Georgetown University is my only reach school I am applying to. I understand that they are a Jesuit university and I do come from a Catholic family, but I am also openly gay. I am very involved in a lot of the LGBTQ activities in my area and even hold two leadership positions in the LGBTQ safe spaces at my school.
I am applying EA to the School of Foreign Services and not writing either of my essays about being gay but I am wondering if it is something I should remove from my application because of GUs religious affiliation? I don’t really know how tolerant their school if, but I don’t want to go to a school where I would have to be closeted for four years, but GU has the best Foreign studies program I have seen so far. What do you guys think?
My credentials:
Geography:
-New Jersey
-No Legacy
-White female
-Not applying for financial aid
Grades:
Weighted GPA: 4.41
Rank: My school doesn’t rank because my class is so small, but I am in the top 16%
Past AP test:
10th Grade: AP World History (Scored 5)
11th Grade: AP Psychology (Scored 5)
AP English Language (Scored 5)
12th Grade Curse Work:
2D Studio Art Honors
AP Mandarin Chinese (My 5th year I started in 8th grade)
AP Human Geography
AP Art History
AP Calculus AB
Syracuse University Project Advance Duel Enrollment (English)
Testing:
SAT Reading: 710
SAT Math: 650
SAT Subject test:
Lit: 630
Math II: 600
US History: 580 (ha!)
(Im taking the SAT again in October so my math score with be 700+, and subject tests again in November so they will increase too.)
Extras:
President of the Chinese National Honor Society (9th-12th)
President of the Psychology club (10th-12th)
Event Coordinator and Secretary of the Gay-Straight Alliance (9th-12th)
4 years of work experience at the same job (I managed new Employees)
Creative writing - School published, as well as online music reviews published on two different websites
2.5 years of Crew, I had to quit because of an extended shoulder injury that needed PT
“Georgetown University provides educational opportunities without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of, age, color, disability, family responsibilities, familial status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, personal appearance, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, source of income, veteran’s status or any other factor prohibited by law…”
It is your SAT scores that will keep you out of SFS, not your orientation. It is ridiculously competitive to get in. I don’t think your orientation will make any difference at all. Your subject tests are currently at the 46th, 17th, and 24th percentiles respectively, though.
And especially for SFS, you may need to show stretch in your activities. Take a hard look at what else you may have done, incl outside school, that shows responsibilities and some independence.
Is there a box to check concerning one’s sexuality?
As others have stated, your SAT I and II scores are low. It is too late in th game to count on hoped for test scores. Make sure you research other programs and colleges.
Some kids worry that their involvement in LGBT activities is a giveaway. But really, lots of straight kids are involved, include those ECs on their apps, and never worry about it.
For lots of reasons, Georgetown is well aware some students are gay. Worry more about the rest of what makes you a match. Or not. Do the best you can with the app.
Sexual orientation plays no role in admissions decisions. Participation in LGBT activities is viewed as favorably as participation in any other type of activity (cultural, political, theological, etc.).
I can tell you that I read on Niche.com that one of the recent student government executives was gay. I can’t see how being gay would hurt your chances. Georgetown is in fact in Washington; you have little to worry about I would say.
@2016senior2020 “Your test scored may hold you back a little, but sexual orientation will not. Georgetown cannot legally discriminate on that basis.”
Gay people are NOT protected from discrimination the same way citizens are protected by race, religion or national origin. Washington, D.C. possibly has some employment protections in place. Gay couples who are choosing to legally marry are losing their jobs in plenty of localities. Unfortunately it is still federally legal to discriminate against gay people.
That being said participating in Gay-Straight Alliance is not a giveaway. There have to be some straight kids. IMO Georgetown will probably not discriminate against OP. In fact OP should probably look at Georgetown’s site and see if there is a similar club. That might be a good clue.
@OspreyCV22 Your broader point is, of course, correct, but things are a bit different in DC. The District of Columbia Human Rights Act covers sexual orientation as well.
Part E. Educational Institutions.
§ 2-1402.41. Prohibitions.
It is an unlawful discriminatory practice, subject to the exemptions in § 2-1401.03(b), for an educational institution:
(1) To deny, restrict, or to abridge or condition the use of, or access to, any of its facilities, services, programs, or benefits of any program or activity to any person otherwise qualified, wholly or partially, for a discriminatory reason, based upon the actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, or disability of any individual;