How to get into Georgetown University School of Medicine: Ultimate Guide (2026-2027)

Georgetown University School of Medicine has a 1.4% acceptance rate. Find out what it takes to get in, including average MCAT, GPA, requirements, secondary essays, and insider tips.

Introduction

Georgetown University School of Medicine is one of the most distinctive and mission-driven medical schools in the United States. Founded in 1851, GUSOM is guided by the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, care of the whole person, a philosophy that shapes not only how students are educated but what kind of physicians Georgetown intends to produce. Located in Washington, D.C., Georgetown sits at the intersection of medicine, policy, and public service in one of the most politically and culturally significant cities in the world.

Georgetown trains students to become knowledgeable, ethical, skillful, and compassionate physicians who are dedicated to the care of others and the health needs of society. The school's commitment to service, cultural humility, and the whole-person dimensions of medicine is not simply a marketing slogan; it is embedded in the curriculum, the secondary application, and the admissions process itself. Applicants who genuinely share these values and can articulate them authentically will be at a meaningful advantage at GUSOM.

With 14,542 applications for 203 seats, Georgetown is among the most competitive medical schools in the country by raw application volume. Understanding what the admissions committee values — and how to present yourself accordingly — is essential to building a successful application.

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Georgetown Medical School Programs

Traditional MD Program
Georgetown's primary MD program enrolls approximately 203 students per entering class, making it one of the larger classes among top-ranked medical schools. Students train at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and across a broad network of affiliated clinical sites throughout the Washington, D.C. region.

MD/PhD Program
Georgetown offers a combined MD/PhD program for students committed to careers in academic medicine and biomedical research. Students complete both degrees at Georgetown, supported by the university's research infrastructure and its affiliations with the National Institutes of Health, which are located nearby in Bethesda, Maryland.

MD/MBA Program
Georgetown offers a combined MD/MBA program in partnership with the McDonough School of Business for students interested in healthcare management, leadership, and the business of medicine.

MD/MPH Program
Georgetown offers a combined MD/MPH program for students interested in public health, health policy, and population-level medicine.

Georgetown Medical School Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Georgetown is one of the most applied-to medical schools in the country. For the most recent admissions cycle, GUSOM received 14,542 applications, invited 7.27% of applicants to interview, and enrolled 203 students. The overall acceptance rate is 1.40%.

• Applications received: 14,542
• Interview invitation rate: 7.27%
• Matriculants: 203
• Acceptance rate: 1.40%
• Average overall GPA: 3.89
• Average MCAT: 513
• 61% women, 39% men

Georgetown's MCAT average of 513 is meaningfully lower than schools like Harvard, Hopkins, or Stanford, which makes it an important school to understand correctly. A 513 is competitive nationally; it sits at approximately the 85th percentile of all test-takers, but it is not in the 520-plus range of the most elite programs. This creates a distinct opportunity for applicants with strong mission alignment who may not be targeting schools with median MCATs above 520.

Georgetown explicitly defines its admissions bands. A GPA above 3.6 is considered highly competitive. A GPA below 3.0 is considered non-competitive. Georgetown does not publish a minimum MCAT requirement but does require MCAT scores from within the prior two years.

Georgetown Medical School Average GPA

The average GPA for Georgetown matriculants is 3.89. Georgetown considers a GPA above 3.6 to be highly competitive and a GPA below 3.0 to be non-competitive. Unlike many of its peers, Georgetown publishes these bands explicitly, which gives applicants a clearer sense of where they stand.

• Average GPA (matriculants): 3.89
• Highly competitive GPA: above 3.6
• Non-competitive GPA: below 3.0

Georgetown Medical School Average MCAT

The average MCAT for Georgetown matriculants is 513. Georgetown requires MCAT scores taken within two years of the application cycle. For the 2026–2027 cycle, scores from January 2024 through September 2026 are accepted. Georgetown does not publish a minimum MCAT requirement, but applicants with section scores below 125 are generally considered non-competitive.

