georgetown essays

First Year Application

We look forward to working with you throughout the admissions process. Please visit the General Information page for first-year applicants to learn more about the Georgetown University application process. For important information about the application process, we recommend you to review the Information for Applicants  document.

Georgetown Application Submission

Step One  – Complete and submit the  Georgetown Application . Filling out this form should only take you ten to fifteen minutes. This form creates your official admissions file and allows us to track and connect any documents or standardized testing sent in support of your application. Submission of the Georgetown Application also initiates the  alumni interview , conducted between September and February for first year applicants.

Within 24 hours of submitting the Georgetown Application , you will receive an email with instructions on how to create your application account, so you can begin working on your additional required application forms. Please contact our office if you do not receive this email, please do not submit another Georgetown Application.

Step Two  – Complete and submit your  additional required application forms . These forms will allow you to tell us more about yourself and include your chosen school and major at Georgetown, activities, standardized testing updates, and your essays. Once you log in to your application account, please complete all additional required application forms by the deadline. (Early Action: November 1, or Regular Decision: January 10).

Important Note: The Recommendations Request form will ask you to provide the names and email addresses of your high school counselor and recommending teacher(s). Emails are sent to them automatically to request these documents for your application. Please complete this form as soon as you have secured the correct contact information for your recommenders. The remaining additional required application forms can be completed over time and are due no later than your application deadline.

Application Changes:

Information submitted on the Georgetown Application can be updated on the additional required application forms. If you need to make any changes to your application after completing the additional required application forms, please submit the Application Change Form . Please do not submit another copy of the application.

Application Forms:

We strongly encourage applicants to use the online application. To view the essay questions ahead of submitting your application, please see the additional required application forms that have been provided. Reference copies are available in PDF format below:

Georgetown Application Additional Required Application Forms Secondary School Report Teacher’s Report Midyear School Report

    Supplemental Materials: Art, Music, Theater, and Dance (Not Required)

We hope you are able to convey your talents and extracurricular activities in your undergraduate admissions application. However, those with an exemplary art talent they wish to pursue on campus are able to submit a supplement to their application. All art supplemental materials are reviewed by each specific department and therefore we cannot confirm receipt.

Music : If you have musical talent that you would like to be evaluated along with your application please find specific instructions on the Performing Arts website.

Theater : If you have theatrical talent that you would like to be evaluated along with your application please find specific instructions on the Performing Arts website.

Dance : If you have dancing talent that you would like to be evaluated along with your application please find specific instructions on the Performing Arts website.

Studio Art : If you have visual art talent that you would like to have evaluated along with your application, please find specific instructions on the Art and Art History website.

We appreciate your interest in Georgetown University and look forward to working with you throughout the application process. If you have any questions, please contact the admissions office .

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Georgetown University 2024-25 Application Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 10

You Have: 

Georgetown 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 250 words; 1 half-page essay; 2 page-long essays

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Activity , Why, Diversity

How to Write Compelling Georgetown University Essays

Since Georgetown doesn’t use the Common App, they require four essays, one of which is specific to the college you’re applying to. Three of these essays fall into CEA’s archetypes: the Why Essay , Diversity Essay , and Activity Essay , while the fourth asks you to elaborate on one of your talents. Taken together, these four essays help to illuminate your “accomplishments outside of the classroom, demonstrated commitment to the broader community, and personal qualities such as resiliency, motivation and ambition.” The most important thing to remember while drafting your responses is to be honest and true to yourself. Georgetown wants unique individuals who will embrace their community, so show them what sets you apart from the crowd! Read on for more guidance on each essay.

Georgetown Essay Prompts Breakdown

All georgetown university applicants , prompt 1: please elaborate on any special talents or skills you would like to highlight. (250 words) .

This prompt may come first on the list, but we think you should save it for last! For the other essays on the Georgetown application, we ask you to dig deep and share personal stories that showcase talents and interests. Don’t dry the well by listing all of your (many!) skills and talents too soon. Every essay should reveal something new to admissions. So once you finish polishing your other pieces, ask yourself: What’s missing? Is there some critical puzzle piece that will help connect your other three essays? Have you been dying to get something off your chest that didn’t fit anywhere else? This essay could be the perfect outlet for you to showcase your more personal skills, interests, and quirks. If the rest of your essays describe your drive to work in international relations, perhaps your answer to this prompt could reveal a lighter side: your love of experimental cooking (and impressive knife skills!). Or maybe explain how learning a new language helped you learn how to whistle! While you should aim to highlight genuine skills that you have put effort into cultivating, you can also have a little bit of fun. This prompt is the most open-ended one on the application, so show admissions something they won’t find anywhere else on your application.

Prompt 2: Briefly discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved. (1/2 page, single-spaced, or approximately 300-400 words depending on font size) 

Next up is a fun twist on the classic Activity Essay, which asks you to expand on an extracurricular endeavor that you care about. For starters, we’d give you basically the same advice as the prompt: focus on one of the activities “in which you have been most involved.” Although we usually urge students to write about experiences that haven’t appeared elsewhere on their application, the Activity Essay is an exception since it specifically asks you to address an item on your resume. So, pick something with meat! When have you had the opportunity to take on a leadership role? How have four years of debate club shaped the way you communicate? Was it difficult coaching pee wee soccer as a freshman, and what motivated you to stick with it? Regardless of what you choose to write about, be sure to describe what it means to you.

