Is Georgetown or Boston University more selective for undergraduate admissions?

Georgetown is more selective for undergraduate admissions than Boston University. In overall admissions conversations, Georgetown is typically treated as the more difficult admit, and a process that tends to be especially competitive across its schools. It also has a long-standing reputation for drawing a very high-achieving applicant pool, particularly in programs tied to politics, international relations, and business.

One concrete difference is how the admissions process feels structurally. Georgetown has historically required more school-specific effort, including its own application and distinct supplement expectations, which helps attract applicants who are intentionally targeting Georgetown rather than casting as wide a net. That self-selected pool can make the competition feel sharper.

Another differentiator is applicant profile and institutional positioning. Georgetown is often viewed in the same tier as some of the most selective private universities in the country, especially for applicants to the Walsh School of Foreign Service and the McDonough School of Business. Boston University is absolutely selective and receives enormous interest, but it is usually seen as a step less restrictive overall than Georgetown.

That said, BU can still be extremely tough for certain majors or specialized programs, and both schools are reaches for many applicants. But for a straightforward head-to-head on selectivity, Georgetown is the harder one to get into.