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How to Respond to the 2023/2024 Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay Prompts
By
Varonika Ware
Varonika Ware is a content writer at Scholarships360. Varonika earned her undergraduate degree in Mass Communications at Louisiana State University. During her time at LSU, she worked with the Center of Academic Success to create the weekly Success Sunday newsletter. Varonika also interned at the Louisiana Department of Insurance in the Public Affairs office with some of her graphics appearing in local news articles.
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Cari Schultz is an Educational Review Board Advisor at Scholarships360, where she reviews content featured on the site. For over 20 years, Cari has worked in college admissions (Baldwin Wallace University, The Ohio State University, University of Kentucky) and as a college counselor (Columbus School for Girls).
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Johns Hopkins University is a private research university located in Baltimore, Maryland. This university is widely known for its emphasis on medicine and science. Johns Hopkins is a highly selective institution that admits only 8% of applicants. Therefore, your application really needs to stand out. One way to do this is by learning how to craft a stellar response to the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays.
The John Hopkins supplemental essay prompt
Supplemental essays are an opportunity to give the admissions office a deeper look into who you are and what you’ll contribute to the university. There is only one JHU essay prompt, but you should make sure that you add a personal touch to stand out. Applying to college isn’t just about academics,– it’s about everything that makes you special!
The prompt
“Tell us about an aspect of your identity (e.g. race, gender, sexuality, religion, community, etc.) or a life experience that has shaped you as an individual and how that influenced what you’d like to pursue in college at Hopkins. (This can be a future goal or experience that is either academic, extracurricular, or social). (350 word limit.)”
While this prompt may seem daunting and open-ended, this is the perfect opportunity for you to shine. The main focus of your essay should be what makes you unique in comparison to other applicants.
Get started by asking yourself:
- Will you be a first-generation college student?
- Have you overcome something in your life?
- How have your interests shaped your identity?
- Do you have any notable skills?
Take this opportunity to define yourself outside of academics by telling the admissions office who and what shaped your identity and where and how you spend your time. The prompt is actually quite straightforward in asking you to share “your interests, your background, your identity or your community,” so do just that. In addition to what you share, be sure to answer the second part of the prompt that asks how “your interests, your background, your identity or your community” has shaped you
Remember to incorporate Johns Hopkins into your story too; you chose this university for a reason, and want them to choose you as well. Make your essay personal by explaining how attending John Hopkins will help you become your best self. The prompt explicitly mentions that JHU “encourages students to develop their interests and pursue new experiences.” JHU wants to know how you will make the most of the opportunities presented to you while attending their university.
JHU specific questions to consider
- Does JHU have a unique curriculum you want to study?
- Have you taken trips to the campus before?
- Do you hope to improve the community surrounding Johns Hopkins?
- What do you plan on achieving at Johns Hopkins that you can’t do anywhere else?
- How does JHU connect to the interest, background, identity, or community element that you’ve chosen to share?
Also see: How to write an essay about yourself
Final thoughts for students
Organize your thoughts with an outline before jumping right into writing your supplemental essay. By doing this, your essay will transition smoothly from one thought to the next and avoid unnecessary changes in direction. While it may not seem like it, 300-400 words goes by quickly, so start with your main points before adding additional details.
Before you hit that “submit” button, make sure to:
- Proofread thoroughly to correct grammar mistakes
- Cut out any run-on sentences
- Read your essay aloud at least once to catch any small mistakes you might’ve missed
Don’t miss: How to respond to the Common App essay prompts
Additional resources
Once you’ve completed your Johns Hopkins supplemental essays, there is surely more to be done! Organizing for college can be stressful, but Scholarships360 is here to help. Get a jump on preparing for college with some of our resources to make your application process easier. Learn how to complete the FAFSA and how to compare your financial aid award letters. Throughout your higher education journey, make sure that you are applying for all the scholarships you qualify for!
