How to Apply to Computer Science at Georgetown University: Apply to the College of Arts & Sciences for the BS, AB or Computer Science, Ethics, and Society AB, 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. Computer science belongs to the College of Arts & Sciences, which offers three majors: the BS in Computer Science, the AB in Computer Science and the AB in Computer Science, Ethics, and Society (CSES). Here is what you need to know, based on Georgetown’s website, for fall 2027 entry: for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Admission and declaring the major

• Apply to the College: first-year applicants choose a school. The computer science majors are offered only in the College, so apply there.
• You can declare on entry: the Bulletin says most College students enter undeclared and declare in sophomore year, but students majoring in a language, science, mathematics or computer science may begin with those majors declared and a faculty advisor assigned.
• How to declare: College students email the department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS), stating whether they want the BS or AB and including a plan of the major courses still needed and when they will take them, then submit the Academic Program Changes form. The CSES major is approved by its program director in the same way.
• If you are not in the College: the department says students outside the College must transfer internally to the College to major in computer science. You must complete one year in your original school and be in good academic and disciplinary standing; decisions are based on your Georgetown record, a transfer essay and the viability of your proposed program. The spring 2027 application opens on November 9, 2026, and is due by the last day of classes. Students in other schools can minor in computer science.
• Caps and thresholds: the pages we read do not mention a cap or minimum grades for the major; ask the DUS.

2. Curriculum

• BS vs AB: the BS has 19 required courses and the AB 13; the AB requires three mathematics courses instead of five and ten computer science courses instead of fourteen. The department calls the BS its most technical degree, suited to graduate study or traditional computing careers, while the AB suits students combining computer science with another field.
• Shared core: both require Computer Science I and II, Mathematical Methods for Computer Science, Data Structures, Advanced Programming and Introduction to Algorithms. The BS adds Computer Organization, Programming Languages and Operating Systems.
• Mathematics: the BS requires Calculus I and II plus three electives from graph theory, combinatorics, mathematical statistics, mathematics for machine learning, linear algebra, multivariable calculus, regression, abstract algebra and symbolic logic; the AB requires Calculus I plus two electives (Calculus II is one option).
• Electives and credits: the BS requires five computer science electives (59 credits in the course list); the AB requires four (40 credits). With DUS approval, one computationally substantial course from another department can replace one elective, and graduate courses may be taken with instructor permission.
• CSES: builds on the AB with fewer computer science electives (two), Probability and Statistics instead of Calculus, plus Introduction to Tech, Ethics and Society, a technology law or policy course, a digital ethics philosophy course, two Tech, Ethics and Society electives and a senior capstone, for 43 credits.
• Other options: BS and AB students can add the Technology, Ethics, and Society concentration (three extra courses) and are encouraged to write a senior thesis. Honors in computer science requires the BS, a 3.67 overall and computer science GPA, and an approved senior thesis. BS students can apply in the spring of junior year to the accelerated BS/MS, finishing the master’s in a fifth year with two courses counted toward both degrees.
• Core curriculum: all College students take core courses in philosophy, theology, writing, history, social science and more, and must study a second language through the intermediate level; placement exams are offered on arrival.
• AP, IB and A-levels:
  • AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles and IB Computer Science earn no credit or advanced placement.
  • A 5 on AP Calculus AB earns credit for MATH 1350 (Calculus I); a 4 on Calculus BC earns MATH 1350 and a 5 earns MATH 1350 and 1360. The same page also says that for College students, AP calculus credits count as free electives. Whether they satisfy the major’s calculus requirement is not stated; ask the DUS.
  • A-levels earn credit only with a grade of A or better.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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).

7. 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.

8. 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. Computer science courses taken elsewhere count toward the major only with approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies; get approval before enrolling, and limit requests to three courses per institution.
• 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, though AP Computer Science earns no credit; TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo recommended
• Expect to study a second language through the intermediate level
• 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 computer science
• Up to 60 credits transfer; outside computer science courses need department approval to count toward the major

Sources: Georgetown University, First-year applicants; Application requirements and forms; International applicants FAQ; Financial aid FAQ; Transfer applicants; Transfer requirements and forms; Transferring FAQ; Computer Science: undergraduate programs; Computer Science: undergraduate FAQ; Bulletin: Computer Science, BS; Bulletin: Computer Science, AB; Bulletin: Computer Science, Ethics & Society, AB; Bulletin: advanced credit; Bulletin: College of Arts & Sciences; College: declaring a major; College: internal transfer; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Financial aid for international students. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check Georgetown for the latest details.