I’m trying to figure out if it’s even worth applying to Georgetown this year. It’s always been a school I’ve been drawn to because of its strengths in government and foreign service, but after my most recent SAT, I’m feeling a bit uncertain.
SAT: 1450 (Nov ’24 and March ’25), but I also have a 1400 (Aug '25)
I’m planning to test again in October (either SAT or ACT), but I’m not confident I’ll see a huge jump.
According to their Common Data Set, Georgetown’s 25th percentile is 1400, 50th is 1490, and 75th is 1540… so right now I’m hovering around the 25th percentile.
Since Georgetown sees all scores and is test-required, I know my 1450 is below most of their students, especially for someone without any hooks. My GPA and extracurriculars are strong, but I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth putting in the time for the application if my odds are realistically very low.
Here’s a bit more context about me, so it’s clear why I’m even thinking about Georgetown:
GPA: 4.0 UW / 5.22 W
Rank: Top 3% (17/567)
7 AP scores of 5
Auto-admit at UT Austin
U.S. State Department NSLI-Y (Mandarin)
Multiple national civic fellowships (TurnUp, Civics Unplugged, County Youth Leadership)
Policy research with Institute for Youth in Policy
Youth Ambassador through Sister Cities International (Germany)
Research assistant for a professor writing a Gen Z–focused book
VP and founding member of Model UN, multiple awards
Teen Advisory Council at a major museum
Public speaking and art awards
Fluent in Spanish, German, Urdu/Hindi/Punjabi; intermediate Mandarin
Most of my experiences are centered around civic engagement, policy, and international affairs, which is why Georgetown seems like such a natural fit
There is no difference in admissions advantage with EA vs RD, and the only restriction on EA is that you don’t apply ED anywhere (it sounds as though Georgetown is your top choice so I assume that’s not a limitation). So in my mind it’s really up to - do you think you’ll have a stronger application if you apply RD? If not, you may as well apply EA, hoping to hear early but with the understanding that most EA applicants are deferred to the RD pool anyway.
FWIW I agree that your resume looks strong, and your SAT is in the middle 50 so it is doesn’t put you out of the running at all. I would certainly apply if I were you.
Two things immediately come to mind reading your thread.
The first thing that generally comes to mind is that every student needs to have at least one solid safety. UT Austin is an excellent university. Being auto-admit there, assuming that you can get your desired major, gives you a great university to have as a safety. Assuming that you are in-state it is likely to be relatively affordable. With a safety that is this good, it is entirely reasonable for any other applications to be to reaches, or even just one reach (and yes this is what I did also years ago, although not the same in-state/in-province safety).
The other thing that comes to mind is that your grades, course rigor, references, and fit are all likely to be more important than your SAT score. Your grades are excellent. You seem to write well, and have a good explanation for why Georgetown is a good fit for you. Being fluent in five languages (including English) should also help you given your intended major.
Your SAT is closer to their median than to their 25th percentile, and is quite good and a solid score.
And I think that @momofboiler1 is exactly correct that the rest of your application (other than test score) looks very solid.
I would go ahead and apply EA to both UT Austin and Georgetown, and see how it comes out.
This is about grad school, so obviously a bit different, but I attended the Graduate School of Foreign Service at Georgetown. My GRE scores were….interesting. My verbal was within range, but my quant score was embarrassing. Like really embarrassing. They overlooked it. I got in.
Shoot your shot. It’s a hard school to get admitted to even with great scores, but you never know unless you try.
Two factors make predicting college acceptance for 2026 particularly dicey:
There will be fewer college applicants in 2026 because 2025 was the highest number in history. There will be fewer high school graduates in 2026, so the number of college applicants is expected to correspondingly also be fewer.
Because of policies of the current administration, there are expected to be fewer international applicants.
With fewer applicants, the numbers you are referencing from last year’s application cycle can be expected to change, making your numbers likely more competitive in this year’s applicant pool. Georgetown’s acceptance rate was 13% last year. So, even if it should increase by 50% this year, it would still have to be considered a reach for anyone. So, let it be one of your reaches.
But those are just the numbers. They seem so objective and therefore we give them more weight than we probably should. As others in this thread have pointed out, you are an incredibly strong applicant - especially for the field in which you’re interested. When the Admissions Office looks at your numbers, they will be reassured that you’re more than capable of meeting the academic standards which are required to handle the work load. After that, they probably won’t care much about your numbers and will look at the rest of your application.
So, why would you even consider not applying? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. As @tsbna44 has already said, “it’s not possible if you don’t apply.” And in the words of hockey immortal, Wayne Gretzky, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
I agree with your conclusion. But would encourage everyone NOT to put too much weight into the narrative “there are fewer applicants so it’s going to be easier”, i.e. schools are going to go from mega reach to just a skootch of a reach.
The shrinking college aged population is likely going to impact Eastern CT State college (located away from the growing population in the state) or Albright or College of the Atlantic or small, private, tuition dependent institutions in rural areas well before it hits urban, well endowed places like Georgetown with a national presence. I’m seeing so much of the “I might as well apply to Princeton since application numbers are going down” posts on CC and while I’d never tell a HS kid “don’t bother”, reality suggests that the admissions stats are not likely to change meaningfully at the well financed, well endowed U’s.
OP- You sound like a fantastic person. You should apply knowing that a reach is a reach- and make sure you have other schools on your list that you are excited about.
I am an SFS Alumna who interviewed candidates for decades for Georgetown and was fairly involved in the admissions process. I would definitely recommend you apply. Your profile fits SFS across many facets and your SAT should not be a deal breaker, IMO. As for EA vs RD, Georgetown has historically been more selective in the EA pool; if the process is the same as it has been in the past, I see no advantage for you to apply EA. I’m not sure I would bother taking the SAT again - obviously your call - but it could make sense to explore the ACT. If you consider that, I would take several timed previous actual ACTs and see if your results are significantly different than your SAT. As you noted, you will need to send all scores to Georgetown. I wish you the best!
agree with others, your GPA and activities are commendable (be proud!!), and your SAT is in range. Really, you shouldn’t be freaked out it isn’t above 50th percentile. Even if you don’t get in, I would be surprised if it was your test score that did it.
Definitely apply. You have an excellent background and it sounds like a great fit for you. Of course, it is a big reach but it would be a big reach even if your SAT score was 75 points higher so don’t let your SAT score (still very strong) deter you.
You meet the benchmark for scores and admissions is based on other things after that. Your EC’s are excellent and show that Georgetown is a good fit. Why wouldn’t you apply? As for early or regular, I have no idea. Up to you.
