How to Get into Georgetown University - 2025 Ultimate Guide

As one of the most prestigious universities in the United States, Georgetown University is also one of the most difficult to get accepted to. Located in Washington, D.C., Georgetown is the oldest Jesuit institution in the U.S. and one of the highest-ranked as well. 

This private research university is home to the oldest international relations school in the U.S., the Walsh School of Foreign Service. It’s also where the renowned McDonough School of Business is located. Georgetown offers over 60 majors on its campus, which is situated at the Potomac River and known as “The Hilltop.”

Forbes ranks Georgetown #22 in its list of top colleges in 2022. The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education ranks it #32, and U.S. News & World Report ranks it #22. 

Graduates of Georgetown have accomplished great things and become some of the world’s top thinkers, analysts, business professionals, and researchers. Some renowned Georgetown graduates include Bradley Cooper, Pat Buchanan, Jim Gaffigan, Patrick Ewing, Maria Shriver, and many others.

If you're aiming to join this elite group, timing your application is crucial. You should apply for admission to Georgetown during the fall of your senior year of high school. Georgetown has two different application types: Early Action and Regular Decision. This means students should either apply in November for Early Action or in January for Regular Decision. Georgetown does not have an Early Decision application type. Georgetown’s Early Action application deadline is on November 1, with decisions released by December 15. 

The Regular Decision deadline is on January 10, with decisions released by April 1. Knowing these deadlines and preparing your application accordingly can give you the best chance of becoming part of this esteemed institution.

Video: How to get into Georgetown University

Key Takeaways:

• High Academic Standards: To be a strong candidate for Georgetown University, you need to maintain an almost perfect GPA and achieve very high scores on the SAT or ACT.
  
• Competitive Acceptance Rates: Georgetown has a highly competitive acceptance rate, with only about 11-12% of applicants being accepted in recent years.
  
• Holistic Admission Criteria: While academic performance is crucial, Georgetown also values extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and personal qualities such as curiosity, ambition, and resiliency.
  
• Required Standardized Test Scores and Interviews: All first-year applicants must also participate in an alumni interview, providing an opportunity to share additional personal insights and learn more about the university from a Hoya alumnus.
  
• Rigorous High School Curriculum and Extracurricular Involvement: Prospective students should take a challenging high school curriculum, including recommended courses for specific majors. 

Video: HOW I GOT INTO GEORGETOWN | stats, ecs, essays, & advice

If you’re determined to join the list of prestigious Hoya alumni, you’ll need to work hard throughout high school and earn an almost perfect GPA. You will need to achieve very high test scores on the ACT or SAT, participate in extracurricular activities, and submit a flawless application. 

In other words, you’ll need to learn everything you can about how to get accepted into Georgetown and put it to good use starting early in high school. The best Georgetown application help is available to guide you through every step of your admission journey.

Video: stats & tips: how I got into Columbia, UPenn, Brown, Georgetown, UCLA, Berkeley, and more!

For the class of 2025, 27,650 students applied and just 3,226 of them were accepted, giving Georgetown an overall acceptance rate for that year of 11.7%. The class of 2026 had just 3,229 students accepted for admission out of the 26,670 who applied, giving the school an acceptance rate for that admissions round of 12.1%.

Acceptance rates for some of the specific schools at Georgetown are as follows:

• Georgetown College: 11%
• McDonough School of Business: 12%
• School of Nursing & Health Studies: 13%
• Walsh School of Foreign Service: 15%

Even though the Georgetown acceptance rate isn’t as low as Harvard, Caltech, or other prestigious universities, it’s still extremely competitive. It remains one of the most challenging schools to get into.

For the Class of 2028, Georgetown University had an acceptance rate of 12%, which represents a decrease compared to the previous admissions cycle. Out of a total of 26,170 applicants, only 3,226 were admitted. Here is a look at the acceptance rates for Georgetown University:

Students sent in 8,832 applications during the 2021–2022 admission cycle. Just 881 were invited to join the student body, giving the school its lowest acceptance rate in history at just 10%. While most other schools have early acceptance rates up to three times as high as regular decision rates, this is not the case for Georgetown. 

