Georgetown University Transfer Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

Georgetown University, a premier Jesuit institution in Washington, D.C., attracts numerous applicants globally. While its first-year acceptance rates are highly competitive, transferring to Georgetown remains a viable option for determined students. Each year, Georgetown welcomes between 80 and 300 transfer applicants. For Fall 2023, the university admitted 296 out of 2,241 transfer applicants, yielding a transfer acceptance rate of 13.2%. This article provides a detailed overview of Georgetown University's transfer requirements, offering insights into the application process and what the admissions committee seeks in prospective transfer students.

General Transfer Requirements

Georgetown University considers transfer applicants for the fall semester. The application deadline is March 1, and decisions are typically released by June 1. Unlike many universities, Georgetown does not use the Common Application. Instead, prospective transfer students must complete the Georgetown Transfer Application and the Transfer Application Supplement.

To be eligible for transfer admission, applicants must have:

Graduated from high school or earned a high school diploma equivalent.
Completed at least one full-time semester of at least twelve transferable credits on the college level.
Completed no more than four full-time semesters.

Georgetown admits transfer students to all five of its undergraduate schools, depending on availability, and requires a minimum of 12 credits completed as an enrolled college student (not a high schooler taking college courses) to qualify as a potential transfer. The maximum number of credits that new students are permitted to bring with them as transfers is 60.

Application Components

A complete transfer application to Georgetown University includes the following components:

Georgetown Transfer Application: This initial application form collects basic biographical information and initiates the Alumni Interview scheduling process. It is recommended to complete this form well in advance of the March 1 deadline.
Transfer Application Supplement: After submitting the initial application, students gain access to the Transfer Application Supplement, which includes essays and recommendation forms.
Official College/University Transcripts: Applicants must provide official transcripts from all previously attended institutions.
Secondary School Report: This report includes the final high school transcript.
Dean’s Report: A recommendation from the applicant's current institution. Transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to use the Recommendation Request Form (Step 3 of the Transfer Application found in the Transfer Application Supplement) to request submission of their Secondary School Report (including high school transcript), Dean’s Report.
Professor’s Report: A recommendation from a professor at the applicant's current institution. Transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to use the Recommendation Request Form (Step 3 of the Transfer Application found in the Transfer Application Supplement) to request submission of their Professor’s Report.
SAT or ACT Scores: Unless the candidate has been out of high school for five or more years prior to the date of intended matriculation at Georgetown, transfer applicants are required to provide either an SAT or ACT exam as part of the application process. Georgetown University’s average SAT score is 1420.
Application Fee: There is a non-refundable application fee of $75.00.

Academic Expectations

Georgetown recommends a minimum cumulative grade average of B+ for transfer applicants. However, successful candidates typically have a GPA of 3.8 or higher, ideally around 4.0. The admissions committee seeks students with strong grades in challenging courses and an upward academic trajectory. They want to see you performing at an even higher level in class and in your extracurriculars than you did in high school.

Transfer Essays

The transfer essays are a crucial part of the application, providing an opportunity for students to showcase their personality, experiences, and reasons for transferring. There are two required essays:

All Applicants Essay: This essay allows applicants to share more about themselves and their personal background, experiences, skills, and talents. If transferring from a four-year institution, applicants should explain their reasons for transferring. The essay should demonstrate who you are as much as the contents does. It is important to frame this essay within your academic passion, and what is drawing you to Georgetown. When discussing reasons for transferring, it is essential to remain drama-free and focus on academic goals and how Georgetown will better support you in reaching your goals.
School-Specific Essay: This essay varies depending on the Georgetown undergraduate school to which the applicant is applying. Each essay prompt asks for both why you want to be at Georgetown and why, in a bigger sense, you want to pursue this course of study at all. The best way to answer that question is with a story.
- Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences: Applicants should describe their interest in studying in the College of Arts & Sciences, making specific reference to their choice of major, if interested in the sciences, math, or languages. Applicants interested in the sciences, mathematics, or languages are encouraged to make specific reference to their choice of major.
- School of Nursing: Applicants should describe the factors that have influenced their interest in studying Nursing at Georgetown University. This essay should be grounded in what drew you to nursing originally, and what drives you to go down the nursing path all the way to Georgetown.
- School of Health: Applicants should describe the factors that influenced their interest in studying health care at Georgetown University, specifically addressing their intended related major: Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, or Human Science.
- Walsh School of Foreign Service: Applicants should describe their primary motivations for studying international affairs at Georgetown University and dedicating their undergraduate studies toward a future in global service.
- McDonough School of Business: Applicants should describe their primary motivations for studying business at Georgetown University.

