Georgetown University is one of the most elite undergraduate universities in the world, located in Washington, DC. With a history of being extremely selective, students often wonder how to get into Georgetown without too much hassle. Aside from meeting the GPA and SAT/ACT standardized test score requirements, Georgetown University expects college applications to include an essay and a letter of recommendation.
Georgetown is one of the most sought-after universities in the US, is ranked 23rd in the National Universities category by US News, and has a graduation rate of over 90 percent. With Georgetown’s acceptance rate being relatively low, it’s natural that prospective students would want to know how to become the most qualified applicants and how to get accepted into Georgetown University.
We’ve written this comprehensive article to help you complete the application process and meet the Georgetown University requirements for admission.
All About Georgetown Admissions
Georgetown University’s admissions process has changed slightly over the years, due to the pandemic. However, the application process has essentially remained the same. The Early Action Application deadline is November 1, and accepted students are announced on December 15. Meanwhile, January 10 is the deadline for Regular Decision applications, with the announcement of results being April 1.
Georgetown provides detailed information about admission requirements on its website. The basic requirements for prospective students to gain admission into Georgetown are an application fee, an essay, an interview, and a letter of recommendation. This prestigious institution is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Georgetown Acceptance Rate
Georgetown’s University website shows their acceptance rate to be between 16 and 17 percent. In 2016, Georgetown received 20,100 applications, of which 3,316 were accepted. In 2017, Georgetown’s acceptance rate was 17 percent, and in 2018 was 16 percent. Georgetown has one of the best medical schools in the United States, which explains why it’s one of the most competitive schools in the country.
Georgetown GPA
The minimum GPA requirement varies with each program. Georgetown University also looks for students with SAT scores between 1,380 and 1,550. This does not bode well for the average student, who will want to practice a lot and hope for huge score improvements if they want to get into this Washington, DC university.
Georgetown Total Enrollment
The total number of students enrolled in Georgetown University was 5,365 in 2017. This is according to the most recent information on the school’s website. Also, the number of applications received by Georgetown in the same year was 58,165. In other words, less than 10 percent of students who applied were enrolled in the institution in 2017. Georgetown University is one of the most competitive schools in the US.
Georgetown Requirements
- Application. Prospective students are required to electronically apply to the Georgetown admissions office. Like every other school application, you have to provide some personal information.
- Application Supplement. The application supplement provides you with more room to convince the admissions committee as to why you should be admitted into Georgetown. This consists of personal essays where you talk about yourself, your reasons for wanting to get into the university, and your goals.
- Secondary School Report. To get your secondary school report, meet with your high school counselor. It is a summary of all your academic records.
- Teacher’s Recommendation. You need a recommendation letter from one of your high school teachers. The letters of recommendation must accompany your application.
- Application Fee. Applicants trying to get into Georgetown are required to pay a nonrefundable fee of $75. However, this fee can be waived. A guidance counselor may, on behalf of an applicant asking for a fee waiver, submit a letter or send an email showing that the fee would cause financial hardship on the student. A student seeking a waiver may apply personally via email as well.
- College Board Scholastic Assessment Test or the American College Testing Program Examination. Georgetown University applicants need to score high in the College Board Scholastic Test. These results must be sent directly from the testing service to the university.
- College Board SAT Subject Test Score. Also, a good SAT score is an important requirement, in fact, it should be near perfect. You need to outperform more than 90 percent of all other candidates to earn a place at this institution.
- Alumni Interview. All first-year applicants must be interviewed by Georgetown alumni. Georgetown University has alumni residents in all 50 states. Interviews for transfer students are optional. Applicants to visiting student programs are not interviewed by Georgetown alumni.
Is It Hard to Get Into Georgetown?
Yes, Georgetown University is a highly selective university whose acceptance rate has fluctuated between 16 and 17 percent over the years. The admission requirements are similar to what other prestigious universities in the US need. You need to be an A student to stand a chance of getting into Georgetown.
Unfortunately, not all academically sound applicants make it into Georgetown. Extracurricular activities, a high interview score, and a good essay will improve your chances of getting in. Gaining admission into Georgetown University is not for the faint of heart, but for self-determined students.
How to Prepare for a Georgetown Interview
For a successful Georgetown interview, you need to re-read your essays and review what you know about the university. Since it’s an alumni interview, knowing a few details of how their alumni admissions program works should come in handy.
Simple interview etiquette like arriving early and dressing professionally should be observed. Don’t fail to arrive at your interview on time even if it’s via a video interview. Get someone to help you practice and look up some video interview tips, if you can.
Georgetown Interview Questions
- What fascinates you about Georgetown University?
- What major are you interested in studying at Georgetown and why?
- During your free time at the university, what would you like to do for fun?
- Which high school did you attend and what do you like most about it?
- If you don’t get admitted into Georgetown this year will you reconsider applying again?
