ADMISSIONS
The University reviews applications for admission each semester and summer session. Admission is based on evidence of potential for successful study and on available space in the entering class. The following criteria are considered: the strength of the courses taken and the grades achieved in secondary school and/or college, standardized test scores, relationship between grades and test scores, essays, recommendations, interviews, and extracurricular activities.
Applicants may use the GW Application at www.gwu.edu or the Common Application at www.commonapp.org.
Secondary School Students
Freshmen—Regular Decision
Preference for places in the entering class will be given to students who submit the application with required credentials by January 10. Students who wish to begin college in the spring semester should submit the application by November 1.
Applicants from secondary schools must arrange to have sent directly from their schools to the Office of Admissions a complete academic record together with a teacher recommendation and a counselor recommendation. This information should be supplied on the appropriate forms found on our website. Before enrolling, incoming freshmen must provide a complete high school record showing final grades and graduation.
Entrance Examinations—Applicants from secondary schools must submit scores on the College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or on the American College Testing (ACT) battery. Submission of scores on College Board SAT subject tests is recommended. Score reports must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions from the testing agency.
Freshmen—Early Decision I
High school seniors applying for fall admission as full-time freshmen with The George Washington University as their first choice may wish to take advantage of the Early Decision I option. To apply for Early Decision I, submit the application with supporting credentials by November 10; we will mail our decision in mid-December. If accepted, you are required to send in your declaration of intent to attend GW, together with appropriate nonrefundable deposits, no later than January 15 and to withdraw all applications for admission to other colleges and universities.
Freshmen—Early Decision II
If you decide after our Early Decision I deadline that GW is your first choice, our Early Decision II option may be best for you. To apply for Early Decision II, submit the application with supporting credentials by January 10. We will mail our decision in early February. If accepted, you are required to send in your declaration of intent to attend GW, together with appropriate nonrefundable deposits, no later than March 1 and to withdraw all applications for admission to other colleges and universities.
Freshmen—Early Admission for High School Juniors
Exceptionally well-prepared students who will complete the junior year in high school may apply for early admission. This option is designed for students with the emotional maturity, as well as the academic ability and background, necessary for college entrance. In most cases, applicants accepted for early admission have exhausted academic offerings in secondary school to the extent that remaining for the senior year may not be in the best interests of the students.
To be considered for early admission, students must
1. demonstrate superior academic performance through the junior year of high school;
2. meet the entrance requirements of the GW school applied to, by completing all required entrance units with the possible exception of the fourth year of English;
3. have the unqualified recommendation of the secondary school principal or counselor;
4. submit two letters of recommendation (in addition to the counselor’s) from teachers who can testify to the student’s maturity and general readiness to enter college;
5. submit a letter from a parent or guardian supporting early college entrance;
6. take SAT or ACT plus SAT subject tests of the student’s choice and arrange to have the scores sent directly to the Office of Admissions by the testing agency;
7. arrange for an interview with an admissions officer.
Students from Foreign Institutions
Applications, required records, and scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (see below) and SAT should be received from international students no later than January 10 for regular decision for the fall semester and November 1 for the spring semester.
Required Records—At the time the application is sent, students must have the educational institutions previously attended send directly to the GW Office of Admissions copies of official certificates and records listing subjects studied, grades received, examinations taken, and degrees received. Certified copies of diplomas and certificates from all secondary schools, colleges, and universities attended are required. Records of state examinations and certificates are also required. These records become the property of the University and cannot be returned. These documents should be in the language in which the institution keeps its official records. If they are in a language other than English, the copies sent should be accompanied by a certified English translation.
Language Tests—All applicants whose first language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In considering candidates for admission, the University looks for a TOEFL score of 550 or above (paper-based), 213 or above (computer-based), or 80 or above (Internet-based). The School of Business requires a minimum score of 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 or above (Internet-based) on a second taking of the TOEFL. Applicants are responsible for making arrangements to take the test at www.TOEFL.org. The completed registration form must be returned well in advance of the semester for which admission is sought. TOEFL scores may not be more than two years old. On the application for the TOEFL, students should specify that the scores be sent to the GW Office of Admissions.
Admitted students whose first language is not English are also required to take an English for Academic Purposes course at GW; this requirement is waived for students with a TOEFL score of at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based).
Financial Certificate—A Financial Certificate and Bank Letter must be completed and submitted with the application for admission of all international students planning to study at the University under the authorization of either a student (F) or exchange visitor (J) visa. Satisfactory completion and submission of the Financial Certificate and Bank Letter are required for the issuance of a Form I-20 or DS-2019.
Transfer Students
To be considered for fall admission, undergraduate students from other institutions should submit the application and required credentials by April 1. Corresponding dates are November 1 for spring and April 1 for summer.
A transfer applicant should be in good standing as to scholarship and conduct at all postsecondary institutions previously attended. An applicant who has attended one or more institutions of higher education must request each registrar to mail directly to the Office of Admissions a transcript of his or her record, even if credits were not earned or if advanced standing is not desired. In addition, an applicant must have his or her high school record and College Board or ACT test scores sent to the Office of Admissions directly from the high school and testing agency.
