Graduate Admissions FAQ Below are the answers to many common questions regarding our admissions process. If your question is not answered here, please contact us at 202.994.6210 (voice), 202.994.6213 (fax), or via e-mail (askccas@gwu.edu).
Question topics: Deadlines
Submitting application materials
Transcripts
Letters of Recommendation
GRE scores
Statement of Purpose
Application Fee
International Applicants
Fellowships and Financial Aid
Checking your application status
Admission decisions
Qualifications for admission
Applying to multiple programs
Transfer credits
Taking courses non-degree
Q: How does the admission process work?
Admission materials are submitted to and compiled by the CCAS Graduate Admissions office. The majority of our departments will review applications only when they are complete. Accordingly, your application will remain in the CCAS Graduate Admissions office until all your supporting documents have been received. (A handful of our departments will make an initial review of incomplete applications. Even then, however, a final decision to admit an applicant cannot be made on the basis of an incomplete application.)
Once completed, your application will be referred to your department for review. The admissions committee in your department will recommend either admission or denial. All final decisions are then issued by the Dean.
cWhen is the application deadline? Application deadlines vary by program. To learn the deadline for your program, please visit your program's profile page.
Q: I've missed the application deadline. May I still apply? Applications received and/or completed after the deadline will be referred to the appropriate department for review if the department is still reviewing applications. Because of enrollment constraints, some departments are unable to review applications after the deadline. If you wish to determine whether your department is still reviewing applications, please contact the CCAS Graduate Admissions office (202.994.6210 / askccas@gwu.edu).
If your department is unable to review your application because it was completed after the deadline, you will be given the option of having your application reviewed for a future semester. As long as your request for review falls within the same calendar year as your initial application, you will not be required to submit a new application nor an additional fee.
Please mail your supporting materials to us at:
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
801 22nd Street NW
Phillips Hall, Room 107
Washington DC 20052
To ensure the quickest processing of your application, we strongly encourage you to submit your supporting materials to us as one package, rather than as separate items. Naturally, this does not include official test scores or letters of recommendation that are submitted online.
Q: I am applying using the pdf version of the application. Where do I mail my application and supporting documents? Please use the address above to mail your application and supporting materials. You should try to include all of your supporting materials with your application. This will speed the processing of your application and will save you unnecessary concern regarding the completeness of your application. If you are unable to send the materials in a single mailing, however, you may submit documents separately and we will add them to your application.
Q: I have submitted some application documents, but have not yet submitted my application. What will happen to my documents? If you submit your documents in advance of your application, we will retain the documents in our files for one year and reconcile them with your application once you apply.
Q: May I submit photocopies of my application materials? You should always try to submit official copies of your application materials (e.g., transcripts and test scores). If this proves impractical, however, you may submit photocopies. Admission decisions may be made on the basis of the photocopies. If you are admitted to GW and you chose to attend, official copies must be submitted prior to registering for courses.
Yes. You must submit a transcript from each university you've attended regardless of whether a degree was earned. The only exceptions to this policy are the following:
- Study abroad programs: You need not submit a transcript from the international university that you attended. A transcript from the US university that sponsored your study abroad program is sufficient.
- Transfer credits: If your degree-granting university lists both the names of and the grades earned in all the courses you completed at another university, you need not submit an official transcript from the original university. In all other cases, however, you must submit transcripts from all universities that you've attended.
No. The recommendation forms are provided primarily for the convenience of the recommenders. A letter of recommendation, without the accompanying form, is acceptable. Bear in mind, however, that it is very important that you are fully identified in the letter. Request that your recommenders include your full name, social security number and/or birthdate, and the program to which you are applying in their letters.
Additionally, your right to review your letters of recommendation will be considered waived unless you submit a written request (such as that included on the recommendation form) preserving your right.
Q: I have a credentials packet on file with my undergraduate school. May I submit this packet as my letters of recommendation? Yes. The credentials packet is perfectly acceptable.
Q: I completed my undergraduate degree a long time ago
and I'm unable to acquire recommendations from my former professors. What should I do? While academic references are generally preferred, we understand that not all applicants may be able to provide them. In that case, you should request recommendations from individuals able to address your qualifications for graduate study. If you have worked in a relevant field, recommendations from your supervisors are acceptable.
You should make arrangements with the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to complete the GRE. You should schedule the GRE so that the results will be received by us prior to the admission deadline. Information regarding the GRE is available through the ETS web site.
Q: Can the GRE be waived? Some of our departments will waive the GRE requirement for students with a prior, earned JD, MD, or PhD. If you hold one of these degrees, you must check with your department to determine if the GRE is required.
