jhu essay examples

6 Outstanding Johns Hopkins Essays That Worked for 2024

To get into Johns Hopkins University in 2024, you'll need to make sure your essays that help you stand out.

You may know that John Hopkins releases essay examples every so often.

And in this article, I've gathered 6 additional incredible Johns Hopkins essays from admitted students.

Whether you're a student or parent of an applicant, get inspired and real insight into JHU admissions.

What is John Hopkins University's Acceptance Rate?

Getting into Johns Hopkins is difficult. Last year, over 37,150 students applied to Johns Hopkins and 2,407 were admitted.

That means Johns Hopkins had an overall acceptance rate of 6.5%, or in other words about 1 in 15 students get admitted each year

Johns Hopkins Acceptance Scattergram

Luckily, if you want to maximize your chances of getting into Johns Hopkins, your essays make sure you have your best chance of acceptance.

For top schools like Johns Hopkins, your essays matter more.

What are the Johns Hopkins Supplemental Prompts for 2022-23?

This year, Johns Hopkins requires applicants to write one essay of 300-400 words in response to its writing supplement question.

Here are the Johns Hopkins writing supplement prompts for this year:

• Founded in the spirit of exploration and discovery, Johns Hopkins University encourages students to share their perspectives, develop their interests, and pursue new experiences.

Use this space to share something you’d like the admissions committee to know about you (your interests, your background, your identity, or your community), and how it has shaped what you want to get out of your college experience at Hopkins. (300-400 words)

6 Additional Johns Hopkins EssaysThatWorked

These are 6 additional Johns Hopkins essays that worked written by admitted students. Here you can read their essay examples and see how they got accepted.

I've also included some Common App essays written by admitted JHU students.

• 1. Runners Take Your Marks
• 2. Percussive Marching Arts
• 3. Constance Care Center
• 4. Governor's School of Science
• 6. Glowing Blob

#1. Johns Hopkins Supplement Example: Runners Take Your Marks

Prompt: Successful students at Johns Hopkins make the biggest impact by collaborating with others, including peers, mentors, and professors. Talk about a time, in or outside the classroom, when you worked with others and what you learned from the experience. (300-400 words)

"Runners take your marks, get set, collaborate?"

When one attempts to characterize the sport of cross-country, the term 'teammates' rarely comes to mind. More commonly, the activity is associated with words such as 'champion' or 'competitor', both singular nouns. Therefore, it is not difficult to imagine the extent of my surprise when, stepping into my first-ever cross-country practice as a lanky ninth-grader, I witnessed the sense of camaraderie present among the more established members of the team. Despite my acknowledgement of these runners as teammates, I held my opposing views of cross-country and of collaboration at the poles of my mind, convinced that the two were terminally incompatible. Stubbornly clinging to this black-and-white philosophy, I carried it with me throughout the season's inaugural meet, unaware of the burden that such a dichotomous perspective created. Instead of tuning into the motivated cheering of coaches, I tuned into the laborious pumping of my arms, resultant of the intensity of the race.

Opposed to focusing on the changes in pace effected by my teammates, I chose to focus on the chafing around my ankles, resultant of an ill-fitting pair of racing spikes. Intent of ensuring my own success, I willfully ignored the reality that, although my teammates were assuming the role of rivals, my teammates were simultaneously assuming the role of collaborators, purposefully striving to ensure the success of one another. Consequently, the competing teams engaging in cooperative conduct similarly happened to be the teams with the greatest overall achievement at that first meet.

While witnessing the success of collaborative teams certainly set into motion a transformation of my polarized perspective in regards to cross-country, the true catalytic factor materialized itself as the interactions carried out between my teammates and I. As the season progressed, and as I gradually gained awareness of the team's nuanced character, I noticed that the strengths of one teammate served to supplement the weaknesses of another. Where one teammate may have fallen short on rhythm near the conclusion of a race, for example, another teammate would provide a blazing final 'kick'. Equipped with a transformative understanding of team dynamics, I ultimately came to realize that cooperative achievement arises not from compromise, but rather from the constructive amalgamation of distinctive individual qualities.

As I toe the starting line of an undefined future, I will undoubtedly carry these indelible lessons with me throughout the entirety of life's most daunting race.

#2. Johns Hopkins Supplement Example: Percussive Marching Arts

There is something intimate, almost profound, in mirroring the movements of about 14 people around you.

From paralleling the idiosyncrasies of a vibraphone player’s smile to the nuances of a marimba player’s wrist movements, it is difficult to achieve total nonverbal communication in a band’s front ensemble. The result, however, is an infinitely rewarding one; the visual mosaic we design — whether inside the confines of a gymnasium floor or on an expansive stretch of turf on a football field — is akin to the aural one we create as well. This tapestry, while ostensibly uniform, is woven with the gradations of every player’s physical form, their quirks quickly adopted by the whole ensemble.

Indeed, pantomiming and performing become one in the same in the stationary percussive marching arts. This mimicry demands a sacred conviction that every player will commit to maintaining the mosaic that we’ve worked so hard to build. The tense moment when each player waves his or her mallets above the board permits no hesitation; there is no room to confirm the camaraderie between players before striking the keys. We are forced to trust that everything will fall into place, and the tapestry will unfold as it should to captivate our audience.

I’ve learned a lot from playing mallet percussion across the ensembles offered at my school, but the most important thing I’ve learned is to relax, and allow the hours me and my peers have put into rehearsal take their course. I am a notoriously anxious person, obsessed with precision and perfection. Performing is anything but precise; it’s fluid and expressive. When the drum major counts off, I cannot worry about my stance behind the board, or if how much torque I am applying to the first stroke is the same as the person next to me. I must be unapologetically confident.

The faith that I’ve cultivated in my peers in creating this musical tapestry has translated to an increased faith in myself and my own abilities. No longer am I afraid to explore new talents, or take intellectual excursions into fields unbeknownst to me. I am free to teach myself anything, from the entirety of Claude Debussy's works on piano to the John Cena theme song on recorder. Indeed, contributing to something greater than myself has fundamentally changed who I am for the better.

#3. Johns Hopkins Common App Essay Example: Constance Care Center

Common App Prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. (250-650 words)

Why This Essay Works:

This student uses vulnerability in admitting that they held preconceived notions about the elderly before this experience. The quote introduces these preconceived notions well, while the description of how this student got their job in the care facility is also engaging.

Admission officers love to see your interactions with others. Showing how you interact reveals a lot about your character, and this essay benefits from reflecting upon the student's relationship with a particular elderly individual.

What They Might Improve:

It is good to be descriptive, but only when it supports your expression of ideas. In this essay, the author uses adjectives and adverbs excessively, without introducing new ideas. Your ideas are more important than having a diverse vocabulary, and the realizations in this essay are muddled by rephrasing similar ideas using seemingly "impressive," but ultimately somewhat meaningless, vocabulary.

This essay touches on some interesting ideas, but on multiple occasions these ideas are repeated just in different phrasing. If you have already expressed an idea, don't repeat it unless you're adding something new: a deeper context, a new angle, a broadened application, etc. Ask yourself: what is the purpose of each sentence, and have I expressed it already?

It's true that almost any topic can make for a strong essay, but certain topics are trickier because they make it easy to write about overly used ideas. In this essay, the main idea can be summarized as: "I realized the elderly were worthy humans too." It touches upon more interesting ideas, such as how people can be reduced down to their afflictions rather than their true character, but the main idea is somewhat surface-level.

#4. Johns Hopkins Common App Essay Example: Governor's School of Science

#5. johns hopkins personal statement example: riddles.

Common App Prompt #6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? (250-650 words)

As I was going to St. Ives, Upon the road I met seven wives; Every wife had seven sacks, Every sack had seven cats: Cats, sacks, and wives, How many were going to St. Ives?

The riddles of life were not as straightforward as the puzzles in my books and websites. In fact, they were not straightforward at all, like winding mazes of philosophical quandary.

One of the most thought-provoking subjects that preoccupies my mind regards the existence of aliens. Initially, my mind was settled on the possibility of intelligent life. A universe so big could not possibly be lifeless.

As for the solution to the riddle at the start:

How many were going to St. Ives?

This essay does well by having a unique central topic—riddles—which allows the author to draw out interesting ideas related to this theme. Your topic doesn't necessarily need to be profound or hugely significant, because this author shows how you can take a seemingly unimportant topic and use it to make meaningful connections. In this essay, riddles grow to represent something greater than the activity itself, which is something you can do with almost any topic.

One of the most effective ways to "show, not tell" is to use specific and tangible examples. This essay does a great job of exemplifying their ideas. Rather than just saying "I enthralled my friends with questions," the author also shows this: "Over peanut butter and sliced ham, I assumed the role of story teller..." Examples are always more convincing because they are proof, and allow the reader to interpret for themselves. Don't tell the reader what you want them to think. Instead, set up moments that guide the reader to come to those conclusions themselves.

This conclusion connects back to the beginning, which is generally a good idea as it creates a cohesive structure. However, this ending doesn't quite make sense in the context of the riddle. Rather than creating new meaning, it comes off as arbitrary and contrived. Make sure your conclusion isn't creative just for creative-sake, and instead also has significant meaning attached to it.

#6. Johns Hopkins Personal Statement Example: Glowing Blob

Common App Prompt #7: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (250-650 words)

The diamond leaves of gnarled oak trees throw spectrums of color onto mounds of frosty snow that gleam melancholily under the moonlight. The leaves chime as wind violently rustles them in a haunting melody. I splinter a leaf off its branch and inspect the shard of my illusion, eyes dancing with amusement.

As I dwell in my worries, a cold hand reaches from behind me and taps my shoulder.

I jerk away, fear bubbling in my amygdala as I look into the nonexistent eyes of my intruding visitor.

The moon illuminates a blob of pink squish as it draws back slowly, points its spindly hands towards my drink and asks: “Could I have some of that?”

The blob wipes its invisible mouth with its nonexistent sleeve. I ask: “What are you?”

The blob tells me to stop looking at it so suspiciously. “I can prove it,” It says. I tell it, please, go ahead.

Suddenly we are back in the glowing forest. “Diamonds? Pah!” The blob dismisses them. Instantly, the leaves turn solid gold, the snow melts, and the wintry world is thrown into a blistering summer.

The blob laughs heartlessly. “Your cortex is under my control,” it says smugly.

“I heard you had a question for me?” It taps its invisible ears knowingly.

The blob wriggles its invisible brows as it waits.

It smiles that wicked smile. It laughs that sinful laugh. Then that insufferable blob wakes me up.

As I sit up in the dark and rub my bleary eyes, I am vaguely aware of the deep­set unfulfillment settling itself inside me. I yawn and plop back into bed, the soft red glow of my alarm clock indicating that it is still before midnight.

One thing is for sure about this essay: it has a unique idea that has surely not been written before. Regardless of your topic, you want your essay to be unique in some way, even if it isn't as fantastical as this essay. You can use a unique structure, such as having central symbolism, metaphor, or being structured as a recipe, for example. But this can easily become "gimmicky" if it doesn't have a clear purpose. In general, the most effective way to have a unique essay is to focus on having deep and unique ideas and reflections. By focusing on interesting takeaways and connections that are ultra-specific to you and your experiences, your essay will standout regardless of the structure.

This essay uses a lot of fiction-like writing that is fantastical and "flowery." Although moments of this kind of writing can make your essay more vivid, it is quite easy to end up with dense storytelling and descriptions that ultimately don't share anything interesting about you. The purpose of your essay is ultimately to learn about you: your values, your ideas, your identity, etc. By using dense story-like writing, it can be easy to lose focus of what admissions officers are looking for. In general, avoid writing "fancy" stories like this essay, unless you have a clear and distinct purpose for doing so. Everything in your essay should have a purpose in "going somewhere" (i.e. reaching interesting ideas and takeaways).

This essay is definitely creative, but lacks meaningful takeaways and ideas. By the end of the essay, we don't know much about the author besides the fact that they have an affinity for creative writing and are "on a search." Although the content is unique, the end result comes off as quite generic and surface-level because no interesting thoughts are explored deeply. The most interesting part of this essay is "I open my mouth and ask it my most crucial question," but this is super unsatisfying because the question is never divulged. Instead, the reader is teased by this fantasy story and the essay goes nowhere meaningful, which comes off as gimmicky and "creative for creative's sake," rather than deeply personal and interesting.

This essay ends on the idea of "continuing my search," but for what exactly? It is never explained, elaborated, or even implied (besides one reference to painting earlier). That makes this conclusion comes off as somewhat surface-level and uninteresting. Admissions officers won't care about "your search" unless they have a reason to care. That is, unless it tells something specific about you. On it's own, this idea of "exploring" and "searching" is meaningless because it is too broad and unelaborated.