Prompt 3: 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. (1 page, single-spaced) 

Though it seems straightforward, this may be one of the hardest prompts! (What do you mean, tell you about myself in my own words?) Don’t fret. You can treat this essay just like the Common App’s prompt #1 , which asks students to write about a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. (Even better: If you’ve already written an essay in response to the Common App’s first prompt, you can recycle that essay here since Georgetown has its own application platform!)

If you’re approaching this essay from scratch, take some time to brainstorm . What about your background, talents, or identity might be worth highlighting for an admissions officer? Don’t worry about cramming every aspect of the wonder that is you into one essay; they will naturally reveal themselves along the way as you write. Whether you want to write about a facet of your identity that few people know about or a passion you’ve been dabbling in (and telling everyone about) for years, you can’t go wrong with authentic reflection and an engaging hook!

Georgetown University School-Specific Prompts 

Georgetown college of arts and 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.).

You can probably guess what we’re going to recommend here…wait for it…research! Georgetown wants to know not just what you want to study but why you want to study it at their school. The prompt makes specific reference to the school’s Jesuit history, focus on research, and “integrated education,” so start there. Are you looking forward to a college experience grounded in faith? Are you excited to tie your various interests together through different courses, activities, and clubs? Does the Core Curriculum speak to your desire to not only focus on your intended major, but also explore other fields? If you know what you want to major in, make sure you take extra care to reference specific courses, professors, clubs, or other research opportunities that excite you. The more specific details you can incorporate into your essay, the more sincere and personal it will feel (and be!). 

School of Nursing: Georgetown University’s 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.

Well, this is about as straightforward as prompts get! Our advice is much the same as it is for students applying to the School of Health (see below). Set yourself apart from other applicants by not only discussing the factors that led you to pursuing a career in nursing, but also tying those experiences to your larger goals for the future. Take note of the keywords in the prompt’s first sentence and try to connect them to your story. Are you attracted to Georgetown’s focus on ethics because you come from a family of medical professionals? Were you drawn to the profession due to an empathetic nurse who supported your family during your little sister’s leukemia treatments? How do you hope to embody these characteristics in your future career? If there are elements of a Georgetown education that will support your particular interest or connect to your past experiences in some way, you should dig into that in your response, while also revealing new information to admissions about your character, motivations, and aspirations.

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.

If we know anything about applying to medical programs, it is this: everyone wants to help people, everyone wants to make the world a better place, and everyone wants to make a meaningful contribution. Few fields lend themselves to service-oriented clichés and platitudes as readily as medicine does, so to safely navigate the minefield of hackneyed generalizations, start with something personal! What’s one eye-opening experience that made you believe healthcare could be your calling? Perhaps it was a single moment, like accidental eye contact with a concerned mother in the ER. Or maybe it was something more long-term, such as navigating your school in a wheelchair after knee surgery and realizing you want to improve patient outcomes by researching physical therapies. Whatever the case, use your personal story as the backdrop for your argument. What did you learn? What problems do you hope to tackle? What change do you hope to help create? As we said, it’s not enough to just want these things; your job is to show admissions why medicine interests you personally. Once you’ve accomplished that, be sure to address the role Georgetown will play in your plan for the future. In other words, why do you want to study healthcare at Georgetown in particular? Align your response to the keywords in the prompt’s first sentence to show that Georgetown is the right school for you. Do they have a research lab that’s at the forefront of innovation? Are you eager to engage with local and global communities by volunteering in DC and studying abroad? How will Georgetown’s interdisciplinary education support your goals as a Human Science major? A wise applicant will do some research so they can infuse their response with specific details that demonstrate meticulousness and drive.

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.

The Walsh School of Foreign Service wants to know what fuels your fire. What is driving you to dedicate your undergraduate studies (and maybe even your life!) to a path of service? Maybe you are incredibly passionate about combating climate change before it’s too late. What do you hope to achieve and how? Perhaps you’re following in the footsteps of a trailblazer you look up to—how do you hope to continue fighting the good fight in their honor? If you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself: What kind of mark would you like to leave on the world? How do you think you can positively contribute to a cause that is important to you? If you had the power to make a lasting impact in any area at all, what would it be? Next, describe how Georgetown’s specific program will help you achieve these goals. What courses, professors, study abroad experiences, clubs, or activities make Georgetown’s program stand out? The prompt makes reference to “generations of leaders,” so do some research to see if there are any alumni in whose footsteps you hope to follow. Finally, while building the personal connection is key, you’ll also want to leave yourself some space to spell out at least a few steps you might take to address your global issue of choice.

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.

If you think we’ve never seen an essay with the line, “I love money,” you would be wrong. Spoiler: this does not make a great first impression. Studying business is about so much more than dollars and cents, and this prompt offers a few other aspects of business you’ll learn about in this program, including “global, ethical, analytical, financial, and diverse perspectives.” In order to get some perspective, we’d recommend doing your homework. Like any classic Why Essay, the best answers are personal and specific, so go beyond your general interest in business and try to figure out specifically why Georgetown could be the right fit for you. Is it the location? The professors? The travel opportunities? Allow yourself to follow every lead and fall down every rabbit hole as you root through the program website. Your essay should paint a picture of the kind of student you will be at Georgetown, from the classes you’ll take to the activities you’ll pursue. How will this education prepare you for your dream career?

