A hopeful student

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My lifelong goal, so far, has been to attend Georgetown. I recently finished my junior year of high school at Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Maryland. My parents met and were married at Georgetown and have had all 8 of their kids at Georgetown hospital. We are members of the HHC though my parents do not donate elsewhere. I have somewhere between a 3.5 and 3.75 GPA and between a 4.25 and 4.5 WGPA. I have taken 8 AP courses and plan on taking another 5 next year and have received an average score of a 4 on my 8 AP tests, almost guaranteeing me national AP scholar award. I received commendation for my PSAT score(i think it was 210), taken 3 SAT2s averaging about a 700, and a 2050 on the SATs. However, I'm more likely to use my ACT composite score of 35 when applying.

Any tips on what I could do to improve my chances? What do you think my chances are as of now?

Any feedback would be welcomed.

If you want any more info(extracurriculars, classes taken, etc.) I'd be happy to supply it.

[The Stig]

Well, I'm a current student who's still trying to figure out how I got in.

1. With extracurriculars etc., stick with things you're passionate about. From what I've heard, schools like it when students have a few things they're heavily involved in, rather than a lot of things that they're less involved in. In other words, quality matters more than quantity, at least from what I've heard. I did three main extracurricular activities. None of them were terribly prestigious, I wasn't the best at any of them, but I stuck with them all and put a lot of time into them. I think that helped me.

2. Get teachers who like you to write your reccomendations. It sounds obvious, but a lot of kids overanalyze it and try to be strategic about it. That's all well and good, but if the teacher writing it doesn't like you you're getting nowhere. If they can each say different (good) things about you, that's a bonus. I had an English and a history teacher write for me, and the history teacher had also worked with me in an extracurricular.

3. Write an essay that only you could write, and have fun with it. I had a blast writing my essay (I usually hate writing), and it was probably the best I've ever written. It was a fairly lighthearted piece (I spent a lot of it making fun of myself), but it had a good point to it. That's another important thing - make sure you're saying something with your essay.

4. Increase the use of anything you think may bring you luck. Then increase it again. The whole admissions process is a crapshoot, and luck plays a huge role. There were some kids a year behind me at my high school who got rejected from Georgetown, and they had much better resumes than I did.

In the end, just be yourself on the application. Don't try to pretend that you're somebody you're not - that hurts your chances a lot.

[strummer8526]

Yeah, like stig said, it seems like sometimes, admission is incredibly random. Your numbers are better than mine were 4 years ago...except the SAT(?) which I can't figure out how the hell to translate to a 1600 point scale. But the GPA, SAT2s, and APs are all very impressive, and I would think put you somewhere in a VERY high percentage of the applicant pool. Write a unique essay but not something gimmicky. Knowing people who have worked in admissions, stupid tricks don't work. One girl wrote her essay and had it put on the pack of a T-Shirt with some dumb picture on the front. In the end, the content of the essay wasn't very good. So write something original, but original in content, not form. With extracurriculars, look for a few things where you can get into a leadership position. A space of "position" or "title" is always on applications, and I think that schools don't take your involvement in a group seriously unless you put in the commitment and showed the ability to move up within the organization. If it's a newspaper, go for an editor position, sports team captain, something like that. Academically, it doesn't look like there's much more you can do, and anything that you COULD do wouldn't be worth it. Stay well-rounded, and enjoy your senior year.

[PhillyHoya]

One thing not mentioned - interview well. Again, be yourself. I made up a resume of sorts with the courses I was taking, my extracurriculars, other things I enjoyed on it, etc. and it really drove the interview. Interviewers respond well when you look like you enjoy the things you're talking about.

[theexorcist]

A few comments:

1. A lot of it is luck. A lot. If you do get in, you're not the next ruling elite (at least not yet). If you don't get in, your life isn't over. I work with people who attended a variety of colleges (and a few who didn't go), many of whom are happy with who they are and many of whom are much smarter than I am. Keep this in mind.

2. You can't do much about this now, but think about who you are and what drives you. I don't care if you were a member of twenty clubs. If you were a member of one club that you really were involved in, that matters more - it means you have drive and passion and just aren't joining things for the resume boost. This matters for the interview, too - sell yourself as someone who's passionate about the environment, or about politics.

One of the more damning discussions on a potential applicant for some college I've heard was that they were on a sports team for four years. Nothing in the way of personal accomplishment, like an all-conference or most-improved player. They just checked the box. Don't check the box. Show how you participated AND IMPROVED.

3. Remember that lots of people are passionate about the environment or politics. Ask yourself why you're unique. Maybe you're passionate about US-Turkish relations because a neighbor is from Ankara. This story can get woven into your essay (maybe) and your interview (maybe) as you differentiate yourself from every other wannabe Hill Rat, Foreign Service Officer, or investment banker.

