How to Apply to Life Sciences and Nursing at Georgetown University: Apply Directly to a School, with Biology and Related B.S. Majors in the College, the BSN in the Berkley School of Nursing, Human Science in the School of Health, and the Path for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Georgetown University is in Washington, D.C. You apply directly to one of six undergraduate schools, which becomes your academic home. Its life-science and health programs sit in three of them: the College of Arts & Sciences, the Berkley School of Nursing and the School of Health. The former School of Nursing & Health Studies (NHS) was divided into the last two on 1 July 2022, and the NHS page on the medical center site only redirects to them. There is no pre-med major in the United States, and Georgetown’s pre-health office states that pre-health is not a major. This guide summarises Georgetown’s published information for fall 2027 entry for U.S. applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students.

1. Relevant undergraduate programs

• College of Arts & Sciences (B.S.): the admissions “Sciences” list includes Biology, Biochemistry, Biological Physics and Chemistry. The Department of Biology runs four majors: Biology (with optional concentrations in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology or in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior), Biology of Global Health, Environmental Biology and Neurobiology. A College B.S. major needs at least 39 credits within 120 credits for the degree.
• Berkley School of Nursing: the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a traditional four-year direct-entry program with 800+ clinical, lab, simulation and experiential hours; the school says students are well prepared for the NCLEX-RN. There is also a three-semester competitive BSN Honors Program.
• School of Health: B.S. majors in Human Science, Global Health and Health Care Management and Policy. Human Science applies discoveries in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics to human health and, the school says, differs from a traditional biology major.
• Public health: there is no undergraduate public health major of that name; the Berkley School of Nursing bulletin describes an 18-credit Public Health minor drawing on School of Health and Nursing faculty.
• Others: Neurobiology sits in the Department of Biology; the B.S. in Environment and Sustainability is a joint program with the Earth Commons Institute, with two years on the Hilltop Campus and two on the Capitol Campus.
• Whether these programs are STEM-designated, and whether there is a combined bachelor’s/medical-degree program: not stated on the pages we read. Georgetown does have an Early Assurance Program with its School of Medicine for its own students (section 3).

2. Admission: you apply directly to a School

• Choosing a school: each applicant applies to one school and writes a school-specific essay of up to 500 words.
• College science majors: Georgetown says science majors have specific course sequencing and advising from the first year, so a science major must be selected when you apply; admitted students are expected to stay in the program for at least their first year and formally select it in sophomore year. The Biology department says all students begin as Biology majors and declare one of its four majors in the fall of sophomore year (Neurobiology is applied for in the fall of the second year). Its applicant page quotes a declaration deadline of 20 October 2025, says later requests use a form that is processed in mid-March, and gives no 2026 date; contact the department.
• Nursing (BSN): a direct-entry program of the Berkley School of Nursing. The pages we read give no separate nursing deadline or seat count; the BSN admissions email is bsnadmissions@georgetown.edu. The bulletin says students must earn a C in every required science, health studies and nursing course to progress, and that “transfer to the Nursing major” is selective and varies by year; it does not say whether that means moving within Georgetown or coming from another institution.
• School of Health: the bulletin says students must reach the required quality point index in every course to be promoted; transfer to Health Care Management and Policy and to Global Health is generally limited to students with an overall GPA of 3.0, and transfer to Human Science is selective and varies by year.
• Entry conditions (GPA, required-course grades, seats) for College science majors: not published on the pages we read.