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Georgetown Essays

We have been reading Georgetown essays for over twenty years now, so we know a thing or two about the most common mistakes students make. The most common mistakes to avoid are repeating the prompt in your essay (don’t waste your words), trying to sound like an academic (admissions wants to hear your authentic voice!), and using cliches (they’re ineffective and—let’s face it—lazy).

Why Choose College Essay Advisors for Georgetown Essays

We at College Essay Advisors have been guiding students one-on-one through the essay writing process for Georgetown for over twenty years. We take a holistic approach to these essays, considering each student’s application package as a whole and identifying their strengths to highlight. Our Advisors accommodate each student’s scheduling needs to virtually brainstorm, draft, and revise winning essays. It’s incredibly important to us that each student’s voice is preserved, and we pride ourselves in helping students to write successful Georgetown essays that differentiate them from similarly qualified applicants. For more information, submit a contact form below or review our one-on-one advising services or list of student acceptances . 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Georgetown requires:

• one (1) essay of 250 words
• one (1) half-page essay; and
• two (2) page-long essays

So four (4) essays in total.

Georgetown University seeks to welcome students of “character, intelligence, motivations and achievement, without distinction on the basis of race, gender, immigration status or religious preference.” So, naturally, applicants who want to give themselves an edge will make an effort to highlight their own aspirations, accomplishments, character, and intellect without shying away from matters of personal identity.

In order to make your Georgetown essays stand out, we recommend giving yourself plenty of time to brainstorm , reflect on your stories, and piece together cohesive narratives that reveal new information about who you are and what you hope to accomplish without relying on common cliches.

Georgetown asks applicants to submit one (1) essay of 250 words, whereas the other essays don’t have word counts. Instead, they require page counts (one half-page essay and two full-page essays, to be exact).

With each of the school-specific essays, admissions is trying to suss out your motivations for studying your academic interest of choice at Georgetown and what you hope to do with that education long after graduation. To write a strong essay, you will need to think ahead to what you hope to achieve in the future. Then, circle back to how a Georgetown education will help you get there. The more specific you can be in referencing aspects of their offerings that will propel you toward meeting your goals, the better. Just make sure not to regurgitate all the information from their website back to them without reflecting on why said offerings appeal to you, specifically.

"I was accepted into Georgetown a few hours ago. Thank you for all your help! It was really difficult for me to get started on my applications, so I wanted to thank you for the help you gave in keeping me on top of things, guiding me through the brainstorming of essays, and revising them. This would've been such a stressful application experience had it not been for your help."

– CEA Student, Georgetown, Class of 2025

"I just wanted to say thank you once again for your support and assistance with [my son's] Georgetown application. Without a doubt, you made this whole process fun, interesting and bearable. [My son] absolutely loved working with you!! After reading all of his essays, all I could say was, “Wow!!” Each and every one was a true reflection of him. I was so proud of his hard work, dedication and authenticity."

– CEA Parent, Georgetown, Class of 2026

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Georgetown Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts and Advice

June 20, 2024

The nation’s oldest Jesuit institution of higher learning is also its most selective, as Georgetown University welcomed just 12% of applicants to the Class of 2028 onto its historical and notably beautiful Washington, DC, campus. Whenever you are applying to a school of Georgetown’s caliber, where the average admitted applicant has a 1470 SAT score and is at (or near) the top of their high school class, you need to find ways to set yourself apart from the pack. Toward that aim, prospective Hoyas need to take advantage of the Georgetown supplemental essays.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Georgetown? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Georgetown: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

The goal is to write compelling, standout compositions. Your essays should showcase your exceptional writing ability and reveal more about who you are as an individual. Below are Georgetown’s essay prompts for the 2024-25 admissions cycle along with tips about how to address each one.

Georgetown Supplemental Essays – Prompt 1

Please elaborate on any special talents or skills you would like to highlight. (250 words)

The wording of this prompt changed slightly from “ Indicate any special talents or skills …” to “ Please elaborate on any special talents or skills …” This tells us that Georgetown is encouraging applicants to go into more detail about their chosen talent/skill.

If you are a world-class athlete, you are likely already in the recruitment process. If you placed high in AIME or won a National Merit Scholarship, that is already stated in the awards section. Therefore, using the prized 250 words of real estate to merely rehash the fact that you won an award for something you are good at would not be an inspiring move. Instead, use this essay as an opportunity to offer a new level of depth and understanding about your talent(s). In addition to discussing the talent you possess, describe the journey of how you developed your abilities and how they have impacted you.

A few years back, Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that becoming an expert at anything takes 10,000 hours of practice. Consider talking about the grind and sacrifice it took you to become great at a given skill. Describe how you see that skill becoming even more finely tuned/developed over time. If this skill fits into your future academic/career plans, all the better—share that too!

Georgetown Supplemental Essays – Prompt 2

Briefly discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved. (approximately 1/2 page, single-spaced) 

Perhaps you are the captain of a team, the editor-in-chief of your school paper, or the president of a club. On the other hand, you may simply be a valuable contributing member. Regardless of whether you are a leading man/woman or a still-essential bit player, make sure that you use your writing ability to show the admissions officer what type of involved team member you are rather than merely telling them.

