Georgetown Creative Writing Academy: A Complete Guide

Do you have a lot of stories to tell and want to improve your skills to write them well? Georgetown University’s Creative Writing Academy will immerse you in workshops and lectures, take you to field trips, and connect you to fellow writers.

In this article, we’ll talk more about the program, show you how to apply, and explain why it might be an excellent summer writing experience for you.

• What Is the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy?
• Georgetown Creative Writing Academy Acceptance Rate
• Georgetown Creative Writing Academy Application Deadline
• Georgetown Creative Writing Academy Requirements
• How to Get into the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy
• Why Join the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy?

The Georgetown Creative Writing Academy is a one-week summer pre-college program for high school students that helps you turn your ideas and stories into polished creative works. For 2025, the program runs from July 20 to 26.

The Writing Academy is hosted on Georgetown University’s campus in Washington, D.C., where you’ll experience dynamic writing workshops, lectures, and peer feedback sessions to help you create new poems, stories, and personal essays.

The curriculum spans multiple genres and techniques, letting you explore poetry, fiction, personal prose, literary history, and writing craft elements like story structure, character development, dialogue, and more.

Sessions are led by Georgetown’s faculty and guest authors, so you get guidance on both the art and the business of writing. That’s right: aside from being taught how to write, you’ll also learn about the publishing and professional side of creative writing—like understanding literary markets, writing-related careers, and how to get published.

Beyond classroom learning, you’ll also take part in exciting activities to inspire you. You’ll go on field trips around D.C., like to local monuments, theaters, museums, and literary organizations to improve your skills in observation, imagination, and description. For example, you might practice ekphrastic writing (writing inspired by art) at the National Gallery of Art.

One special highlight of the Creative Writing Academy is the chance to perform an original piece at Busboys and Poets, a local literary café, giving you real-world experience reading their work aloud to an audience.

By the end of the week, you’ll have a much better understanding of your own voice and the writing life, plus a portfolio of new work and unforgettable memories of writing!

Georgetown Creative Writing Academy Acceptance Rate

Georgetown University does not publicly release an official acceptance rate for the Creative Writing Academy. However, because of the program’s relatively strong reputation and the quality of the experience it offers, we can say that the program is somewhat selective.

The institution has a limited number of slots per class, but you should also meet certain requirements to be accepted.

Georgetown Creative Writing Academy Application Deadline

Below is a quick look at the important dates for the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy application process:

Applying by the Early Deadline waives the $50 application fee and ensures early consideration. Applications submitted after April 15 may be reviewed only on a case-by-case basis if space remains.

Georgetown Creative Writing Academy Requirements

Before you apply, you should be aware of the eligibility criteria and materials you’ll need.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Georgetown’s Creative Writing Academy, you must:

• Be currently in 8th to 12th grade
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.0 (C average) or higher
• Have a genuine interest in creative writing

Required documents

To apply to the Creative Writing Academy, you’ll need to submit the following:

• Online application form. The personal information on the application and your login profile should match.
• Personal essay. You’ll need a 300–500-word personal statement explaining why you want to attend the Summer High School Programs.
• School official reviewer form. You’ll need to provide contact information for a school official (such as your high school counselor, teacher, or principal) who will submit an official review form on your behalf.
• Application fee. The application requires a $50 fee.

Program cost

The program cost is $3,525 for residential students, which includes housing on Georgetown’s campus and a full meal plan for the week. 

Meanwhile, commuter tuition is $2,730, which covers only the program itself. However, you can also get an optional meal plan through Georgetown’s dining services.

International students should also pay a small health insurance fee of around $45 for the week unless they show proof of adequate coverage.

How to Get into the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy

If you’re eligible and have the required documents ready, here’s how to apply to the Creative Writing Academy.

Step 1: Write a personal statement.

It’s important to note that before you enroll in a specific Georgetown Academy, you should first be accepted into the Summer Academies Program as a whole. So, when writing your personal statement, address your interest in the program. You can talk about your interests to hint at which specific Academies you’d like to register for if admitted.

Here are some quick tips for writing your 300-500-word personal statement:

• Talk about what specifically attracts you to Georgetown University. Maybe it’s the academic reputation, location in Washington D.C., values, or other unique aspects of the campus or community.
• Connect your interests and goals directly to the specific Summer Academy you want to enroll in. For example, what specifically about creative writing excites you? Is it the power of words, the ability to build worlds, the exploration of character, or the craft of narrative?
• Explain what you hope to gain from the program, then discuss how the program will be a stepping stone towards your academic and career goals.

You can ask a teacher or mentor to review your essay so you can refine it before submission.

Step 2: Secure your school’s recommendation.

Talk to your school counselor or a teacher about your plan to apply to Georgetown’s Creative Writing Academy, and ask if they would be willing to serve as your School Official reviewer. You’ll need to enter their contact info in the application, and Georgetown will send them an email with a link to a form to verify your academic readiness.

You should ask someone who knows you academically and can speak to your strengths. When they agree, fill in their details on the application as soon as you start it, so they get the email early.

Important note: Your application won’t be reviewed until the recommendation form is in. As such, be sure to follow up with your teacher so they can submit the form before the deadline.

If you need to designate a new school official, contact [email protected].

Step 3: Submit the application.

Complete all sections of the online application form, upload your personal statement, and double-check everything. If you’re absolutely sure about wanting to attend Georgetown’s Academies, try applying before January 31 so the application fee will automatically be waived.