What Can You Learn From These Johns Hopkins Essays?

If you're trying to get into Johns Hopkins University this year, you'll need to write essays that help you stand out and get accepted. These 6 examples of Johns Hopkins essays that worked show how real students got into JHU in recent years.

In this article, you can read and learn from essay examples responding to the Johns Hopkins writing supplement for 2024 as well as successful Common App personal statements .

Let me know, what did you think of these Johns Hopkins essay examples?

Meet the Author

Ryan Chiang

I'm Ryan Chiang and I created EssaysThatWorked.com - a website dedicated to helping students and their families apply to college with confidence & ease. We publish the best college admissions essays from successful applicants every year to inspire and teach future students.

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What do outstanding essays have in common? Here are our 23 most effective strategies based on lessons from admitted students.

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Breadcrumbs

How to write a standout graduate admissions essay, article highlights.

• Reflect before you begin your application essays.
• Outline your ideas before you put pen to paper.
• Write freely, and then return to edit your essay on the second draft.
• Take your time. Break between writing and editing for a fresh perspective.
• Gather feedback from a trusted source.
• Read your essay aloud to identify needed edits.

Everyone has a story to tell, and we know there’s more to you and your talents than what’s on your resume.  But how will you stand out from the crowd when applying to Johns Hopkins Carey Business School?  

The essay portion of the application is your opportunity to expand beyond your transcript and resume. Share your unique strengths, your background, your growth, or whatever else makes you a strong candidate for Johns Hopkins Carey Business School.  

In this article, you will find a detailed explanation of how to write a standout admissions essay.  

How to prepare

Before you begin writing, read the essay prompts carefully.  Take a moment to reflect and explore why you’re pursuing a graduate business degree. Consider having a pen and notepad nearby as you participate in this reflection exercise. Think about your path thus far and pinpoint moments of growth and learning. Take note of how these moments have shaped you and how these experiences will guide you through your graduate business degree at Carey.  

Map your ideas: 

Now that you have an idea of how to share your story within the context of the essay prompts, it’s time to draft an outline . Map out your key points and outline the supporting examples. As you map the direction and flow of your essay through the outline, keep in mind your audience. Our admissions officers read thousands of application essays, so you want to find a creative hook to make your story stand out.  

Don’t overthink it! Start writing:  

As you start to write your first draft, let the words flow.  At this stage, don’t fixate on grammar or finding the perfect word– just get your thoughts on paper. You will finesse and polish your essay in the second draft.  

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What to read next.

Take a break: 

Once you complete your first draft, take a day or two before returning to edit it. Coming back to your writing with fresh eyes allows you to read it with a new perspective. Tackle the details of grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary during this second pass. Consider reading your essay backward to help catch typos. 

Get feedback: 

Once you feel your essays are in a good place, it is highly recommended that you share them for review.  Share them with your advisor, a trusted colleague, friend, or even  your recommender . Getting insights from a trusted source can help you make your essay stronger, as well as catch any typos or small edits.  

Finalize and submit:  

You are almost done. Before submitting your essays, do a final review. Run a spell check and read the essays out loud to yourself. This trick allows you to identify areas that may need clarification or tweaks. As you review your final draft, make sure that you actually answered the question posed on the application.  

Remember, the essay portion of your application is your chance to stand out from the crowd. By sharing who you are as a person, your growth thus far, your passions, your goals, and your voice, you can make a lasting impression. Best of luck with your application process!  

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August 16, 2024

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2024 – 2025]

The  Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine maintains a strong emphasis on integrating scientific innovation with patient care. In 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked the school #1 in multiple specialties (Internal Medicine, Surgery, Rheumatology), #2 in Anesthesiology, and #3 in Psychiatry. 

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine follows a “Genes to Society” curriculum that emphasizes human adaptation, genotypes, and risk factors rather than “normal” human biology and “abnormal” disease. Johns Hopkins has a long tradition of training physician-leaders who are committed to both clinical medicine and improving health on a larger scale, whether through research, innovation, education, or health care delivery. 

In July 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies made a transformative $1 billion gift to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, aimed at reducing the financial barriers for medical students. This donation will make medical school free for students from families with a household income of less than $300,000 per year, which includes 95% of American families. For students from families with annual incomes of less than $175,000, the gift will also cover living expenses and fees.

This initiative addresses a significant issue in the United States – the declining number of healthcare professionals due to the high cost of medical education. By easing the financial burden, Johns Hopkins hopes to attract a more diverse range of talented students, empowering them to pursue careers in medicine without the heavy burden of debt.

The gift also extends beyond the School of Medicine (SOM), increasing financial aid for students at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Bloomberg School of Public Health, and several other graduate schools. This investment builds on previous philanthropic efforts by Michael Bloomberg (a 1964 Hopkins alumnus), including a historic $1.8 billion gift in 2018 to support undergraduate financial aid.

Johns Hopkins SOM secondary application essay questions

Think of your secondary essays as opportunities to demonstrate your in-kind character and to envision the future of medicine in keeping with the school’s vision. 

Please review the Johns Hopkins Medicine Website . Are there any areas of medicine or a particular medical specialty at Johns Hopkins that interests you and why? If so, please comment. (400 word limit)

This prompt has been revised to make sure applicants zero in on the school’s medical program and specialties. If you have your heart set on one of its specialties, go ahead and mention this. Also, it is okay to say that you are interested in multiple fields and list a few that you want to explore. To support your interest, briefly describe your exposure/experiences in each specialty and why they appeal to you. How do you hope to further medical knowledge in this area? In other words, how will you contribute to making this field better?

Briefly describe your single, most rewarding experience. Feel free to refer to an experience previously described in your AMCAS application if needed. (400 word limit) 

If something exceptional has happened since you submitted your primary (e.g., a new job, a research breakthrough) and you want to include it, here is your chance. However, be sure to tell the story , not just list a credential, award, or opportunity as you might in your resume or curriculum vitae. How you tell this story also matters; you want to appeal to your readers rather than distance yourself from them.

It’s likely that many applicants will choose one of their three most meaningful activities and give it a spin, making it into a longer story for this essay. This is your opportunity to include information that did not fit in your primary “most meaningful experience” description. To show your fit with Johns Hopkins, try to show how the experience has motivated you to contribute further in your chosen field. Explain with insight and depth what resonates meaningfully about the experience for you and then for medicine.

There is an opportunity here to take an innovative approach to this prompt that could work well. Then be certain to connect the dots to how this “outside the box” experience relates to you and also to medicine, physicians, public health, or research. 

Briefly describe a situation where you had to overcome adversity. Include lessons learned and how you think it will affect your career as a future physician. (400 word limit)

Adversity is a condition or fate that is undesirable, often bringing about feelings of distress, calamity, or misfortune. The key to answering this question is showing your true colors, demonstrating your inner strength, a resolve that rectifies the situation, makes a bad situation better, or triggers lasting change, growth, and/or resilience. Adversity could be related to marginalization, discrimination, sudden responsibility, illness, or disability, but it does not have to be that profound. You could write about a hardship that brought your family closer, or perhaps a teamwork situation that you would handle differently in the future. How have you made a bad situation better? How might you handle the situation differently next time?  

No matter what your subject, your response to this prompt needs to show insight, maturity, and successful reflection in conclusion. Lastly, explain how adversity and resilience apply to medicine.

Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from the experience? (400 word limit)

This is a “self-awareness” question, and the key is to show how you grew from the situation. You might be tempted to spend most of the essay discussing the circumstance; however, your essay will be stronger if you describe the situation briefly, then spend more time discussing what you learned about yourself as a result. Main points could involve trust, communication, diversity, empathy, or inclusion.

Wonder encapsulates a feeling of rapt attention … it draws the observer in. Tell us about a time in recent years that you experienced wonder in your everyday life. Although experiences related to your clinical or research work may be the first to come to mind, we encourage you to think of an experience that is unrelated to medicine or science. What did you learn from that experience? (500 word limit)

The keywords in this prompt are “wonder,” “everyday life,” and “learn.” Have you ever had a moment of amazement during a seemingly routine or mundane activity? Possibilities include time spent in nature; with a child, pet, or an older relative; and doing a hobby or even a chore. The prompt specifically asks you to look outside of your clinical and research activities, so do not choose something related to medicine. This is a chance to be creative and to show your ability to learn and grow, no matter where you are.

Many experiences and observations can be deeply engrossing. How does what you are writing about facilitate contemplation and awe? This is a subjective response, an exploratory and explanatory one. You’ll need to let go of being rational and empirical and move in the direction of the sublime, or musicality, perception, and poetics. Did you see the solar eclipse? Did you observe a mother respond to an emergency with the strength of ten men? 

In science, awe and wonder are spaces of ideas and understanding that can lead to innovation and discovery. That is likely why Johns Hopkins asks this question. Take the stethoscope, for instance. In the 1860s, a French doctor wanted to auscultate a female patient’s chest but felt that putting his ear to her chest would transgress boundaries. So he innovated a solution and made a cone out of paper to listen to her heart that way.

However, for this prompt, choose a story from real life to show deep observation, then state what it means and what you learned from it. 

Essay #6 

Please review the Johns Hopkins Medicine Equity Statement before answering the question below. The Johns Hopkins Medicine Equity Statement: At Johns Hopkins Medicine, we believe that everyone has a role in promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity in health care, research, and education. We must acknowledge, actively address, and work toward effectively managing our negative biases, so that we collectively make decisions that improve the lives of our patients, our colleagues, our learners, and our community. We stand against discrimination and oppression in all their forms. It is vital that we achieve equity for all, including those who are most vulnerable. The purpose of this essay is to get to know you as an individual and a potential medical student. Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to apply to Johns Hopkins Medicine and what has influenced your desire to become a physician in a Medical community that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first-generation college student, or being a part of a minority group, (whether because of your gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnicity, socio-economic status, political affiliation, first-generation status, religion, etc.) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. (500 word limit)

Some medical school applicants have family stories of immigration, second languages, and health inequity that surfaced in their lives as a struggle or disparity, having created more hardship for people who might have already experienced more adversity than others. Who we are, how we succeed, and how we make sense of the world resonates for every medical school applicant, every doctor, and every patient. Therefore, noting that medical school communities had become for many a diaspora, a space of displacement rather than inclusion, has now become a call to action. One deep reason to maintain diversity as a value for medical schools is to redefine homogeneous truths that tend to the values of privileged groups. 

In turn, we can become better equipped to dismantle structural bias in medical institutions, whether those are schools of medicine, clinics, hospitals, or community programs, by instituting diversity and inclusion as actions that in some way help rectify the disparity in access to medicine for less-advantaged groups, whether as future physicians or as patients. How would you describe yourself and your experience amid this cultural tapestry? How did you find a path to educational success in light of your background and identity? Tell this story.

Would you like to share any additional information with the Admissions Committee about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application? This space can also address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (300 word limit)

The key to answering an “extenuating circumstances” prompt is to take responsibility for whatever happened and show what you did to turn a less than ideal situation around. Sometimes, these are growth and maturity stories (e.g., the freshman “flunk”), sometimes they are related to family circumstances, and other times they can be about adjusting to higher education, finding out one has a disability (e.g., like ADHD), and what you did to turn the situation around. Keep in mind that a bump in the road is likely more common than not among high-achieving students. So there is no room for chagrin, embarrassment, or blame, only growth, insight, and success.

Dr. Mary Mahoney, PhD, is the medical humanities director at Elmira College and has more than 20 years of experience as an advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. She is a tenured English professor with an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College and a PhD in literature and writing from the University of Houston. For the past 20 years, Mary has served as a grad school advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. Want Mary to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for Med School Applicants  
• Do’s and Don’ts of Medical School Recommendation Letters
• When to Send Letters of Interest to Med Schools

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4 Tips for Writing a Johns Hopkins Essay That Works

College Essays

Johns Hopkins University is considered one of the top-10 national schools in the United States. As the country's first research university, Johns Hopkins is interested in fostering lifelong learning and research. Although their medical school is perhaps their most famous department, Johns Hopkins has many prestigious programs—and their reputation means that admittance is extremely competitive, with just a 8% acceptance rate .

If you want to join the band of Blue Jays, you'll need to be a stellar student—and you'll need to write a killer Johns Hopkins essay. This guide will walk you through the Johns Hopkins supplement, including best practices for answering the prompt, how to plan your essay, and analyzing essays that got other applicants in.

Feature Image: Matthew Petroff /Wikimedia Commons

What Should You Know About the Johns Hopkins Supplement?

The Johns Hopkins application process is fairly straightforward. You can apply using the Coalition Application or Common Application , which each have their own essay questions to answer.

