Can anyone share what Johns Hopkins University's entrance requirements are?

Hey friends, I'm really interested in Johns Hopkins University and have started planning my senior year of high school around it. But, I'm not sure what specific requirements they have for admission. Could anyone shed some light on this?

At a high level, Johns Hopkins University, like most highly selective schools, looks for strong academic performance, meaningful involvement in extracurricular activities, and compelling personal qualities, presented through your essays and letters of recommendation. There's no absolute cutoff for GPA or test scores, but the university is quite selective.

Now, let's look at the specific components of the application:

1. Academic Records:

Johns Hopkins uses a holistic review process, so they will consider your performance in the context of your high school curriculum. They particularly value students taking the most challenging courses at their school (such as AP or IB courses), and demonstrating consistent or increasing grades over time.

2. Test Scores:

Johns Hopkins is test-optional for the 2024-2025 application cycle. This means you can choose whether or not to submit your SAT or ACT scores. If you feel your test scores accurately represent your ability, it may be beneficial to include them. If not, the rest of your application will be given greater focus.

3. Essays:

The Common App personal statement is required. Johns Hopkins also has a supplement essay that asks you to discuss why you've chosen your major.

4. Recommendations:

Johns Hopkins requires two letters of recommendation from teachers, preferably from junior or senior year instructors in core academic subjects. The university also asks for a counselor recommendation.

5. Extracurricular Activities:

They are interested in how you have contributed to and learned from your extracurricular experiences, not necessarily in how many activities you do. What's most important here is the quality of your involvement rather than the quantity.

6. Interview:

Interviews are encouraged but not required, and they are primarily informational. Remember though, that demonstrated interest isn't a significant factor in the admissions process at Johns Hopkins.

In essence, Johns Hopkins evaluates applicants through a comprehensive, whole-person review process rather than strict numerical benchmarks or a specific checklist. It's how the different parts of your application come together to present a complete picture of you as a potential student and community member that truly matters.