Even after the early deadline has passed, aim to submit your application a few days before April 15 so if there’s any issue like website traffic or a missing piece of info, you have time to fix it. Once you hit submit, you should get a confirmation.

Georgetown reviews applications on a rolling basis starting in late fall, so the earlier you submit, the more chances of getting a spot in the course you want.

Step 4: Apply for financial aid (optional)

You can only apply for financial aid if you’re accepted into your program. To apply for scholarship, you only need to submit the following:

• Approved Academy application
• Two essays

For the essays, the prompts are:

• Describe a challenge you’ve faced. What did you learn from the experience?
• How would receiving a tuition scholarship and attending the Georgetown Hoya Summer: High School Sessions program impact your personal and academic goals? How would our program contribute to your journey to be the best version of yourself in your community?

For the first prompt, choose a difficulty you’ve faced and dedicate most of your response to the lessons learned and how you’ve grown or applied them.

For the second essay, explain how attending the Georgetown program, specifically due to the scholarship, directly supports your personal and academic aspirations and how you would leverage this opportunity to contribute positively to your community.

For both responses, maintain a sincere tone, use vivid examples, and connect your experiences and goals directly to Georgetown.

If you apply for a scholarship after the deadline, it will only be viewed if there are still enough scholarship funds left (but that’s rarely the case). If there are still sufficient funds, a member of the Scholarship committee will reach out to you.

Step 5: Secure your spot.

If you’re accepted, congratulations! But remember that getting admitted doesn’t guarantee your seat until you enroll and pay, because slots can quickly fill up.

Now, you’ll need to formally register for the Creative Writing Academy and pay a deposit to hold your place. Otherwise, you’ll be waitlisted.

Why Join the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy?

Is the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy worth it? Here are several benefits you can experience if you join:

1. Networking opportunities

Through workshops and group discussions, you’ll bond with classmates as you critique each other’s work and exchange ideas. Those connections can last until after the program, so you’ll have a few new writing buddies who can be a support system for creative pursuits.

Aside from that, you’ll also get to interact with Georgetown faculty and guest speakers (including published authors), which can be an opportunity to find mentors or future references.

2. Skill development

Over the course of a week, you’ll be writing, critiquing, and looking for inspiration from 9 am to 9 pm. The program’s structure of lectures plus workshops is designed to awaken your imagination and strengthen your writing techniques.

This includes learning concrete elements of the craft, such as how to develop characters, build a narrative arc, use descriptive language effectively, and more. You can learn more about these by reading excerpts from acclaimed literature and discussing them, you also gain insight into what makes writing powerful, and you can apply those lessons to your own pieces.

Meanwhile, in peer critique sessions, you’ll also practice revising your work based on feedback.

3. Exposure to the literary world

The Creative Writing Academy is taught by Georgetown’s creative writing faculty and also features guest lectures or readings by established authors. For example:

• John James, the Academic Director for the Creative Writing Academy, is an award-winning poet who won the Max Ritvo Poetry Prize for “The Milk Hours.” He oversees instruction in poetry, literary analysis, and advanced poetic craft.
• Zein El-Amine is a faculty from Georgetown’s main Creative Writing program, usually introducing students to fundamental elements of poetry, prose, essay, and creative non-fiction.

Hearing published writers discuss their craft and career can be very motivating, and you might gain advice on everything from overcoming writer’s block to getting published. When you attend these author readings and interactive sessions, you can also ask questions and absorb lessons from professionals.

Field trips to bookstores, literary cafés, museums, and historic sites can connect what you learn in class to real-world art and culture. Getting exposed to the world of writing and publishing can also inform your future education and career choices in the literary arts.

4. Confidence and portfolio building

A very important benefit to attending the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy is the boost in confidence you can experience. After all, spending a week dedicated to your passion and being taken seriously as a writer can affirm your ambitions and growth.

On top of that, you’ll have tangible outcomes in the form of new or improved writing pieces that you can include in a portfolio or use in other contexts, whether as writing samples for college applications or submissions to literary competitions and magazines.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can join the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy?

The Georgetown Creative Writing Academy is open to 8th to 12th graders who have a minimum GPA of 2.0.

2. Can I get credit for attending the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy?

No, the Creative Writing Academy is a non-credit program. However, Georgetown also offers a separate online creative writing course that provides college credit.

3. How much does the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy cost?

For 2025, the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy costs $3,525 for residential students and $2,730 for commuter students. Georgetown offers limited need-based scholarships for admitted students who demonstrate financial need, though these generally cover tuition only.

4. Does Georgetown University have a creative writing program?

Yes, Georgetown University offers a major and minor in Creative Writing. For high school students, the school has the Creative Writing Academy and a college credit course in creative writing.

Takeaways

• Georgetown University’s Creative Writing Academy is a one-week summer writing program for current 8th to 12th graders that features intensive workshops, field trips in Washington D.C., and mentorship from experienced writers.
• Program dates for 2025 are July 20 to 26.
• There’s no published official acceptance rate, but high grades and a strong personal statement can help increase your chances of getting admitted.
• Some benefits of being part of the Georgetown Creative Writing Academy are networking opportunities, skill development, exposure to the literary world, and confidence and portfolio building.
• Want to look for more academic and extracurricular opportunities related to writing? Get your profile evaluated and receive suggestions that can present you as a serious aspiring writer.