• Average MCAT (matriculants): 513
• MCAT validity: scores from within prior two years only

Related Article: Learn More About MCAT Scores

Georgetown Medical School Course Requirements

Georgetown has specific prerequisite requirements. All courses must be taken at accredited U.S. or Canadian institutions. The following are required:

• Biology: one year with lab
• Inorganic Chemistry: one year with lab
• Organic Chemistry: one year with lab
• Physics: one year with lab
• English or Writing: one year

The following courses are strongly recommended though not formally required:

• Biochemistry
• Calculus
• Statistics

AP credit may satisfy prerequisites at the discretion of the admissions committee. Online lab courses are not accepted. All prerequisite courses must be completed before matriculation.

Related Article: Medical School Requirements

Georgetown Medical School Curriculum

Georgetown's curriculum is organized around the Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person and preparing physicians to serve the health needs of society. Key features include:

Cura Personalis in the Curriculum
Georgetown's Jesuit philosophy of cura personalis — care of the whole person — is not confined to a single course or module. It is embedded throughout the four years of medical education, shaping how students approach patient encounters, bioethics, health equity, and the social dimensions of medicine. Georgetown trains physicians who understand that illness affects every dimension of a person's life, and that excellent clinical care requires attending to all of those dimensions.

Early Clinical Experience
Georgetown students begin clinical training in the first year, gaining early patient contact and clinical reasoning skills before the traditional clerkship years.

Integrated Basic and Clinical Science
Georgetown integrates basic science with clinical medicine throughout the curriculum, helping students connect what they learn in the classroom directly to patient care.

Research Opportunities
Georgetown's location in Washington, D.C. gives students unique access to the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, and a broad network of federal health agencies. Students interested in translational research, health policy, global or public health, and clinical investigation have access to resources that few other medical schools can match.

Service and Community Engagement
Georgetown operates several student-run free clinics and community health initiatives in the Washington, D.C. area. Service is embedded in the culture of the school and expected of students throughout their training.

Georgetown Medical School Experience Requirements

Clinical Experience
Meaningful clinical experience is essential at Georgetown. The school expects applicants to have genuine patient contact and a clear understanding of what clinical medicine involves. Georgetown does not publish a minimum hour requirement, but depth and variety of clinical exposure including shadowing, volunteering, scribing, or paid clinical work, significantly strengthens your application. Georgetown specifically values applicants who have cared for underserved or vulnerable populations in their clinical experiences.

Research
Research experience is valued but not required at Georgetown in the way it is at schools like Hopkins or Stanford. Georgetown's holistic review process means that strong clinical, service, and leadership experience can compensate for limited research involvement. That said, applicants with meaningful research contributions, particularly those with publications or presentations, are at an advantage.

Community Service and Advocacy
Service is central to Georgetown's identity. Applicants who have demonstrated sustained, genuine commitment to their communities, particularly in health-related or underserved settings, align closely with GUSOM's mission. Georgetown is not looking for a resume of activities; it is looking for evidence that service is part of who you are, not just something you did to build a CV. Georgetown also values work in public health and global health work

Leadership
Georgetown values applicants who have taken meaningful leadership roles in their communities, organizations, or clinical settings. Leadership that reflects the Jesuit values of service, collaboration, and care for others carries particular weight.

Georgetown Medical School Letters of Recommendation

Georgetown requires either a committee letter from your undergraduate institution or a minimum of two science faculty letters and one non-science faculty letter. An additional letter from a clinical or research mentor is encouraged. Georgetown values authentic letters from people who know you well over prestigious names. A genuine letter from a supervisor or mentor who can speak specifically to your character, your commitment to service, and your readiness for medical school is more valuable at Georgetown than a generic letter from a well-known name.

Click here to read more about medical school letters of recommendation.

Georgetown Medical School Personal Statement

Georgetown participates in the centralized AMCAS application and does not require a separate personal statement. The personal statement you write for AMCAS will be sent to Georgetown and all other AMCAS schools to which you apply.

1. The character limit for the AMCAS personal statement is 5,300 characters including spaces.
2. AMCAS instructs applicants to use the personal statement as an opportunity to distinguish themselves from other applicants and to write carefully, as many admissions committees place significant weight on the essay.

For Georgetown specifically, your personal statement is an opportunity to demonstrate genuine alignment with the school's values of cura personalis, service, and care for the whole person. You do not need to be Catholic or religious to connect with Georgetown's mission — cura personalis is a philosophy of holistic care that resonates across many backgrounds and worldviews. What matters is that your personal statement reflects a genuine commitment to the kind of compassionate, service-oriented medicine that Georgetown values.

