Is Georgetown more selective than the University of Maryland for undergraduate admissions?

The biggest practical difference is that Georgetown admits from a highly self-selecting national and international applicant pool, while the University of Maryland enrolls a much larger undergraduate class and gives meaningful priority to Maryland residents. Georgetown applicants typically need exceptionally strong academic preparation along with a compelling overall application, whereas Maryland’s level of difficulty varies more by residency and intended program. Both schools review applicants holistically, but Georgetown is the more consistently selective institution overall.

At Georgetown, a strong transcript in the most rigorous courses available, excellent writing, recommendations, and clear engagement outside class all matter substantially. Its undergraduate schools can also differ somewhat in what they emphasize, but admission is competitive across the university.

Maryland is also selective, particularly for applicants to high-demand areas such as computer science, engineering, business, and some limited-enrollment programs. Out-of-state applicants face a more competitive process than in-state applicants, and strong grades and course rigor remain important.

Maryland should not be treated as an automatic safety, especially for an out-of-state applicant or someone applying to a capacity-constrained major.