Frequently Asked Questions

Admissions

Financial Aid

Academic

General

Q: What are the admission requirements?
A: Please visit the Application for Admissions page for details.

 

Q: Do I have to pay an application fee?
A: Yes, students must submit an application fee before their applications will be reviewed. The application fee is waived if the student applies online between September 1 and February1. It may also be waived if an application fee waiver request is sent with the application. This should come from a school official, and eligibility is based on financial hardships or current exchange restrictions.

 

Q: When is the application deadline?
A: Though Georgetown College has a rolling application, we encourage students to have all required documents submitted by June 1 for the fall semester, and October 15 for the spring semester.

 

Q: Does GC accept IB (International Baccalaureate) credits?
A: Yes we do. Grades of 6 or 7 on the higher level exam are accepted.

 

Q: Must I fill out a financial certification form every year?
Yes. You and your sponsor(s) must complete a financial certification form every year after you are enrolled here. It is due on May 1.

 

Q: What is the I-20 document?
A: The I-20 is the immigration document you will need to apply for a student visa. If you are already in the United States on another non-immigrant visa, you will need it to apply for a change of status.

 

Q: Is the $2000 deposit refundable?
A: Yes and No. Yes if for reasons beyond your control you are not able to enroll at Georgetown. For example, you are denied a visa or you get a visa, but you are not able to come to the United States. If you are already in the United States, then it is refundable if the United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) doesn't approve your change of status. It is not refundable if you enter the United States with a visa to attend Georgetown, but you do not show up on campus. This also applies if you are already in the United States. Please be aware that not reporting to the school printed on your visa and/or I-20 is against immigration regulations. We are required to notify the USCIS when this happens, and it could lead to you being deported.

 

Q: Can I send my Acceptance Agreement form separately if I am sending my deposit by electronic transfer or credit card?
A: Yes. You can mail or fax your completed form.

 

Q: Does GC offer full scholarships to international students?
A: No, Georgetown College doesn't offer full scholarships to international students. Georgetown College offers partial scholarships. Please refer to the Cost and Aid page for details.

 

Q: When is the deadline for scholarship applications?
A: The deadline for most scholarships is February 1.

 

Q: How much does it cost for an international student to go to GC?
A: Refer to the Cost page for an estimated cost of attendance.

 

Q: Will I have to file taxes as an international student?
A: Yes, federal regulations require nonimmigrants to file taxes. Instructions would be provided during orientation.

 

Q: Should international students apply for outside scholarships?
A: Students are encouraged to apply for outside scholarships. Students are warned to be careful of fraudulent individuals and institutions. Refer to the Other Resources page for outside scholarship information.

 

Q: Do I have to prove that I have the funds available to cover the full cost stated on the Financial Certification Form (FCF)?
A: No, you are not required to prove you have the full cost stated on the FCF. You are only required to truthfully specify how much you and/or your sponsor(s) can afford to pay per year. But not having the sufficient funds to pay for your education may delay or cause us not to proceed with the enrollment process.)

 

Q: Does tuition and room and board cover expenses during the Christmas and summer breaks?
A: No.  You are responsible for your personal living expenses during the break. Students who stay on campus during the break pay extra for housing. There are no meals served during the break, so students are responsible for their meals. Most international students who stay on campus during the breaks work, attend extra classes, or do both.

 

Q: Does tuition cover books?
A: No. You are responsible for your books. The total price of your books will vary from semester to semester depending on the classes you are taking. On the average students spend about $400 per semester. Please note that this is an average, and therefore yours ma be higher or lower.

 

Q: Is the cost fixed for all 4 years?
A: It is not unusual for the cost to increase on an average of 5 to 7 percent annually. This is common with a lot of colleges/universities in the United States. Please take note of this as you budget for your education.

 

Q: Will my aid increase with an increase in the cost?
A: Though there may be some exceptions, like the Room and Board College Grant, most scholarships are fixed for all four years.

 

Q: When are tuition payments due?
A: Typically payments are due by the following schedule:
         Fall semester: August 16
         Spring Semester: January 8
 

Q: What expense does tuition cover?
A: Tuition covers the cost for class instruction.

 

Q: What is room and board?
A: Room and board is the cost for living in the dormitory and eating in the cafeteria.

 

Q: What programs of study (majors) does GC offer?
A: Refer to our Programs of Study page for details.

 

Q: Does GC offer an English as Second Language (ESL) program?
A: No, Georgetown College does not offer an ESL program. English proficiency is required for admission to the college.

 

Q: Can international students participate in study abroad programs?
A: International students are permitted as far as they meet the required academic standards. You must discuss your intentions of studying abroad with the Coordinator of International Study Programs and the International Students Advisor before any final plans are made.

 

Q: What is a major or minor?
A: A major is the field of study a student specializes in. A minor is a series of courses within a field of study concentrating in a particular subject area. Minors allow a student to diversify his or her course of study.

 

Q: What is the fall and spring semester?
A: The fall and spring semesters represent the two semesters (terms) Georgetown College operates on. The fall semester is usually from late August to early December. The spring semester is usually from early January to early May.

 

Q: Why do I need health insurance?
A: Healthcare in the United States is extremely expensive, so it is imperative that students have medical insurance coverage.

 

Q: What is a liberal arts college/university?
A: A liberal arts college intends to endow students with general knowledge and intellectual skills, along with occupational or professional skills. Click here for more information.

 

Q: How do I register for classes?
A: Students would be provided with class registration information after we receive the $2000 enrollment deposit.

 

Q: Is GC a religious school?
A: Georgetown College is a great Baptist College defined by academic excellence in the liberal arts that teaches students to think, to lead, and to serve with balance and respect as demonstrated and modeled by Christian character. This doesn't mean that we only recruit Baptists or Christians; we welcome people of all races, faiths, color and ethnic origin.

 

Q: How can I make a payment to the college?
You may pay by credit card, money order, U.S. personal check or bank wire transfer. Warning: do not send your credit card or bank information via email. Contact the Admissions Office for more details on how to make payments.

 

Q: What is the difference between a college and a university?
A: The words "college" and "university" usually cause confusion because different countries use them differently. In the United States both words are often used interchangeably. For an in-depth explanation please click here.

 

Q: What is the United States educational system like?
A: Please visit the United States Department of State website.

 

Q: Are international students permitted to work on campus?
A: International students can work on campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week when school is in session. It is against federal regulations to accept off-campus employment without the right authorization.

 

Q: What is the 9-month academic year?
A: Both our fall and spring semesters have about four and a half months each.

 

Q: How many months does the health insurance cover?
A: You can purchase a 6-month or 12-month health insurance policy. We encourage students to get a 12-month health insurance policy because it is cheaper than getting two 6-month health insurance policies.

 

Q: What time zone is GC on?
A: Georgetown College is on the Eastern Time Zone, which is (-5hrs) off GMT/UTC Zone. Between the first Sunday of April and the last Sunday of October it is (-4hrs) because we observe Daylight Savings Time (DST). You can read more about this by clicking here.

 

Q: What is a Grade Point Average (GPA)?
A: The GPA is the average of a student's grades based on a 4 point scale. Numerical values are given to grades.  4=A, 3=B, 2=C, 1=D, and 0=E & F