Decoding Georgetown University's Acceptance Rate: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Hoyas
Georgetown University, a world-renowned Jesuit institution nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C., attracts ambitious students from across the globe. Its location in the nation's capital, coupled with its strong programs in international relations, political science, and business, makes it a highly desirable destination for those seeking a rigorous academic experience and a launchpad for impactful careers. Understanding Georgetown's admissions process, especially its acceptance rate, is crucial for prospective students. This article provides a detailed overview of Georgetown's selectivity, application procedures, and what it takes to become a Hoya.
Understanding Georgetown's Selectivity
Admission to Georgetown is undeniably competitive. Today, it hosts 7,220 full-time undergraduate students and has an acceptance rate of 13%. While the acceptance rate provides a general overview, it's important to remember that selectivity goes beyond the numbers. Factors such as institutional priorities and diversity initiatives also play a role. The most important thing you can do as an individual applicant is work on making your application as strong as possible.
What Georgetown Looks For
Georgetown seeks highly accomplished and talented students, both academically and in their extracurricular pursuits. Because colleges look at all four years of high school, it’s important to start building your profile early. Your profile is about what you have done - the classes you’ve taken in high school; how you have performed in them; and other activities, initiatives, and leadership positions that have shaped you. Commit to extracurricular activities and give yourself room to grow, from newcomer to president of a club. Identify your interests and dive in, participating in programs and initiatives that will highlight your passions.
Georgetown does not report the GPAs of their enrolled students in their Common Data set. However, they do report class rank. Of the students from the class of 2028 who reported their class rank, 85% graduated in the top 10%.
Navigating the Application Process
You should apply for admission to Georgetown University during the fall or early winter of your senior year of high school. Prospective students should know a few things ahead of time when applying to Georgetown - the most important being that Georgetown has its own application for fall 2026 admission and does not use the Common App. Its acceptance rate is likely to plummet once Georgetown joins the ranks of the 1,097 colleges that accept the Common App which simplifies the application process for college-bound high school students. By filling out one application, millions of students each year can apply to up to 20 colleges.
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Application Options: Early Action, Early Decision, and Regular Decision
Georgetown offers two application rounds - the option you choose will affect your deadlines for submission. Students who apply in the early round can expect a decision on December 15.
Early Action: Early Action is an early application type that is non-binding. This means you can apply to multiple places Early Action (if they are not Restrictive Early Action or Single Choice Early Action). This application type gives you the chance to show your interest in the school early and receive your admission results early. Candidates not admitted under the Early Action program are deferred to the spring review. There is no statistical advantage in applying Early Action, as both our Early Action and Regular Decision pools will have roughly the same acceptance rate. Early Action admission is offered to a limited number of students, those whom the Admissions Committee is certain they would offer admission based on information from freshman, sophomore and junior years only.
- Important Note: Students applying under the Early Action program shall not apply to any binding Early Decision programs since they then would not be free to choose Georgetown if admitted. Early Action applicants may not simultaneously apply to another school’s Early Decision I or Early Decision II Program. Georgetown gives students the option to apply both under our Early Action program and under other schools’ Early Action programs.
Early Decision: Another early option is Early Decision, which is like Early Action except it is binding - students applying Early Decision must enroll if admitted and withdraw all other applications.
Regular Decision: Regular Decision is a standard, non-binding application type. If you apply to Georgetown University Regular Decision, there are three possible decision notifications you may receive: accepted, denied, or waitlisted. The application deadline at Georgetown University is Jan. The application deadline is January 10.
Waitlist: The waitlist is made up of strong students the university does not have the space to admit. You can accept or decline your spot, though your chances of getting off the waitlist are slim.
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Deferred: If you apply to Georgetown via Early Action, you will either be admitted or deferred. When you’re deferred, it means your application will be evaluated with the Regular Decision pool. Georgetown highly encourages deferred students to maintain excellent grades and submit additions to their applications, like new standardized test scores, honors, and awards.