In addition to whatever essay you choose for your application, Johns Hopkins asks for an additional required essay of up to 400 words. There is just a single prompt, so no struggling to pick which one will best suit your needs here!

What Is the Johns Hopkins Essay Prompt?

Johns Hopkins has just one essay prompt. The 2022-2023 prompt focuses on collaboration and teamwork, asking you to think about your own role in working with others:

Founded in the spirit of exploration and discovery, Johns Hopkins University encourages students to share their perspectives, develop their interests, and pursue new experiences. Use this space to share something you'd like the admissions committee to know about you (your interests, your background, your identity, or your community), and how it has shaped what you want to get out of your college experience at Hopkins. (300-400 words)

This prompt is a bit less structured than Johns Hopkins essays in the past, which can present new challenges to students. It can be hard to figure out what exactly Johns Hopkins wants you to write about with a prompt like this one! But don't worry: we're going to break it down for you.

What This Prompt Is Asking You to Do

First things first: let's take a closer look at the first sentence of the prompt. In this sentence, Johns Hopkins is outlining exactly what kind of student they want to admit. Admissions counselors are looking for students with diverse ideas and experiences who are curious and passionate. They also want to admit students who aren't stuck in their ways: Johns Hopkins wants their students to be brave enough to try new things, pursue new ideas, and push themselves academically and otherwise.

To that end, this prompt is asking you to share one thing about yourself and how it has impacted both you and your future goals at Johns Hopkins.

How to Answer the Prompt

To answer this prompt well , you need to zero in on an aspect of your personality that a) isn't addressed in your other application materials, and b) fits with Johns Hopkins' mission and academic culture. Our secret trick to choosing the right trait to talk about? Make a list.

Sit down with a pen and paper and write down unique and interesting things about you. While it's good to focus on the categories in the prompt (identity, background, etc.), don't be afraid to branch out if it makes sense. For instance, maybe you have an incredibly interesting hobby or skill you want to share. Even though those things aren't explicitly listed in the prompt, it's okay to list those things down, too.

Once you've built your list, go through and start culling down until you have a topic that works. Here's what you should ask yourself as you start crossing off ideas:

• Do I talk about this in my application already?
• Is this a common topic that other applicants will write about (like being in band or enjoying the outdoors)?
• Is this aspect of your personality too broad or vague?
• Can you tell a story about this part of yourself?

Once you've picked the aspect of your personality that you want to write about, you need to tell a story around it . Don't just say you've hiked the Appalachian trail. Tell a story about your hike. What was it like? What did you experience? Why did you do it in the first place?

And of course, you also have to explain how this aspect of your personality will impact your education at Johns Hopkins. Maybe you decided to hike the Appalachian Trail because you enjoy testing your endurance, and you want to bring that same tenacity to your studies at Hopkins. Make sure you're tying everything back to your education!

There's no wrong way to celebrate a successful essay.

2 Johns Hopkins Essays That Worked

Even with a guide, it can be hard to figure out exactly what Johns Hopkins is looking for in their essays. Thankfully, the college posts successful essays on their website —complete with admissions office comments—giving you the chance to look through Johns Hopkins essays that worked.

These examples are responses to past prompts, so they do some things quite differently. But reading through them can still give you valuable insight into what Johns Hopkins University values in an essay, such as a cohesive look at each applicant and a creative frame for the topic.

#1: "Time to Spin the Wheel"

Add the fact that I was raised in a Bengali household and studied Spanish in high school for four years, and I was able to add other exotic words. Sinfin, zanahoria, katukutu, and churanto soon took their rightful places alongside my English favorites.

And yet, during this time of vocabulary enrichment, I never thought that Honors English and Biology had much in common. Imagine my surprise one night as a freshman as I was nonchalantly flipping through a science textbook. I came upon fascinating new terms: adiabatic, axiom, cotyledon, phalanges … and I couldn't help but wonder why these non-literary, seemingly random words were drawing me in. These words had sharp syllables, were challenging to enunciate, and didn't possess any particularly abstract meaning.

I was flummoxed, but curious … I kept reading.

… and then it hit me. For all my interest in STEM classes, I never fully embraced the beauty of technical language, that words have the power to simultaneously communicate infinite ideas and sensations AND intricate relationships and complex processes.

Perhaps that's why my love of words has led me to a calling in science, an opportunity to better understand the parts that allow the world to function. At day's end, it's language that is perhaps the most important tool in scientific education, enabling us all to communicate new findings in a comprehensible manner, whether it be focused on minute atoms or vast galaxies.

Romila's interest in language is introduced at the very beginning, but the essay takes a surprising turn midway Because she focuses on language, we'd expect that she's interested in pursuing a literature or writing degree; instead, her interest in language helped shape her love for biology.

What works particularly well in this essay is that it demonstrates Romila's unique background as a language-loving biology major of Bengali heritage. She doesn't need to declare her diversity; it's demonstrated through each unique facet of her personality she brings up.

As the admissions committee comments below the essay, Romila also does a wonderful job of showing her interest in interdisciplinary learning . It's not just that she loves linguistics and biology, but that she sees a clear line from one to the other—she loves both of them and the ways that they flow together.

It's unlikely that you have the same experience as Romila, but keep these things in mind when writing your own essay. How can you use your essay to discuss your educational aspirations? Does the work you've done with others fall into interdisciplinary learning? That can be as unconventional as an edible presentation on nuclear physics or as simple as understanding that your soccer team was made up of people with different skills and positions and how, together, you won the championship.

#2: "And on That Note"

While practicing a concert D-flat scale, I messed up a fingering for a low B-flat, and my instrument produced a strange noise with two notes. My band teacher got very excited and exclaimed, "Hey, you just played a polyphonic note!" I like it when accidents lead to discovering new ideas.

I like this polyphonic sound because it reminds me of myself: many things at once. ... Even though my last name gives them a hint, the Asian students at our school don't believe that I'm half Japanese. Meanwhile the non-Asians are surprised that I'm also part Welsh. I feel comfortable being unique or thinking differently. As a Student Ambassador this enables me to help freshman [sic] and others who are new to our school feel welcome and accepted. I help the new students know that it's okay to be themselves.

There is added value in mixing things together. I realized this when my brother and I won an international Kavli Science Foundation contest where we explained the math behind the Pixar movie "Up." Using stop motion animation we explored the plausibility and science behind lifting a house with helium balloons. I like offering a new view and expanding the way people see things. In many of my videos I combine art with education. I want to continue making films that not only entertain, but also make you think.

Like Romila, Curtis' essay uses an introductory framing device—his experience with playing a polyphonic note—to transition into a discussion of all the ways he is multiple things at once.

Demonstrating his multiple interests is part of why Curtis' essay succeeds so well, but most of these examples aren't just examples of contradictions or subverted expectations. They show other things, too, such as the way other people see him (Asian students don't believe he's half Japanese, non-Asian kids only see him as Asian), how his interest in different fields leads him to create unique projects, and how his experience being different allows him to be welcoming to others.

Curtis' writing is lively without getting lost in the metaphor. The framing device is clear, but it doesn't come up so much that it feels too focused on the idea of a polyphonic note. The essay would work just fine without the metaphor, which means his points are strong and sound.

According to the admissions officers' notes, Curtis' essay stood out in part because of the way it shows his ability to think across disciplines. Creative thinking is a huge asset at a research university such as Johns Hopkins. Like Romila's essay, this interest in interdisciplinary learning proves that he'll be a good fit for Johns Hopkins.

4 Key Tips for Writing Your Johns Hopkins Essay

Because the Johns Hopkins supplement has just one prompt, you'll want to do your absolute best on it. That means getting started early and giving yourself plenty of time to polish and refine your work.

As with all college essays, you should go through multiple drafts and seek feedback from others to make sure your essay is as strong as it can be. The earlier you start, the more time you'll have to whip it into shape!

#1: Brainstorm

Remember all those exercises your high school teachers had you work on, such as mind mapping and free writing? Now's the time to bust them out.

Look at the prompt and write down as many short answers as you can think of, no matter how silly they might sound—you don't have to use them if you don't feel strongly about them! If you spend some time writing down all your ideas, you can choose the one that speaks most strongly to you rather than getting midway through an essay before realizing that it's not what you really want to write about.

#2: Be Specific

Specificity is extremely important. With just 400 words, you need to make sure you're using your space wisely.

Tie your idea directly to Johns Hopkins University rather than speaking in generalities. Look through their course catalog and club offerings, and try to connect some of them to your goals and aspirations. Because the prompt asks about collaboration, try to envision yourself in those spaces, accomplishing your goals thanks to your classmates' support.

#3: Get Feedback

Once you've gone through a draft or two, it's time to turn your precious essay over to someone else for feedback. Find people you trust to give you honest and helpful critique. If they're too harsh, you're not going to want to use their advice. But if they focus too much on praise, you might not end up with anything to change.

Look to teachers or other people who have experience with writing—preferably not parents, as they're a little too close to you to be objective—for good advice.

Let all that feedback sit for a while before you sit down to revise your Johns Hopkins essay. Often, our initial response to feedback is to either implement or reject all of it, neither of which is necessarily the best way to improve an essay.

Consider the feedback you receive and find a middle ground between the recommendations and your voice and goals. It's OK if you don't agree with some of it, but do be sure that you always ask yourself why someone might not have understood your meaning. If clarity is an issue, you can still address that even if you don't agree with someone's suggestion.

What's Next?

A good essay is just one part of a successful Johns Hopkins application. Take some time to make sure your GPA , ACT , and SAT scores are up to par, too!

Need some additional help in writing a great college essay? This guide has all the tips and tricks for turning your ideas into essays !

The college application process can be long and confusing, especially when you're applying to a competitive school like Johns Hopkins. This expert guide to college applications will give you all the tips and information you need to create a truly spectacular application!

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How to Write the Johns Hopkins University Supplemental Essay 2019-2020

Johns Hopkins University is the oldest research university in the United States. Located in Baltimore, Maryland, it is home to just over 6,000 undergraduate students and more than 19,000 graduate students. Although renowned for its School of Medicine, its undergraduate campus is also highly prestigious.

Undergraduate education at Johns Hopkins University is largely research-based. Nearly 80% of undergraduates perform some kind of independent research throughout their college careers. Johns Hopkins University is also home to the oldest continuously running university press in the United States .

In the 2018-2019 cycle, Johns Hopkins University admitted 9.2% of all applicants. While this this low acceptance rate might be intimidating, there are still ways to improve your odds of acceptance. One of the best ways to stand out is through the essay. Johns Hopkins only requires one supplemental essay for all applicants, so it’s important that you do this one justice. In this post, we’ll break down this essay prompt, as well as the specialized program prompts.

Want to learn what Johns Hopkins University will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering Johns Hopkins University needs to know.

Make sure to check out How to Write the Common Application Essays 2019-2020 .

For ALL Applicants: Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay Prompt

In addition to submitting the Common Application, Coalition Application, or Universal College Application, Johns Hopkins University requires applicants to write a supplementary essay. The writing supplement consists of just one essay with a required length of 300-400 words. The prompt included below asks you to recount a time when you collaborated with others and to share your thoughts on the experience. Want to know your chances at Johns Hopkins? Calculate your chances for free right now.

Write a brief essay (300-400 words) in which you respond to the following question: Successful students at Johns Hopkins make the biggest impact by collaborating with others, including peers, mentors, and professors. Talk about a time, in or outside the classroom, when you worked with others and what you learned from the experience.

Although this prompt is fairly straightforward, you should tackle it from a personalized and insightful angle. Choose a moment that you feel really enhanced your teamwork skills.

For example, maybe you worked at a local non-profit and discovered through collaborating with your co-workers that people have different working styles. Or maybe you planned and implemented your senior class project with a group of peers that were less than respectful. Whatever you decide, make sure that it is a story in which you have plenty to say in order to deepen your response.

An Effective, Step-By-Step Approach to Your Essay Response

Note that there are many ways to draft a successful response to this prompt; this guide merely presents one potential way to answer the question.

Introduction

Start your essay response by introducing the moment you are going to reflect on. To hook the reader in a compelling way, you could start with dialogue from you or another person involved. Alternatively, you can choose to begin the essay with a short, impactful sentence.

Regardless, use action words and vivid language to really encapsulate the experience. The goal is to make the admissions committee feel as if they were really there with you. For example:

Four and one, two, three, cha cha cha… four and one, two, three.

My first ballroom competition went by in a blur. Amid the pulsing beat, all I could really remember were flashes. The twirl of my red dress. The tilt of my neck. However, I can recall the countless hours I spent practicing the dance routines with my partner perfectly.