There is an additional essay for students applying to the CALL, the Capitol Applied Learning Labs, which is a semester-long program that integrates students into downtown DC with a focus on career development and an internship. The CALL focuses on career development through an immersive internship, so you should be focusing your answer here onto exactly that.

Alumni Interview

Georgetown highly recommends doing an interview. The Application also initiates the alumni interview process. Georgetown utilizes alumni interviewers located across the United States and in many foreign countries. As applications are received, students within a committee’s jurisdiction are provided with the name of an alumni interviewer and asked to make arrangements for an interview.

Transfer Credit Policies

Georgetown University has specific policies regarding the transfer of credits:

Grades earned must be at least one level above minimum passing level.
The maximum number of transferable credits is one-half of the total required for the degree (60 credits).
Students must spend a minimum of four full semesters in residence at Georgetown to earn a degree.
Summer sessions do not count toward fulfilling the residency requirement.
Work completed on semester study abroad will not count toward fulfilling the academic residency requirement unless completed at one of Georgetown’s Global Living and Learning Communities or at SFS-Qatar.

Additional Considerations

Holistic Review: Georgetown employs a holistic admission process, considering a wide range of factors beyond academic performance.
Upward Trajectory: The admissions committee looks for an upward trend in academic performance, demonstrating growth and improvement.
Action-Oriented: Georgetown seeks students who are proactive and engaged, even if they are not yet at their dream school.
School-Specific Coursework: Competitive applicants demonstrate strength in college coursework closely aligned with Georgetown Core and school/major requirements.

Specific School Recommendations

While there are no specific courses required for transfer admission, the College of Arts & Sciences community is enriched by transfers who come to us through the transfer process. Our goal in the Dean’s Office is to welcome transfers, support them in their intended major or path toward a new one, and remain as flexible as possible regarding transfer credits while upholding university-level academic policies.

College of Arts & Sciences: Prospective applicants are encouraged to pursue coursework aligned with the Georgetown Core, including 100- and/or 200- level coursework in a world language other than English or hold a demonstrated proficiency equivalent to the same. A foundation of 1000-level coursework for rising-sophomores and 2000- level coursework for rising-juniors will provide the Admissions Committee insights on an applicant’s abilities specific to their intended area of study. As with all undergraduate schools at Georgetown, a maximum of 60 transfer credits may be applied toward the Georgetown degree.
Walsh School of Foreign Service: All prospective SFS transfer applicants are strongly encouraged to present coursework (or AP/IB equivalents*) in Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and either statistics or calculus. The study of a world language other than English is of special importance, including 1000- and/or 2000- level coursework or a demonstrated proficiency equivalent to the same.
McDonough School of Business: Transfer applicants to present coursework (or AP/IB equivalents*) in microeconomics, macroeconomics and calculus. Coursework in statistics is also helpful.
The Berkeley School of Nursing: Prospective students who plan to pursue a premedical curriculum, in addition to their major, should have completed a year of Biology and/or Chemistry prior to enrolling at Georgetown.

Adult Learners and Second Chance Policy at Georgetown College

Georgetown College provides specific policies to accommodate diverse student backgrounds, including adult learners and those seeking a "second chance" in their academic journey.

Adult Learner Alternate Admission Policy: This policy caters to adult learners who have been out of high school for more than five years and have fewer than 24 hours of earned college credit from an accredited college or university. These applicants may be admitted under alternate admission criteria. Their applications may be made “test optional,” requiring only their high school transcript and no standardized test score. They should also submit a letter of admission, and may be required to interview with an academic official.

Read also: Georgetown Admission SAT

Second Chance Policy: Recognizing that students who struggled early in their college careers can find success later in life, Georgetown College considers transfer students who have at least 24 hours of earned college credit from another institution and who have not attended any college or university for at least two years under this Second Chance Policy. Students who are considered under the terms of this policy can be admitted with a GPA below the required 2.0, but will need to submit an additional letter of admission explaining how their intervening experiences will enable them to be more successful this second time. Students enrolling under this Second Chance Policy need to be aware that Federal Financial Aid is governed by a separate set of Satisfactory Academic Progress standards and may not be available even if admitted. Students enrolling under this Second Chance Policy need to complete at least 50% of their work at Georgetown to be eligible for Academic Honors at Graduation.

