Transfer Applicants

Transfer Applicants

Each year we welcome transfer students from a wide variety of colleges and universities. This year, will it be you?

GW defines a transfer applicant as anyone who has completed or is currently enrolled in at least one college course after graduating from high school or earning their GED. We seek transfer applicants who have succeeded academically at another college or university and have motivation to thrive at GW.

We will evaluate your academic background at each institution of higher education previously attended and will consider your high school record and standardized test scores (if applicable), essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and interest in the university.

Ready to learn more about GW? You'll find a range of virtual and in-person events on our Journey to GW page, including monthly virtual transfer admissions office hours.

Start Your Journey to GW

Transfer Course Selection and Credit

If you are planning to transfer to GW, request our Course Selection Guide to help you understand how your classes may transfer to GW and what classes will best prepare you for GW. Complete the form below to request our guide.

Request our Course Selection Guide

Although we can only provide individual transfer credit evaluations to admitted students, prospective transfer applicants can use our transfer equivalency tool to see what courses MAY transfer over to GW. Equivalencies should only be used as a guide, as they are not guaranteed and are based on historical data. Complete the form below to  access the tool.

Explore Transfer Credit Equivalencies

Transfer Application Deadlines

Transfer Application Steps 

Submit an Application

GW offers 3 methods to apply as a transfer student - choose which works best for you! Apply via the GW Application, the Common Application, or the Coalition Application. There is a nonrefundable application fee of $80 regardless of method.

Prospective transfers are always welcome to create an account via the GW Application, but it will only allow submissions for the upcoming semester based on the deadline chart above.

Please note: Your application is not complete and we cannot begin the application review until we receive your application fee and all required information.

Supporting documentation (including a resume or letters of recommendation) can be submitted or requested via the application, via email to gwadmgwu [dot] edu (gwadm[at]gwu[dot]edu), or via mail to our office:
     The George Washington University
     Office of Undergraduate Admissions
     800 21st St NW Suite 214
     Washington, D.C. 20052

Please note that electronic submission is preferred and will allow us to complete your application in a timely manner.

Please allow several weeks from the time the application is submitted to process all documents and post them in the GW Admissions Portal. During the busy application period, the portal is the best resource, as we are continually updating students' applications and documents. Applicants will receive a link to the portal with instructions on how to log in after GW receives the application.

Please ensure that the applicant's legal name is included on all corresponding documentation. For applicants who use a name that differs from their legal name, please use the Chosen Name field to include that information. All international applicants must provide a permanent, physical mailing address (that is not a post office box).

Additional Requirements
The academic programs below require an essay(s) or a portfolio and/or an audition. Further information about requirements is available on the application.

• School of Media and Public Affairs
• BFA Programs in the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design

Send Official Transcripts

Official transcripts are required for each college or university that a transfer applicant previously attended. These credentials are required (whether or not credit was earned or is desired) and should be sent directly from the registrar's office to GW's Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Email transcripts must be sent directly to gwadmgwu [dot] edu (gwadm[at]gwu[dot]edu) from the sender's school email address in order to be considered official.

For applicants with less than 30 college credits, transcripts are also required from any high schools attended and should be sent directly from the school to GW's Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

For international applicants, if your original transcripts are not in English, please submit both the original documents as well as certified English translations.

Request Recommendation Letter(s) (Optional)

GW strongly encourages submitting one academic recommendation for transfer applicants. While applicants are strongly encouraged to have an academic recommendation, recommenders can include anyone who has worked with the applicants for a prolonged period and can speak to their personal qualities, such as commanding officers, research leads, and professional managers. 

A recommendation can be requested on the application. You may request up to two letters of recommendation.

Submit a Portfolio (Corcoran Only)

Portfolio reviews are required for our BFA programs, with the exception of the BFA in Interior Architecture. Your portfolio should tell your story in a way that makes sense to you. We have no restrictions or requirements on what should be in your portfolio other than what you believe to be your strongest work. It is important to make sure that this is the best representation of you as an artist, and of your work up to the point of your application. Here are a few portfolio guidelines:

• All students are required to submit 12-20 completed works of art
• The included work should be your best and most recent work
• If possible, the work should be related to your area of interest

IMPORTANT NOTE WHEN SELECTING YOUR INTENDED MAJOR IN THE APPLICATION

It is very important that the majors match in both the application and SlideRoom. Please take care when selecting the program (ex. BA in Fine Arts vs BFA in Fine Arts), and make sure you've selected the same major in both locations.

Apply for Financial Aid (Optional)

Transfer students seeking need-based aid should follow the instructions outlined by our Office of Student Financial Assistance. Need-based financial aid applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their financial aid application and submit necessary documents by the admissions application deadline—late completion may lead eligible students to encounter delays in financial aid packaging.

Please view your financial aid checklist in your GW student portal to make sure all financial aid application requirements have been met.

Questions regarding need-based aid can be directed to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Check Your Application Status

After submitting your application, your admissions portal will display your checklist of supporting materials. You'll be able to upload or request some documents directly from the portal. Note that it may take several weeks to process documents and post them to your GW portal.

During the busy application period, your GW Portal is your best resource, as we are continually updating students' applications and documents. Following our application review, you will receive an email when your application decision is ready in your portal.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact us.

Submit a College Report (Optional)

A College Report is a form that GW uses to confirm that an applicant is in good academic and disciplinary standing.

The College Report form will appear as an Optional Checklist item in an applicant's admissions portal. Once downloaded, applicants must send the form to the registrar’s office of their current university. Once complete, registrar staff may email it to gwadmgwu [dot] edu (gwadm[at]gwu[dot]edu).

International Transfer Applicants 

If you are an international student looking to transfer to GW, you must follow all of the application steps for transfer students as well as some additional ones noted on our International Applicant Requirements page.

International Applicant Requirements

Ready to Apply?

GW offers 3 methods to apply as a transfer student - choose the one that works best for you! Apply via the GW Application, the Common Application, or the Coalition Application. There is a nonrefundable application fee of $80 regardless of method.

Apply with the GW Application

Prospective transfers are always welcome to create an account via the GW Application, but the application will only be available during the timeframes listed in the Application Deadline chart above.

Apply with the Common Application

Apply with the Coalition Application

Have Questions? 

GW's Office of Undergraduate Admissions is committed to supporting our transfer applicants. We encourage you to review the Transfer section of our frequently asked questions (FAQ). If you had additional questions, our dedicated transfer team is here to help you navigate the application process. Contact us at transfergwu [dot] edu (transfer[at]gwu[dot]edu).