Other standardized tests (e.g., LSAT, MCAT, etc.) cannot be submitted in lieu of the GRE.
Please note: Applicants to our Master of Fine Arts and graduate certificate programs are not required to submit GRE scores.
Q: How do I send my GRE scores to the CCAS Graduate Admissions office? To have your GRE scores reported to us, you must provide the Educational Testing Service (ETS) with the institutional code for Columbian College. This code is 5246.
Q: What is the ETS department code for my program? The full list of department codes is available for download (in pdf format) from the ETS web site. Bear in mind, however, that your scores will be sent to us as long as you provide ETS with the correct institutional code, regardless of whether you include a department code.
Q: My GRE scores are more than five years old. Can I still use them? As an initial matter, you should retake the GRE if your scores are more than five years old. Having recent scores will allow both your department and the Dean to complete a more accurate review of your credentials.
Decisions on the use of old GRE scores are made on a case-by-case basis. If you do not retake the GRE and wish to use your previous scores for your application, you must include a photocopy of your previous scores with your application materials. Your application will be reviewed using the previous scores. If the department or Dean determine that they are unable to reach a decision on your application because of the age of your scores, we will request that you retake the GRE. If you are admitted on the basis of the old scores, you may still be required to retake the exam as a precondition for your admission. This may be necessary because we have no means by which to verify the authenticity of your old scores.
Obviously, if ETS will no longer report your scores and you have not retained a copy, you need to retake the GRE and have your scores reported to us.
No. The 250-to-500 word limit is meant to describe general parameters, not a strict word count. Naturally, the quality of your statement is far more important than the quantity of words you use.
The application fee is waived only for current GW degree candidates, GW alumni, and current McNair Scholars. (McNair Scholars seeking a fee waiver must submit a completed fee waiver form). All other applicants must submit the application fee. Applications submitted without the fee will be retained in our files for two months, awaiting receipt of the fee. If the fee is not submitted within that time, the application will be discarded.
Note for online applicants: You may pay the application fee by credit card. If you wish to pay the fee by check or money order, please follow the instructions provided in the online application process.
Yes. This will not delay the application review process. If the faculty recommends your admission, we will contact you to request that you submit the Financial Certificate.
However, because the issuance of student visas is often a time-consuming process, the Financial Certificate and supporting documents should be submitted as soon as possible. You should complete the Source of Funds section of the certificate to the best of your current knowledge and ability. If you will be totally dependent on the University for funding, you should still complete the certificate (leaving the Source of Funds section blank) and submit the certificate along with the necessary supporting documents. Submitting your Financial Certificate early in the admissions process will allow us to expedite the approval of your I-20.
Q: International Applicants: How do I send my TOEFL scores to the CCAS Graduate Admissions office? To have your TOEFL scores reported to us, you must provide the Educational Testing Service (ETS) with the institutional code for Columbian College. This code is 5246.
Q: International Applicants: Can the TOEFL be waived? TOEFL scores are required of all applicants who are citizens of countries where English is not an official language. An exception is made for applicants who hold a degree from a college or university in a country where English is the official language and the medium of instruction. No other exceptions are made.
International students who have earned a degree from a university in an English-speaking country are not required to submit TOEFL scores. If admitted, however, those students will be required to take the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) placement test prior to registering for courses. This test is necessary to determine if additional English studies are advisable.
Similarly, international students who score lower than 600 on the paper-based TOEFL, 250 on the computer-based TOEFL, or 100 on the internet-based TOEFL are also required to take the EFL placement test prior to enrollment.
Q: International Applicants: I have earned a degree in the US. Do I need to submit a TOEFL score? If you have earned (or will earn) a degree in a country where English is the official language (e.g., the US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.), you are not required to submit TOEFL scores. If you are admitted, however, you may be required to take the English as a Foreign Language placement test prior to enrolling at GW.
Q: International Applicants: What is the minimum TOEFL score for admission? The minimum TOEFL score for admission to GW graduate programs is 550 on the paper-based test (PBT), 213 on the computer-based test (CBT), or 80 on the internet-based test (IBT).
Please note that these minimums reflect standards set by the University. Our departments are free to set higher standards. For example, the minimum TOEFL score for admission to the Biomedical Sciences PhD program is 600 on the PBT, 250 on the CBT, or 100 on the IBT.
International students applying for a graduate teaching assistantship/fellowship should submit TOEFL scores of 600 or above on the PBT, 250 or above on the CBT, or 100 or above on the IBT.
No. To be considered for a University fellowship/assistantship, you must merely check "yes" to question #20 in the application. Merit-based awards are open to all applicants.
