How to Apply to Psychology at Georgetown University: Apply to the College of Arts & Sciences, Declare Psychology in Sophomore Year, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

Georgetown University has six undergraduate schools, and you apply directly to one of them. Psychology is a major in the College of Arts & Sciences, leading to the Psychology, AB. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Georgetown’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Admission and the psychology major

• Choose a school: first-year applicants choose a school, not a major. The College essay asks why you want to study in the College; applicants interested in the sciences, mathematics or languages are encouraged to name their intended major.
• When you choose a major: the Bulletin says most College students enter “undeclared” and generally declare during sophomore year; by the third year all have declared. Language, science, mathematics and computer science students may enter with majors declared.
• Declaring psychology: attend one of the department’s Major/Minor Declaration Sessions held each semester, then email the Director of Undergraduate Studies and your advising dean; the director’s approval goes with the Academic Program Change form.
• Major requirements: at least ten courses, 32 credits:
  • General Psychology (PSYC 1000), Probability and Statistics (MATH 1040) and Research Methods & Statistics (PSYC 2000);
  • three foundational courses, two in Developmental and Social Foundations and one in Cognitive and Biological Foundations;
  • two seminars, plus two more foundational, seminar or elective courses.
• AP and IB: Georgetown does not award AP or IB credit in psychology; students with AP credit for MATH 1040 are exempt but take an extra psychology elective.
• Courses taken at Georgetown: Research Methods and Statistics and the two seminars must be taken at Georgetown; taking psychology courses elsewhere for credit needs prior approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies and your advising dean.
• Honors Program:
  • the key criterion is a full-time psychology faculty member willing to mentor you; students should have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher and have completed or be taking PSYC 2000;
  • apply in March, April or May of junior (or sophomore) year, with a final deadline of August 1;
  • the Honors year includes a weekly Honors Seminar (PSYC 4999, 3 credits, counting as one seminar), an honors thesis and a poster at the Honors Symposium, with “Honors Psychology Major Complete” on the transcript.

2. Application plans and timeline

• Early Action: due November 1, decisions by December 15. It is non-binding, but Georgetown Early Action applicants may not apply to any binding Early Decision program; other non-binding Early Action plans are fine.
• Regular Decision: due January 1, decisions by April 1.
• The reply date is May 1 for both; the financial aid application is due February 1.
• Applications: use the Georgetown Application (opens June 1) or the Common Application (opens August 1).
• Midyear report: first-term senior-year grades are due from your school by February 10.

3. Application materials

• Essays: two short essays (250 words each) and two long essays (a 650-word personal essay and a 500-word school-specific essay). The Common App personal statement is not required, though you may reuse it for the personal essay if it fits.
• Recommendations: one counselor letter and one core-subject teacher letter, with an optional second teacher letter.
• Alumni interview: required if assigned. Some international applicants are not assigned because of a shortage of alumni volunteers, with no negative effect. Georgetown accepts InitialView interviews but does not require them, and they do not replace the alumni interview.
• Testing: SAT or ACT scores are required, including for international students, as official scores from the testing agency. Georgetown highly recommends sending AP scores and, for ACT takers, the Science section.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Georgetown reviews every applicant in the context of their school and education system, with no quotas by where you attend high school; citizenship does not affect admission but does affect financial aid.
• English tests: recommended, not required if your school does not teach in English. Georgetown accepts the Duolingo English Test, IELTS and TOEFL (PBT, iBT and ITP Plus) and publishes no minimum scores.
• Georgetown says nothing about the Gaokao; your transcript, SAT or ACT and AP scores are the main academic evidence.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• Requirements are the same as for other applicants: transcript, school profile, recommendations and required SAT or ACT scores.
• Georgetown publishes no Canada- or BC-specific grade requirements. Students at English-medium schools generally need not consider an English test.
• Canadian citizens are neither US citizens nor permanent residents, so the international aid policy applies (below).

6. Costs and financial aid

• 2026-27 first-year cost (living on or off campus):
  • tuition and fees $74,732;
  • housing about $13,944, food $8,236, books $1,000, transportation $780, personal $2,132;
  • total about $100,864. 2027-28 costs have not been published.
• International aid: admitted students who are not US citizens or permanent residents can be considered for a limited number of need-based scholarship awards. Indicate your intent to apply for aid on the application and submit the CSS Profile. If you do not receive aid in your first year, you will not be offered it later.
• No merit scholarships: Georgetown offers only need-based aid.

7. Transfer students

• How to apply: only through the Georgetown Application, choosing a school and a major; transfer students enter with majors and faculty advisors assigned.
• Deadlines:
  • fall 2027: March 1, 2027, with decisions by June 1 and the financial aid deadline also March 1;
  • spring 2027: November 1, 2026, with decisions on December 1; spring entry is generally for rising sophomores.
• Materials: college transcripts, a Dean’s Report, one professor recommendation and your high school transcript; SAT or ACT is required if you finished high school within the past five years. Fall transfer alumni interviews take place in March and April.
• Credit: up to 60 credits transfer, and at least 60 credits must be earned at Georgetown.
• Other pathway: applicants to humanities and social science majors in the College can also be considered for the CALL program, spending their first semester on the Capitol Campus, without lowering their chances for regular transfer admission.
• Aid: international transfer applicants are not eligible for need-based aid.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Apply to the College by November 1 (Early Action; no binding Early Decision elsewhere) or January 1 (Regular Decision)
• SAT or ACT required; AP scores recommended; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo recommended
• For aid, indicate it on the application and submit the CSS Profile; awards are limited

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• SAT or ACT required; your school sends the midyear report by February 10
• Apply for aid under the international policy

Transfer students:

• Apply through the Georgetown Application by March 1, 2027, choosing the College and psychology
• Up to 60 credits transfer; research methods and seminars must be taken at Georgetown

Sources: Georgetown University, First-year applicants; Application requirements and forms; International applicants FAQ; Financial aid FAQ; Transfer applicants; Transfer requirements and forms; Transferring FAQ; Bulletin: Psychology, AB; Bulletin: College of Arts & Sciences; Psychology: major declaration; Psychology: Honors Program; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Financial aid for international students. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check Georgetown for the latest details.