10 Tips for Getting Into Georgetown
Aside from the more bureaucratic core requirements that you need to fulfill to get into Georgetown University, there are a few things you can do that may help you impress an admissions officer. If you plan on joining more than 20,000 applicants for the next admission phase, then check out these tips.
1. Visit the University’s Campus
Visiting Georgetown University will not add to your score nor will you be judged on those grounds. However, a visit to Georgetown will let the admissions officers know that they are your top choice university and, if you fall in love with the campus, you might be just that much more enthusiastic in your desire to get in. In other words, demonstrated interest doesn’t officially count but it may play a passive role in you getting into the university.
2. Showcase Your Unique Qualities
Instead of banking on a skill that you have yet to acquire, showcase the special talents that you already have. Club sponsors and leaders will then be more likely to give you a higher score and write a good recommendation letter about your personality.
3. Read Through Application Requirements
Unfortunately, some applicants often just skim through the Georgetown requirements without paying attention to each one. Don’t forget, Georgetown is a very selective private school. There may be slight changes regarding their college credit or secondary essays that will stick out like a sore thumb to the admissions team if certain requirements aren’t followed.
4. Have a Good Recommendation Letter
A poor recommendation letter from your teacher can deny you admission into Georgetown University. Don’t forget, this letter is often sealed and the content remains a secret. Therefore, the impact of a shining recommendation letter from your teacher on your admission into Georgetown cannot be overstressed. Pick a teacher with whom you have a strong personal connection and who can vouch for your academic and personal strengths.
5. Write a Strong Essay and Get Someone to Review It
The compulsory essay is an opportunity to showcase your personality beyond grades and test scores. The university admissions office wants to know you, what you stand for, and whether you will fit into their system. In other words, you must know how to write a strong personal statement to impress Georgetown University’s admissions officers. If you can, get someone you trust to review your essay before submitting it.
6. Have a High Academic GPA
Having a high GPA cannot be overstated. If you have a good GPA, you can apply to any one of Georgetown’s programs and have a much higher chance of acceptance. Thousands of students are rejected every year, in part for their academic performance. You’ll boost your acceptance chances if you have a high GPA to back up the rest of your college application.
7. Highlight Points About Georgetown
Write down some of the data you may have discovered about Georgetown during your visit or research that interests you most. Re-read these notes regularly, as they may come in handy during your alumni interviews.
8. Dress to Impress
Dress professionally whenever your presence is needed at the university. You may be required for a physical interview with a Georgetown admissions officer. Even if the meeting is online, dress professionally rather than casually. This lets them know that you’re serious about getting in.
9. Start the Process Early
Don’t wait till the last minute before you start acquainting yourself with Georgetown University and preparing for your application. If you are sure that Georgetown suits your career path, then start gathering information early about its admissions statistics and processes and get started on your essay. This will also improve your chances of admission to Georgetown University.
10. Georgetown Alumni
If you are fortunate to know someone who graduated from Georgetown, ask them about their experience at the school. Although the admission requirements may have changed from when your friend got in, a few pieces of information from them may be helpful.
What Does It Take to Get Into Georgetown?
To get into Georgetown, you need to fulfill all the requirements highlighted above. For instance, your teacher’s letter of recommendation, secondary school report, and payment of a non-refundable fee of $75 are some of the fundamental requirements to get into Georgetown. You’ll need to learn how to ask for a letter of recommendation without sounding rude or harsh to your teacher too.
The admissions officers look beyond these preliminaries too. Your participation in extracurricular activities and values are also important. Georgetown University has a culture of producing graduates with excellent performance in their chosen careers. Whether an applicant will fit into this feature of excellence is the main concern of the admissions committee.
Finally, Georgetown University is one of the dream schools for a lot of Americans because they offer high-quality education and hands-on experience in every program. Georgetown only admits the best of the best, so you’ll want to do what you can to be the best of the best. Studying and working hard, persevering, and being confident in your abilities are all a must if you want to get in.
How to Get Into Georgetown FAQ
No, a Georgetown student under the Early Action (EA) program cannot be rejected. However, if your admission is denied under the EA program, it will automatically get a full second review during the Regular Decision program.
"Career Karma entered my life when I needed it most and quickly helped me match with a bootcamp. Two months after graduating, I found my dream job that aligned with my values and goals in life!"
Venus, Software Engineer at Rockbot
A Georgetown University graduate can earn an average yearly salary of $84,000, according to PayScale. Depending on the job, Georgetown University graduates may earn more or less than that.
Yes, Georgetown University is worth attending. Georgetown offers a high-quality education that can get you employed virtually anywhere when you graduate.
Yes, Georgetown University is worth attending. Georgetown offers a high-quality education that can get you employed virtually anywhere when you graduate.
Some of Georgetown’s popular programs are business, English, literature, communication and media studies, law, and medicine, to mention a few. Georgetown also offers master’s and doctoral degrees.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
