Frequently Asked Questions

Application and Admissions Processes

• How do I apply to CCT?
• When are the application deadlines, and what materials are required?
• Can students enroll on a part-time basis?
• Can I take classes without being enrolled in CCT?
• May I submit additional information or samples of my work with my application?
• What makes a good personal statement?
• What sort of academic writing sample is CCT looking for?
• May I have employers provide recommendations rather than professors?
• Do I have to select a particular course cluster or plan of study during the application processs?
• What are CCT's admission rates?
• How many students are in the CCT Program?
• Do I need to interview?
• Where should I mail my application materials?
• When will I be notified of CCT's admission decision?
• If I am accepted, can I defer my admission to next year?
• If I was denied admission or not approved for an admissions deferment, can I have my application considered again for next year?

Testing and Scores

• What are the minimum test scores and GPAs required for admission?
• What are the average GRE, TOEFL scores, and GPAs for enrolled students? Can you provide some class profile statistics?
• Am I required to take the GRE if I took the TOEFL, IELTS, or the GMAT or LSAT test?

Financial Aid

• Does CCT award scholarships?

CCT Student Profiles

• I would like to speak to a CCT student about the program. Whom may I contact?

Careers and Opportunities after CCT

• What kinds of careers do CCT graduates pursue?
• Do CCT students pursue Ph.D. programs after graduating?
• Do many students work while taking courses?
• What is the average salary range for CCT graduates?

Curriculum

• What is the difference between the coursework and thesis option ?
• What types of courses are offered?

How do I apply to CCT?

The Georgetown University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences requires applications to be submitted via the online application system. Please contact CCT if you are unable to submit the application via the online system. 

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When are the application deadlines, and what materials are required? 

Deadlines for CCT admission: 

• Spring 2010 (no scholarship consideration) - November 1, 2009
• Fall 2009 (with scholarship consideration) - January 15, 2010
• Fall 2009 (no scholarship consideration) - April 1, 2010

Applications must be received by the deadline. Please review CCT's application material requirements for more information.

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Can students enroll on a part-time basis? 

Yes, but full-time admission is strongly encouraged. If you plan to enroll on a part-time basis, please note this on your application form.  Part-time students take two classes per semester and have three years to complete the program. Most classes are in the afternoons and evenings. Most CCT classes meet once a week. 

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May I submit additional information with my application?

Yes, as long as it is relevant to your application for admission to CCT. For example, if you had poor grades for a semester in college due to a family emergency, please attach a note to that effect. If you have creative or professional work you think sheds light on your ability to perform well in graduate school you may include a diskette, CD-ROM, or a list of URLs. 

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What makes a good personal statement?

The personal statement explains why CCT is fits for your academic interests and goals.  It should also indicate what you wish to contribute to CCT's intellectual community. Be yourself, and be brief (500 words). 

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What sort of academic writing sample is CCT looking for?

The academic writing sample should demonstrate your ability to conduct scholarly research. A research paper, an undergraduate term paper or thesis project, or a substantial article or conference paper, is highly desirable. Writing samples should be 10-25 pages. Applicants who have been out of school for more than five years, and do not feel that their previous academic writing best represents their current abilities may choose to submit something written in a professional context. It is very important, however, that a writing sample from a professional context demonstrate an applicant's analytical ability. The sample should represent work done by the applicant.  Please do not submit group papers or projects.

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May I have employers provide recommendations rather than professors?

Two of the three letters of recommendation should be from academic sources (former professors or advisors). If you have been out of school for more than five years, and you experience difficulty contacting your former professors, you may submit recommendations from employers. Please make clear to them that letters of recommendation that speak to your analytical abilities and capacity to undertake graduate-level work are more influential than letters attesting to your performance and congenial demeanor in a employment context. 

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Do I have to select a particular course cluster or plan of study during the application processs?

No. CCT encourages students to find their own niche, and develop something entirely unique. The CCT course clusters are provided as a guide to applicants interested in getting a better sense of areas of study that may be pursued in CCT. Students are not required to restrict themselves to study within a single course cluster.

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What are CCT's admission rates?

Georgetown University's Graduate School of Arts & Sciences does not make individual program acceptance rates public. 

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How many students are in the CCT Program?

Approximately 150 students are enrolled in the program at any time. We enroll about 70 new students each year. Most enroll on a full-time basis.

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Do I need to interview? 

Interviews are not required. We do offer both online and group information sessions throughout the year. We also travel to attend various graduate school fairs, and we may be visiting your area soon. Please refer to the CCT homepage each fall for a list of fairs we will attend.

If you can't attend one of the scheduled information sessions, please contact Angelica Compton, CCT's Admissions & Communications Manager, and she will be happy to answer any questions you have regarding the program.

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Where should I mail my application materials?

The Georgetown University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences strongly recommends submitting all your application materials via the online application form.  However, if you need to mail supplemental materials please send them to:

Georgetown University
The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Office of Graduate Admissions
Box 571004
Washington, DC 20057-1004 

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When will I be notified of CCT's admission decision?