Click here to read more about writing a compelling medical school personal statement.

Georgetown Medical School Work and Activities

Georgetown does not ask you to submit a CV or resume separately. Instead, Georgetown receives your AMCAS work and activities section along with the rest of your primary application.

1. The AMCAS work and activities section allows you to describe up to 15 experiences, each with a description of up to 700 characters.
2. You may designate three of those experiences as "most meaningful," giving you an additional 1,325 characters to elaborate on each one.

At Georgetown, use the most meaningful activities section to demonstrate the service orientation and humanistic values that GUSOM prizes. Show not just what you did, but how your experiences shaped your understanding of what it means to care for patients as whole people.

Click here to read our complete guide to the AMCAS Work and Activities Section with examples.

Georgetown Medical School Secondary Essay Requirements

Georgetown does not screen applications before sending secondaries — all applicants who submit a primary receive a secondary invitation. The secondary application deadline is December 15. The secondary fee is $140, with a fee assistance waiver available. Georgetown accepts application updates after submission.

The 2025–2026 Georgetown secondary essay prompts are as follows:

Prompt 1 (Required, 1000 characters)
The Georgetown University School of Medicine strives to ensure that its students become respectful physicians, with cultural humility, who embrace all dimensions of caring for the whole person. With our Jesuit values of Cura Personalis, being Men and Women for Others, and Unity in Community, we are steadfast in our commitment to provide care for all. Please describe how your perspectives, values, and individual life experiences will contribute to these GUSOM priorities.

Prompt 2 (Optional, 1000 characters)
Is there any further information that you would like the Committee on Admissions to be aware of when reviewing your file that you were not able to notate in another section of this or the AMCAS Application?

Prompt 3 (Required, essay length)
Why have you chosen to apply to the Georgetown University School of Medicine and how do you think your education at Georgetown will prepare you to become a physician for the future?

The Georgetown secondary is notably more substantive than most schools. The third prompt is a full essay requiring genuine research into the curriculum, mission, and specific features of GUSOM. Generic "why Georgetown" essays that could apply to any medical school will not succeed here. Applicants who invest the time to understand Georgetown's specific programs, clinical opportunities, and Jesuit values will write far more compelling responses.

Note: Georgetown prompts may change from cycle to cycle. Always verify current prompts on the official GUSOM admissions website before writing your essays. Because Georgetown does not screen secondaries, every applicant receives one; plan to complete yours within three weeks of receiving it to stay competitive in the rolling admissions process.

Georgetown Medical School Application Timeline (2026–2027)

May/June 2026
Submit your AMCAS application as early as possible. Georgetown uses rolling admissions. If your application is verified before July 1, expect your secondary within the first five to seven business days of July. If verified after July 1, expect it within five to seven days of verification.

July 2026
Georgetown sends secondary applications to all applicants. Complete your secondary within two to three weeks of receiving it.

August–February 2027
Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis. Applicants who do not respond to an interview invitation within two weeks will have their applications withdrawn. You may reschedule once with advance notice. A second cancellation results in withdrawal.

October 15, 2026
AMCAS primary application deadline.

December 15, 2026
Secondary application deadline.

October 2026–July 2027
Admissions decisions are extended on a rolling basis.

April 30, 2027
Students holding multiple acceptances must select one medical school to attend.

Georgetown Medical School Interview

Georgetown conducts virtual interviews for the 2025–2026 application cycle. Interviews are traditional one-on-one format and are conducted on a rolling basis from August through February. Respond to your interview invitation as quickly as possible. Georgetown is explicit that applicants who do not respond within two weeks will have their applications withdrawn. Based on our students' experiences, Georgetown interviews are conversational and focused on your background, motivations, commitment to service, and alignment with GUSOM's values. Given Georgetown's emphasis on cura personalis, interviewers will explore not just your academic and research credentials but the humanistic dimensions of your candidacy.

Georgetown Medical School Tuition and Financial Aid

Georgetown Medical School is a private institution and charges the same tuition for all students regardless of state residency.

• Tuition (2025–2026): $76,603 per year
• Total first-year cost of attendance (tuition, fees, living expenses): approximately $114,853
• Total four-year cost: approximately $384,656

Georgetown offers need-based financial aid and merit scholarships. The school participates in the AAMC's Fee Assistance Program for secondary fee waivers.