As you continue your essay, develop the feelings and thoughts you experienced as a result of working with others. Further, discuss how you usually dealt with collaboration in the past and if this specific time was more or less challenging for you — show how this specific moment was different.

Before getting involved with ballroom dance, I had never thought of it as a sport. Only after my first practice did I realize how physically and mentally exhausting it is. Even though my dance partner was — and still is — patient with me, it was frustrating to keep making mistakes. To dance properly, there are so many things you have to pay attention to: the tempo, the position of your feet, your posture, and especially your partner’s cues. It was difficult learning to follow his movements.

Lastly, explain why this moment stood out to you, and then reflect on what you think it means. How did the moment change you? Are you a better team player now? Did you learn something about yourself in the process? Really focus on how this moment led to your development; it is important to make the connection clear. Instead of simply starting a new paragraph stating that you are a completely different person, show it through an explicit link.

I am grateful to have joined ballroom dance club for so many reasons. Being a dancer has taught me poise, grace, and strength. But perhaps most importantly, it has challenged me by making me vulnerable to others — especially my dance partner. Not only did I have to become comfortable with being physically close to him, but I had to learn to mirror his movements in a way that looks natural. Even though no words are spoken as part of a dance, it is still an art that requires constant communication.

If possible, also connect your newfound wisdom to your success at college. Show how what you learned during your collaborative experience will help you be a better student. Maybe you’ll work more efficiently on homework because you are able to ask others for advice.

Whatever the case, make it clear that what you learned will stay with you in the future, and especially at Johns Hopkins . The admissions committee wants to know what about the university in particular draws you to it and how it will help you succeed, so don’t be afraid to include specific opportunities that align with your topic.

Through ballroom dance, I have learned to see things from a different perspective. I am better aware of interactions, better able to read other people and better at putting myself out there. I feel more confident now than ever before.

Remember that you only have 400 words for this prompt. Even though it is important to be detailed and descriptive, it is also necessary to stay within the word limit. In order to be succinct while also using rich language, try cutting out unnecessary adjectives and opting for a more varied word choice instead.

Final Reminders

On their website, Johns Hopkins University writes that essays can be one of “ the most important components of your application .” The university stresses the importance of being able to really show the admissions committee what is important to you and to share more about your background. Thus, it is crucial that you include something that really sets you apart in your supplemental essay. Imagine that you were able to meet the admissions committee in person: What would you most want to tell them? Use this hypothetical conversation to inspire a topic for your essay.

If you’d like more inspiration for your Johns Hopkins University writing supplement, you can view previous “essays that worked” on their website . The topics of these essays range from ambidexterity to music to a piece of furniture in a coffee shop. However, they all are able to give insight into the respective author’s character.

Specialized Program Prompts

Woodrow wilson program prompt.

No prompt available yet.

Masters in Global Health Studies Prompt

Identify a global health issue and outline a solution to a key underlying problem. (300 words).

The Global Health Studies Masters program allows “qualified students displaying a strong interest in public health” to pursue a combined Bachelor’s/Master’s with the Bloomberg School of Public Health. If not admitted as a high school senior, you will have the option to reapply to the program as a junior at Johns Hopkins, provided that you declare a major in public health.  

Global health is a broad umbrella that can cover diverse issues such as climate change, infectious disease outbreaks, childhood mortality in developing countries, access to contraception, and HIV/AIDS among others. The first step in tackling this prompt is to select a global health issue that you have some familiarity with. You will note that the prompt asks you to propose a solution to the problem of your choice, so it is important that you pick a topic that you’ve had some exposure to. 

If you’ve previously worked on a big research project in school or helped to conduct summer research at a lab or university, use that subject as your jumping off point. For example, say you wrote a social science paper about abortion access in the underprivileged areas of your city. You could compare your local findings to international data on abortion access and learn about the ways in which nongovernmental organizations and governments enable or thwart that access. Or, you could use your biology project about the spread of Ebola to figure out what various nations have done to contain major Ebola outbreaks in recent years. 

While it helps to have had some prior experience studying a global health problem, it is by no means a prerequisite. Channel your curiosity and seek out books or documentaries about a topic that fascinates you and draw your inspiration for this essay there. 

The crucial thing to remember is that you will need to brush up on your global health problem of choice before giving your recommendations. Browse scientific and public policy articles that have been written about your chosen subject matter and figure out which solutions have already been proposed. You’re by no means expected to reinvent the wheel or come up with an ingenious policy solution that will shock the global health community as a high school student. In fact, showing that you’ve done your research and that you’re already familiar with the existing literature on the subject matter will only highlight your dedication to the study of global health. 

Keep in mind that you only have 300 words to work with. Use the first 100-150 to outline the problem at hand, and be sure to explain why it matters, why the world should care about it, and why you care about it. Then, provide a brief suggestion on how this problem could be remedied. Don’t list off ten different ways to cure Ebola. Instead, focus on ONE specific strategy and give some detail to explain how it can be adopted. Given the brevity of the response, depth is always better than breadth. 

Masters in International Studies Prompt

 pick a global leader and discuss how he/she has shaped how you view the world. (300 words).

The Masters in International Studies allows students to pursue a combined Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in international studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC. If not accepted as a high school student, you will also have the option to apply again as a Johns Hopkins sophomore. 

When choosing the global leader you’re going to discuss, be sure not to select someone well-known purely for their name recognition. Remember, you likely won’t be the only one to think of Angela Merkel and point to her handling of the European immigration crisis as an example of good (or bad) policymaking. Try to select someone whose actions you actively draw inspiration from, and who have had a tangible effect on your choice of academic interests, extracurriculars, or future career path. 

Remember, “global leader” does not have to mean head-of-state. Aung San Suu Kyi, prior to her rise to power in Myanmar, spent most of her life under house arrest, but she was undoubtedly recognized worldwide as the leader of Myanmar’s–and perhaps the region’s–pro-democracy movement. Malala Yousafzai, barely out of her teens, is the face of the global fight for a girl’s right to an education under radical Islamist rule. Jack Dorsey is the CEO of one of the most influential social media conglomerates in the world, and he’s never been elected to any public office. If you’re struggling to think beyond the head-of-state box, you can browse places like TIME’s list of the 100 most influential people of 2019 for inspiration.

Once you’ve picked your leader and briefly explain their significance (in about 100-150 words), you need to tell the reader how the person in question influenced you specifically. For example, if you’re talking about Malala, you could explain that her advocacy has inspired you to join a community service group in your town that offers free tutoring to young girls in underprivileged communities. If Jack Dorsey is your pick, you can write about how his insights prompted you to start your own small social media marketing business designed to promote small businesses in your area and enable them to compete against large companies. You need to articulate what it is about your leader’s philosophy, way of life, or professional accomplishments that inspires you. Make sure to also look ahead and elaborate upon how this leader inspires you in your own future career. 

For a competitive five-year program, the admissions committee is looking for someone who can demonstrate their critical thinking skills and an ability to think beyond the surface-level idea of leadership. They want applicants to really reflect on individuals that have had a profound impact on the world in recent years. Who you choose to write about matters, but what matters even more is whether you can articulate why the reader should find them important, too.

Peabody Institute Prompt (OPTIONAL)

We would like to hear about any personal or academic issues which might come into play as we process your application..

This prompt is similar to the additional comments section of the Common Application: it gives you the space to account for any discrepancies in your academic record or other particularities that may give the admissions committee pause when reviewing your application. 

For instance, if you experienced a serious health issue that prevented you from practicing or performing your music for an extended period of time, you should take this opportunity to elaborate on that experience. Any drastic change in academic performance (for example, going from an A to a B- average in one semester) should also be explained here. There are any number of extenuating circumstances that may have affected your grades⁠—death in the family, major drop in family income or homelessness, moving to a different country, suspension. 

Don’t be afraid to provide the context that the admissions officer needs to best understand your circumstances. You are of course under no obligation to share any intimate details of your life that you don’t feel comfortable sharing. Keep in mind, however, that it is always better to preemptively address the questions that may arise than to hope an issue will pass unnoticed. 

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Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essays 2024-25 — Prompts and Advice

August 23, 2024

In the most recent admissions cycle, Johns Hopkins University admitted approximately 7.6% of applicants into the Class of 2027. As a school that rejects thousands of applicants each year with 1500+ SATs and impeccable transcripts, those hoping for a positive result at JHU need to find additional ways to shine in the eyes of the admissions committee. The Johns Hopkins supplemental essay is one such opportunity.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Johns Hopkins University? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Johns Hopkins  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Given that 19 of every 20 RD applicants to Johns Hopkins University are ultimately unsuccessful, you need to do everything you can to stand out amidst a sea of uber-qualified teens from around the globe. Through its one mandatory essay prompt, Johns Hopkins University’s supplemental section affords applicants an opportunity to highlight what makes them uniquely qualified for admission. Below is Johns Hopkins’s supplemental prompt for the 2024-25 admissions cycle. Additionally, you’ll find our tips on how to write a winning composition.

Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay Prompt

How has your life experience contributed to your personal story—your character, values, perspectives or skills—and what you want to pursue at hopkins (350 word limit).

JHU is inviting you to share more about your background/identity/community through the lens of how that will impact your experience at the university. Take note of the wide-open nature of this prompt. You are essentially invited to talk about any of the following topics:

• A perspective you hold
• An experience/challenge you had
• A community you belong to
• Your cultural background
• Your religious background
• Your family background
• Your sexual orientation or gender identity

Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essays (Continued)

Although this prompt’s open floor plan may feel daunting, a good tactic is to first consider what has already been communicated within your Common App personal statement and activities list. What important aspect(s) of yourself have not been shared (or sufficiently discussed)? The admissions officer reading your essay is hoping to connect with you through your written words, so—within your essay’s reflection—be open, humble, thoughtful, inquisitive, emotionally honest, mature, and/or insightful about what you learned and how you grew.

You’ll then need to discuss how your background/identity/experiences have influenced what you want to pursue at Hopkins. As such, think about what you learned/gained and how it relates to one of your academic, social, or extracurricular college goals. For example, perhaps growing up in Northern California has made you passionate about post-wildfire ecosystem restoration, which you hope to pursue further through Johns Hopkins’ environmental science program. Or, perhaps your experience as a tutor has made you interested in The Tutorial Project , or the discrimination you watched your sibling face after revealing their gender identity has informed your desire to be part of initiatives like the Safe Zone Program .

To that end, be sure you address how you will take advantage of Johns Hopkins’s immense resources. These resources could be inside and/or outside of the classroom. You can accomplish this by citing specific academic programs , professors , research opportunities , internship/externship programs , study abroad programs , student-run organizations , etc.

How important are the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays?

Johns Hopkins University considers six factors “very important” in evaluating a candidate. The essays are among them. In addition to the essays, Johns Hopkins gives the greatest consideration to the rigor of one’s school record, GPA, standardized test scores, recommendations, and character/personal qualities.

Want personalized assistance?

Are you interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced essay coaches as you craft your Johns Hopkins essays? We encourage you to get a quote  today.

Looking for more writing resources? You might consider checking out the following:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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Master's Essay Samples

View these essays written by our master’s students.  These are but a sample of the vast number of research opportunities that are available to our master’s students!

Aerodynamics and Wind Energy Ground Surface Effects in Wind Farms: A Micro Wind Farm Model Study , by Yifan Zhang, MSE ’18

Biomechanics In Vivo Biomechanical Strain Response of the Lamina Cribrosa to Intraocular Pressure Change as a Result of Glaucoma Medication Change , by Vanessa Hannay, MSE ’23

Computational Aerodynamics Numerical Simulations of the Magnus Effect in Baseball Aerodynamics and Rotating Cylinders , by John Scheffey, MSE ’21

Computational Fluid Dynamics and Biofluids In Silico Modeling of Flow Diverter Stent Hemodynamics for Endovascular Treatment of Cerebral Aneurysms , by Zulfikar Alfayed Alamlah, MSE ’24

Computational Fluid Dynamics and Multiphase Flow DNS Simulations of Droplet Multiphase Flow in a Two-Dimensional Channel , by Lei Zeng, MSE ’21

Dynamics Feasibility Study of Tower Design and Vibration Suppression for an Antarctic Infrared Telescope , by Anderson Michael Furlanetto, BS ’22, MSE ’23

Dynamics and Control Learning of Novel Dynamics in Eigenmannia virescens Refuge Tracking Task , by Dominic G. Yared, BS ’20, MSE ’21

Dynamics and Robotics

• A Stochastic Dynamics Model of Beam Obstacle Transversal in Two Dimensions , by Bokun Zheng, MSE ’21
• Robust Model Identification Methods for Nonlinear Second-Order Plant Models for Underwater Vehicles , by Tyler Paine, BS ’17, MSE ’18

Mechanics and Materials Local Rearrangement and Micromechanical Comparisons Between Shear Bands and Simple Shear in Granular Materials , by Surya Sidhartha Kolluri, MSE ’22

Microfluidics Use of Microfluidic Systems for Assembly of Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles , by Marcos Manuel Pérez Millán, BS’ 21, MSE ’22

Robotics Enhanced State Estimation Using Deep Learning for Quadruped Robotics , a co-op experience essay by Xuanning Liu, MSE ’24

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Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

By Eric Eng

The Johns Hopkins supplemental essays 2023-2024 are a critical application component as admissions become increasingly competitive. These essays offer a window into the applicant’s personality, aspirations, and intellectual vitality beyond what can be gleaned from grades and test scores.