You can also discuss how you have engaged with your high school local/community. Share what you have learned from interacting with people of a different ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual identity, etc. Draw on past evidence of your commitment to being a positive force in the context of your activity/activities. Also be sure to speculate how that is likely to manifest on Georgetown’s campus. Research and cite Hoya student-run organizations, local nonprofit groups, or anything else you are drawn to. The admissions committee wants to understand precisely how you will contribute to their campus community of 7,000+ undergrads. Drawing the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here. For example, if you’ve done work with Habitat for Humanity throughout your teens, it will be most impactful if you express your commitment to joining Georgetown’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity in the future.

Georgetown University Supplemental Essays – Prompt 3

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 own background, identity, skills, and talents. (Approximately one page, single-spaced)

Whether you decide to write about yourself in a way that is light, creative, humorous, personal, sincere, or vulnerable (any are perfectly fine), aim to reveal a picture of yourself that cannot be gleaned from elsewhere in your application materials.

Take note of the wide-open nature of this prompt. While there are no limits to the way in which you approach this essay, here are some angles to consider:

• A perspective you hold
• An experience you had
• A community you belong to
• Your cultural or family background
• Something you’ve had to overcome

The admissions officer looking at your essay is hoping to connect with you through your written words. So be open, humble, thoughtful, inquisitive, emotionally honest, mature, and insightful. No matter what type of story you tell, the goal is to have the reader come away saying, “I can definitely see this applicant as a contributing member of our talented and engaged student community.”

Georgetown Supplemental Essays — The School-Specific Essay

Depending on the College or School that you are applying to at Georgetown, you’ll need to write a separate school-specific essay. At their core, all of them are “Why Us” essays. As you address each prompt (see below), be sure to include Georgetown-specific offerings and opportunities that support your reasoning, interests, and future plans.

Elements of a great Georgetown “Why Us?” essay

• Cite school-specific  academic programs , professors,  research opportunities ,  internship/externship programs , and  study abroad programs .
• Reference student-run organizations at Georgetown that align with your passions.
• Describe how you take advantage of Georgetown’s immense resources both inside and outside of the classroom.
• Make sure to touch on both a) why Georgetown is the perfect fit for you and) why you are the perfect fit for Georgetown. Covering both topics is essential.

Common mistakes on a Georgetown “Why Us?” essay .

• Fawning over the picturesque Gothic-style Georgetown campus (it is quite beautiful, but they already know that).
• Georgetown is top-ranked, prestigious, and has a great reputation. Again, they know!
• Too many generic expressions of feeling (e.g., It has been my dream since I was a toddler to be a Hoya… ).
• Recycled statements from your other “Why Us?” essays that come across as stale, impersonal, or worst of all–irrelevant/inaccurate.

Georgetown College: 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 at College of Arts & Sciences. Applicants interested in the sciences, mathematics, or languages are encouraged to make specific reference to their choice of major.

Out of all the attributes they could have chosen, Georgetown chose to reference “integrated education” and “productive research” within the prompt. Accordingly, you may want to do some research on the two aforementioned traditions and think about how they’ll impact your education at Georgetown. You can also write about any other offerings, programs, professors, or opportunities within the College of Arts and Sciences that are especially interesting to you and in line with your experiences and goals. Note that Georgetown encourages certain types of applicants to make specific references to their prospective field of study.

Georgetown Supplemental Essays (Continued)

School of Nursing: Georgetown University’s 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.

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.

Since these prompts are similar, the below advice applies to both:

“A nurse is not what you do, it is who you are.”

This quote from an anonymous source captures the idea that becoming a nurse is a calling; not a profession you just stumble into. Healthcare is no different. Healthcare professionals are willing to work long shifts in the service of others, be on the frontlines of a pandemic, and deal with life’s toughest challenges (e.g., suffering and death) on a regular basis. Many applicants share stories of caring for sick relatives, experiencing a tough medical episode themselves, or observing the challenges faced by a particular community as inspiration for studying nursing or healthcare.

In addition, you’ll want to include school-specific research that demonstrates your knowledge of the school’s opportunities and resources as well as the skills Georgetown will help you build (and why they are important to you). Overall, show the admissions committee that you are a passionate and mature healthcare or nursing candidate, that this field is genuinely “who you are,” and that attending Georgetown will be the right fit for you.

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.

International service is not something every 17/18-year-old in the country is dreaming about doing as a vocation. There is likely a very interesting story surrounding what motivated you to apply to the Walsh School of Foreign Service and this essay invites you to share this very narrative. You don’t need to look any deeper than today’s headlines to identify powerful and immensely challenging global problems. Regardless of your major, you likely have a highly specific set of academic and career goals taking shape in your mind.

If you can communicate these goals and the motivations behind them while sharing a vision for how you will contribute to the betterment of humankind in one or multiple regions of the world, then you are likely to end up with an excellent Walsh essay. Moreover, discuss why Walsh in particular will be a great fit for you.

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.

Before you start writing, do some McDonough-specific research and think about why a business education from McDonough in particular will be a great fit for your interests and goals. Further, to stand out, applicants need to connect the resources they’ve chosen to experiences they’ve had, demonstrating that they have availed themselves of every opportunity to dive into the business world during their high school years. Of course, not everyone has parents who hand them money to invest in the stock market or land them an internship at Goldman Sachs in 9th grade.

Relevant experiences can include high school investing clubs, participation in activities like FBLA, summer programs/courses in business/finance/economics, running your own local small business or e-business (Etsy, landscaping, etc.), or just a regular old retail job. The important thing to highlight is what you learned from your experiences. You should also note how you’ll bring that newly acquired knowledge to the classroom at Georgetown, and how your experiences have informed & influenced what you hope to continue learning in college.

How important are the Georgetown supplemental essays?

There are a whopping 8 factors that Georgetown considers to be “very important” to the evaluation process. These are: rigor of secondary school record, character/personal qualities, class rank, GPA, standardized test scores, recommendations, extracurricular activities, and most relevant to this blog—the application essays. The essays undoubtedly play a significant role in the admissions process at Georgetown. They can help the committee decide who to admit when choosing between similarly credentialed (GPA, test scores, etc.) applicants.

Want personalized assistance with your Georgetown supplemental essays?

Interested in working with one of our experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Georgetown supplemental essays? We encourage you to get a quote  today.

Need more writing-related resources? Consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• How to Start a College Essay
• How to End a College Essay
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• Best College Essay Help
• College Essay

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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Command Education Guide

How to write the georgetown university essays, updated for 2024-2025, required prompt 1:.

Please elaborate on any special talents or skills you would like to highlight.

Explanation:

When responding to this prompt, it’s important you convey your unique qualities by selecting a skill or talent that genuinely sets you apart from others. As you brainstorm, reflect on your interests, achievements, or experiences—how do you spend your free time? What activities bring you joy? What aspects of your personality shine when you work as a part of a team? These questions could lead you to talents or skills that are central to who you are. You can write about an academic ability, a creative skill, a leadership accomplishment, or something else entirely. No answer is wrong as long as your writing is passionate and engaging! Finally, discuss how this skill or talent has contributed to your personal growth and development, explaining how it has shaped your character, perspectives, and goals.

One night at a campfire, I heard deep, rich tones reverberating through my ears; someone was playing an unfamiliar instrument. Intrigued by its distinct timbre, I followed the sound, searching for its origin. The sounds stemmed from a ukulele, and from that night, its captivating music inspired me to create tunes of my own. Since my very first strum, I fell in love with the way the strings on the sculpted wood sustained a perfect vibration and created a smooth pitch. Before I knew it, I was sounding out chord patterns to play my favorite John Mayer song.

The ukulele is the primary way through which I express my feelings; it allows me to communicate and connect with others. Quickly, it allowed me to discover that I have the power not only to create beautiful melodies but to bring people together while doing so. Through music, we let down our walls and find commonalities. Beyond the barriers of culture and language, music unites us. When my fingers find the rhythm, I witness transformations: an introvert becomes an extrovert, an elder finds youth, and a lost mind develops insight.

Since the campfire, this instrument has become a part of me. I’ve played it at Christmas, on road trips with my friends, and even keeping patients company at the hospital. Though I am just someone with a ukulele, I know that my talent is in fact much more: it brings joy to others, helps them find serenity, and creates community.

Required Prompt 2:

Briefly discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved. (approximately 1/2 page, single-spaced).

In order to tackle this prompt, you should reflect on your activities in light of your experiences, values, and personal growth. Perhaps the most important phrase in this prompt is “significance to you”—while the admissions committee wants to understand more about your extracurricular involvements, this question is also a vehicle for them to gain insights into your values. What you do outside of the classroom can go a long way in conveying what is important to you, and these activities also shed light on the type of community member you will be on Georgetown’s campus, as most of your time in college will be spent outside of the classroom.

You can choose to write about an extracurricular, volunteer work, a job, or any experience that has had a significant impact on your life and worldview. Discuss a particular anecdote or experience within the activity that was transformative for you. This could be a challenge you overcame, a lesson you learned, or a new perspective you obtained. Be sure to use active verbs, descriptive imagery, and engaging detail to make your response vivid and captivating.

“Join, join!” I distinctly remember a student saying to me in the hallway. She asked if I was interested in volunteering for the National Honor Society (NHS). At the time, NHS was foreign to me, but the passion in her eyes instantly ignited my curiosity. As the “new kid” at school, I hoped that joining would bring belonging and a sense of acceptance.

Quickly, I learned that NHS’s core values aligned perfectly with my own: the pillars of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character are essential to who I am both in and out of the classroom. I observed NHS members who organized events, planned fundraisers, and selflessly worked on behalf of the community. Aspiring to do the same, I joined their ranks; I wanted to be more than a volunteer.

Eventually, I became a member, and then President! Truthfully, over the last few years, NHS has become my second home. I love that it is an entirely student-led organization—while participation is voluntary, our passion for service is unyielding. In NHS, everyone is a leader; we each share an equal commitment to our community and yearn to see it flourish.

During my first semester as a member, I conducted a needs assessment for the organization and calculated that we were in need of money; shortly after, I led a team for a fundraising auction. It was the first time I was responsible for a large event from start to finish. In fact, due to the event’s success in raising over $10,000, it will become a yearly tradition. Through this experience, I learned to manage groups, navigate bureaucracy, and find a balance between expressing my opinions and listening to those of others.

Most importantly, I’m proud of our many accomplishments. For instance, we provided support for a socioeconomically disadvantaged elementary school: NHS has remodeled classrooms, built a new library, and installed water tanks. As President, I’ve personally overseen new tutoring programs, several supply drives, and a Covid-relief initiative.

