George Washington University

• ResumeRequired

  Masters page (Data Science): 'Resume' / 'Required'. Application Requirements page: 'A copy of your most current resume is required and should include all previous education and employment.'

• Statement of Purpose (250-500 words)Required

  Masters page (Data Science): 'In an essay of 250-500 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study in your chosen field.' Application Requirements page: 'A statement of purpose is required for every program'. The FAQ calls the word limit 'a general guideline, not a strict limitation'.

• Unofficial transcripts from every college or university attendedRequired

  Masters page (Data Science, Academic Records): 'Provide unofficial transcripts from every college or university you have attended, regardless of whether you completed the program or earned credit.' Includes institutions whose credits appear as transfer units on another transcript. 'Official transcripts are only required if you are offered admission to the program.' Uploaded to the 'Academic History' section; transcripts not in English need a certified English translation. External evaluations (e.g., by WES) are welcome but not normally required.

• Two letters of recommendation2 letters

  Application Requirements page: 'Letters of Recommendation should come from faculty, supervisors, and others who know you well in an academic or professional setting.' 'If possible, at least one letter should come from a faculty member who taught you in a class'. A professional recommender should be a manager or supervisor rather than a colleague.

  Masters page (Data Science): 'Letters of Recommendation' / 'Two'. Submitted by recommenders through the online application system; expected to arrive by the posted application deadline.

• GMAT (not accepted in place of the GRE)Not accepted

  FAQ: 'Other standardized tests (e.g., GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.) cannot be submitted in lieu of the GRE.' The GRE itself is optional for Data Science.

• GRE (optional)Optional

  Masters page (Data Science): 'GRE Test' / 'Optional'. If submitted, GRE scores must be official, not more than five years old, sent to GW with code 5246; CCAS accepts the standard GRE or the GRE at-home version.

• Duolingo English Test, Academic IELTS, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBTIf your degree wasn't taught in EnglishRequired — waiver possible

  Duolingo English Test (minimum 110): Masters page (Data Science) minimum: 'Duolingo: 110'. The Data Science minimums are CCAS's lower tier ('Minimum requirement, requires EAP course' on the International Applicants page): students admitted with these scores take an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course in the first semester, at extra cost. 'Test scores must not be older than 2 years from the date of submitting your application for admission.' Required of 'Graduate applicants who have not completed a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution'. Scores are sent directly through the Duolingo portal.

  Academic IELTS (minimum 6.0 overall, no band below 5.0): Masters page (Data Science) minimum: 'Academic IELTS: an overall score of 6.0 with no individual band score below 5.0'. IELTS Indicator is not accepted; scores via IELTS e-delivery to the George Washington University account. The Data Science minimums are CCAS's lower tier ('Minimum requirement, requires EAP course' on the International Applicants page): students admitted with these scores take an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course in the first semester, at extra cost. 'Test scores must not be older than 2 years from the date of submitting your application for admission.' Required of 'Graduate applicants who have not completed a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution'.

  PTE Academic (minimum 58): Masters page (Data Science) minimum: 'PTE Academic: 58'. The Data Science minimums are CCAS's lower tier ('Minimum requirement, requires EAP course' on the International Applicants page): students admitted with these scores take an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course in the first semester, at extra cost. 'Test scores must not be older than 2 years from the date of submitting your application for admission.' Required of 'Graduate applicants who have not completed a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution'. Scores are sent directly through the PTE portal.

  TOEFL iBT (minimum 4 on the new test; 81 on the old test): Masters page (Data Science) minimum: 'TOEFL iBT: Overall Score, 4 (Old Test, 81)'. CCAS accepts the standard TOEFL iBT or the TOEFL at-home version; 'We do not accept TOEFL MyBestScore.' The Data Science minimums are CCAS's lower tier ('Minimum requirement, requires EAP course' on the International Applicants page): students admitted with these scores take an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course in the first semester, at extra cost. 'Test scores must not be older than 2 years from the date of submitting your application for admission.' Required of 'Graduate applicants who have not completed a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution'. GW institutional code 5246.

  Waiver / exemption: Application Requirements page: applicants 'may have their English Language Proficiency requirement waived if the applicant has earned (or will earn before matriculation) a post-secondary degree from an institution located in a country where English is the sole language of instruction'; they may be asked to complete an English for Academic Purposes course. International Applicants page (English Language Test Exemption): exceptions are granted for a degree in which English is the language of instruction AND the official language of the country where the university is located, a degree from an institution accredited by a U.S. regional accrediting agency, or a Bachelor's, Master's, or doctoral degree from a listed country. 'You do not have to apply for either waiver. Simply submit your application without the required scores.'

Who can apply

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited universityRequired

  Masters page (Data Science, Prerequisite Requirement): 'A bachelor's degree from an accredited university'. Apply page: applicants must 'hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.'

• Calculus and linear algebra (one semester), or permission of the program

  The school’s official pages say this differently. Here is what each one says — check with the school before you rely on it.

  Calculus and linear algebra (one semester), or permission of the program

  Masters page (Data Science, Prerequisite Requirement): 'A bachelor's degree from an accredited university with at least one semester in calculus and linear algebra, one semester of statistics, or permission of the program.' Differs from the Data Science graduate page, which says multivariable calculus (see the other row in this conflict group).

  Master's Degrees ↗

  Multivariable calculus (undergraduate course)

  Data Science graduate page (Application Requirements): 'All applicants must have completed courses at the undergraduate level in multivariable calculus and statistics.' Applicants lacking specific requirements are encouraged to contact the program (datasci@gwu.edu) for advice on alternative ways to meet them. Differs from the CCAS masters page (calculus and linear algebra).

  Graduate ↗
• Programming (e.g., Python): desirable but not requiredOptional

  Masters page: 'Proficiency in a programming language such as Python is desirable but not required.' Data Science graduate page: 'There is no formal requirement for a specific programming language; however, candidates are encouraged to demonstrate their comfort with programming and software in their application.'

• Statistics (one semester)Required

  Masters page: 'one semester of statistics, or permission of the program'. Data Science graduate page: 'All applicants must have completed courses at the undergraduate level in multivariable calculus and statistics.'