Admissions Process

The following admissions process applies to all CCAS graduate programs.

1. All applicants* must submit an application for admission through the University admissions system, TargetX. (*except for those undergraduates applying to combined or “5-year” degree programs)
2. Applications will not be initially reviewed by OGS until the applicant submits the application (the final step). OGS sends frequent deadline reminder emails to applicants with applications in progress, but not yet submitted.
3. OGS will follow up with applicants on outstanding documents before and immediately following the application deadline.
4. Once an application is complete, OGS will calculate the undergraduate GPA (OGS does not calculate graduate GPAs) and send the application to the department for review through TargetX.
5. Faculty admission committees can log in to TargetX to view applications. Decisions are posted to OGS through the system scorecard. Decisions should be returned to OGS within the following timeframe:
  - PhD/PsyD applications: no later than 4-6 weeks from submission (including a request for interview) and no later than March 15 (final decision)
  - Master’s and Certificates: 2-4 weeks from submission

All decisions of Deny are automatically sent to the student once the decision is entered in the scorecard. Do not enter any deny decisions after 11 p.m. EST or the applicant will not be properly notified. If you accidentally deny a student, you must reach out to your program coordinator A.S.A.P. Changing the decision in the scorecard will not reverse the Deny notice to the student.
OGS will process non-deny decisions within 5 business days. Some decisions may be delayed during busy times of the year. An email is sent to the applicant when his or her decision letter is posted.
Applicants can log in to their application portal to view their decision and admission letter. Applicants reply to the decision through the same portal.
Under no circumstances should the department guarantee admission to any applicant. Final decisions on admission are made by OGS. Departments may informally notify students that they are being recommended for admission.

Deferrals

Applicants may request to defer their application for up to one academic year, either before or after the admission decision. Deferral requests must be submitted by the applicant to askccas@gwu.edu. If you receive notice from a student that they no longer wish to attend, please forward it to askccas@gwu.edu. OGS will waive the application fee for the new application term, and contact the applicant with instructions for submitting updated documents.

Admission or any award the student may have received is not automatically transferred to the new semester.