Standardized Tests: SAT and ACT
Georgetown requires standardized test scores for admission. For the class of 2028, the middle 50% of students scored 1400-1540 on the SAT and 31-35 on the ACT. Half the applicants admitted to Georgetown University who submitted test scores have an SAT score between 1390 and 1550 or an ACT score of 31 and 35. However, one quarter of admitted applicants achieved scores above these ranges and one quarter scored below these ranges. If you want to be a Hoya, aim to get test scores within these ranges. While we recommend that Early Action applicants complete testing requirements in their junior year, scores from the September and October test dates will typically arrive in time for consideration at Early Action.
The Georgetown Application Essays
Students applying to Georgetown are asked to write three essays: a short essay, essay one, and essay two. The short essay is half a page, single-spaced. Essay one is for the admissions committee, and essay two is specific to the school the student is applying to - each of these should be approximately one page, single-spaced.
Essay One (ALL APPLICANTS): As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words.
Essay Two (School-Specific):
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APPLICANTS TO GEORGETOWN COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES: Founded in 1789, the Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences is committed to the Jesuit traditions of an integrated education and of productive research in the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and fine arts. Describe your interest in studying in the College of Arts & Sciences. Applicants interested in the sciences, mathematics, or languages are encouraged to make specific reference to their choice of major.
APPLICANTS TO THE BERKLEY SCHOOL OF NURSING: Georgetown University’s Berkley School of Nursing is committed to the formation of ethical, empathetic, and transformational nursing leaders.
APPLICANTS TO THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH: Georgetown University’s School of Health was founded to advance the health and well-being of people locally, nationally, and globally through innovative research, the delivery of interdisciplinary education, and transformative engagement of communities.
APPLICANTS TO THE WALSH SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE: Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders with the foundational skills to address global issues. The Walsh School of Foreign Service offers more specialized undergraduate majors in this field than most universities, including majors in culture and politics; global business; international economics; international history; international political economy; international politics; regional and comparative studies; and science, technology & international affairs.
APPLICANTS TO THE MCDONOUGH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS: Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business provides graduates with essential global, ethical, analytical, financial, and diverse perspectives on the economies of our nation and the world. The MSB had the lowest acceptance rate at 9.11%, admitting 147 out of 1,613 applicants.
APPLICANTS TO THE MCCOURT SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY: For nearly 50 years, Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy has equipped leaders and changemakers with the interdisciplinary skills to address local, national and global policy problems. Undergraduate public policy students at Georgetown will have the unique opportunity to live and study on two campuses, spending their first two years immersed on the Hilltop, before completing the second half of their time at Georgetown on the Capitol Campus, immersed in the policy world.
Recommendations and Interviews
Georgetown requires one teacher’s recommendation. Ask a teacher who knows your work and can speak to your greatest strengths. It’s always a good idea to give your recommender plenty of time to prepare. Recommendations are considered very important for admissions officials at Georgetown University.
Georgetown requires interviews as an important extra step in the admissions process. Students must set up an interview with an Alumni Admissions Program Committee member once they receive the interviewer’s contact information. This alumni interview is a chance for students to highlight certain aspects of their backgrounds and achievements. If you’re interested in attending Georgetown, it’s important to articulate through your essays and interview what impact you plan to make at the university. Be specific.
Exploring Georgetown: Virtual and In-Person
If you can find the time and resources, there’s nothing like visiting Georgetown in person. An on-campus visit includes a campus tour and information session. With its towering gothic buildings overlooking the river, the campus is a stunning setting to get a stellar education. Make sure to leave time before or after your official campus visit to walk around Georgetown itself.
Can’t make it to campus? Prospective students are encouraged to contact their state or regional chair to learn about Georgetown from a current student that comes from the same town, state, or country as you. Another option to connect with a student is to sign up for a virtual “coffee and chat” with a current Georgetown student. This is an opportunity to learn about Georgetown in a one-on-one setting, directly from someone experiencing what it’s like to be a student there.
Additional Factors in Admissions
In announcing its change of policy, effective for the class entering in the fall 2027, Georgetown said that accepting the Common App would make its admission process more accessible to students from a wide variety of backgrounds and reach a larger percentage of low-income students.
Georgetown also announced that it would not be making any changes to its admission policy for legacy applicants at this time. The school says it gives “extra care and attention when reviewing the applications of students who are relatives of faculty, staff or alumni.”
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