Additional Information for Georgetown College Applicants

First-Time Freshmen: First-time freshmen have graduated from high school but have not attended another institution. First-time freshmen must submit the Georgetown College Application for Admission, proof of graduation from high school (or completion of GED or obtained home school certification) supported by the submission of an official high school transcript or GED score. Applicants are expected to have 20 units of credit and to have completed the following: 4 Units in English, 3 Units in Mathematics (Including Algebra I & Algebra II), 3 Units in Science, 2 Units in Social Science, and 2 Units in World Language. Ideally, applicants should have an overall average of “B” or better in college preparatory subjects. Submission of ACT or SAT scores. Ideally, applicants should submit scores at or above national averages. A test-optional admission standard is currently available. If a student who does not meet the requirements applies, they may be required to submit additional material such as a personal statement, a writing sample, or a letter of recommendation. After the appropriate committee reviews these materials, they may choose to admit the student as part of the Academic Centered Experience Program (ACE) at Georgetown College; students in ACE will be subject to all requirements and restrictions of that status.

Transfer Students: Transfer students have enrolled at another institution after completing high school and are applying to be a student at Georgetown College. Transfer students with less than 24 hours at the post-secondary level must meet all criteria for First-Time Freshmen and be in good academic standing at their most recent institution. Students applying to Georgetown College who have not maintained the minimum scholastic attainment for the number of cumulative quality hours attempted at their most recent institution must provide a personal statement examining the causes for the failure to thrive and proposing what will be different for the student if admitted to Georgetown College. All transcripts from any and all previously attended institutions must be forwarded to the Office of Admissions. If a student who has not maintained the minimum scholastic attainment from their current institution applies, they may be required to submit additional material such as a personal statement, a writing sample, or a letter of recommendation. After the appropriate committee reviews these materials, they may choose to admit the student as part of the Academic Centered Experience Program (ACE) at Georgetown College; students in ACE will be subject to all requirements and restrictions of that status.

Readmitted Students: Readmitted students are defined as students who had enrolled as a full-time student and either voluntarily chose to leave or were involuntarily dismissed and are seeking re-admission to Georgetown College. Readmitted students may not have enrolled in another institution before seeking re-admission to Georgetown College. Those who have left Georgetown College and enrolled at any point in another institution are to be classified as transfer students. All former students at Georgetown who have been absent for one or more terms and are interested in returning to full-time status must submit an application for admission. Returning students do not need to submit a second final high school transcript or exam scores. Notification of receipt of a student’s readmission application will be sent to Student Life, the business office, student financial planning, the Office of Academic Success, and the registrar’s office, and before any action will be taken, all five departments must return an affirmative statement for the application to receive a decision. Students can be reviewed by Admissions, and, in special circumstances (e.g. suspension or probation), may be required to go through the Academic Policy Committee for re-admission.

Non-Degree Seeking/Dual-Credit/Transient Students: Non-degree seeking students are defined as individuals who are interested in taking a class or two at Georgetown for personal/professional development but who do not plan to enroll for a degree. This category includes local high school (Scott and surrounding counties) students who are allowed to take up to three classes per semester, either on campus or at their high school. This category also includes transient students who are typically enrolled full-time at another college/university and are applying to take a minimal course load at Georgetown College. Students in this category must submit a completed application for admission and, if possible, a “good standing” letter from the student’s current institution.

Adult Online Degree Completers: Prospective students who meet one of the following criteria may apply to be part of the Adult Online Program to complete their undergraduate degree: 1. Is at least 24 years old at the time of matriculation and has earned at least 24 college credits at the time of matriculation 2. Has graduated from a KCTCS institution with an Associate’s Degree and is at least 20 years old. Students in the Adult Online Program will take all classes online.

Life as a Transfer Student

With an entering transfer class of approximately 175 students, transfers are an important part of the new student community at Georgetown. New Student Orientation (NSO) has made a concerted effort to meet the needs specific to the transfer experience. Several events during the NSO program are designed for transfer students only. These events provide opportunities for incoming transfer students to get to know each other as well as current students who have also transferred to Georgetown.

All sophomore and junior transfer students are required to live on campus unless they meet one of the exemption requirements. The University has a three year residency requirement. Junior transfers are required to live on campus for one year, sophomore transfers are required to live on campus for two years (sophomore and junior years). Transfer students are assigned to housing throughout campus, typically with other students of similar age and class year. Transfer students are not housed with first-year students.

Full-time employment is not permitted while actively enrolled in classes.

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