you ever take a tour, you’ll quickly learn not to step on a mosaic seal covering the ground at the central entrance to Healy Hall. If you do, you might just not graduate! Students also celebrate the last day of the spring semester with Georgetown Day, a campus-wide party where students head outside to enjoy the nice weather and show some school pride. Do you dream of being an entrepreneur? The McDonough School of Business launched a Leonsis Venture Lab just blocks from the White House. Students can meet mentors and network with alumni to better understand how to start a business. Students interested in serving their community can become involved at the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching, and Service. Here, students can connect with local, national, and international organizations committed to advancing education, juvenile justice, support for immigrant communities, and combating hunger and homelessness, among other causes. Georgetown sits overlooking the Potomac River, less than two miles from downtown Washington, D.C. Due to the university’s location, students are surrounded by changemakers and innovators and have the unique opportunity to intern on Capitol Hill or pursue other policy work during the semester and summers. Throughout the school year, Georgetown brings in leaders from around the world to share their stories with Georgetown students. Not to mention, Georgetown is also just a short car, bus, or metro ride away from 17 free museums and the National Zoo. While being accepted to Georgetown University is no easy feat, your chances will depend on many factors, including the program you’re interested in pursuing. To better understand how competitive you may be for Georgetown, check out our free admissions calculator. After you input your grades, test scores, and extracurriculars, we’ll estimate your chances of acceptance, while also making suggestions on how you can strengthen your application.
What’s Covered:
Overview of Georgetown Admissions
Unique Aspects of Georgetown
Academics
Extracurriculars
Dorms
Traditions
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What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at Georgetown?