Georgetown Medical School Ranking

Georgetown University School of Medicine is consistently ranked among the top medical schools in the United States by U.S. News and World Report. Georgetown's location in Washington, D.C. gives students access to a unique concentration of federal health agencies, policy institutions, and research infrastructure, including the National Institutes of Health in nearby Bethesda, Maryland. Georgetown's affiliation with MedStar Health, one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in the Mid-Atlantic region, provides a broad and diverse clinical training environment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Into Georgetown Medical School

What GPA do I need to get into Georgetown Medical School?

The average GPA for Georgetown matriculants is 3.89. Georgetown considers a GPA above 3.6 to be highly competitive and a GPA below 3.0 to be non-competitive. Unlike many schools, Georgetown publishes these bands explicitly. Applicants with a GPA below 3.5 should carefully assess their overall profile before applying.

What MCAT score do I need to get into Georgetown Medical School?

The average MCAT for Georgetown matriculants is 513. Georgetown requires MCAT scores from within the prior two years. The school does not publish a minimum MCAT requirement, but applicants with section scores below 125 are generally considered non-competitive. A 513 sits at approximately the 85th percentile nationally and is competitive at Georgetown, even if it would be below average at schools like Harvard or Stanford.

Does Georgetown Medical School send secondaries to all applicants?

Yes. Georgetown does not screen applications before sending secondaries. Every applicant who submits a primary receives a secondary invitation. This means the secondary fee of $140 applies to all applicants, and Georgetown receives a very high secondary volume as a result.

What is cura personalis and why does it matter for Georgetown admissions?

Cura personalis is a Jesuit concept meaning care of the whole person. At Georgetown, it reflects the school's commitment to training physicians who attend to every dimension of a patient's wellbeing — physical, emotional, spiritual, and social. It is not a religious test. Applicants of all backgrounds and beliefs can authentically connect with this philosophy. What matters in the application is demonstrating genuine alignment with the values of compassion, service, and whole-person care that cura personalis represents.

What is the Georgetown Medical School interview format?

Georgetown conducts virtual, traditional one-on-one interviews on a rolling basis from August through February. Applicants must respond to interview invitations within two weeks or their application will be withdrawn. You may reschedule once with advance notice. A second cancellation results in application withdrawal.

Is Georgetown Medical School a good choice for students interested in health policy?

Yes. Georgetown's location in Washington, D.C. makes it one of the best medical schools in the country for students interested in health policy, global health, and public service. Students have access to the NIH, FDA, World Health Organization offices, and a broad network of federal and international health institutions that are difficult to access from any other medical school campus in the country.

Does Georgetown Medical School require research experience?

Research is valued but not required at Georgetown in the way it is at schools with stronger research identities like Hopkins or Stanford. Georgetown's holistic review means strong clinical, service, and leadership experience can compensate for limited research involvement. That said, applicants with meaningful research experience, particularly publications or presentations, are at an advantage.

What makes Georgetown Medical School unique?

Georgetown is distinctive for several reasons: its Jesuit mission of cura personalis and whole-person care, its location in Washington, D.C. with proximity to federal health agencies and the NIH, its affiliation with MedStar Health across the Mid-Atlantic region, and a culture that places genuine emphasis on service, ethics, and the humanistic dimensions of medicine. Georgetown is one of the few top medical schools where mission alignment is explicitly evaluated through the secondary application and interview process.

Final Thoughts on Georgetown Medical School Admissions

Georgetown University School of Medicine is one of the most distinctive and mission-driven medical schools in the country. With an acceptance rate of 1.4%, an average MCAT of 513, and an average GPA of 3.89, Georgetown is highly competitive but accessible to a broader range of academically strong applicants than the most elite programs. What distinguishes Georgetown is not just the stats — it is the emphasis on service, whole-person care, and Jesuit values that runs through every aspect of the admissions process. If your GPA is 3.6 or above, your MCAT is 510 or higher, and you can articulate genuinely and specifically why Georgetown's mission resonates with you and how your experiences reflect cura personalis, this school belongs on your list. Apply early, respond to your interview invitation immediately, and take the secondary essays seriously — particularly the "Why Georgetown" essay, which requires real research and genuine reflection to answer well.