How to Apply to the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown: Apply Directly to the Business School, Declare a Major 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. Undergraduate business is taught at the McDonough School of Business, whose main degree is the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA). 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. Degrees, majors and curriculum

• Six majors: the BSBA offers Accounting, Finance, International Business, Management, Marketing, and Operations and Analytics, each with five to six courses; the degree is AACSB-accredited.
• Declaring: McDonough says students typically declare by March of their sophomore year.
• Business core: eleven courses. In the first year: Introduction to Financial Accounting, Computational Business Modeling and Business Statistics. In the second and third years: Management Accounting, Ethical Values of Business, Integrated Writing, Business Law or Business/Government Relations, Management and Organizational Behavior, Principles of Marketing, Modeling Analytics and Business Financial Management; Strategic Management and Operations Management in the third year. A liberal arts core sits alongside.
• Graduation: at least 120 credits, with 60 at Georgetown and at least four semesters in residence (excluding summers).
• Two other degrees:
  • Business and Global Affairs (BSBGA), with the School of Foreign Service: McDonough first-years may apply after taking Global Markets and Politics in the spring of their first year;
  • International Business, Language, and Culture (IBLC), with the College of Arts & Sciences: apply at the end of the first year.

2. Extra requirements for McDonough applicants

• Business essay: besides the general essays, McDonough applicants describe their primary motivations for studying business at Georgetown.
• Recommendations: a counselor recommendation and a core-subject teacher recommendation; McDonough applicants should have at least one from a math or social studies teacher.

3. Rounds for fall 2027

• Early Action: deadline 1 November, decisions by 15 December. Non-binding, but Early Action applicants may not apply Early Decision anywhere.
• Regular Decision: deadline 1 January, decisions by 1 April; reply by 1 May for both rounds.
• Application: the Georgetown Application or the Common App; mid-year grades are due from your school by 10 February.
• Alumni interview: required if assigned; some international applicants are not assigned one because no local volunteer is available, with no negative effect.

4. Students at high schools in China

• SAT or ACT required, sent officially by the testing agency; AP scores are strongly recommended.
• English tests: if your school does not teach in English, English tests (Duolingo, IELTS, TOEFL) are recommended but not required; no minimum is published.
• Gaokao: Georgetown says nothing about Gaokao results; every applicant is reviewed in the context of their school and education system, with no quotas by location.
• AP and IB: the McDonough Bulletin notes that one semester of calculus can be replaced by an appropriate AP/IB score (for pre-health requirements). Check credit decisions after admission.

5. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• The same requirements apply: transcript, school profile, recommendations and a required SAT or ACT.
• There are no Canada- or BC-specific grade requirements; students at English-medium schools generally need not consider English tests.
• Canadian citizens follow the international aid policy.

6. Costs and aid

• 2026-27 first-year costs: tuition and fees of US$74,732; with housing, food, books, transport and personal costs, the total is about US$100,864. McDonough refers to Student Financial Services for current costs.
• International aid: admitted students who are not US citizens or permanent residents can apply for limited need-based scholarship by indicating it on the application and submitting the CSS Profile; students not awarded aid in the first year will not receive it later.
• Two statements on scholarships: the admissions office says Georgetown awards only need-based aid, with no merit scholarships, while the McDonough costs page says the university provides need- and merit-based assistance. Confirm with the financial aid office.

7. Transfer students

• From another institution: apply only through the Georgetown Application, choosing a school and major. The fall 2027 deadline is 1 March, with decisions by 1 June; spring entry is generally for rising sophomores. Submit college transcripts, a dean’s report, one professor recommendation and your high school transcript; SAT or ACT is required if you finished high school less than five years ago. Up to 60 credits transfer. International transfers cannot apply for need-based aid.
• Internal transfer into McDonough: students in the College of Arts & Sciences, SFS, School of Health or School of Nursing can apply after two semesters in their home school. Decisions consider the Georgetown record (including quantitative courses), a personal statement, academic and disciplinary standing, and space. For a spring 2027 start, applications open on 6 November and close on 8 December 2026, with decisions in early January; recommendations are not accepted.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Choose the McDonough School of Business; apply Early Action by 1 November (no Early Decision elsewhere) or Regular Decision by 1 January
• Write the business essay; get at least one recommendation from a math or social studies teacher
• SAT or ACT required; AP and English tests recommended
• If you need aid, indicate it on the application and submit the CSS Profile

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

• SAT or ACT required; mid-year grades by 10 February
• Apply for aid under the international policy

Transfer students:

• Apply by 1 March 2027 through the Georgetown Application, choosing McDonough; up to 60 credits transfer
• Current Georgetown students can apply internally after two semesters

Sources: Georgetown University, McDonough undergraduate program; Undergraduate academics; McDonough Bulletin; Internal transfer to McDonough; McDonough costs and aid; First-year applicants; First-year requirements and forms; International applicant FAQ; Transfer applicants; Transfer FAQ; 2026-27 costs; Aid for international students. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check Georgetown for the latest details.