Assignment of Credit for Transfer Students
GW’s residence requirement limits the amount of transfer credit that can be applied toward a degree. Students must complete at least 60 of the total number of credit hours required for their degree at or through the University; GW credits earned through GW study abroad, GW satellite campuses, GW distance education courses, and Consortium courses are treated as in residence.
Provided there is no duplication involved, either through course work or examination, credit may be granted for work successfully completed at other institutions of higher learning. Assignment of transfer credit will depend on the grade earned, the appropriateness of the courses completed elsewhere, the standing of the institution at which the previous work was completed, and the regulations of the GW school in which the credit is to be applied toward a degree.
Transfer credit must satisfy the requirements for the degree sought as stated in this Bulletin. Credit may be accepted provisionally or may require validation by examination or completion of higher-level courses in the same sequence. Transfer credit will not be assigned for course work completed in vocational/technical programs (e.g., secretarial studies) or sub-freshman-level remedial work. Each GW school reserves the right to refuse credit for transfer in whole or in part. Although a grade of D in a course is not acceptable for transfer, the course may satisfy a curriculum requirement. School-specific regulations on transfer credit appear in this Bulletin under the school concerned.
Advanced Standing and Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement or Waiver by Examination
Advanced placement or waiver of a requirement will be granted on the basis of scores on the SAT subject tests according to the list that follows. Advanced standing (academic credit) is not assigned on the basis of SAT or ACT results. Note that the University Writing requirements and Columbian College’s General Curriculum Requirement in foreign languages and cultures are not waived on the basis of these tests.
| Subject Test |
|
Minimum Score |
|
Exemption |
| American history |
|
650 |
|
Waives Hist 71–72 |
| French, Spanish |
|
690} |
|
Waives a two-year language proficiency requirement |
| German, Latin |
|
630} |
Credit by Examination, from Service Schools, from Noncollegiate Organizations, and by Nontraditional Methods
Assuming there is no duplication, a maximum of 24 credit hours may be assigned upon admission to the University for any combination of the following except as noted below. An incoming student may also be granted advanced placement in a sequence of courses or waiver of a course requirement on the basis of additional college-level course work taken before matriculation, but this will not affect the number of hours needed for the degree.
College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Tests—On the basis of a score report sent to the Office of Admissions from the Educational Testing Service at the student’s request, undergraduate credit may be awarded for Advanced Placement Tests. Refer to the GW Undergraduate Admissions website for the AP credit assignment chart. Students should arrange for the examinations through the secondary school attended or with the College Board, Advanced Placement Tests, at www.collegeboard.com.
College Board College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)—CLEP offers two types of examinations: General and Subject Examinations. CLEP General Examinations are offered in five areas: English composition, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences and history. CLEP Subject Examinations measure achievement in specific college-level courses and are offered in 32 subjects. Students should arrange for the examinations with the College Board, College-Level Examination Program, CN 6601, Princeton, N.J. 08541–6601.
With the exception of the English composition examination, for which no credit is given, credit is assigned for the General Examinations passed at approximately the 50th percentile or above. In the School of Business, credit is not assigned for the mathematics examination. In the School of Engineering and Applied Science, credit is not assigned for the mathematics or natural sciences examinations.
Credit is assigned, with some exceptions, for the Subject Examinations passed at the level recommended in the College Board model policy. Credit for the CLEP Subject Examinations may not be earned by passing the examination after having taken an equivalent college-level course. See the School of Business for specific restrictions on CLEP credit for applicants to that school.
Special Departmental Examinations for Undergraduates—Credit may be assigned for Special Departmental Examinations administered by Columbian College departments to students enrolled in all undergraduate divisions of the University.
International Baccalaureate—GW awards 6 to 8 credit hours for Higher-level scores of 6 and above with the exception of English language. Students who have passed English A1 with a grade of 6 or 7 will receive 3 credit hours for Literature. No credit will be assigned for English A2 or English B or for standard-level examination scores.
Credit Earned Through USAFI and DANTES—Except to students admitted to the School of Business, credit is assigned for approved United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) and Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support (DANTES) courses.
Credit from Service Schools—Except to undergraduates admitted to the School of Business, a limited amount of credit may be assigned for selected service school courses.
Enrollment Deposit
After notification of acceptance, an enrollment deposit will be required of all new undergraduate students. This deposit is due May 1 for freshmen entering in the summer or fall semester; it is usually due two weeks after admission for transfer students. The deposit is credited toward tuition and orientation and is not refundable. Full-time readmitted students are required to submit an enrollment deposit that is usually due two weeks after admission.
Readmission
Previously registered students who wish to resume studies on campus after discontinuing enrollment for one or more semesters (summer sessions excluded) must apply for readmission. Deadlines for readmission applications from students in good academic standing are the same as those for transfer students. Students seeking readmission after having attended other institutions of higher education in the interim must have complete official transcripts sent to the Office of Admissions from all other institutions attended. Students seeking readmission as degree candidates after previous enrollment in nondegree status must submit a standard undergraduate degree application and fee, together with all entrance credentials not previously received or required.
Applicants for readmission are subject to the University regulations in effect at the time of readmission.
The application fee is waived for students applying for readmission after previous enrollment as degree candidates at this University if they have not since registered at another institution.
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