My weekly visits to the school have been the highlight of my high school career. Through recognizing the experiences of others, I’m reminded daily of the power of education. I’m inspired by the students’ resilience, openness, and sense of hope. In all, as I continue my journey into college and the professional world, I’ll continue to live out the NHS values that define my character.

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 own background, identity, skills, and talents. (approximately 1 page, single-spaced).

With this essay, the Georgetown admissions committee is looking for maturity, self-reflection, and a distinct perspective. When responding to this essay prompt, pick a topic that involves a significant aspect of your identity, experiences, or values that you have actively engaged with or considered deeply. This can be a personal trait, a pivotal moment, a cultural connection, an intellectual curiosity, or anything else that defines you. Whatever you choose, you should demonstrate your intentional exploration of this facet of your identity and the ways in which you have grown as a result. For example, if you are from a military family, you could write about how you went from dreading your frequent moves to starting a club for other military kids to connect and build community as they adjust to new places. Conveying your active role in your own growth and development is critical to crafting a standout essay.

You should start with an attention-grabbing opening that introduces your chosen theme. This can be an anecdote, a vivid description, a quote, or a thought-provoking question to draw the reader in. Then, highlight any specific skills and talents you possess and explain how they contribute to your identity.

Since Georgetown does not use the Common App, feel free to repurpose your Common App personal statement to answer this question!

Question: What happens when you alter the hydration to make sourdough bread?

It always begins like this: a question pops into my mind, and I seek to answer it to a degree that might be considered obsessive. My curiosity can’t help itself, as making sourdough fuels my technical brain. Which microorganisms enable the fermentation process? What’s the best temperature to ferment it? In this specific case, how does the volume of water influence the end result of the sourdough?

I still remember my first experiment: when I was 7; I wanted to see how honey would affect the taste of a taco al pastor (it was a bad idea). Since then, I’ve experimented with everything from analyzing ant behavior to synthesizing capsaicin, but nothing compares to sourdough experimentation. Ever since that fateful day when it came out on the talavera plate (traditional Mexican plate), beautifully golden-brown, warm, and radiating an impeccable smell—I fell in love. I asked the chef: what is this? “Es pan de masa madre” he replied (it’s sourdough bread).

Hypothesis: By adding more water, the kneading process will be easier.

In previous attempts, my sourdough dough would always be compacted, proving difficult to knead. Adding water should certainly resolve this, right? I’ve always been encouraged to ask questions and seek their answers by gathering evidence. My father would always say “búsquele, joven” (search for it, young man). I treat knowledge like looking for light in a heavy fog: it might be difficult, but if you keep searching, you’ll eventually find it.

Thus, I decided to increase the water by 375 grams, doubling the normal amount. I begin mixing. The dough’s texture instantly became silkier, eventually taking on a pancake batter-like consistency. The white flour was now creamy brown, and the smell was far more potent than before.

Visions swirled in my head about how much better the sourdough would turn out; I get over-eager if the beginning of an experiment seems promising. Once in Robotics Club, I was over-confident in my Python Script: the robot was going to detect an obstacle with its sensors and turn automatically. Unfortunately, the robot slammed into a brick, and I had to go back to the drawing board. Results always speak for themselves.

I let it ferment for 8 hours (3 at room temperature, 5 in the fridge) and then baked it for 60 minutes at 250 degrees Celsius. I anxiously checked the dough, staring at it for what seemed like hours. I was hungry for the result, and as the smell floated throughout the house, my mouth salivated for what was promising to be an incredible sourdough loaf.

Results and Analysis

Unfortunately, it was one of the worst sourdough breads I’ve ever tasted.

It was nothing like the beautiful sourdough bread I first had on the talavera plate. But the beauty of science is always looking for justification. I searched for the answers, and this is what I found: the flour didn’t have enough protein to sustain the amount of water used in the experiment; therefore, the loaf lacked structure. The more time the sourdough was given to ferment, the better its consistency and flavor were (however, don’t leave it in the fridge for more than 3 days). When baking high-hydration dough, it’s best to use a stretching and folding technique to knead the bread.

A high protein flour, a stretch and fold kneading method, and a high fermentation time are the three aspects required to create the best 100% hydration sourdough bread.

Since this experiment, I’ve made hundreds of sourdough breads: from cinnamon rolls and babka to bolillos and pain au levain. It’s not only the exquisite taste that draws me to sourdough bread, but the methodology required to make it. It’s the kind of thinking I love: asking “what if,” “how,” and “why.” Always pondering questions, always searching for answers.

Applicants to the 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 at College of Arts & Sciences. Applicants interested in the sciences, mathematics, or languages are encouraged to make specific reference to their choice of major.

In this classic “why this school?” prompt, Georgetown is asking you to write about your reasons for pursuing your intended area of study and for studying this subject at Georgetown’s College of Arts and Sciences. As with all supplemental essays, the key to answering this question well is specificity. You should begin your writing with an anecdote that introduces your interest in your intended field of study. Maybe you learned something in a course or book, had a particular experience that sparked your initial interest in your field, or encountered something later on in your learning journey that deepened your understanding of your topic. No matter the anecdote, ensure that it conveys your passion for your intended field.