How Many Supplemental Essays Does Johns Hopkins Have?

Navigating the college admissions landscape can often feel like deciphering a complex code with multiple layers. However, for those setting their sights on Johns Hopkins University (JHU) during the 2023-2024 admissions cycle, the path is marked by a singular yet profound essay prompt.

In a decisive move, JHU has streamlined its supplemental essay requirement to one pivotal question . This prompt arrives at significant legal and societal shifts following the Supreme Court’s ruling in June against race-based admissions.

Johns Hopkins has crafted a question that acknowledges this new terrain and invites applicants to engage in a reflective discourse on race. This singular essay is a testament to the university’s commitment to fostering a community of diverse perspectives and experiences while adhering to the latest legal standards.

Why is the new prompt important?

The new prompt for the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays 2023-2024 is critical because it invites students to discuss the intersection of their identity and their educational journey. In today’s globalized world, understanding and appreciating the multifaceted nature of identity is crucial.

Johns Hopkins acknowledges this by asking applicants to share how their unique backgrounds have shaped their perspectives and aspirations. This prompt signals that the university values diversity in all its forms and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where every student can thrive.

It also allows the admissions committee to identify students with both the academic qualifications and the personal experiences and insights that can contribute to the rich, intellectual environment at Hopkins.

What is the Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay 2023-2024?

The new supplemental essay prompt for the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays 2023-2024 invites applicants to engage in a reflective exercise that is both introspective and forward-looking.

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. 300-word limit).

Candidates are asked to identify and discuss a specific element of their identity or a pivotal life experience that has significantly influenced their development. The prompt goes further, seeking to understand how this aspect of their identity or experience will inform and shape their ambitions within the academic, extracurricular, or social spheres at Johns Hopkins University.

This 300-word limit challenge is not just about self-expression; applicants request to connect their past and present to their potential future at Hopkins, thereby providing a narrative arc that binds their story to the university’s community and values.

How to write the Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay 2023-2024?

Writing the Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay for 2023-2024 is an exercise in introspection and storytelling. This essay is your chance to unveil a slice of your identity or a defining life experience, connecting it intricately with your aspirations at Hopkins.

Your goal is to paint a picture that links your past experiences and identity to your future at Hopkins naturally and compellingly. This requires self-awareness and understanding of what Johns Hopkins offers and how it aligns with your goals.

Understanding the prompt

The critical components of the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays 2023-2024 prompt hinge on two main elements: identity and influence. Applicants must first pinpoint an aspect of their identity or a life experience that carries significant weight in their narrative.

This could encompass a wide range of topics, including but not limited to race, gender, sexuality, religion, or community. The second component requires students to reflect on the impact of that identity or experience.

This is where the introspection turns outward — how has it prepared them for college? How does it drive their future goals? The prompt demands a synthesis of personal history with academic and extracurricular aspirations while demonstrating a clear link to how these elements will continue to evolve at Johns Hopkins.

Brainstorming your response

• Identify Key Elements of Your Identity : List aspects like race, gender, religion, or community. Reflect on how these have shaped your perspectives and actions.
• Significant Life Experiences : Think about pivotal moments in your life. This could be a challenge you overcame, a considerable achievement, or an event that changed your outlook.
• Academic Influences : Consider experiences that have shaped your academic interests. Was a class, teacher, or project ignited a passion in a particular field?
• Extracurricular Activities : Reflect on any extracurricular activities that have been meaningful to you. How have these activities contributed to your growth?
• Social Interactions and Community Involvement : Consider your role in your community or social groups. How have these experiences influenced your worldview?
• Future Goals at Hopkins : Brainstorm how your identity and experiences could influence your future at Hopkins. What do you want to achieve academically, extracurricularly, or socially?
• Connecting the Dots : Finally, find the threads that bind these elements. How do they come together to paint a picture of who you are and what you aspire to be at Johns Hopkins?

Structuring your answer

When structuring your answer, start with a compelling hook – a vivid snapshot of a moment or experience that epitomizes the aspect of your identity or life experience you’re focusing on. This could be a narrative, a poignant observation, or a reflective statement.

The introduction should grab attention and subtly hint at how this aspect or experience has shaped you. In the body of your essay, delve into the details. Describe the background or part of your identity with depth and introspection, focusing on how it has influenced your perspective, values, and goals.

Use specific examples and anecdotes to bring your story to life. This is where you show, rather than tell, the admissions committee who you are. Each paragraph should flow logically to the next, maintaining a coherent narrative thread.

In the conclusion, tie everything back to Johns Hopkins. Explain how your experiences and identity have prepared you for and influenced what you want to pursue at Hopkins. This is your chance to demonstrate self-awareness and understand how Johns Hopkins can be a platform for your future growth. The conclusion should leave a lasting impression, reinforcing your unique perspective on the Hopkins community.

Remember, clarity and conciseness are key – every sentence should serve a purpose in advancing your narrative and showcasing your fit for Johns Hopkins.

How to Demonstrate Fit at Johns Hopkins?

Demonstrating fit at Johns Hopkins in your supplemental essay involves more than just expressing your desire to attend; it requires a thoughtful connection between your journey and what Johns Hopkins uniquely offers.

Your essay should communicate how you see yourself engaging with and benefiting from these aspects of the university, creating a compelling narrative of mutual benefit.

Why Personal Experiences or Aspects of Identity Make Johns Hopkins the Ideal Place for Academic and Personal Growth

Your experiences and aspects of your identity are crucial to illustrating why Johns Hopkins is the ideal place for your academic and personal growth. For instance, if you have a background in community service, you might connect this to Johns Hopkins’ strong emphasis on social impact and civic engagement.

This could demonstrate how your past experiences have equipped you with the skills and values that will allow you to contribute meaningfully to the university’s community outreach programs. Similarly, if your identity has been shaped by overcoming challenges, this resilience could be linked to thriving in the rigorous academic environment at Hopkins.

The university’s culture of innovation and research might resonate with your journey of exploration and discovery, suggesting that Hopkins is a place where your academic curiosity and drive will be nurtured and challenged.

Suggestions for Researching Specific Programs, Clubs, or Opportunities at Hopkins that Align with the Essay’s Themes

Researching specific programs, clubs, or opportunities at Johns Hopkins can significantly strengthen your essay by demonstrating a well-informed interest in the university. Start by visiting the official Johns Hopkins website, where you can find detailed information about their academic programs, research opportunities, and extracurricular activities.

Pay special attention to programs or courses that align with your academic interests or career goals. For example, if you’re interested in public health, explore the Bloomberg School of Public Health’s offerings and consider how its resources and expertise align with your aspirations.

If community service forms a significant part of your identity, look into the various service-oriented clubs and organizations at Hopkins, such as the Center for Social Concern. Additionally, attending virtual or in-person campus tours and information sessions can provide valuable insights into student life and the university’s culture.

Engaging with current students or alumni through social media or university forums can also offer a more personal perspective on what being part of the Johns Hopkins community is like. This research will inform your essay and help you articulate a clear and specific reason why Johns Hopkins is the right fit for you, both academically and personally.

Remember, specificity is critical; the more detailed and tailored your references to Hopkins’ programs and opportunities, the more convincing your essay will be.

How to Polish Your Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay 2023-2024?

Polishing your Johns Hopkins essay is crucial in ensuring your application stands out. This phase is about refining your narrative, ensuring clarity of thought, and enhancing the overall readability of your essay.

A well-polished essay is like a well-tailored suit – it fits you perfectly and presents you in the best possible light.

Advice on Revising and Editing to Ensure Clarity, Coherence, and Conciseness

• Read Aloud for Natural Flow : Reading your essay aloud can help you catch awkward phrasing and improve the natural flow of your writing.
• Check for Clarity : Ensure that your ideas are expressed clearly and directly. Avoid ambiguity and ensure that your points are easy to understand.
• Seek Feedback : Have someone else read your essay. They can provide valuable insights on areas that might need clarification or improvement.
• Focus on Coherence : Check that each paragraph transitions smoothly to the next. Your essay should have a logical flow that guides the reader effortlessly from start to finish.
• Eliminate Redundancies : Remove repetitive phrases or ideas to make your essay more concise and powerful.
• Vary Sentence Structure : Use short and long sentences to engage the reader. This variation adds rhythm and interest to your writing.
• Be Precise with Word Choice : Choose words that accurately convey your thoughts and feelings. Avoid overly complex vocabulary that might confuse the reader.
• Proofread for Grammar and Spelling : Carefully check your essay for grammatical errors or typos. These mistakes can distract from the quality of your writing.
• Trim the Fat : Avoid unnecessary words or sentences that do not contribute to your main argument or narrative.
• Final Read-Through : Give your essay one last read, ensuring it is error-free and reflects your voice and story.

The Importance of Maintaining an Authentic Voice While Adhering to Grammatical Standards

Maintaining an authentic voice in your essay is paramount. It breathes life into your narrative, making your story uniquely yours. Your voice reflects your personality, experiences, and perspective – the lens through which the admissions committee will see you.

However, balancing authenticity with grammatical correctness is a delicate art. Adherence to grammatical standards is crucial as it demonstrates your attention to detail and respect for the reader. It’s about presenting your authentic self in the most straightforward, most professional manner possible.

Grammar isn’t just about rules; it’s about effective communication. When your essay is grammatically sound, your ideas are conveyed more powerfully, and your narrative becomes more compelling. This doesn’t mean you should lose your style.

On the contrary, your unique voice should shine through every well-structured sentence and every correctly used punctuation mark. Think of grammar as the framework that supports and enhances your voice, not as a constraint. By mastering this balance, you ensure that your essay captures who you are and resonates with clarity and professionalism, making a lasting impression on the admissions committee.

Ready to Unleash Your Potential with AdmissionSight?

Embarking on the journey to a prestigious institution like Johns Hopkins requires more than just grades—it demands a narrative that captures the essence of who you are and the aspirations that propel you forward.

At AdmissionSight , we specialize in transforming your unique experiences into compelling stories that resonate with admission committees. Our expertise in strategic essay crafting can elevate your application, ensuring your voice is heard and remembered.

Don’t let the opportunity to stand out slip through your fingers. Join us at AdmissionSight, and let’s sculpt your personal experiences into a masterpiece of persuasion that Johns Hopkins can’t overlook. Click the button below to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward realizing your college dreams.

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Johns Hopkins University Supplemental Essays 2022-2023

Johns hopkins supplemental essays 2022 – 2023.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to approach each of the Johns Hopkins essays. But before diving into how to write the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays, let’s learn a little about this prestigious university’s history and popularity. 

Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins University is a private research university located in Baltimore, Maryland. Widely considered the first research university in the United States, Johns Hopkins’ popular majors include public health, biomedical engineering, molecular biology, international relations and affairs, and economics. JHU consistently ranks as one of the best universities to study science, specifically biology and public health . 

This Johns Hopkins essay guide will teach you how to maximize your Johns Hopkins University essays and increase your chances of admission.

Johns Hopkins Essay: Quick Facts

• Johns Hopkins University acceptance rate: 8%— U.S. News ranks Johns Hopkins as a most selective school.
• 1 essay (300-400 words)
• Johns Hopkins application note: Students must submit their applications via the Common App or Apply Coalition on Scoir . Johns Hopkins admissions look at three important aspects when evaluating applicants: academic character, impact and initiative, and personal contributions. 
• Johns Hopkins supplemental essays #1 tip: Applicants who overcome the competitive Johns Hopkins acceptance rate will use their Johns Hopkins supplemental essays to show the admissions committee who they are and how they’ll enrich the Johns Hopkins community. So, try to be creative in your Johns Hopkins supplemental essays. 

Does Johns Hopkins require supplemental essays?

Yes—in addition to the main essay prompts on the Common App or Coalition App , you must complete one Johns Hopkins essay . The Johns Hopkins supplemental essay is a key part of your application. For a complete list of application requirements and access to the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays, visit the Johns Hopkins admissions website .

