Georgetown essay scorer
Score your Georgetown essay in 60 seconds.
Georgetown University reviewers in Washington, D.C. read for specificity and fit: does this essay show that you'd thrive with the School of Foreign Service, cura personalis, and internship access in D.C.? Paste your draft and our free AI scorer will break down your content, structure, voice, and Georgetown-specific fit on a transparent rubric.
What gets graded for your Georgetown draft
- Content & message (30 pts): depth, reflection, concrete detail.
- Structure (25 pts): flow, transitions, purposeful paragraphs.
- Voice & style (25 pts): distinctiveness, sentence variety.
- Specificity & Georgetown fit (10 pts): do you sound like you've actually been on that campus or talked to students?
- Grammar & mechanics (10 pts).
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Brainstorm my Why Georgetown essayGeorgetown at a glance
- Type
- Private · Elite Private
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Known for
- the School of Foreign Service, cura personalis, and internship access in D.C.
- Why-essay word limit
- Changes annually — verify on the official application
Structural template for a supplemental "Why Georgetown" draft
Word count is the hardest constraint in the "Why Georgetown" essay. Here's how a strong draft at this length distributes its budget.
A specific moment that shows how you think. Read it aloud — if it could open another applicant's essay, rewrite it.
What the scene taught you. Concrete, not abstract.
Named programs, professors, courses, or traditions at Georgetown, with explicit reasoning about how you'd use them.
Forward-looking, specific to you at Georgetown.
What Georgetown looks for that differs from the Ivies
Georgetown is one of the most selective private universities in the country, but readers here tend to weight specificity and fit more explicitly than their Ivy peers. The essay is often the deciding document between two academically qualified candidates. Georgetown readers are looking for evidence that you have engaged with the specific culture of Georgetown — not just ranked-school prestige — and that you understand what the School of Foreign Service, cura personalis, and internship access in D.C. actually means in practice. Drafts that name two concrete Georgetown things with honest personal reasoning beat drafts that name five with thin connective tissue.
Location-specific angles most Georgetown applicants miss
Washington, D.C. shapes daily life at Georgetown in ways that most applicants don't reference. If your draft names a local context — a city lab, a field site, an urban/rural asymmetry — that specificity is rare enough to stand out. Avoid generic references to weather, food, or "diverse culture."
More Georgetown resources
Context on Georgetown admissions
Georgetown admits roughly 12 to 13 percent and uses its own application (not the Common App). Undergraduates apply to one of four schools: Georgetown College, SFS (foreign service), McDonough (business), or NHS (nursing and health). Interview is recommended.
Current Georgetown supplemental prompts
These are the prompts Georgetown has recently used. Always verify against the official Georgetown application before submitting.
Prompt 1
"Briefly describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying at Georgetown University."
Prompt 2
"SFS: 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?"
Prompt 3
"McDonough: Describe the factors and experiences that have led you to consider studying business at Georgetown. Please specifically address your intended major (Finance, Marketing, etc.) if applicable."
Prompt 4
"NHS: Describe the factors that have influenced your interest in studying health care at Georgetown."
Prompt 5
"Georgetown College: Briefly address your motivation to study the Arts and Sciences."
Three opening angles that work for Georgetown
- 1Georgetown's school-specific prompts are short (roughly 300 to 500 words). Open by committing to the school you're applying to (SFS, McDonough, NHS, or the College) and a specific program within it.
- 2For SFS, connect a global concern you actually care about to a specific SFS major (Science, Technology, and International Affairs; Regional and Comparative Studies; etc.). Generic 'I want to change the world' fails.
- 3Cura personalis (care for the whole person) is Georgetown's Jesuit framework. Engage with it, but only if you have a specific reason it matters to you.
Mistakes Georgetown reviewers see every year
- →Writing a Why Georgetown essay focused on D.C. internships. Every applicant writes this.
- →Applying to SFS without a clear global focus reflected in your activities or background.
- →Using the generic Georgetown Why Essay to describe Georgetown as 'prestigious' or 'a great school.' The prompt asks for factors, not adjectives.
Georgetown essay FAQ
Does Georgetown use the Common App?+
No. Georgetown has its own application, separate essays, and slightly different deadlines. Plan early.
What are Georgetown's four undergraduate schools?+
Georgetown College (arts and sciences), SFS (School of Foreign Service), McDonough School of Business, and NHS (School of Nursing and Health Studies).
Are interviews required for Georgetown?+
Interviews are strongly recommended, usually with an alumni volunteer. They are not required but completing one is a positive signal.
Is SFS harder to get into than the rest of Georgetown?+
SFS has a somewhat lower admit rate than Georgetown College in many years. More importantly, SFS admits have strong, demonstrable international or policy interests.
Does Georgetown offer merit aid?+
Georgetown primarily offers need-based aid. Merit awards are limited.