Georgetown University is a private Jesuit research university in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It offers many amazing programs, but it is especially a favorite among those hoping to work in policy, government, or foreign service. It makes sense; they have a bit of a home-court advantage when it comes to access to many of America’s highest political institutions.
In past years, the only way to apply to Georgetown was through its own application, but this year it has also been added to the Common App. We are very interested in how that will affect this year’s admissions cycle. It is too soon to tell, but we have a feeling it will make it even more competitive to get in. Make no mistake, Georgetown has always been competitive. Last year, their acceptance rate was only around 13%.
If you hope to get into Georgetown, you need to be the whole package. That means a rigorous transcript, exemplary grades, high test scores (they are not test-optional), dynamic activities, and standout essays. It is a lot, but if you are nervous, we can help. We work with students every day to prepare them to get into the elite institutions of their dreams. We work with students no matter where they are in their application process to ensure they are the kind of applicant Georgetown is looking for. Contact us today if you need an extra boost at elite schools. We have you covered!
Warning: the Georgetown supplement is long. Georgetown asks students to write a couple of essays. The first two are “short essays” that all applicants respond to. While they say it should be “Approximately one-half page, single-spaced,” ignore that. It is from an older version of this application. The word count for both of these essays is actually 250 when submitted through the Common App.
All Applicants: Briefly discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved.
The first thing you have to do here is figure out what your most involved activity is. 9/10 times this means the activity that you devote the most time to. Sometimes our students ask, “Can I actually write about my most impressive activity?” There is an issue with this question. Students usually don’t know what their most impressive activity is. No matter what it is, your most impressive activity isn’t something you spend only two hours a week on (unless that is also the activity you commit the most time to, which, if so, is a bigger problem).
When we work with students during their freshman and sophomore years, we spend a lot of time crafting dynamic resumes. This includes interesting, significant activities. This means our students usually write about research they have done, internships they have had, or activities that they are deeply involved in and hold leadership positions in. We also push students to develop their activities around what they hope to study. Your answer to this question doesn’t necessarily need to connect to what you hope to study, but it can help.
Our past students have written about working in a lab, leading an environmental society, interning at a museum, and starting their own charity. It really depends on what you spend your time doing, but whatever you write about, it should feel like a story. Don’t just regurgitate your resume. Dig a little deeper and share some of the lessons you have learned or challenges you have faced. How has this activity helped you grow? Our lab worker learned what it was like to support a team in the sciences and grew a love of research. Our environmental president learned how to manage a large board and work with the city government. Our museum intern discovered a love for art history and how to share it with younger students. Share why this activity is important for the person you have become!
In all our lives, we interact with people who hold different viewpoints than our own. Describe such an event you experienced. What did you learn from the experience?
This essay will usually take the form of how you navigated a disagreement. Choose a time when you had a conversation with someone who had a different perspective than you. We often encourage students to choose something that doesn’t feel too big. This is only 250 words; it is easier to write if the difference isn't too long, complicated, or hot-buttoned.
This essay isn’t really about the viewpoints themselves but how to respond to different perspectives. Because of this, we usually advise students to choose a topic where there is some gray area. If you are 100% right and the other person is 100%, there's often less to learn or less common ground to find. We love when students change their minds or gain new perspectives, and you can’t do that when you are arguing against a straw man.
We had a student who wrote this essay about animal testing. He opposed it and couldn’t understand how people could support it morally, but his mother, a doctor, saw it as necessary to protect human health. While it didn’t fully change his perspective, he gained a more nuanced understanding. Another student wrote about how his best friend loved K-Pop. At first, he didn’t understand why, but then he thought about his own music tastes and why people get interested in certain genres. A third student wrote this about how he approached fights with his sister, and what that taught him about fairness and conflict mediation. Readers want to see how you handle disagreements and grow from them.
The second set of essays is longer. The first one everyone answers:
Essay One
ALL APPLICANTS: As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief personal or creative essay which you feel best describes you and reflects on your personal background and individual experiences, skills, and talents.
If you believe that your Common App personal statement would fit with this prompt, you are welcome to use it here. (650 max)
If your Common App essay answers this question, you can use it. Most Common App essays (if done correctly) will answer this question well. If you don’t believe yours does or if you need help writing a standout Common App essay, reach out to us; we can help!
We tend to err on the side of caution. If your essay doesn’t fit this question, don’t force it. We would always rather help you write something new, rather than force something to fit.
The second essay is specific to the undergraduate program that you are applying for. However, the questions are very similar.
Essay Two
Please note that the prompt for this essay is dependent on and will appear below upon selection of an undergraduate program. (500 max)
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.
While we will talk about all the following questions, really our advice in answering these questions is really 95% the same. Whichever question you're answering, your job is to introduce your academic interests and then show the overlap between those interests and the opportunities at Georgetown.