Admission officials at the university consider GPA, test scores, and class rank to be very important factors in their admission decision-making process.

The average class rank for students who were accepted into the Georgetown class of 2026 was reportedly 6%. In other words, most students accepted for admission had graduated in the top 6% of their high school classes.

Like most of the other heavy hitters in national universities, Georgetown does not report the GPAs of its incoming freshmen students. However, it’s safe to say that you’ll need to aim for at least a 4.0 if you want to stand out in the sea of other hopeful applicants. 

The university makes it clear that, while many non-academic factors influence admission decisions, applicants’ academic performances and histories are the most important ones. Other factors considered include demonstrated commitment to your community and personal qualities like curiosity, ambition, motivation, and resiliency.

Georgetown does require applicants to submit their ACT or SAT scores as part of their application packets. While many colleges and universities have switched to a “test-optional” policy for admissions requirements, and others have permanently dropped test scores as a requirement, Georgetown still needs to see them.

Georgetown also does not permit applicants to do any self-reporting of scores, so you will need to have the College Board or ACT send official score reports to the university. 

If you are an applicant with no access to an open testing center, you will be required to fill out a form explaining why you could not take either test. In this case (and only this case), Georgetown encourages students to apply without test scores.

For the class of 2026, the SAT and ACT scores reported are as follows:

• The 25th percentile SAT score was 1370
• The 75th percentile score was 1530
• The class had an average SAT score of 1450
• The 25th percentile ACT score was 31 
• The 75th percentile ACT score was 34

It’s important that you know that the university considers scores for only the math and verbal portions of the SAT. The College Board discontinued SAT subject tests in 2001. Georgetown will consider the highest score on each section if you take the test more than once. 

In addition, for the ACT, Georgetown takes into consideration only the math, science, reading, and English portions in the review process. It does not use the new super score reports. Therefore, you must have all of your ACT scores sent to the admissions office.

Georgetown University’s admissions process for the Class of 2028 showcased several notable trends and updates. Here's an expanded look at the key points:

Standardized Test Requirement:

• Unlike many peer institutions, Georgetown required the submission of SAT or ACT results for applicants in the Class of 2027 and Class of 2028.
• This requirement will continue for the Class of 2029, maintaining Georgetown’s commitment to standardized testing as part of their holistic admissions review.

Increase in Early Action Applications:

• Early Action applications for the Class of 2028 increased by 5% compared to the previous year.
• The acceptance rate for Early Action applicants dropped by 1.5%, reflecting increased competition among early applicants.

Diverse International Admits:

• International students admitted to the Class of 2028 hailed from 94 different countries, underscoring Georgetown’s global appeal and commitment to a diverse student body.
• U.S.-based admits represented all 50 states, highlighting the nationwide reach and appeal of Georgetown University.

Legacy Admissions:

• In past admissions cycles, legacy admits (students with family members who attended Georgetown) comprised 9% of those accepted.
• A group of current Georgetown students is advocating for the removal of the legacy admissions policy, suggesting potential changes in future admissions practices (stay tuned for updates).

Stability in Application Numbers and Acceptance Rates:

• The total number of applications received remained steady for the Class of 2028, indicating consistent interest in Georgetown despite broader fluctuations in higher education trends.
• Both the overall acceptance rate and school-specific acceptance rates remained relatively stable, suggesting that Georgetown maintained its selectivity and admissions standards.

Georgetown’s Global Presence:

• Georgetown continues to attract a diverse international applicant pool, with admitted students representing a wide range of cultural and educational backgrounds.
• The university’s commitment to fostering a global community is reflected in its diverse student body and international partnerships.

