Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essays 2024-2025: Writing Tips + Examples

Johns Hopkins University has only one supplemental essay, which all applicants must answer. However, while other schools on your list may have more writing supplements, you want to give this one the attention it deserves, as Hopkins is insanely competitive, especially for those pursuing medicine.

Ranked #6 among the best universities in the U.S., getting into Johns Hopkins is tough. With a 5.7% acceptance rate for the Class of 2028, it’s as selective as many Ivy League schools. To improve your chances, use the supplemental essay to stand out to admissions officers. 350 words may not seem like much, but in this blog, we’ll show you how to make every word count.

Keep reading to learn how to brainstorm and write your Hopkins essay, plus the common mistakes you need to avoid.

• Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay Prompt
• How to Write the Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay
• Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essays
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay Prompt

Along with your main essay on the Common App or Coalition App, you’re required to submit one Johns Hopkins supplement: a 350-word essay that asks about your life experiences and college goals at Hopkins.

This essay prompt asks how your experiences have shaped who you are and what you want to do in the future, aka get to know you. When writing your Johns Hopkins supplemental essay, consider themes like identity and community. These ideas are pretty broad, which gives you the freedom to express yourself in a way that stands out.

While that may feel overwhelming, remember that your supplemental essay places more weight on how you write it than what you write. So, take some time to think about how you’ll structure your essay. With only 350 words, you have limited room to make a strong impression.

Let’s take a closer look at the prompt by breaking it into two parts:

1. Johns Hopkins’ supplemental essay is a diversity essay

On one side, the prompt is like the typical Diversity Essay, with the added element of connecting your identity to a goal you want to achieve during your time at JHU. How did growing up in a multicultural family make you want to take up international studies? Why and how did your love for collecting vinyl records become a passion for studying music at Hopkins?

JHU is leaving this question wide open on purpose, so you can write about any part of your background, interests, or values that has shaped who you are. Think about the following:

• A perspective you have
• An experience or challenge you’ve faced
• A community you’re a part of
• Your cultural background
• Your religious background
• Your family background
• Your sexual orientation or gender identity

A good strategy is to go back to what you’ve already shared in your personal statement. What parts of yourself haven’t been covered yet? Are there any experiences or values important to you that you haven’t had the chance to explain?

The admissions officer reading your essay wants to connect with you through your words, so make sure what you’re sharing is genuine and thoughtful and shows what makes you you.

2. Johns Hopkins’ supplemental essay is also a “Why this college?” essay

On the other side, the supplemental essay prompt is also a “Why Johns Hopkins?” question. You’ll need to explain how your background, identity, or experiences have influenced what you want to do at Hopkins.

Think about an aspect of your personality or something you’ve learned or gained and how it ties to one of your academic, social, or extracurricular goals for college.

As you write, make sure to explain how you plan to make the most of JHU’s many resources, both in and out of the classroom. You can mention specific academic courses, faculty, campus life, internships, and opportunities that fit your interests.

For example, maybe your experience tutoring disadvantaged students sparked your interest in JHU’s Tutorial Project, where you can mentor local kids. Or perhaps seeing your sibling struggle with discrimination after coming out as non-binary inspired you to get involved with the Safe Zone Program, working to create a more inclusive campus for LGBTQ+ students.

Remember, this essay is your opportunity to share your genuine reasons for wanting to attend Hopkins—which can help improve your chances of acceptance. If your application is up against another student with similar accomplishments, your strong motivation for choosing Johns Hopkins might just tip the scales in your favor.

How to Write the Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay

With only one supplemental essay, you’ve got one shot to make your case and show why you’re a great fit for Hopkins. But, no pressure! Below are some tips to help you brainstorm and write a strong response, plus examples of JHU essays that worked.

1. Rewind and reflect.

Start drafting your Johns Hopkins supplemental essay by thinking about what makes your personal story unique.

What obstacles have you faced and overcome? What experiences have influenced your values or the causes you care about? Reflect on your past experiences and choose one that stands out and resonates with what you want to do at Johns Hopkins. It could be:

• A life-altering experience that really shook you and molded your character
• A problem you’ve faced, like financial struggles or personal setbacks, that taught you resilience and a strong work ethic
• A passion or interest you found through experiences like volunteering or internships that piqued your curiosity and made you want to take a specific major
• A cultural influence like growing up in a diverse environment that encouraged open-mindedness and formed your perspective

After making a list of your experiences, interests, identities, and so on, take a moment to sit on it. Are there any topics that stick out as a perfect response to the prompt? These are the ones you’ll likely be most excited to write about.

Tip: You can jot down a few words that describe you, or work backward by thinking about what you want to study at Hopkins and how it connects to your talents, skills, or perspectives. Are you a dreamer? A problem-solver? A risk-taker? Reflecting on the unique ways you view yourself can help you craft an attention-grabbing essay.