The deadline for fellowship consideration is often earlier than the admission deadline. Be sure to check the deadline for your department.
For more information about fellowship opportunities, visit the University's Office of Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Fellowships.
Q: How can I apply for need-based financial aid? Check yes to question #18 on the application. This will prompt GW's Office of Student Financial Assistance to send you the necessary forms. For more information regarding the financial aid process, please visit the University's Student Financial Assistance web site.
You must be a US citizen, permanent resident, or refugee to apply for need-based financial aid.
If you submitted your application online, you may check your status by logging into your online account.
If you did not submit your application online, please contact us to check your application status. Given the volume of applications that we receive, we will not be able to notify you of missing documents. Accordingly, we encourage you to contact us to determine your status. You may check your application status by contacting us at 202.994.6210 or via email, askccas@gwu.edu. E-mail inquiries are preferred. When inquiring, please include your full name, social security number and/or date of birth, and the program to which you are applying.
Q: May I review my application materials after they've been submitted? You may review your application materials only after you have been admitted and have enrolled as a student at GW. At that time, you may review all of your application materials, except--possibly--for your letters of recommendation. You may review your letters only if you have not waived your right to view them. A waiver statement is included on the recommendation forms in the application packet. Your right to review your letters will be considered waived if you do not provide a written request to preserve your right.
Q: Can I get copies of my application materials after they've been submitted? No. While you may view your materials according to the policy outlined above, we are prohibited from releasing copies of your materials. Similarly, your application materials cannot be returned to you.
The time frame for admissions notification can vary considerably on the basis of a number of factors.
Generally speaking, decisions are made within four to six weeks after your completed application has been received.
Please note that applications submitted well in advance of the deadline are not immediately reviewed.
Q: How will I receive my decision? All admissions decisions are issued through the mail. If you submitted your application online, you will also be able to view your decision online by logging into your online account.
Q: Will you tell me over the telephone whether or not I've been admitted? No. We are required to honor our applicants' right to privacy. Accordingly, confidential information cannot be disclosed over the telephone because we cannot fully verify the identity of the caller.
Q: I've been admitted, but I'm not able to attend in the semester I applied for. Can I defer my admission? You can request that your admission be deferred to a future semester within one calendar year. A request for deferment does not automatically guarantee that you will be admitted again. While most applicants are readmitted, your application must be re-reviewed within the applicant pool for that semester.
As long as your request for deferment is made within one calendar year, you will not be required to pay an additional application fee.
Q: I've been denied. Can I request reconsideration? Yes. You may receive reconsideration by submitting a written request to the CCAS Graduate Admissions office. Requests for reconsideration must be made within the same academic year as the original application. Unless circumstances have changed considerably, denials of admission are seldom reversed.
Applicants with undergraduate grade point averages lower than a "B" may be offered admission provided that other aspects of their application show evidence of special promise. For instance, a strong performance in the GRE may compensate for a lower than average GPA. Strong letters of recommendation, proper fit with the program, professional experience, and exposure to the field of interest are also taken into consideration.
Please note: Meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not guarantee that you will be admitted. Some departments set their admission standards higher than the minimum standards typically required by Columbian College.
Yes. Bear in mind, however, that you must submit separate and complete applications and application fees for each program. If you plan to submit more than one application online, you will need to open two separate online accounts.
Also, once admitted, you cannot be enrolled in more than one program unless a dual-degree program is in effect.
Please consult the "Transfer of Credit" section of our Graduate Student Handbook. This details our general policy toward transfer credits. (Please note that this policy adheres to credits earned both outside and within GW.) As an additional matter, the faculty within your department will need to review the courses you completed in order to determine if they are relevant to your GW program. Typically, this review does not take place until after the admissions process is completed. If you have particular concerns as to whether your courses will transfer, please contact the graduate advisor for the program to which you are applying.
Yes. You may take courses on a non-degree basis without being officially admitted to one of our programs. Except for international students, there is no application process required for taking courses non-degree. You merely register for courses using GW's registration system. Information regarding the registration process is available in the University's Schedule of Classes. Questions regarding the non-degree process should be directed to the University's Office of University Students.
Three caveats: - Successful completion of non-degree courses does not guarantee admission to a graduate program. In many cases, grades earned in non-degree courses do not figure heavily in the admission decision.
- Not all credits earned in non-degree courses can be transferred into a degree program. For more information, please consult the "Transfer Credit" section of our Graduate Student Handbook.
- International students who wish to take non-degree courses must apply to the Office of University Students. International students who require a student visa are not eligible to take courses on a non-degree basis.
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