4. None of the above means that you should focus on where you want to be in twenty years. If you want to go to SFS and be the President, Secretary of State or Defense, NSC Chair, or an international lawyer, get in line. I guarantee you, what you will be doing ten years from now will be different than what you expected. Spend more time thinking (and selling) who you are, the direction you'd like to go, and how you feel that GU can help you get there.

5. Why do you want to go to Georgetown? What about it appeals to you? Help this to define the above. Maybe you're passionate about studying accounting and want to cheer on a good basketball team. Georgetown is very different from St. John's or Virginia Tech. Ask yourself first why you don't want to go to a rural campus, or one in Boston or Austin or wherever. It's also important to do a gut check and make sure that you'd be happy here - you're not going to know everybody in your freshman class, and you won't have as many extracurricular options as you might at a school like Michigan. Remember, if you don't like Georgetown and transfer, you don't wind up giving Georgetown money - if you can convince people you'll be happy here, they'll be more likely to admit you.

6. This may be more SFS, but Georgetown usually likes international knowledge/involvement. If you don't have something obvious, dig deeper. Mention the vacation your family took to Mexico, or your friendship with the Somali librarian, or your studying the history of a relative who came from Russia, or watching the CFL, or liking bhangra, or watching Pan's Labyrinth. Don't oversell it, but if you can, try to work it in somewhere.

7. Don't slack off senior year. This includes the second half of senior year. Really. I know you don't intend to now, but really don't. Some of your grades get sent to schools you'll apply to, and it might make the difference if you're borderline. Once you've figured out how you want to sell yourself as above, spend a little more elbow grease doing those one or two things that show your commitment (you don't have to run it - just volunteer for a few petition drives to prove that you are really interested in baby seal clubbing or practice a little more

8. If you get rejected, it's not the end of the world. I think Georgetown still allows reconsideration (though the odds are small) - keep on plugging away at your senior year classes, and see if you can get in under the wire.

If not, and you still want to go to Georgetown, pick a second-choice school and figure out what a Georgetown freshman in your case would take. Make the classes match as closely as possible and apply for a transfer. Hey, it worked for me - I got the short letter from Dean Deacon a year before I got the big one.

[strummer8526]

Exorcist's post reminded me: when I was in your position, I had wanted my entire life to go to Princeton. My mother's entire family went there (except her b/c the year she was applying was the first year Princeton accepted women, so that didn't happen.) But I was a legacy, lived in the area, knew how great an institution it was, and already owned some nice Princeton swag. One day, I was at a diner with 2 of my good friends from high school. One of them said "I liked Princeton's campus, but I loved how much there was to do around Georgetown." The other friend agreed. Something went off in my mind. I had never even been to Georgetown, and I just knew from that moment that we'd all be going there. There three of us just graduated after living together for 3 years. In a million years, I wouldn't give up a minute of Georgetown for a full scholarship to Princeton. If you asked me 5 years ago, I'd never believe that this would be possible.

The Point: What you're thinking of doing now may not be what you end up doing. More importantly, it may not be what you even WANT to do. Stay open to things that may seems totally foreign right now.

[hoopsmccan]

Agree with what Strummer said. Not everyone is G'town material...if you don't measure up, I'm sure you will find a degree of happiness elsewhere...

hm

[Nevada Hoya]

All good advice. I have been interviewing for Georgetown for twenty years or so and honestly I can't tell you the magical formula. I used to think I knew who would get in by their GPA and SAT scores. Not anymore. I had a student with an 800 in math and seven something in English and she didn't get in. I think the essay is important and the extracurriculars with the leadership roles is important too. Don't blow the interview, but on the other hand the interview is only counted (as much as I can tell) if you are "on the bubble." So keep up that RPI, I mean GPA. I also like when a student brings his/her resumes. It makes it easier for me when I am writing out the interview form. It seems as if you are two thirds there with the grades and college boards and having both your parents as alumni. And your 765 posts can't hurt.

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nevadahoya3 said:

And your 765 posts can't hurt.

Can i put that in as an extracurricular ;D

Thanks for all the advice everyone, i'll try to put it to good use.

[HoyaSinceBirth]

yeah i don't think the interview is that big of a deal unless your borderline. My interviewer was out of the country so i didn't do my interview until i was already accepted so it can't weigh that much into the decison.

[hoyaLS05]

hoyasincebirth said:

yeah i don't think the interview is that big of a deal unless your borderline. My interviewer was out of the country so i didn't do my interview until i was already accepted so it can't weigh that much into the decison.

Well, I mean I don't know if anything is a big deal unless you are borderline.

That said, I think an interview is a great way to push yourself over the top if you have the opportunity to do one.