Competitive Early Action Process:

• The increase in Early Action applications suggests that more students are eager to secure an early spot at Georgetown, recognizing the advantages of applying early.
• The slight drop in the Early Action acceptance rate indicates that Georgetown is becoming increasingly selective, even in its early admissions process.

Legacy Admissions Debate:

• The ongoing debate about legacy admissions at Georgetown reflects broader discussions in higher education about fairness and equity in the admissions process.
• Changes to the legacy admissions policy could impact future applicant pools and the overall composition of admitted students.

Unlike many of its elite university counterparts, Georgetown requires all first-year applicants to participate in an alumni interview. The only admissible reason for not participating is if there are no alumni available in your geographic region. 

With that being said, however, there are no interviews conducted on campus. The university does not ask applicants to travel to other cities or counties in order to have an interview. Therefore, if alumni interviewers are not available where you live, the requirement will be waived for you.

Georgetown assures that if this requirement is waived for you, it will not negatively impact your admission chances. If there are alumni in your area, you will be provided with contact information for an interviewer sometime between September and January. It will be your responsibility to make arrangements for your interview. 

The interview is your chance to share all kinds of information about yourself that you didn’t get the chance to share on your application. It’s essential that you use the opportunity to converse about your general thoughts and interests as a person. Don’t rehash information that was already included elsewhere on the written application.

It’s also your chance to learn about Georgetown from a Hoya alumnus. Have a handful of questions prepared ahead of time that you’d like to ask your alumnus to help you understand what the Georgetown experience is like.

When it comes to your high school education, Georgetown is, above all else, interested in the rigor and quality of the work you have demonstrated in your classes. There are no cut-and-dry course requirements that will make or break an applicant’s chances of admission success, but the university has some recommendations:

• One year of natural science
• At least two years of social studies
• At least two years of language study
• Two years or more of mathematics
• Four years of English
  

In addition, there are certain recommendations for students who are planning on specific academic concentrations in college:

• Math or science majors should take three years of science and four years of math
• Nursing program majors need one year of biology and chemistry and three years of math
• Foreign service or language majors should have a background in a modern language or Latin
  

Students interested in the McDonough School of Business should take at least three years of math through advanced algebra trig. This is because calculus is required during study at Georgetown. In addition, two years of natural science are recommended, and at least one course in computer science during high school is ideal.

If you are able to take Advanced Placement examinations during high school, you should. Georgetown will award you college credit and course exemptions if you have qualifying scores on the AP exams. If you want to send your scores to Georgetown, you should do so via the Advanced Placement Coordinator in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions during the summer before you start classes on campus. The specific awards students receive from their test scores vary depending on the undergraduate school and the major students choose. 

But, what about Dual Enrollment Credit? Well, if you are taking joint high school/college courses, the university encourages you to apply as a first-year student. However, Georgetown will not award credit for any more than four courses.

Video: EXTRACURRICULARS THAT GOT ME INTO GEORGETOWN, UMICH, USC, & MORE

Georgetown wants to see an impact. The admissions committee looks for problem-solving skills and leadership. The number of extracurricular and community activities you participate in is far less important than what you did while active. 

College-bound high school students are always told that they need to be well-rounded to attract the attention of colleges, but that doesn’t mean they should sign up for a dozen different activities. 

Students should select and excel in a few high-quality activities that are important to them. They should also seek out leadership opportunities in activities that reflect their areas of study or interests whenever possible.

Georgetown is also interested in students who show a high quality of character and put it to good use in their spare time. The idea behind participating in extracurricular activities is not to show that you are more talented than other people. It’s to make a difference in your community and show Georgetown that you are innovative, reliable, and have a spirit of volunteerism.

Georgetown allows high school teachers and counselors to submit letters of recommendation for applicants, but only one is required in general. However, it’s important to note that individual schools have their own requirements for admissions, and they often ask for additional letters of recommendation. 

Your letter(s) of recommendation should be written by a teacher who teaches a subject related to your particular area of interest. The teacher should know you well and be able to vouch for your academic abilities as well as your character.