Once we receive your complete appication, the Graduate School will officially notify you of the admissions decision within five weeks. We will be in touch with you throughout the application and admissions process. 

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If I am accepted, can I defer my admission to next year?

CCT considers requests for deferment in extreme circumstances only. Contact Angelica Compton to request a deferral. 

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If I was denied admission or not approved for an admissions deferment, can I have my application considered again for next year?
 
If you have applied within the past year (whether previously accepted or not) you can reactivate your application via the procedure outline on the graduate school Web site. The reactivation materials must be submitted by the appropriate admissions deadline.

If you applied more than a year ago, your application is no longer on file in the Graduate School, and you will need to submit a new application package by the application deadline.

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What are the minimum test scores and GPAs required for admission?

There is no minimum score required for the GRE. The minimum GPA is 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). If you are an international student, we will look for an equivalent grade point average according to your school's grading system. The minimum TOEFL scores are: 600 (paper test); 100 (iBT). The minimum IELTS score for admission is 7.5.

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What are the average GRE, TOEFL scores, and GPAs for enrolled students? Can you provide some class profile statistics (years of work experience, number of international students, etc.)?

You can find these and other statistics at our Admissions Fast Facts page.

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Do I have to take the TOEFL or IELTS if I studied at an English language school for one or two years but did not receive a degree?

If you did not earn a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate degree from a school where English was the language of instruction, you must take either the TOEFL or IELTS. 

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Am I required to take the GRE if I took the TOEFL, IELTS, or the GMAT or LSAT test?

Yes, results of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required for all applicants regardless of previous test taking, except for those who have completed a graduate degree prior to enrollment. ETS will hold on to your GRE scores for up to five years, so if you have taken the GRE in the past five years, you may request that ETS send your scores to Georgetown.

Georgetown University and CCT's GRE & TOEFL code is 5244. You do not need to specify a departmental code.  

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Does CCT award scholarships?

Yes. We usually award eight to 12 merit-based scholarships each year. The awards are renewed the second year only if a 3.8 or higher GPA is maintained. These scholarships are partial to full tuition scholarships only, not living expenses. CCT only awards scholarships to students who enroll full-time.  More financial aid information is available on the Graduate School of Arts & Science Web site. 

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I would like to speak to a CCT student about the program. Who can I contact?

You may contact any of our student ambassadors, a group of CCT students who have volunteered to answer questions from prospective stduents.

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What kinds of careers do CCT graduates pursue?

CCT graduates have diverse intersts they pursue very different careers. CCT students are employed by a variety of companies, including:

• InterNews,Dot-gov Project: Program Associate
• Corporate Executive Board: Research Associate
• The Smithsonian Institution: Senior Web Producer
• The World Bank: Consultant/Research Assistant
• G7 Group: China Telecommunications Analyst
• Women's Learning Partnership: Communications Associate
• Peace Corps: Marketing Styrategist
• Fujitsu Ltd.: Policy and Legal Analyst
• PBS: Editor, pbskids.org
• Advisory Board Company: Research Associate
• Discovery Channel Global Education Fund: Project Specialist
• Pew Internet and American Life Project: Research Specialist

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Do CCT students pursue Ph.D. programs after graduating?

Approximately 10 percent of each graduating class pursues a Ph.D. All CCT students applying to Ph.D. programs have had success in their application processes and many receive funding for their studies.

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Do many students work while taking courses?

The majority of CCT students are employed while they are in school. Most full-time students seek internships or part-time jobs in fields complementing their career and/or academic goals. These positions offer the flexibility to attend to CCT studies while gaining practical experience.

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What is the average salary range for a CCT graduate?

When discussing salary issues, it is important to remember that CCT students enter a variety of careers -- some of which pay significantly higher salaries than others.  However, in 2005 CCT conducted an alumni survey which indicated that within two years of graduating CCT more than 45 percent of CCT students' salaries exceeded $60,000 a year.

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What is the difference between the coursework and thesis option?

There are two degree options: thesis option and coursework option. Students who choose the thesis option must complete 11 courses. Students who choose the coursework option must complete 13 courses. Please refer to the CCT Curriculum for details.

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What types of courses are offered?

Courses are listed by semester on our website. 

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Can I just take a class or two for credit before applying?

Persons wishing to take a CCT credit course without applying for admission must enroll as a non-degree student through the School for Continuing Studies (SCS).

After completing the SCS registration form and obtaining the instructor's signature and approval for enrollment, you will need to submit the form to Heather Kerst for CCT Program review and approval.

CCT required classes CCTP-505, core research/research methods, and CCTP-996 are not open to non-degree students for registration. We will have limited space overall to accomodate non-degree students. CCT and other Georgetown degree students have first priority in class registration.

Students who subsequently apply for admission and enroll in CCT as M.A. degree students can petition to transfer previous graduate-level coursework taken either at another university or as a non-degree student at Georgetown University. A student who enrolls in the Program may transfer up to a maximum of 25 percent of the total credits required to graduate from CCT. CCT will only consider graduate-level classes in which the student has received a grade of B or better for transfer.

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