3. Pre-med: what the pre-health office says

• Pre-health is not a major; any undergraduate can follow the curriculum, in majors across the College, the School of Health, the Business School and the School of Foreign Service. Choose a major by the courses you want, not by a hoped-for specialty.
• College bulletin prerequisites (a full year of each): mathematics (one semester of statistics and one of calculus), general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, Foundations in Biology I plus a second biology course with lab, and one semester of biochemistry. The B.S. majors cover all or some of these; the rest are taken as electives, and an A.B. humanities or social science major can also fit them in.
• AP credit: the pre-health office says AP credit can be used only for half of the math requirement; all biology, chemistry (including organic) and physics must be done at Georgetown, and at least one math course too.
• Committee letter: the Pre-Health Recommendation Committee (PHRC) provides a committee letter for medical and dental applicants.
• Early Assurance Program (EAP) with the Georgetown School of Medicine: students who excel can receive assurance of admission at the end of sophomore year, without the MCAT. Requirements: be in the fourth semester, complete four of the five pre-med sequences (including organic chemistry), keep at least 3.6 overall and in math/science, and earn no C or lower. The site says transfer students are not eligible; over the past five years the number of applicants ranged from 10 to 22 and acceptances from 5 to 8. You need not be a science major.
• Whether international students can use the EAP, and any limits on applying to U.S. medical schools: not stated on the pages we read; email prehealth@georgetown.edu or see the School of Medicine’s EAP page.

4. High school preparation

• All applicants: four years of English, at least two years each of social studies, a language and mathematics, and one year of natural science.
• College science and mathematics majors: four years of mathematics and at least three years of science.
• Berkley School of Nursing or School of Health: four years of mathematics and at least three years of science.
• Recommendations: applicants to science, health or mathematics programs should have at least one recommendation from a science or math teacher.
• AP / IB credit: the Biology department accepts credit from one of AP Biology, AP Environmental Science or IB Higher Level Biology: a 5 on AP Biology or AP Environmental Science gives 2 major credits and a 4 gives 1; IB HL Biology 6 or 7 gives 2 upper-division elective credits within the 44 biology credits. Everyone must still take Foundations in Biology I and II (BIOL 1203/1213 and 1204/1214), whatever the score. IB credit is given only for Higher Level scores of 6 or 7. Other AP and IB credit is set by each school; see the undergraduate Bulletin.
• First two years: biology, chemistry, mathematics and core courses. Foundations in Biology and General Chemistry are both 5-credit courses, so the department suggests four courses, not five, in the first fall. Organic chemistry and physics are not advised in year one, and some medical schools now require biochemistry in place of Organic II.

5. Rounds, deadlines and materials

• Early Action (non-binding): 1 November, decisions by 15 December. Early Action applicants may not apply to binding Early Decision programs but may apply to other non-binding early action programs.
• Regular Decision: 1 January, decisions by 1 April; replies due 1 May. The pages print no year, so check that the dates are for fall 2027 entry.
• Applications: the Georgetown Application (opens 1 June) or the Common App (opens 1 August). The fee amount is not stated on the pages we read; fee waivers are available.
• Essays: two short essays (250 words), one 650-word personal essay and one 500-word school-specific essay (nursing applicants discuss what influenced their interest in nursing; School of Health applicants address the intended major; College applicants interested in sciences are encouraged to name their major).
• Recommendations: one from a school counselor and one from a teacher (a second teacher letter is welcome), from a core-subject teacher, preferably within the last two years.
• Testing: required: SAT or ACT, at least one full sitting, no superscoring; SAT reading/writing and math only; the ACT science section is highly recommended, especially for science majors; AP scores are strongly recommended.
• Interview: alumni interviews are a key part; you must complete an assigned interview, and some internationally based applicants may not be assigned one because of availability, with no negative effect.
• Mid-year report: due 10 February.

6. U.S. applicants

• Cost: Georgetown is private, and its cost table lists one tuition with no in-state/out-of-state split; any in-state preference is not stated on the pages we read.
• 2026-27 first-year cost: tuition and fees $74,732, housing about $13,944, food $8,236, books $1,000, transportation $780, personal $2,132, loan fees $40, total about $100,864. For nursing students, tuition and fees are $75,091 and personal expenses $2,332, total $101,423.
• Aid: need-based only, with no academic or merit scholarships; Georgetown meets 100% of demonstrated need for U.S. citizens and permanent residents through grants, scholarships, employment and federal loans. Submit the FAFSA and the CSS Profile by 1 February. The first-year minimum student contribution is $2,200.
• Research and placements: Biology offers the Research Intensive Senior Experience (RISE), in the department, the medical school or elsewhere in D.C.; Human Science students do a research internship in senior year; Global Health has a senior-year practicum; Health Care Management and Policy has a senior internship; nursing students work with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Numbers of placements are not published.