In short, no, Georgetown does not take demonstrated interest into account in any way that would influence its admission committee’s decision. Demonstrated interest would include making a documented visit to campus, meeting with admissions officials, participating in virtual campus tours, and talking with alumni.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t participate in these types of activities, though — you should! All of the above activities will help you gain an excellent grasp of the atmosphere that surrounds the campus and the school. It’s the best way to see if you’d be a good fit for the school and vice versa.

Georgetown’s yield rate, which represents the percentage of accepted students who choose to enroll, was 48% last year. This rate is comparatively lower than elite institutions such as Stanford, Harvard, the University of Chicago, MIT, and Yale, all of which boast yield rates exceeding 70%. Additionally, schools like Pomona, Barnard, and Bowdoin have yield rates that are slightly higher than Georgetown's in this category.

Georgetown University evaluates applicants based on a comprehensive set of criteria, emphasizing a holistic review process. Here are the key factors that Georgetown considers to be “very important” in their admissions process:

Rigor of Secondary School Record: Georgetown looks closely at the difficulty of your high school coursework. Taking advanced classes, such as AP or IB courses, demonstrates your ability to handle challenging material and your commitment to academic excellence.

Class Rank: Your rank within your graduating class is considered an indicator of your performance relative to your peers. High class rank can reflect consistent academic achievement throughout high school.

GPA (Grade Point Average): Your cumulative GPA is a crucial measure of your academic success and consistency over your high school years. A strong GPA indicates your ability to maintain high performance across various subjects.

Standardized Test Scores: Georgetown evaluates your SAT or ACT scores as part of the admissions process. These scores provide a standardized measure to compare applicants from different educational backgrounds.

Essays: The supplemental essays are a vital component of your application. They provide insight into your personality, experiences, values, and reasons for wanting to attend Georgetown. Crafting thoughtful, reflective, and well-written essays can significantly enhance your application.

Recommendations: Letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or mentors who know you well are important. These letters should highlight your academic abilities, character, and personal qualities, providing a deeper understanding of who you are as a student and individual.

Talent/Ability: Georgetown values unique talents and abilities, whether in academics, arts, athletics, or other areas. Demonstrating exceptional skill or achievement in a particular field can strengthen your application.

Character/Personal Qualities: Personal attributes such as integrity, leadership, resilience, motivation, and ambition are highly valued. Georgetown seeks students who will contribute positively to the campus community and beyond.

Alumni Interview: Unlike many other highly selective schools, Georgetown requires an interview with an alumnus. This adds a personal touch to the application process, allowing the admissions committee to gain a more nuanced understanding of your personality and fit for Georgetown.

Demonstrated Commitment to the Broader Community: Georgetown appreciates applicants who have shown a commitment to their communities through service, leadership, or other forms of engagement. This reflects the university’s values and mission of fostering global citizens.

Resiliency, Motivation, and Ambition: Georgetown looks for students who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming challenges, strong motivation to achieve their goals, and ambition to make a positive impact. These qualities are seen as indicators of future success both at Georgetown and in your career.

Georgetown-specific application: Georgetown is not part of the Common Application system, meaning you will need to fill out their school-specific application and accompanying supplement. This additional step requires careful attention to detail to ensure you meet all the specific requirements and deadlines set by Georgetown.

Advanced coursework evidence: Georgetown places a strong emphasis on academic rigor, with over 70% of applicants submitting Advanced Placement (AP) exam results. This expectation means that you should aim to take advanced coursework throughout high school to demonstrate your ability to handle challenging material and succeed in a rigorous academic environment.

Mandatory interview: Every applicant must have an interview with a member of the 6,000-member Alumni Admissions Program. This organization is divided into 200 regional communities, significantly increasing the likelihood that you will be able to interview with someone near your location. The interview is an important component of the application process, providing an opportunity to showcase your personality and fit for Georgetown.