Next, provide specific reasons as to why you want to study what you want to study at Georgetown—is there a specific academic program you are keen to be a part of? Does the department have a particular pedagogy that matches your academic interests, needs, and goals? Are you interested in working with a particular professor or pursuing a research opportunity?

When approaching this essay, don’t forget to address the first part of the question, which mentions that Georgetown values both Jesuit pedagogy and research. To that end, make sure that you mention how the university’s Jesuit values will enrich your study in your field of interest.

“Why don’t sharks bite lawyers? Professional courtesy.”

I shot my dad a weary smile and turned my focus back to the landslide of papers and binders I had strewn across my desk before he could see me roll my eyes. Though he meant no harm by his cliché joke, I knew from my years spent on the Mock Trial and speech and debate circuits that, to many, their lawyer jokes held a grain of truth: excellent attorneys must be driven, analytical, strategic, and unyielding.

As I’ve grown as a debater and mock trial-er, I’ve taken pride in these traits—the thrill of puncturing an opponent’s argument, the exhilaration of finding a new angle that sways a judge’s opinion. However, I refuse to believe these qualities must be used for evil.

Like the ocean, the United States legal code is often murky, dense, and disorienting. As an intern for the ACLU and a volunteer for the Freedom Project, I was awash in stories of individuals and entire families struggling to navigate the complexities of our nation’s existing systems, caught in the nets of bureaucracy and stymied by the winding legal paths that stretched in front of them. It’s true that the legal system is difficult to navigate, and my primary aspiration is to use a keen eye and a deep understanding of law as a human rights lawyer, leveraging the sharpness intrinsic to the legal profession to clear paths forward and cut people free.

Georgetown shares my belief that compassion and drive are not mutually exclusive. Its identity as an intellectually rigorous university at the forefront of breakthroughs across disciplines is grounded in its Jesuit values—each advancement made at Georgetown is motivated by a firm commitment to service, envisioned with the betterment of society in mind. While taking advantage of programs that will propel me toward a dynamic legal career, like the Georgetown Law Early Assurance Program and assisting Professor Marc Howard in his Prisons and Justice initiative, I will simultaneously have access to myriad service opportunities and find strength to pursue this challenging work through a community that shares my values.

Applicants to the School of Nursing:

Georgetown University’s 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.

Unlike most ‘why this school?’ prompts, this question seeks to identify how the pedagogical values of the School of Nursing align with your own vocational goals. Beyond the traditional components of an academic skill set, the program seeks to inculcate specific values by training ethical, empathetic, and transformational leaders. In answering this question, demonstrate why those values are important to you and how you hope to develop or hone such qualities. As you describe your reasons for studying nursing, be sure to show (rather than tell) the admissions committee where your passion for the field originates. Perhaps a particularly impactful experience led you to realize that empathy is key to communication and care. Perhaps a teacher or mentor helped you to see that empathy is the foundation of healing . Whatever your reason(s), be sure to clearly articulate why you want to study the profession at a school that holds these particular values.

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.

Like most “why this school?” questions, this prompt is asking you to answer two different questions: why do you want to study what you want to study and why do you want to do it at Georgetown in particular? Be sure to explain why your educational goals align with the mission of the School of Health—note that the prompt specifically names innovation, interdisciplinarity, and community engagement as central to the school’s mission. You should therefore seek to tie your own interests and goals back to these core values.

Be specific in the discussion of your intended major: what aspects of the academic program interest you and why? Are there specific faculty, courses, or research pathways that you want to take advantage of? If so, be sure to explain how taking advantage of such opportunities will allow you to reach your vocational goals after graduation.

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.

This question is similar to those posed by Georgetown’s other schools: what factors have influenced you to commit to the Walsh School of Foreign Service? How will your pursuit of education help you to create positive change in your local, national, or international community? Write about the major you intend to pursue and the direct impact you hope to have on specific systems or populations. Think about any gaps in your local or larger community you wish to address with your education and determination. Finally, remember that the best way to show the admissions committee your values is by pointing to your past experience of putting them into action. As such, point to meaningful experiences in your high school career that have exposed you to issues and opportunities in your field before connecting these experiences to your goals and intentions as a student and community member in the Walsh School of Foreign Service. Give detailed examples that can testify to your critical thinking skills, ability to apply what you’ve studied, and awareness of current 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. Describe your primary motivations for studying business at Georgetown University.

Provide a thorough explanation as to why you value this school’s pedagogy. Although analytical, financial, and global perspectives are important topics, make sure to think carefully about what an “ethical” perspective means to you. Recount your past experiences and describe your future endeavors with the foundation provided by the Mcdonough School in mind.

Ultimately, the most important task in answering these prompts is to do your research! Look for the resources that are only available at Georgetown that draw you to apply to the school. Explore the school-specific programs, faculty, research, and study abroad programs that will strengthen your learning experience and enhance your academic enrichment. Think about ways you will be challenged in your area of study in Georgetown’s unique environment.

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Georgetown University Supplemental Essay Prompts: 2024-2025

Georgetown University has released its 2024-2025 admissions essays for applicants to the Class of 2029 . The Jesuit institution, which has for years bucked the trend of joining The Common Application , asks applicants to respond to three essays in addition to one essay that is school-specific within the broader university. So, what are this year’s essay prompts? Hint, hint: they’re the same as last year’s. Let’s dive in!

2024-2025 Georgetown Essay Topics and Questions

Essay prompts for all georgetown applicants.