The Johns Hopkins supplemental essays and the Common/Coalition App essay are extremely important, especially given the low Johns Hopkins acceptance rate. Need help navigating your Common App application? CollegeAdvisor.com’s Common App essay breakdown can demystify the process.

JHU is a popular and competitive university. Over 30,000 students applied to be a part of the 2025 class. The school boasts famous alumni like novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, and film director Wes Craven. So, if you get into Johns Hopkins with a strong Johns Hopkins essay, you’ll be in good company.

Your Johns Hopkins supplemental essays can be a great opportunity to introduce yourself to admissions officers, fill in gaps in your application, and make a case for why you deserve an acceptance letter from Johns Hopkins. So, you should do all you can to highlight your strengths in your Johns Hopkins essay. In this guide, we’ll help you craft engaging Johns Hopkins supplemental essays and maximize your admissions odds.

What are the Johns Hopkins essay prompts?

Students will be required to to submit one Common App or Coalition App essay of their choice from the prompts listed on each site. Additionally, all applicants will respond to the same Johns Hopkins application essay prompt. 

The following is the prompt for applicants’ Johns Hopkins supplemental essays: 

Founded on a spirit of exploration and discovery, Johns Hopkins University encourages students to share their perspectives, develop their interests and pursue new experiences. Use this space to share something you’d like the admissions committee to know about you (your interests, your background, your identity or your community) and how it has shaped what you want to get out of your college experience at Hopkins. (300-400 words) 

Like many essay prompts, the Johns Hopkins supplemental essay prompt focuses on the idea of community. Your Johns Hopkins essay should not only highlight who you are as a person, but also what you would bring to campus life. So, successful Johns Hopkins supplemental essays will need to answer both of these questions. 

Johns Hopkins Essay Prompt: Preparing your response

Applicants only need to write one Johns Hopkins essay, which has a limit of 300-400 words. Since this is the only Johns Hopkins essay prompt, you’ll want to give the Johns Hopkins essay the attention it deserves.

The Johns Hopkins essay prompt aims to learn more about how students envision themselves contributing to the Johns Hopkins community. When writing your Johns Hopkins supplemental essays, keep in mind the ideas of identity and community. These ideas are extremely open-ended, which gives you lots of flexibility in your Johns Hopkins essay. This also gives applicants the opportunity to get creative with their Johns Hopkins supplemental essays.

While that may be overwhelming, remember that it isn’t necessarily what you choose to write about that matters most; it’s how you do so. So, think carefully about how you structure your Johns Hopkins essay. This starts by choosing the right Johns Hopkins essay topic. 

Zoom in on your passions

As you write your Johns Hopkins supplemental essays, focus on your passions. This is one of the most important factors for successful Johns Hopkins University essays. Remember that you will brainstorm, draft, edit, and rewrite your Johns Hopkins supplemental essays many times. So, you’ll want to choose a Johns Hopkins essay topic that you won’t get tired of looking at. 

It’s also okay if writing college essays doesn’t come naturally to you. Give yourself ample time prior to the Johns Hopkins application deadline to choose a topic and understand how to write a college essay . Then, you can dig into writing your Johns Hopkins essay. 

How do I write the Johns Hopkins essay?

We mentioned before that the Johns Hopkins essay prompt is similar to many other universities’ supplemental essays. Like other prompts, the Johns Hopkins essay prompt gives students the opportunity to share more about their interests , backgrounds, identities, or community. Essentially, Johns Hopkins supplemental essay prompt asks how your experiences have impacted you. It also asks what you want from your Johns Hopkins experience. 

Before we get into how to write successful Johns Hopkins supplemental essays, applicants may want to look to other similar prompts from other universities for inspiration on how to get started. Check out our essay guides from Rice University and Caltech , which both have similar prompts.  

Research institution

As you approach the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays, remember that Johns Hopkins University is a research institution. Like any university, they want to build a diverse academic community of intellectually curious individuals— inside and outside of the classroom.

This Johns Hopkins essay invites you to share what makes you, you. Then, the Johns Hopkins essay prompt asks how this aspect of your identity will guide your time at Johns Hopkins and beyond. So, strong Johns Hopkins essays will invite the reader into the world of the applicant.

Successful Johns Hopkins University essays will use descriptive, dynamic language. In your Johns Hopkins supplemental essays, focus on setting a scene rather than trying to dazzle readers with SAT vocabulary words. After all, the best Johns Hopkins University essays will be the most authentic.

Ready to craft an impressive Johns Hopkins application essay? Let’s get started. 

Organize your thoughts

Begin drafting this Johns Hopkins supplemental essay by thinking about who you are. First, write a list of your key qualities. Then, categorize each item using the criteria in the Johns Hopkins essay prompt: your interests, background, identity, and community.

Distinguish each category—interests, background, identity, and community—as carefully as possible as you start to tackle this Johns Hopkins essay prompt. Begin with your interests. For example, if you devour every article and book you can find on quantum mechanics, that’s an interest you could write about in the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays. 

Avoid listing non-intellectual interests like an obsession with learning new TikTok dances. Of course, students who plan to major in dance or sociology may be able to connect these activities to what they hope to experience at Hopkins in order to craft successful Johns Hopkins University essays. However, your Johns Hopkins supplemental essays should showcase you in the best possible light. Think of yourself as a student and community member. Then, use that to guide your Johns Hopkins supplemental essay topic.

Next, shift to your background. Think about where you come from and how these places and experiences have made you who you are. In your Johns Hopkins essay, you’ll want to avoid cliché, overly sentimental aspects of your background. For example, having a parent who attended Johns Hopkins may have shaped why you want to attend. However, this doesn’t tell admissions officers anything interesting about you or what you hope to learn at Johns Hopkins. So, these types of topics won’t lend to crafting impressive Johns Hopkins supplemental essays. 

Instead, look for experiences that sparked intellectual curiosity. Are you a softball player that spent a season perfecting your pitch but, in the process, began learning about physics ? That could be a great topic for your Johns Hopkins essay.

After exploring your background, move to identity. When categorizing identity in this Johns Hopkins essay, you may automatically default to the classic definitions: ethnicity, gender, age, religious beliefs, first-generation college student , etc. While there’s nothing wrong with starting here, think outside of the box for this Johns Hopkins essay prompt. Are you a contrarian? An activist? A pessimist? Thinking about the less obvious ways that you self-identify can help you write an interesting Johns Hopkins essay. 

Finally, shift to your community. Jot down some of the communities you belong to. Whether it’s a religious community, your neighborhood, or even the building where you live, list the spaces you inhabit. 

Again, this Johns Hopkins supplemental essay rewards those who think outside the box. Are you an active member of an online community of gamers? Do you spend time with fellow gardeners sharing tips on how to care for plants? Community manifests in a wide variety of ways. So, as you brainstorm for the Johns Hopkins essay prompt, make sure to cover all important ways you live and work with others.

After jotting down experiences, interests, identities, etc., sit with your list for a day or two. Do any items stick out as a perfect response to this Johns Hopkins essay prompt?

If not, don’t worry. Try our reflection exercises to help you get started. Set a timer and spend 30 minutes or so expanding on a few of your topics. Limit yourself to 10 minutes per topic. Were there any topics that you couldn’t stop writing on? If so, you’ve found the subject for your Johns Hopkins supplemental essay!

Tell the Story

In this Johns Hopkins essay prompt, you only have 300-400 words. Use them wisely to maximize the impact your Johns Hopkins essay can have in admissions.

This word count creates the key challenge of the Johns Hopkins essay: namely, you’ll want to balance a concise structure with descriptive language. Your language should draw the reader into the interest, background, identity, or community your Johns Hopkins essay addresses. At the same time, strong Johns Hopkins supplemental essays will avoid excessive wordiness.

How do I write the Johns Hopkins Essay?- An exercise to get you started

Let’s try an exercise to help you make your Johns Hopkins essay shine. Which of the descriptions below seems more engaging?

Example 1: Since the age of five, I’ve belonged to my local church.

Example 2: There is a pew in the center of my church. If you look closely, you’ll see where I scratched my initials into the wood at age five.

See the difference? Both sentences communicate the same information (church attendance from a very young age). However, the second example provides details that invite the reader into your story. This type of enticing and descriptive writing will often lead to successful Johns Hopkins University essays. 

Read over your Johns Hopkins essay carefully. Then, think about how every word serves your essay’s overall narrative. Your Johns Hopkins essay should use as few words to make as significant an impact as possible.

Make Johns Hopkins Connections

This Johns Hopkins supplemental essay isn’t a “Why Johns Hopkins” prompt in the classic sense. However, the Johns Hopkins essay still asks how your identity, background, interests, and community have shaped what you will bring to Hopkins. Johns Hopkins supplemental essays that answer this part of the prompt will be the most impressive.

Maybe you know what you want to major in and can draw a clear connection between your background/identity/community and that intended major. If so, use this Johns Hopkins essay to emphasize that connection. Successful Johns Hopkins supplemental essays will reveal both who an applicant is and why they belong at Johns Hopkins.

Let’s revisit the “gamer community” example.

I have learned so much from organizing coding events in my online gaming forum. My friends from all over the world have shown me that even if we don’t speak the same language, our passion for coding and games is universal. I’m looking forward to taking classes in the JHU video game design lab and building a bridge between my online community and the in-person one I’ll find at JHU.

This example clearly shows us how this student’s gaming interest has prepared them to take full advantage of this JHU-specific program. Successful Johns Hopkins University essays will show, or even hint at, how you would thrive on campus. 

If you haven’t chosen your major yet, you can still answer this portion of the Johns Hopkins essay. To do this, you’ll want to make the focus of your Johns Hopkins essay more abstract. For example, let’s say you choose to write about your community, specifically the apartment building you live in.

The hot Houston sun draws the people from my building by late afternoon. Grannies of every race and culture line the long bench in front of the building and watch the younger children play. The other families in building 3318 are like my extended family. I’m reminded of this when I knock on Mr. Johnson’s door to borrow an extra onion for my mom’s soup or when I’m invited to a birthday party for one of the Gonzalez cousins. Family is where you find it, and location makes all the difference. At Johns Hopkins, I’m hoping to build a community like the one that my family and I have found in building 3318.

This example shows how community can be found in many different ways. Successful Johns Hopkins supplemental essays can creatively show how your lived experiences will enhance your time on campus. They will also highlight how you will enrich the lives of those around you at JHU. 

Johns Hopkins Essay Reflection Questions:

When you’ve finished your Johns Hopkins essay prompt draft, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I clearly identify an interest, part of my background, identity, or community?
• Am I writing about my topic using descriptive, dynamic language that draws the reader in?
• Does my Johns Hopkins essay draft show evidence of how this interest, background, identity, etc. has shaped me?
• Is there a connection between my topic and what I hope to learn/experience at Johns Hopkins?

Johns Hopkins supplemental essays & their admissions process

The best Johns Hopkins supplemental essays will be genuine and vulnerable. Johns Hopkins University essays should also showcase traits that would make you a valuable addition to the Johns Hopkins community. 

Strong Johns Hopkins supplemental essays should reveal who you are beyond your scores and transcript. This allows the admissions committee to view you as a person rather than a statistic.

Read successful past essays

Every year, the university publishes several successful Johns Hopkins supplemental essays. Read over these Johns Hopkins University essays that worked to get an idea of what impresses admissions. Notice in these Johns Hopkins supplemental essays that each student has a concrete sense of self. 

For example, in the Johns Hopkins essay “Red Over Black” by Elizabeth, she discusses how playing solitaire with her grandmother allowed her to learn the value of hard work and self-motivation. Elizabeth shares how that learning shapes every aspect of her life: academics, athletics, and even family life. 

Similarly, the Johns Hopkins application essay “Lifelong Learning” by Rozanne explores how her search for passion has allowed her to have and learn from many new experiences. This Johns Hopkins essay is a great example of how applicants don’t have to have a clear career path or even major when applying. Rozanne shows that while she is still discovering her passions, she will be an active participant in the Johns Hopkins community.

Highlight your creativity

You’ll also notice that many of the successful Johns Hopkins supplemental essays are written creatively. Rozanne and Elizabeth both use descriptive language to make us feel like we are right there crocheting and playing solitaire, respectively. 

In fact, all of the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays that worked listed on the site are unique. Successful Johns Hopkins University essays are often creative. So, don’t be afraid to start your essay with an exciting and intriguing description to set the scene. 

By including these types of Johns Hopkins supplemental essays, the university encourages you to be creative. So, you can structure your response to the Johns Hopkins essay prompt in any number of interesting ways. Think about how you can highlight your creativity in your Johns Hopkins supplemental essays.

