Navigating the Georgetown Application

Out of the top 50 private universities in the United States, MIT and Georgetown are the only two that cannot be accessed through the Common App. Navigating the Georgetown application can be a bit tricky, so I’ve broken down Georgetown’s deadlines, the application process, and tips and tricks for submitting a successful app to D.C.’s prestigious Jesuit powerhouse. Let’s dive in!

NAVIGATING THE GEORGETOWN APPLICATION: PART ONE

Georgetown’s application is broken into two steps. The first, called the Georgetown Application, can be accessed through the school’s Office of Admissions website, and takes about 20-40 minutes to complete. Here you will be asked to submit some basic contact info (name, email, phone, etc.); address info (birth country, current address, gender, etc.); application info (which deadline, which program/college, etc.); parent/guardian info (names, contact info, occupations, etc.); personal info (legacy info, religious preference, citizenship, etc.); and finally, education info (high school, school counselor; graduation date, etc.).

When you submit this initial portion of the application, an admissions profile or “application account” will be established for you at Georgetown, and any additional information you submit after that point (including your Supplement) will be attached to your profile. Completing this initial portion of the Georgetown application is a gateway to the remainder of the application. Submitting the Georgetown Application also initiates the alumni interview.

NAVIGATING THE GEORGETOWN APPLICATION: PART TWO

Next up? Submitting their Application Supplement. You will be asked to provide contact information for your recommenders, as well as test scores, responses to the Georgetown essay prompts and a few additional pieces of information. It is worth noting that although most of these materials can be submitted right up to the Early Action (November 1, 2024) or Regular Decision (January 10, 2025) deadlines, Georgetown does advise that students submit recommender contact information as soon as their recommenders are known. The Supplemental section is also a place where you can update any information submitted on the Georgetown Application.

GEORGETOWN’S SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS

Georgetown features four essays: a 250-word essay about special talents/skills, a half-page essay about significant activities, a one-page personal essay (where you can use your Common Application Personal Statement), and – finally – a one-page, school-specific essay (that will vary based on the exact program you apply to). Georgetown also offers the option to attach a resume to your application.

There are stricter timelines for submitting the Supplemental part of the application, with a Regular Decision deadline of January 10^th, and an Early Action deadline of November 1^st. If you are applying to Georgetown, plan on getting your Supplement submitted by late October (for Early Action) or Early January (for Regular Decision), and expect to submit your base Georgetown Application at least a week before that! A quick note on Early Action at Georgetown: this is one of the few schools in the country where your chances at admission do not increase significantly in the Early Action round vs. Regular Decision, so consider this when deciding what application timeline you use to apply.

FINAL STEPS

The final step of the Georgetown process is to complete an alumni interview. These interviews are arranged by the Alumni Admissions Program (AAP) and take place between September and February for incoming first year students. As mentioned earlier, the interview process is initiated when students submit their Georgetown Application (part one, not part two, the Supplement). Students who have submitted the Georgetown Application are provided with contact information for their alumni interviewer, who lives local to them, and students are expected to make arrangements for their own interview from there. All first-year applicants are required to participate in this interview, unless there are no local alumni available to interview them (which is exceedingly rare for applicants in the U.S.). Early Action interviews are prioritized through October, and Regular Decision applicants will likely start interviews in November of each year. Georgetown encourages applicants to use this interview as an opportunity to learn about the school (not just for Georgetown to learn about you) and they maintain that the interviews almost always work in applicants’ favor. For more info on these interviews, including topics you should be prepared to discuss, check here.

AIMING FOR GEORGETOWN

If you are aiming for Georgetown University, contact us today to discuss how you can use your summer break strategically and create the strongest possible application. Aspiring Hoyas can work with our expert counselors through our Essay Guidance Program or Personal Boot Camp. Best of luck with all your apps! We look forward to supporting you.

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