All Georgetown applicants must answer the following three essay prompts

1. Please elaborate on any special talents or skills you would like to highlight (250 words) .

Applicants should focus on a skill related to the hook they’ve showcased in the activities section of their Georgetown application. After all, Georgetown’s admissions committee doesn’t care if an applicant can juggle. Even if the skill doesn’t relate to the student’s hook, the talent must showcase intellectual curiosity or it’s a wasted opportunity.

2. Briefly discuss the significance to you of the school or summer activity in which you have been most involved (approximately 1/2 page, single-spaced) .

Applicants should shine a spotlight on one of their more meaningful activities. And, yes, this activity should relate to the student’s hook. If a student is interested in studying political science, the activity they write about for this essay prompt should not relate to physics. Georgetown’s admissions committee wants to see how applicants are going to make the world better in a small but meaningful way. As such, this is an opportunity to show rather than tell how they’ve done that to date through the prism of a specific extracurricular pursuit.

3. 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 own background, identity, skills, and talents. (approximately 1 page, single-spaced)

It’s unsurprising that unlike many of its peer institutions, Georgetown has made few changes to its application in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling outlawing Affirmative Action. After all, Georgetown’s longtime Dean of Admissions Charles Deacon is well known for his aversion to change. For example, it took a worldwide pandemic for the man to finally switch to notifying applicants of their decisions via the Internet rather than snail mail.

While this essay is similar to last year’s third essay prompt required of all applicants, the wording is slightly different. Unlike last year’s prompt, Georgetown has included “background” and “identity.” Last year, the prompt read, “As Georgetown is a diverse community, the Admissions Committee would like to know more about you in your own words. Please submit a brief essay, either personal or creative, which you feel best describes you.”

Now, keep in mind that some schools, like Johns Hopkins University , included bold language that very much capitalized on the loophole Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts penned in his majority opinion outlawing Affirmative Action , allowing schools to continue to consider a candidate’s race in context: “Nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.” Georgetown, unsurprisingly, didn’t go nearly as far in its language under its reluctant-to-modernize admissions czar — but it’s a step nonetheless.

Students need not be underrepresented minorities to answer this prompt powerfully. Students can instead write about their faith, community, or experiences, but we do encourage applicants who are underrepresented minorities to subtly make it clear since Georgetown, like all highly selective universities, continues to wish to admit a diverse class of students.

Georgetown School-Specific Essay Prompts

For the school-specific essay, irrespective of the school, the essay should not exceed one page, single-spaced.

Georgetown College of Arts and Sciences

A liberal arts education from the College of Arts & Sciences involves encounters with new concepts and modes of inquiry. Describe something (a class, a book, an event, etc.) that changed your thinking. (Applicants to the sciences, mathematics, public policy or languages are encouraged to include examples related to that field.)

Georgetown’s admissions committee wants to understand how an applicant thinks. Through a specific anecdote or anecdotes (no matter a student’s chosen field of study) — be it via a book, event, classroom discussion, lecture, or anything — it behooves applicants to shine a light on how they are filled with conviction. Yet, they’re also malleable to change when presented with better ideas. And, of course, it wouldn’t hurt to pepper — by showing rather than telling — the importance of the Jesuit tradition and, in particular, Cura personalis, in their storytelling.

McDonough School of Business

The McDonough School of Business is a national and global leader in providing graduates with essential ethical, analytical, financial and global perspectives. Please discuss your motivations for studying business at Georgetown.

This essay prompt presents applicants with an opportunity to share an origin story — as high schoolers rather than as children — for their interest in business. Ideally, the origin story traces to an activity featured in the student’s Georgetown activities section. And, of course, McDonough isn’t looking to admit future business titans just out for money. They want to understand how applicants will make the world better in a small but meaningful way. As such, McDonough applicants should infuse their essays with Jesuit traditions — and why they matter to them in business. And, yes, this essay should also be infused with Why McDonough and Why Georgetown specifics (and, no, name-dropping professors and listing classes don’t count as genuine specifics).

Walsh School of Foreign Service

The Walsh School of Foreign Service was founded more than a century ago to prepare generations of leaders to solve global problems. What is motivating you to dedicate your undergraduate studies to a future in service to the world?

Walsh is looking to learn the origin story of an applicant’s interest in foreign service — as high schoolers rather than as children. Through a specific anecdote or anecdotes, which ideally trace back to the student’s activities so they’re showing rather than telling, applicants should highlight how they hope to leave a mark on the wall in a way that can be actualized. Stopping climate change can’t be actualized. Incentivizing countries to be greener — based on specific research and insights — is much more doable.

School of Health

Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care at Georgetown University. Please specifically address your intended major (Global Health, Health Care Management & Policy, or Human Science).

Georgetown’s School of Health seeks to understand a student’s origin story, as a high schooler, for their interest in the disciplines under the School of Health’s umbrella. A grandparent becoming ill with breast cancer is not the way into such an essay since it’s all too common and doesn’t say enough about how a student thinks and how they wish to leave a mark on their field.

Instead, applicants should tell a small story that ideally relates to an activity they’ve participated in during high school, that showcases precisely why they want to contribute to the health field and how they hope to make a difference — and always in a small but deeply meaningful way.

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10 College Admissions Essay Pet Peeves from Ivy Coach

Toward the conquest of admission.

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