Remember the prompt

Make sure your Johns Hopkins essay structure serves the prompt. While creativity is good, you don’t want your Johns Hopkins supplemental essay to look and read like a gimmick. Above all, tell your story in the way most authentic to you.

You’ll notice one successful essay “Stepping Out of my Comfort Zone” by Samuel was more traditional than the others mentioned. However, it’s still listed as one of the top Johns Hopkins University essays submitted. So, don’t feel pressured to write in a way that isn’t true to you. Use your own writing style and voice to best respond to the Johns Hopkins essay prompt. 

Finally, and it should go without saying, these Johns Hopkins supplemental essays are examples . So, don’t think of them as a blueprint of how you must structure your own Johns Hopkins supplemental essays. You also shouldn’t compare the experiences shared in these Johns Hopkins supplemental essays with your own.

Finally, the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays are personal statements. Every person is unique—every Johns Hopkins essay will be, too. Strong Johns Hopkins University essays will be inherently individual, so don’t worry if yours doesn’t look like the examples.

Does the Johns Hopkins essay matter?

Every aspect of the Johns Hopkins application is important, from your mid-year report to the Johns Hopkins essay. When applying to JHU , treat each item on the application as crucial to creating a compelling candidate profile.

It will take far more than just meeting the Johns Hopkins application deadline and requirements in order to secure your spot. Make sure to allow yourself enough time to craft compelling Johns Hopkins supplemental essays that will bolster your college application narrative. 

With more selective schools like Johns Hopkins, most candidates have high test scores and GPAs. The Johns Hopkins essay, then, becomes a chance for you to truly stand out from other applicants. Since Johns Hopkins has extended their test-optional policy through to the 2025-2026 application year, essays are now more important than ever when trying to stand out among a large pool of qualified candidates. So, strong Johns Hopkins supplemental essays can make a major difference in admissions.

Additionally, applicants may want to submit other supplemental materials to support their Johns Hopkins application essay and overall application narrative. For example, you may want to add a college application letter or an art portfolio. While JHU accepts supplemental materials, they encourage applicants to only submit extra materials if they will genuinely add to their application. 

Other Johns Hopkins Resources from CollegeAdvisor

Ranking as #7 on U.S. News Best National Colleges list, it’s no surprise that the Johns Hopkins acceptance rate is so low. As one of the best colleges in the nation, applicants will want to do all they can in order to stand out. An integral deciding factor in the application process are the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays; however, there are other important factors such as applicants’ GPAs and recommendation letters . 

While we’ve outlined how to write successful Johns Hopkins supplemental essays in this guide, it’s also important to understand the whole application process. Remember that the Johns Hopkins admissions committee will look for applicants who show academic excellence and community involvement. So. make sure that you have a well-rounded application. Strong Johns Hopkins supplemental essays will add important value to your application narrative by filling in any gaps or adding information not mentioned elsewhere. 

Additionally, if you’re seriously considering how to get into Johns Hopkins, then you should first look at our guide . 

How to Get Into Johns Hopkins Guide

Read Johns Hopkins essay examples

As previously mentioned, the Johns Hopkins admissions site shows some examples of Johns Hopkins University essays that worked. These can give you some inspiration as you craft your own Johns Hopkins essay. 

We’ve also chosen some of our favorite successful Johns Hopkins supplemental essays. In this guide , we show some examples of strong Johns Hopkins supplemental essays and explain why they work. While you shouldn’t try to mimic any of these examples, understanding important qualities in successful Johns Hopkins supplemental essays will help you to write your best Johns Hopkins essay. You may also want to look at other successful college essay examples in order to get you motivated and inspired to start writing your Johns Hopkins essay. 

Johns Hopkins University Essays that Worked

Another resource that hopeful Johns Hopkins applicants should take advantage of is our Johns Hopkins admissions article . While it’s important to write the best Johns Hopkins supplemental essays possible, it’s impossible to do so without truly understanding what the admissions committee looks for. In this article, we break down acceptance rates and look at the average GPA and standardized test scores for recently admitted JHU students. We also explain how to visit JHU in person or virtually. 

Find your fit

Finally, remember to focus on your college fit. The more you know that JHU is the place for you, the stronger your Johns Hopkins essay will be. Your essays, grades, and other application requirements are important, but students should remember that you need to make sure the school is a good fit for you . While JHU is a renowned university, you won’t actually know how you feel on campus until you’re there. Try to visit the school before making important college enrollment decisions down the road. And, lucky for you, if that’s not possible, then there are virtual tours that could show you how you may feel on campus. 

Finding Your College Fit

Another great way to learn about Johns Hopkins is by speaking with current students or alumni. You’ll be able to hear about their first-hand experiences of applying to and studying at this prestigious institution. Watch this recent webinar where two alums answer some common questions about what it takes to apply to and attend JHU. 

Johns Hopkins University Panel

Once you’ve done some research, you’ll be in an even better position as you approach the Johns Hopkins essay. 

Research scholarship opportunities

Scholarships are also an important part of the college application process. With the cost of college so high, it only makes sense to apply to all the scholarships possible in order to lower your education costs. Check out our webinar which gives you tips on making your scholarship and college applications stand out. 

Johns Hopkins is committed to admitting the “brightest minds” no matter their socioeconomic status. You can use their college cost calculator to get an estimate of your potential tuition costs. Keep in mind that most schools will give students the opportunity to estimate their tuition cost which may be an important factor when choosing colleges. When considering college costs, use all the resources available. This includes our article which outlines how to pay for college . 

Johns Hopkins Essay – Final Thoughts

Completing the Johns Hopkins application essay can seem daunting. Try to view this Johns Hopkins supplemental essay as an opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions team. Use the Johns Hopkins supplemental essays provided on the JHU site and in our “Johns Hopkins Essays That Worked” article for inspiration. Remember that you have plenty of personal experiences to draw from for this Johns Hopkins application essay—you just have to think critically and creatively about them. 

Remember that the Johns Hopkins application essay matters—a lot! Maybe you’re applying with fewer extracurricular activities than you would like or perhaps a lower SAT/ACT score than normally accepted. A well-written Johns Hopkins essay can be the difference. Use this guide to help you approach the Johns Hopkins supplemental essay with a solid strategy and a clear timeline. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to perfect your Johns Hopkins essay before the Johns Hopkins application deadline. Good luck—you’ve got this!

This article was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click  here  to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how  CollegeAdvisor.com  can support you in the college application process.

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Johns Hopkins University 2019-20 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Johns Hopkins University  2019-2020 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 300-400 words.

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Collaboration

Known for its competitive science programs, Johns Hopkins poses a question that is rare in the world of undergraduate admissions but abounds on medical school applications. (Pre-med students, take note!) We can call this “The Collaboration Question,” but it’s important that we all understand there’s a hidden question: do you play nicely with others? When a school asks you to write about collaboration, it’s probing for an index of your ego. Luckily, these sorts of questions are also be a great opportunity to highlight soft skills that might not be obvious anywhere else on your application: leadership, communication, sensitivity, intuition. So let’s dig in and see how you can leverage this prompt to your advantage.

Successful students at Johns Hopkins make the biggest impact by collaborating with others, including peers, mentors, and professors. Talk about a time, in or outside the classroom, when you worked with others and what you learned from the experience.   

Although this question asks for a story in a specific situation (namely: a collaborative one), it leaves almost every other element up to you! Any time you worked with others is fair game, so don’t restrict yourself merely to your science fair project or the soccer team. This is also a great opportunity to write about a professional experience (your first time working as a line cook!) or even community service (organizing the church bake sale!). Ideally, you should describe an experience that spans a decent amount of time — a few weeks or even months — so you can describe the phases of your work and the end result. What challenges did your team face? Were they internal, organizational issues? Or were there larger, external problems that you had to face as a single strong unit? In what ways were you a leader, but more importantly, how did you allow others to lead? It’s all well and good to say that you spearheaded your group history project, but remember, this question is about collaboration. A more reflective and honest essay will consider how each person’s unique contribution set the course for your team’s success (or failure). If you’re talking about a large group (singing in a 100 person choir!), perhaps you’ll want to focus on the values or goals that are strong enough to unite such a large group of people. In the end, you should be driving at a lesson that you will be able to carry with you into the future. In other words: an experience that will have a positive impact on your collaborative work at JHU.

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, johns hopkins sample essays.

Hey everyone! I'm working on my app for Johns Hopkins, and I was wondering if anyone could share their successful essays or where I could find some samples? It'd be great to see what worked for others!

Hello! It's exciting to hear that you're working on your application for Johns Hopkins. You can indeed find some examples of strong essays on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/johns-hopkins-essay-example. I can also give you some tips and strategies for writing your own standout essay.

First, while it's helpful to read sample essays in general for inspiration, remember that each applicant is unique, and what worked for someone else might not work for you. Your own voice and story are the keys to presenting a strong application to Johns Hopkins.

In order to craft a personal, distinctive essay, familiarize yourself with Johns Hopkins' supplemental essay prompt. Understand what the university is looking for in the responses and make sure your essay fully answers the question. Spend some time brainstorming and reflecting on your personal experiences to identify topics that would showcase your personality, intellectual curiosity, personal growth, or how you can contribute to the Hopkins community.

As you're writing, keep your essay focused on a unique and personal experience. Admissions officers appreciate authenticity and genuine introspection, so don't be afraid to discuss your own thought process, feelings, and actions instead of trying to emulate someone else's essay. Make sure your essay is engaging and well-written by using vivid language and painting a clear picture for the reader.

One other point to consider is to avoid overused topics, such as recounting a sports victory, discussing a mission trip, or talking about moving to a new school or country. Instead, search your memories and experiences for fresh and compelling topics that reveal something about you that the admissions officers wouldn't find elsewhere in your application. You can read up on some cliché topics to avoid, and how to take a more effective approach, on CollegeVine's blog: https://blog.collegevine.com/cliche-college-essay-topics.

To improve your essay, seek feedback from others, such as friends, family members, or teachers. They can provide valuable insights and constructive criticism, which will help you polish your essay and make sure it's the best representation of you.

Finally, don't hesitate to take advantage of CollegeVine's essay help resources, including their breakdown of the current Johns Hopkins supplemental essay prompts ( https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-johns-hopkins-university-essays) , their Free Peer Essay Review Tool, and their paid reviews by expert college admissions advisors.

Good luck with your application, and I hope these tips help you craft an essay that showcases who you are and what you can bring to the Hopkins community!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Home > Blog > Expository Essay Examples: Top Tips To Improve Your Grade

Expository Essay Examples: Top Tips To Improve Your Grade

• Smodin Editorial Team
• Updated: September 24, 2024
• General Guide About Content and Writing

Are you struggling to complete your expository essay and need help creating an outline? Then the expository essay tips in this article will help you overcome any problems you might have.

We’ll guide you on how to start your expository essay, discuss its structure, offer you expository essay examples, and include a section on the top mistakes you must avoid making so you can improve your writing flow . Let’s get started!

What Is an Expository Essay?

An expository essay is a form of writing that aims to explain, inform, or clarify a specific topic or idea. Unlike persuasive essays, which seek to convince the reader of a particular viewpoint, expository essays are grounded in facts and objective analysis. The primary goal is to present information clearly and logically to enable the reader to understand the subject better.

Expository essays usually include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. They begin with a thesis statement that outlines the main topic or argument. Then each body paragraph develops a distinct aspect of the thesis.

Furthermore, there is a lot of supporting evidence evidence such as statistics, examples, or expert quotes. This is the core of the work that you’ll need to do during expository essay writing. Hence, the research phase is important to ensure that you have all the information you need.

Different Types of Expository Essays

Now let’s turn our attention to the various types of expository essays that you might come across. This will help you get ready for one of these assignments in your academic writing classes. Here’s a list of expository writing types:

• Descriptive essay: A descriptive essay vividly portrays a person, place, event, or object using sensory details. This is done by appealing to the reader’s senses, such as sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Hence, the writer creates a vivid image that engages emotions, so descriptive language is key to getting a passing grade.
• Cause and effect essays: This essay explores the reasons behind an event and its consequences. You’ll need to analyze a specific cause and its effects, and the writer clarifies complex relationships. Effective organization and supporting evidence help readers understand the connections between events.
• Process essay: A process essay outlines the steps needed to complete a specific task. It provides clear and chronological instructions, which often include details and explanations for each step. The goal is to guide readers through the process easily.
• Comparison and contrast essay: As the name suggests, this essay examines the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. It can discuss each subject separately or address points of comparison and contrast in a structured manner.
• Definition essay: A definition essay explains the meaning of a term or concept and goes beyond a simple dictionary definition. Hence, it provides a comprehensive understanding through examples, anecdotes, and analysis of the term’s implications.