Interview timeline: Early Action interviews are prioritized through the end of October, so those applying for Regular Decision typically won't interview until November. Preparing for the interview is crucial, and you can find useful tips on what types of questions to expect and how to ask insightful questions on our blog, College Interview Tips. This preparation will help you make a strong impression during your interview.

No “demonstrated interest” consideration: Georgetown does not consider “demonstrated interest” in their admissions process, meaning you won’t be evaluated based on campus visits, contacting admissions officers, or attending information sessions. However, with the university's decreasing yield rate, it can still be beneficial to express if Georgetown is your top-choice school, as this can subtly convey your genuine interest.

Supplemental essays: Georgetown requires you to complete supplemental essays as part of the application process. For the 2024-25 admissions cycle, there are three prompts that all applicants must answer, along with one additional question specific to the school you are applying to. These essays are an essential part of your application, allowing you to convey your unique story, experiences, and motivations for wanting to attend Georgetown. Dedicate ample time and effort to crafting thoughtful and well-written responses.

Now, what about the pitfalls to watch out for when you're putting together your Georgetown application? Think of this as your personal cheat sheet to avoid those "oops" moments:

Procrastination Station: Don't leave your application to the last minute! Georgetown's essays require thought and multiple drafts. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and revise.

Copy-Paste Chaos: Georgetown uses its own application, not the Common App. Make sure you're answering their specific questions, not recycling essays from other schools.

The "Jack of All Trades" Trap: While it's great to be well-rounded, Georgetown wants to see depth in your activities. Focus on showcasing your passions and leadership rather than listing every club you've ever joined.

Test Score Slip-ups: Remember, Georgetown requires official test scores sent directly from the testing agency. Don't forget to send these well before the deadline!

Interview Ignorance: Don't skip out on the alumni interview! It's required (unless there are no alumni in your area), and it's a great chance to show off your personality.

Recommendation Rush: Give your teachers plenty of time to write your letters of recommendation. Last-minute requests often result in generic letters that won't help your application shine.

If your dream is to become a Hoya but you fall short in one of the critical areas the university considers very important, you’ll need a hook to achieve that dream. Make sure you have a rock-solid application and have written compelling answers to the essay prompts you receive with your application. 

You will be required to answer three essay prompts and one additional prompt specific to the school you are interested in joining. The prompts ask you to talk about special talents or skills you have, discuss an activity in which you’ve been involved, and write a personal description of yourself.

Get started by learning everything possible about how to get accepted into Georgetown, and get as much Georgetown application help as you can. If you’re able to visit the campus, do so. You will need to have a standout transcript by the time you graduate from high school if you want to join the next class at Georgetown University.

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In a word: yes. Georgetown is one of the most selective universities in the United States. With an acceptance rate of around 12% for the Class of 2022, it's definitely a rich school for most applicants. But don't let that discourage you! If Georgetown is your dream school, it's worth putting your best foot forward. Remember, they're looking at more than just your grades and test scores – they want to see what makes you unique.

Georgetown prides itself on its global outlook, and that's reflected in its student body. About 9% of the undergraduate population is made up of international students. That's a significant number, representing students from over 90 countries! So if you're an international student, you'll definitely find a diverse and welcoming community at Georgetown.

Georgetown doesn't publicly disclose the lowest GPA they've accepted, and for good reason – they look at applications holistically. However, we can tell you that the vast majority of admitted students have very high GPAs. About 87% of enrolled first-year students were in the top tenth of their high school class. While there's no official minimum, you'll be most competitive with a GPA of 3.75 or higher.

Brace yourself – like most top-tier private universities, Georgetown isn't cheap. For the 2023-2024 academic year, tuition is $64,896. When you factor in room and board, books, and other expenses, the total cost of attendance is estimated at around $84,000 per year. However, don't let sticker shock deter you! Georgetown is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students, and about half of undergrads receive some form of financial aid.

Interested in extracurriculars that can strengthen your application? Explore 40 Internships for High School Students and 40 Incredible Research Opportunities for High School Students.

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