The George Washington University has a prominent namesake to live up to, and thousands of students try their luck at admission each year.

Tied for 63rd place in the 2025 edition of US News and World Report’s “Best Colleges” ranking, GWU is an excellent destination for politically and civically-minded students who want to be immersed in the nation’s capital for four years.

What Is George Washington University?

GWU has three campuses across the DC metro area. The school’s 2024-25 Common Data Set indicates that 11,677 full-time undergraduates call campus home, which breaks down into 3,884 men and 6,924 women (in addition to some part-timers!). The student body is composed of students from all 50 states and over 1430 countries. 

George Washington Admissions Requirements

GWU is not among the most academically competitive schools to get into, but it is still no cake walk to earn admission to this private research university. Still, the most competitive applicants have consistently challenged themselves for all four years of high school with the most difficult coursework available to them.

George Washington GPA Requirements

Is there an official GPA requirement or cut-off for GWU admission? No, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t an unofficial requirement. According to the Class Profile, the average GPA of admitted George Washington students is roughly 3.66, indicating that stellar grades give applicants a considerable advantage.

Does GWU Look at Class Rank?

According to the most recently available data, 40.33% of members of the GW Class of 2028 graduated high school in the top tenth percentile of their high school graduating classes. 73.05% graduated in the top quarter.

George Washington University Test Score Score Requirements

George Washington is “proudly test-optional,” according to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions: “GW has been proudly test-optional for the majority of applicants since 2015. The best indication of whether a student will be successful at GW is their performance in high school—the grades they earn and the rigor of their coursework. This has always been the most important part of the application process at GW and this will not change, regardless of whether you choose to submit scores. This policy aligns with our admissions philosophy of holistic review, supports the university strategic plan on access, reflects the most current data analysis regarding the use of testing in admission, and is clear and easy to communicate and understand.”

However, just because they don’t require SAT or ACT scores does not mean that students who submit them won’t be at an advantage (because they unequivocally will!). 27% of applicants to the GW Class of 2028 submitted SAT scores, and 12% submitted ACT scores.

	SAT	ACT
Median	1,420	32
Mid 50% Range	1,360 — 1,470	30 — 33

Does George Washington Superscore Students’ SAT or ACT scores?

A superscore combines the highest section scores from each individual test sitting for admissions evaluation. GWU does superscore SAT results, but does not superscore ACT results. 

However, submitting multiple SAT administrations shows GWU that you had to work harder than many to achieve your scores (which isn’t ideal). Students should submit more than one score report only if they need to superscore (it depends!).

What High School Courses Does George Washington University Require?

GWU is not particularly forthcoming with specific course load recommendations for high schoolers with their sights set on becoming bona fide Georges. But not to worry! We at Ivy Coach recommend that GWU-aspiring high school students excel in all five core subjects for all four years of high school (and in the case of foreign language study, five years since it’s expected that students begin their foreign language study in eighth grade). Anything less than a full load of English, social studies, science, math, and foreign language would raise eyebrows on the part of GWU admissions officers.

What Extracurriculars Does GWU Look For in Applicants?

GWU does not recommend specific extracurriculars, but once again, Ivy Coach knows what they’re not saying. We understand that all highly selective colleges seek students who pursue their “thing” to the greatest extent possible, which is why we set up all of our students with a highly competitive singular hook that demonstrates to GWU that you will have a game plan once on campus.

At GWU, this “thing” may take the form of some policy interest, research specialty, or civic initiative. They aim to welcome the next generation of policymakers, diplomats, and experts in their fields — students who have taken their passions to the furthest extent possible!

George Washington University Application Requirements

GWU applicants must complete their applications through The Common Application or the Coalition Application. Either way, the application consists of a series of short essay questions, a high school teacher recommendation, and a secondary school report that includes a counselor recommendation.

Let’s focus on each component and discuss how students should complete them to give them the best shot at admission.

Who to Ask For Letters of Recommendation

Applicants to GWU should ask a teacher — ideally a junior year teacher — in addition to their school counselor for a letter of recommendation. This recommendation ought to come from a teacher in a core subject: math, science, English, social studies, or foreign language.

Does GWU Require an Alumni Interview?

GWU does not conduct interviews as part of the college admissions process.

What are George Washington University’s Supplemental Essay Topics?

Essays are one of the most important aspects of a competitive college application. GWU applicants have the option to respond to one of the two following essay prompts (although any GWU applicant worth their salt will see through “optional” and read it as “mandatory.”

Optional Essay Prompt 1

At the George Washington University, our students frequently interact with policymakers and world leaders. These experiences and those of our alumni can shape the future of global affairs. If you had the power to change the course of history in your community or the world, what would you do and why? (500 words)

Optional Essay Prompt 2

The George Washington University encourages students to think critically and to challenge the status quo. Thus, civil discourse is a key characteristic of our community. Describe a time when you engaged others in meaningful dialogue around an issue that was important to you. Did this exchange create change, new perspectives, or deeper relationships? (500 words)

When are GWU’s Application Deadlines?

GWU admissions officers have very helpfully published the following chart on their website to elucidate admissions deadlines:

	First-Year Application Dates	First-Year Notification Dates	Binding
Early Decision I	November 1	By Late December	Yes
Early Decision II	January 5	By Late February	Yes
Regular Decision	January 5	By April 1	No
Seven-Year B.A./M.D.	November 15	Interview Status: Mid-January Program Decision: By April 1	No
Spring Admission	October 1	By Early December	No

GWU Acceptance Rate and Statistics

Admissions Cycle	George Washington University Graduating Class	Early Decision Acceptance Rate	Overall Acceptance Rate
2025-26	Class of 2030	Not Yet Released	Not Yet Released
2024-25	Class of 2029	Not Yet Published	Not Yet Published
2023-24	Class of 2028	63.96%	43.54%
2022-23	Class of 2027	66.08%	48.98%
2021-22	Class of 2026	65.52%	49.71%
2020-21	Class of 2025	64.80%	43.04%
2019-20	Class of 2024	70.97%	40.84%
2018-19	Class of 2023	70.28%	41.87%

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into George Washington University

Would you like to optimize your child’s odds of admission to George Washington University? Ivy Coach’s team of former elite college admissions officers is here to help! To get started, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch.