Title: Georgetown Begins Accepting the Common Application for Undergraduate Admissions

On Aug. 1, Georgetown will begin accepting the Common Application for students applying to the university for fall 2027.

This is the first time the university is offering the Common Application, which is used by more than a million students, in addition to its current application.

The additional application will make Georgetown’s admissions process more accessible to students from a wide variety of backgrounds, said Soyica Diggs Colbert (C’01), interim provost. 

“The Common App will broaden Georgetown’s applicant pool by attracting students with a wider range of backgrounds and lived experiences,” Colbert said. “It will also enable the university to connect with more prospective applicants who are interested in Georgetown but may not have otherwise applied.”

Georgetown’s Common Application

More than 1,100 colleges and universities use the Common App, which allows students to apply to multiple universities and colleges from one platform.

Prospective students can apply to Georgetown using either the Common App or its traditional application, said Melissa Costanzi (SLL’95, G’18), dean of admissions. There is no advantage to submitting one application over the other, she said. 

“We welcome students to apply using either application platform,” Costanzi said. “And while we are offering a new option, our admissions standards remain the same. Our admissions process will continue to reflect a comprehensive, holistic approach to identifying, enrolling and supporting students from all backgrounds.” 

Georgetown’s Commitment to Pell Eligibility

In addition to the Common App, Georgetown will continue to consider students’ Pell eligibility as part of its comprehensive admissions process. 

This year, the university increased its financial aid budget for the upcoming academic year to $292 million, the largest commitment to financial aid in the university’s history. The commitment will continue to help expand the enrollment of socioeconomically diverse students.

Learn more about the Common Application and Georgetown’s admissions process from Costanzi.

When are both applications live?

The traditional application is live on our website now, and the Common App will go live on August 1, 2026. Prospective students should pick one of the two through which to apply. 

Are there any differences between the Common App and the Georgetown Application?

Our goal is to keep both applications as similar as possible, including both the questions and the essays. Both applications will have an application piece and a separate writing supplement.   

No matter which platform you apply through, we will review your entire application holistically, including certain key materials: your high school transcript and coursework, essay and short-answer prompts, teacher and counselor recommendation letters, extracurricular and community involvement, and standardized test scores.

Will applying to one application over the other affect a student’s chances?

We welcome students to apply using either application platform. There is no advantage to students submitting one application over the other and students will submit the same information to our office regardless of which application they choose.

Is there anything else students need to know once they submit either application?

Alumni interviews are a key part of Georgetown’s application process, allowing us to learn more about students’ high school experiences, college goals and interest in the university. Alumni interviews begin in September each year, and continue throughout the application cycle. We encourage students to submit their application as soon as it is complete. Early submission allows interviews to be assigned sooner, giving applicants greater flexibility and more time to coordinate with their alumni interviewer. 

• For students applying with the Georgetown Application, interviews can be assigned after submission of Part 1 of the application.
• For students applying with the Common Application, interviews can be assigned after submission of Georgetown’s initial portion of the Common Application. The writing supplement should be submitted by the application deadline.

For more information, visit Georgetown’s admissions page.