7. International applicants

• Process: the same as for U.S. applicants, with the same 1 November and 1 January deadlines; citizenship has no impact on review, and applicants are read in the context of their school and curriculum.
• Credentials: send credentials from the whole secondary school experience; Georgetown’s example is that fall 2027 applicants submit documents starting from the 2023-2024 year, four years in all. Non-English transcripts need English translations, which your school may provide, accompanied by the originals. Projected or final A-Level, IB or French Baccalauréat results must come from your school.
• Testing: SAT or ACT is required for international applicants too, except in exceptional cases where you cannot reach a test center, which you explain in a form.
• English: for students whose school does not teach in English, an English test is recommended but not required (Duolingo, IELTS or TOEFL); no score is listed.
• Aid: admitted students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are considered for a very limited number of need-based scholarships; indicate your interest on the application and submit the CSS Profile. If you do not receive one in your first year you will not be offered one later, and awardees reapply every year. The aid office suggests considering private education loans.
• Visas: students who need a Form I-20 or DS-2019 apply through the Office of Global Services; the process is not immediate, so start early.
• Whether international students face limits in nursing clinical placements or labs: not stated on the pages we read.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: Georgetown does not explain how it uses the Gaokao, and the pages we read have no China-specific guidance. Contact admissions (see its Contact Us page).
• Transcripts and exam results: whole-secondary-school records; Chinese transcripts need English translations with the originals. The site names A-Level, IB and French Baccalauréat results for exam-system students and does not mention Chinese provincial or Gaokao-linked exams.
• Testing and English: SAT or ACT required; an English test is recommended.
• Interview: the site says only that some internationally based applicants may not be assigned an alumni interview because of availability, with no negative effect.
• Expectations for the Chinese curriculum in math and science are not stated; follow section 4 and confirm with admissions.

9. Transfer

• Deadlines: fall 2027 entry 1 March 2027; spring entry (January 2027) 1 November 2026, open to first- and second-year students. Apply only through the Georgetown Application, choosing a school and a major; American Studies, Business and Global Affairs and International Business, Language, and Culture do not accept transfer applicants.
• Eligibility: a high school diploma or equivalent, at least one full-time semester (12 transferable credits) and no more than four full-time semesters; a cumulative B+ or higher is recommended; SAT or ACT is required if you graduated high school within the past five years.
• Coursework suggestions: nursing applicants are encouraged to take Human Anatomy I and II, chemistry and Georgetown Core-style liberal arts courses; School of Health applicants the core and the 1000- and 2000-level courses in the major’s guide, with a year of biology and/or chemistry before enrolling if you plan the pre-med track and one semester of probability and statistics; College science applicants coursework matching the intended major.
• Credit: grades must be at least one level above minimum passing; at most half the degree credits (60) transfer; you must spend at least four full-time semesters at Georgetown, and summer and study abroad do not count.
• Aid: international citizens applying for transfer are not eligible for need-based aid.
• EAP: transfer students are not eligible.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• Pick a school and, for sciences, a major; four years of math and at least three of science; SAT or ACT required
• Early Action 1 November or Regular Decision 1 January; FAFSA and CSS Profile by 1 February

International applicants (including China):

• SAT or ACT required; an English test is recommended; Chinese documents with English translations and originals
• Indicate aid interest on the application and submit the CSS Profile; confirm how the Gaokao is used with admissions

Transfer students:

• 1 March 2027; at least 12 credits and no more than four semesters; B+ recommended; up to 60 credits transfer; no need-based aid for international transfers

Sources: Georgetown University, Undergraduate schools and majors; Biology undergraduate programs; Biology major; Neurobiology major; Biology: for applicants; Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Nursing admissions; School of Health bachelor’s programs; Human Science; Global Health; Health Care Management and Policy; Split of the former School of Nursing & Health Studies; Bulletin: College of Arts & Sciences; Bulletin: Berkley School of Nursing; Bulletin: School of Health; Pre-Health: prospective undergraduates; Early Assurance Program; EAP timeline; First-year applicants; Application requirements; Preparing and credits; International applicants; Financial aid; 2026-27 cost of attendance; International student aid; Transfer applicants; Transfer requirements; Preparing to transfer. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures); check Georgetown’s website for the latest.