When we start working with students, we make a strategic plan which includes choosing a major and crafting a set of experiences and activities that support your academic interests. Georgetown wants applicants with academic plans, and this essay is your chance to talk about yours. While this essay only says, “Applicants interested in the sciences, mathematics, or languages are encouraged to make specific reference to their choice of major,” really, every applicant should talk about their major.
Before you start writing this question, you need to research specific opportunities at the College of Arts and Sciences. This includes your intended major, the classes you hope to take, professors you would love to work with, undergraduate research opportunities, etc. Think about what you will take advantage of at Georgetown academically.
Any opportunity you write about should feel specific and connected to your own experiences. Don’t just say, “I want to do undergraduate research.” Talk about GUROP and how you would use it to explore something related to your current research interests. For example, we had a student who wanted to study history. She connected her experience as a volunteer New York City tour guide to Georgetown’s class on Jazz, Civil Rights and American Society. This is your chance to talk about your academic expertise, show how Georgetown is the perfect school for you, and make a case for why you would be the perfect fit for Georgetown.
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. Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying Nursing at Georgetown University.
Students usually start this essay with a bit about why they hope to become a nurse. Honestly, it is great to start any of these essays with a little bit of an origin story. Give us a little peek into your world and why you hope to study what you want to study. Nurses often have pretty powerful origin stories that connect to their natural ethics or empathy. For example, we had a student who became interested in nursing after working closely with nurses at the hospice where she volunteered.
Then, just like the College of Arts and Sciences essay, you need to connect your relevant interests and experiences to specific opportunities at Berkeley.
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. Describe your primary motivations for studying international affairs at Georgetown University and dedicating your undergraduate studies toward a future in global service.
Much like the nursing school essay, you need to start with a story about why you are interested in pursuing what you hope to study. Then connect specific opportunities at Walsh to your interests and experiences. Our additional tip here is to think about your goals. Walsh is a pretty specialized school; what are your goals for after you graduate? How do you hope to pursue foreign service? They want to see applicants with a solid plan who have thought through their future.
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. Describe the factors that influenced your interest in studying health care at Georgetown University, specifically addressing your intended related major: Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, or Human Science.
This question isn’t different from the above (are you sick of saying that yet?) You can approach this in the same way as Berkeley or Walsh. Take some time to really understand the major choices in this school. They are pretty specialized. Really understanding what these majors entail will help you connect them to your interests and goals.
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. Describe your primary motivations for studying business at Georgetown University.
McDonough isn’t your typical business school. It offers only three degree options, and two are interdisciplinary. If you are looking only for business, they offer one option: a BS in business administration. Get specific on why this degree appeals to you.
If you are looking at one of their joint business programs (either the Dikran Izmirlian B.S. in Business and Global Affairs or B.S. in International Business, Language, and Culture), make sure that you aren’t just talking about business. You need to bring in either your experiences/interests/goals in Global Affairs through the Walsh School or Language and Culture through the College of Arts and Science. For example, we had a student who wanted to major in Business and Global Affairs because she wanted to one day work for the International Trade Administration. Her interests were pretty different than many of the business students we work with. She had to showcase why in this essay.
APPLICANTS TO THE MCCOURT SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY (joint with the College of Arts & Sciences): 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. Describe your primary motivations for studying public policy at Georgetown University and dedicating your undergraduate studies toward a future related to public service.
The next two questions are specifically for joint programs. These are specialized programs, and you need to be a specialized student to get into them. The McCourt School adds an extra layer; the program has a unique flow. While you want to do all the things you would with a College of Arts & Sciences essay, you need to add something about the campus change and what the opportunity would allow you to do.
APPLICANTS TO ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY (joint degree program with the College of Arts & Sciences and the Earth Commons): Through this joint program between the College of Arts & Sciences and the Earth Commons, you’ll explore theories and practical skills in the classroom, in the field, and around the world, and put it all together to make a difference. Describe your primary motivations for studying environment and sustainability at Georgetown University to effect positive change in the world.
This one is for our eco-warriors. They want to hear about how you are going to use opportunities in this program to change the world. Your plan should feel thought through and fully realized. For example, we had a student who volunteered with an environmental rights group and fought to pass a local environmental protections law. She wanted to go into this kind of work after graduating. She wrote about being excited to take classes like ERTH 2027 Environmental Law and others through the College’s Justice and Peace program. Make sure you are showcasing both schools and tying them back to yourself.
Georgetown’s supplement is long (at least it is on the Common App now). Give yourself plenty of time to answer these questions. It will take you longer than you think. If this all feels too much, we can help! Wherever you are in your college process, we have you covered with all things admissions.
Reach out today to get custom help and increase your odds.