[SirSaxa]

Unfortunately, I have nothing to do with GU admissions.
But if I did, you'd be in!

Good luck!

Oh, and whatever happens, you'll always be welcome in the family of Hoya fans!

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

A bit of advice:

Follow the Tao of Ari Gold. If it looks like you might not get in, go into the admissions office and start screaming at people. If that doesn't work try to buy them. If that doesn't work try to threaten them. If that doesn't work try to blackmail them. If that doesn't work try to go behind their backs and do it anyway. If that fails too, trade them something.

[CWS]

A lot of great advice.

One caution: don't say anything in which you make undergrad degree sound like a stepping stone to something else, i.e., to some specific goal (e.g., "I want to go to G'town b/c it will help me get into a great law school"). Gtown wants students who will be invested in the four years undergrad experience and to the new possibilities and ways of looking at things that a liberal arts education can engender in a person.

[newsouth]

A quick tidbit on the interview... Be sure to let your enthusiasm for Georgetown show in the interview. I've been doing interviews for a couple years and I roll my eyes at some kids who say Georgetown is their top choice even though they've never visited before. I think your obvious passion for Gtown is a huge bonus. Clearly, don't be obnoxious about it in the interview, but don't be afraid to show this enthusiasm.
Also, like other posters have mentioned before, keep an open mind. Gtown was near the bottom of the list when I initially applied (I thought I wanted an isolated mountain school like Dartmouth, middlebury, etc), but i clearly changed my mind after my second visit. You get a different perspective after you've been accepted. Good Luck!

[Cambridge]

newsouth said:

A quick tidbit on the interview... Be sure to let your enthusiasm for Georgetown show in the interview. I've been doing interviews for a couple years and I roll my eyes at some kids who say Georgetown is their top choice even though they've never visited before. I think your obvious passion for Gtown is a huge bonus. Clearly, don't be obnoxious about it in the interview, but don't be afraid to show this enthusiasm.
Also, like other posters have mentioned before, keep an open mind. Gtown was near the bottom of the list when I initially applied (I thought I wanted an isolated mountain school like Dartmouth, middlebury, etc), but i clearly changed my mind after my second visit. You get a different perspective after you've been accepted. Good Luck!

I strongly second this post. I also interview applicants and I give my strongest recommendations to the kids that are most excited about Georgetown. That's not to say I'm not taking into account all the other aspects of their life, but almost every one of the applicants I've ever interviewed has been very highly qualified; what distinguishes some candidates is their enthousiasm, knowledge and excitement.

[jacko]

stpetersburghoya said:

A bit of advice:

Follow the Tao of Ari Gold. If it looks like you might not get in, go into the admissions office and start screaming at people. If that doesn't work try to buy them. If that doesn't work try to threaten them. If that doesn't work try to blackmail them. If that doesn't work try to go behind their backs and do it anyway. If that fails too, trade them something.

Ari Gold is funny on tv, but I would use his actions as a model for how not to live my life.

Try not to Edited off the nice folks at the Admissions Office. It's one thing to come across as innocently persistent and quite another to come across as a psychopath. And try to be resourceful in seeking information independently (don't call with questions until you've come up empty in a web search).

Just know that there is no magic formula - do the best you can. There is some good advice on this thread.

[Cambridge]

Didn't somebody on this board camp out on Healy Lawn for a week to get off the waiting list?

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

jacko said:

stpetersburghoya said:

A bit of advice:

Follow the Tao of Ari Gold. If it looks like you might not get in, go into the admissions office and start screaming at people. If that doesn't work try to buy them. If that doesn't work try to threaten them. If that doesn't work try to blackmail them. If that doesn't work try to go behind their backs and do it anyway. If that fails too, trade them something.

Ari Gold is funny on tv, but I would use his actions as a model for how not to live my life.

Try not to Edited off the nice folks at the Admissions Office. It's one thing to come across as innocently persistent and quite another to come across as a psychopath. And try to be resourceful in seeking information independently (don't call with questions until you've come up empty in a web search).

Just know that there is no magic formula - do the best you can. There is some good advice on this thread.

Um. That was just a joke. The real advice would be to think critically about how you are presenting yourself and what your application says and doesn't say. If Georgetown admitted everyone based on a 30 minute face-to-face conversation with the Dean of Admissions what would you tell him? Make sure that's in your application and highlighted in your interview. Also, there are many paths to happiness. If you really think that Georgetown is for you that's great - but attaching all of your worth to a dozen letters in December-March is no way to spend your senior year of high school. You can always transfer in or go to GU for graduate school. Just keep an open mind in the process and remember that even if you don't get in - some of the smartest people I know are the one's who know how to hit a curveball.

[jacko]

I figured it was a joke, but I have worked in the Admissions Office and you really don't know with some people (not you, but how others might read advice like that).