Georgetown University AI Policy for College Applications
Policy Changed Since September 2025
Permission: L4 (unchanged)
Disclosure: D3 (unchanged)
Enforcement: E3 → E2 (Unknown policy)
This school updated their AI admissions policy between our September 2025 and February 2026 reviews.
Quick Answer: Can you use AI at Georgetown University?
It depends on your program:
- •General/Undergraduate: AI use prohibited
- •Undergraduate Admissions: AI use prohibited
- •Law School (J.D. Admissions): Brainstorming only
- •McDonough School of Business (MBA, MSBA, EMBA, MiM, IBP, GRA): Line-level editing allowed
- •M.S. in Environment and Sustainability Management (ESM): Line-level editing allowed
Last verified: 2026-02-17 • Confidence: High
What This Means For Your Application
✓Generally Safe
- Writing entirely on your own
- Human feedback from teachers, counselors, family
✗Avoid
- Any AI tool, including grammar checkers in some cases
- Using ChatGPT even for brainstorming
💡This school takes a hard line — even brainstorming with AI could be a problem
💡Be transparent about any AI tools you used — honesty is always the safest approach
💡This school actively checks for AI — make sure your essay sounds like you
Policy Evidence
University General Policy
“use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to complete any portion of the application, including essays, is prohibited”
— Georgetown Undergraduate Application (portal, login required)(Verified: Feb 2026)
“the only person who may be engaged in the actual writing is you”
— J.D. Frequently Asked Questions - Georgetown Law(Verified: Feb 2026)
“Friends, family members, advisors, etc. — whether real or artificial — are not applying to Georgetown Law; you are”
— J.D. Frequently Asked Questions - Georgetown Law(Verified: Feb 2026)
“If you would omit or downplay how you used an AI tool, you should adjust your plan”
— J.D. Frequently Asked Questions - Georgetown Law(Verified: Feb 2026)
“generative AI may be a useful tool as you structure and refine your essay”
— MSBA Application Process - McDonough School of Business(Verified: Feb 2026)
“Think of generative AI as a supportive resource, much like asking a friend for brainstorming assistance”
— ESM Application Process - Georgetown University(Verified: Feb 2026)
Program-Specific Policies
Undergraduate Admissions
“use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to complete any portion of the application, including essays, is prohibited”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: all application materials, essays
Law School (J.D. Admissions)
“the only person who may be engaged in the actual writing is you”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement, essays
McDonough School of Business (MBA, MSBA, EMBA, MiM, IBP, GRA)
“generative AI may be a useful tool as you structure and refine your essay”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: application essays, personal statement
M.S. in Environment and Sustainability Management (ESM)
“Think of generative AI as a supportive resource, much like asking a friend for brainstorming assistance”
— View source(Verified: Feb 2026)
Applies to: personal statement
Specific Guidelines
✗ Not Allowed
- •any AI use in undergraduate application materials including essays
- •AI-generated writing in law school application essays
- •AI replacing applicant's own voice in business school essays
Policy Summary by Program
| Program | AI Allowed? | Disclosure | Enforcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Undergraduate | AI use prohibited | Must attest no AI used | E2 • Uses screening tools |
| Undergraduate Admissions | AI use prohibited | Must attest no AI used | E2 • Uses screening tools |
| Law School (J.D. Admissions) | Brainstorming only | No disclosure required | E1 • Manual review possible |
| McDonough School of Business (MBA, MSBA, EMBA, MiM, IBP, GRA) | Line-level editing allowed | No disclosure required | E1 • Manual review possible |
| M.S. in Environment and Sustainability Management (ESM) | Line-level editing allowed | No disclosure required | E1 • Manual review possible |
Sources Verified
All sources checked (18)
Policy Sources:
- https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/applying/first-year-application/
- https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissions-aid/jd-admissions/first-year-applicants/frequently-asked-questions/
- https://msb.georgetown.edu/msba/admissions-financing/application-process/
- https://esm.georgetown.edu/admissions-financing/application-process/
Additional Sources Checked:
- https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/
- https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/applying/first-year-application/
- https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/applying/first-year/
- https://www.law.georgetown.edu/admissions-aid/jd-admissions/first-year-applicants/frequently-asked-questions/
- https://msb.georgetown.edu/msba/admissions-financing/application-process/
- https://msb.georgetown.edu/executive-mba/admissions-financing/application-process/
- https://msb.georgetown.edu/mba/application-components/
- https://msb.georgetown.edu/masters-in-management/admissions-financing/application-process/
- https://msb.georgetown.edu/masters-international-business-policy/admissions-financing/application-process/
- https://esm.georgetown.edu/admissions-financing/application-process/
- https://grad.georgetown.edu/admissions/application-information/
- https://aiguidelines.georgetown.edu/
- https://guides.library.georgetown.edu/ai/campus-resources
- https://cndls.georgetown.edu/resources/ai/course-policies/
Policy History
| Date | Permission | Disclosure | Enforcement | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 (current) | L4 | D3 | E2 | High |
| 2025-09-24 | L4 | D3 | E3 | High for Undergraduate and Law, Medium for Business, Low for others |
Additional Context
Georgetown has a strongly differentiated approach by program. Undergraduate admissions (L4) explicitly prohibits all AI tool use in any part of the application with a signed attestation and rescission consequences. Georgetown Law (L3) requires all actual writing be the applicant's own but allows receiving feedback on drafts; AI tools are specifically referenced as 'artificial' advisors who should not be doing the writing. McDonough School of Business and ESM (L2) explicitly permit generative AI as a 'supportive resource' for structuring, refining, and brainstorming, but the final essay must authentically reflect the applicant's own voice. The general Graduate School has no public AI-specific admissions policy. The undergraduate attestation language is visible only within the application portal (login required). Overall level is L4 based on the strictest policy (undergraduate).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Georgetown University allow ChatGPT for essays?
Do I need to disclose AI use to Georgetown University?
How does Georgetown University check for AI?
Which Georgetown University programs have different AI policies?
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