Structure of an Expository Essay: What To Consider First

An expository essay is one of the most common types of essays, according to MasterClass . Hence, looking at an expository essay example and learning how to start this type of essay makes it easier. After all, learning by example allows you to see the best practices to get top grades.

In the following sections, we’ll share the first few parts of an expository essay outline and include a few examples.

Choose a Clear Topic

The first step in writing an expository essay is selecting a clear and focused topic. The topic should be specific enough to allow for in-depth exploration but broad enough to provide ample information. For example, you might opt for “the role of bees in pollination.”

This topic allows you to delve into the specific contributions of bees, their impact on ecosystems, and their importance to agriculture. There’s enough depth here to provide a solid foundation for your essay. Furthermore, a clear topic guides your research and helps you develop a focused thesis statement.

Conduct Thorough Research

After selecting a topic, conduct thorough research to gather relevant information. You’ll need to utilize credible sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites to ensure the accuracy of your data.

For instance, if your topic is “the role of bees in pollination,” look for studies on bee populations, articles discussing their ecological significance, and statistics on agricultural reliance on pollinators. Make sure to take notes and organize the information into categories that align with your main points.

Furthermore, comprehensive research strengthens your argument and provides a wealth of evidence to support your claims to enhance the essay’s credibility.

Create an Outline

Creating an outline is crucial for organizing your ideas and structuring your expository essay. Begin with an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement. Then, outline the body paragraphs, where each one covers a specific aspect of your topic.

As an example, you might have one paragraph discussing the biology of bees, another on their pollination process, and a third on their economic importance. Finally, plan a conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces your thesis.

Generally, an outline provides a clear roadmap for your writing and makes it easier to complete your work in the correct expository essay format.

Write a Strong Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement should clearly express the main idea or argument of your essay. It typically appears at the end of your introduction and sets the tone for the entire piece. You can look at expository essay examples to get a better idea of how to write a winning thesis statement.

For instance, if your topic is “the role of bees in pollination,” your thesis might be: “Bees play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and supporting agricultural production through their pollination activities, making their conservation vital for environmental health and food security.”

A strong thesis statement provides clarity and guides your research and writing. Consequently, you’ll ensure all your content aligns with this central argument.

Craft a Compelling Introduction

Your introduction should grab the reader’s attention and provide background information on your topic. Start with a good essay hook , such as a surprising fact or a relevant quote. For example, you could begin with: “Did you know that one in every three bites of food we eat relies on pollinators like bees?”

Follow the hook with context about the importance of bees and their role in ecosystems. Finally, introduce your thesis statement, giving readers a clear overview of what to expect. Get it right, and the introduction will set the stage for your essay and engage your audience right from the start.

How To Start an Expository Essay: Examples for 3 Different Essay Types

In this section, we will discuss how to start an expository essay with examples of different thesis statements.

For each example, we’ll start with a thesis statement and then share how you would approach tackling the topic. Read these if you want to know how to write an expository essay and get top marks.

1. Descriptive Essay Example

Thesis statement: The vibrant atmosphere of a bustling farmer’s market showcases the richness of local culture and community.

In this descriptive essay about a farmer’s market, the writer should vividly portray the sights, sounds, and smells of the environment. This captures the vibrant colors of fresh produce, the enticing aromas of baked goods, and the lively chatter of vendors and customers.

Furthermore, through detailed sensory descriptions, you can immerse the reader and illustrate the market’s unique atmosphere.

2. Cause and Effect Essay Example

Thesis statement: Human activities are the primary drivers of climate change, which leads to severe environmental consequences.

A cause and effect essay on climate change examines the factors leading to global warming and its impacts. You could discuss causes like industrial pollution and deforestation. Then explain how they contribute to rising temperatures.

Additionally, you can explore effects such as extreme weather patterns, melting ice caps, and biodiversity loss. Therefore, by highlighting these connections, the essay emphasizes the urgent need for environmental action and raises awareness about the consequences of human activities.

3. Definition Essay Example

Thesis statement: Success is a multifaceted concept that varies widely based on individual values, goals, and perspectives.

In a definition essay defining “success,” you can explore various interpretations of the term. The essay can discuss societal standards, such as wealth and career achievements. Furthermore, you can emphasize personal definitions that include happiness and fulfillment.

Additionally, by incorporating quotes from influential figures and personal anecdotes, you can illustrate the subjective nature of success. This encourages readers to reflect on their values and what success means in their own lives.

5 Mistakes To Avoid When Writing Expository Essays

Now let’s focus on the top things you need to avoid when working on your expository essay. This will help you steer clear of the mistakes that many other students have made before you. Furthermore, avoiding these common writing mistakes increases the chances of getting a top grade in your class.

Here are the top expository essay mistakes to avoid:

• Lack of a clear thesis statement: A weak or unclear thesis statement can confuse readers and undermine your essay’s purpose. therefore, the thesis should concisely express the main idea and guide the direction of your writing.
• Insufficient research: Failing to conduct thorough research can lead to inaccuracies and a lack of depth in your writing. Also, relying on limited or unreliable sources may weaken your argument and diminish your credibility. Hence, make sure to gather information from credible sources, such as academic journals and books.
• Weak organization: Poor organization can make your essay difficult to follow. Therefore, each paragraph should have a clear topic sentence and relate back to your thesis. Make sure to use a logical structure. This might be a chronological order or a cause-and-effect format.
• Overly complex language: Using overly complex language or jargon can alienate readers and obscure your message. While it’s essential to demonstrate knowledge of the topic, clarity should always come first. Therefore, strive for straightforward language that conveys your ideas effectively.
• Lack of evidence or examples: Failing to support your claims with evidence and examples can weaken your argument significantly. An expository essay relies on factual information to inform and educate the reader. Therefore, always include relevant data, statistics, and real-life examples to back up your points.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i choose a topic for an expository essay.

Choosing a topic for an expository essay involves selecting something specific, relevant, and engaging. Therefore, consider your interests and areas of knowledge. Additionally, ensure the topic allows for sufficient research and exploration.

Topics can range from scientific concepts to social issues. Try to stick with a topic that you find interesting since that will shine through in the end result.

What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an expository essay?

The thesis statement in an expository essay serves as the central argument or main idea. It guides the direction of the essay. Furthermore, it concisely summarizes the topic and sets the tone for the discussion.

Generally, a strong thesis helps readers understand what to expect and ensures that the content remains focused throughout the essay.

What are some common types of expository essays?

Common types of expository essays include descriptive essays, cause and effect essays, process essays, comparison and contrast essays, and definition essays. Each type has a unique focus so the approach and research will have a different format.

Get Top Marks in Your Expository Essay With Smodin AI

The expository essay samples in this article will help you with everything from writing the introductory paragraph to compiling the body paragraphs. An expository essay generally is all about the facts, so make sure to do extensive research.

Furthermore, you can learn from the countless number of expository essay examples in this article. They share the approach you need to take and how you should think about crafting each section of the essay.

Do you want help writing a high-quality expository essay? Then take advantage of Smodin AI. We offer extensive assistance for writing different types of essays, including expository essays to get you the grade you need. Our AI-based tool will help you come up with compelling titles and content that will captivate your readers.

Start using Smodin AI today and excel in your essays!

Summer Break: A Year’s Worth of Fun in 3 Months

Although I enjoy my time at Hopkins, I always get excited for summer because it means I get to go back home. I stayed busy working, shadowing, and TA-ing, but I also made sure to keep a balanced schedule and incorporate fun things into my break. I had a super exciting summer, and I’m so excited to share it with you guys!  

Working  

Working took up most of my time because I had two jobs, but I liked them both. My first job was a basketball camp coach for kindergarten through eighth grade. It was exhausting but also rewarding to see the kids improve each week. We played so many games, did lots of drills, and gave out prizes and shirts on the last day of camp. I even met two deaf kids and talked to them about American Sign Language (ASL) and their experiences being deaf. 

My other job was working in a hospital as a patient care assistant (PCA). This was a great way to get a taste of the medical field. I drew blood and inserted an IV for the first time. I chaperoned a procedure and interacted with nearly twenty patients every day. At times when the hospital wasn’t busy, I was able to chat with the nurses and doctors, which helped me learn about medical school, admissions, and life as a doctor. I even signed with a deaf man who asked me for directions! I was unprepared for 12-hour shifts, but I quickly got used to them and every day was different from the one before.  

Celebrated my birthday & played tennis  

Summer can’t be complete without my birthday, but I’m using the word “celebrated” loosely here since Hurricane Beryl hit Houston the day before I turned twenty. Our city lost power for days, and the temperature in our house was in the nineties. Luckily, we had a small generator, so we were still able to get cake and ice cream. We cut the cake in the dark and ate fast because it immediately started to melt. Thankfully we got power back a few days later. Although it wasn’t perfect timing, it still felt like a birthday miracle.  

This summer, my family randomly got into tennis. I’m not sure how it started, but toward the end of summer we started playing every day and sometimes twice a day. You’d expect us to be good with all that practice, but we’re pretty bad. We always joke around while we play and sometimes make bets on our games. My dad got a bunch of sweat bands, which we all playfully bullied him for. We even made up our own singles tennis tournament to see who the champion was. With one side of the court getting sun in our eyes, there were a lot of upsets. My dad won, I got second, my mom third, and my sister fourth. We’ll definitely be playing a rematch.  

Shadowing and TA-ing   

When I wasn’t working, I was shadowing doctors and TA-ing for introduction to psychology. I was lucky that a couple of different doctors let me follow them. I got the opportunity to follow one through a family friend’s recommendation. Another was because my sister asked her doctor for me, and the last was because a doctor dropped her sons off at basketball camp when I just happened to be doing check-in that day. Everyone was extremely nice and answered every single one of my questions. I met an oral surgeon, anesthesiologist, allergist, and intern at a pediatric neurology clinic. On my first day with the oral surgeon, I almost passed out. The dental assistants moved me to another room, got me some water, and told me it happens to everyone. I also signed with a girl who took some ASL back in high school, which was really cool! 

Since introductory psychology was online for the summer, I was able to TA the course even though I was in Texas. My main role was to hold weekly Zoom activities to go in-depth with some of the concepts and generally get students excited about psychology. I met so many new people and got a better understanding of some of the concepts of psychology. During my last Zoom call of the course, I got my time zones mixed up and almost missed my meeting. I was about to go to sleep when a student emailed me asking if we were still meeting. I immediately hopped out of bed and apologized to everyone, and they were all understanding. It was definitely a funny way to end the class! 

I was also able to spend some time at Joy Ride, a therapeutic horsemanship center for children and adults with disabilities. I’ve been volunteering there since my sophomore year of high school, so I always make sure to come back when I can. Every day there is like a roller coaster of fun. This time, we made cream sodas, did an art project, and played a game with water guns outside. Everyone ended the day with a box of Cracker Jack that one of the students brought for the class. I always have a blast at Joy Ride! 

Traveled to Las Vegas, Kansas, and College Station  

The best part of my summer was easily getting to travel to a few different places. The first place I went to was Las Vegas with my dad and boyfriend. We stayed with my grandparents and fixed up our old house so we could rent it out. I was really glad I got to see my grandparents, old house, and all the places I used to go when I lived there. Since my boyfriend had never been to Las Vegas before, we did some touristy things and got a bunch of souvenirs. Our favorite part was easily the Tournament of Kings, where you’re assigned a country to root for (ours was Hungary) and eat dinner with your hands while you watch a jousting match.  

During the Fourth of July, I went with my mom and dad to Kansas. We visited my sister and helped her move back home while she works for a year before law school. She surprised my mom and me with a little celebration since both of our birthdays are in July. It definitely made up for my Beryl birthday. My sister also took us to a spot that supposedly had good fireworks displays, and it lived up to the expectation. We all agreed it was the best show we’d ever seen, even beating Flavor Flav’s illegal fireworks we used to watch in Vegas.  

Right before I left for Hopkins, I went to College Station, Texas, to visit my boyfriend and see another friend from high school. It was so great getting to catch up with everyone before I came back to school. My boyfriend and I also went to Aggieland Safari, which is a drive-thru zoo where the animals come right up to your car. We saw zebras, ostriches, deer, and so much more. We also got to feed giraffes, goats, and parakeets. None of the animals were scary except the ostriches; one pecked my phone right out of my hand! It started pouring rain right as we left, and we ended up having to run barefoot to the car, so we didn’t ruin our shoes with mud. We were soaked, but it was a hilarious ending to a perfect summer.  

Overall, I got a lot of practice balancing different responsibilities and following my interests. Although I was working, it never felt like it because I enjoyed everything I was doing. I feel like all these experiences reaffirmed my goals and will help me in the future. This was definitely the best summer I’ve ever had! 

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