2. Begin with a compelling story.

Begin your essay by hooking the reader with a vivid anecdote that represents an important part of your personal story. 

You only have 350 words for your entire answer, so use them wisely. Strike a balance between clear structure and engaging, descriptive language. Your writing should pull the reader into your story—whether it’s about your interests, background, identity, or community.

Let’s take a look at this example:

• The day my dad introduced me to his favorite horror movie completely changed my life. I was pretty young, but I still remember clutching his hand, torn between fear and fascination. More than the eerie music, the chilling plot, or the nightmare-inducing monster, what stuck with me most was my own reaction—how a movie could make me feel so many things at once. I was hooked.

As a reader, you’re intrigued and want to learn more about the writer. How did this movie influence them? Where did this fascination lead? Why did they choose this story for their college application?

The writer also does a great job of showing, not telling. The first paragraph of your essay should paint a picture, not list facts. At the same time, keep it concise and avoid unnecessary fluff to make the most of your word count.

In this example, we’re immersed in the student’s story and thus feel closer to them. And that’s what a great college essay should do: make admissions officers understand who you truly are.

3. Tie it back to your values.

A great story alone won’t make your supplemental essay stand out—it’s the thoughtful reflection on your values, beliefs, and goals that will make it shine. Show how this experience connects to your character or the way you see the world.

Following the previous example, you could continue your essay like this:

• Watching that movie sparked my interest in human behavior and deepened my curiosity about how art and media, especially films, can trigger powerful emotional reactions. This led me to explore behavioral science, and I became actively involved in my high school’s Psychology Club. There, I participated in research projects, ran experiments, and engaged in discussions about how our behavior shapes everyday life.

This part of your essay gives you room to demonstrate your growth and maturity since the events of the story took place.

4. Make the Johns Hopkins connection.

Now, connect your story and values to what you want to explore or achieve at JHU. This step often involves researching the school’s programs, traditions, opportunities, and resources. Learning more about JHU can help you explain how your academic and personal goals match what the university offers.

What opportunities at Hopkins are you excited to take advantage of? How will they help you grow as a student and individual? How can your unique perspective or experiences enrich the campus community?

Being as detailed as possible will help admissions officers picture you thriving and contributing to the campus community. We’re talking mentioning specific courses, professors, or organizations that fit your interests.

Using the same example, you could end your essay by saying:

• At Johns Hopkins, I plan to major in psychology while exploring my passion for film. I’m excited to learn how human behavior and emotions influence everything from everyday interactions to artistic expression. While pursuing my psychology degree, I also look forward to joining the Johns Hopkins Film Society, where I can refine my filmmaking skills and collaborate with others who share my love for storytelling.

Your essay should show who you are and why you belong at Johns Hopkins. This is the final part of your essay, so make strong and clear connections between your goals and what the university can offer to help you achieve them.

5. Be authentic and specific.

Being authentic and specific is key to making your essay stand out. While many applicants might have the same experiences, your essay should still feel like you. How can you achieve this? Even if your background isn’t entirely “unique,” your life story is. I mean, no one has lived a life just like you have. 

Admissions officers can quickly tell when an essay isn’t sincere, so it’s important to be yourself and not just write what you think they want to hear. Instead of making vague statements, back up your ideas with real examples.

For instance, instead of saying, “I love to learn,” which could apply to anyone, you might say: “I’m fascinated by how our minds work and love learning about how different experiences shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions.” This makes your essay feel more personal and unique!

Remember, the goal of your Johns Hopkins supplemental essay isn’t to prove yourself or list your accomplishments—that’s what your GPA and test scores are for. Instead, it’s your chance to highlight what makes you fit for the school. Being authentic and specific will help admissions officers understand who you are and what you’ll bring to campus.

Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essays

One of the most common writing mistakes is losing focus on what really matters in your essay and how it fits into the admissions process. Here’s a breakdown of how that usually happens:

1. Listing chronological events of your life

Avoid listing events in chronological order when writing your Johns Hopkins supplemental essay. The prompt asks about your “personal story,” but you only need to focus on one meaningful experience or moment that influenced who you are. With only 350 words, it’s better to dive deeper into one impactful moment than to try and cover everything.

Admissions officers already have access to your resume and transcript, so don’t waste space repeating information already there. Instead, focus on something unique not mentioned in your application.

Your essay should give them insight into what you hope to achieve at Hopkins and how your past experiences have prepared you for it—not a summary of your life.

2. Parroting what you read on the website

It’s easy to be tempted to use the language you find on the Johns Hopkins website, but that won’t make your essay stand out. While it’s important to research what the university offers, don’t just repeat what they say.

Admissions officers can tell when you’re copying phrases from their brochures or website. So, show that you understand their mission by connecting it to your own goals, values, and experiences.

For instance, don’t just say, “I want to be part of the strong research culture at Johns Hopkins.” Try mentioning a specific program you’d like to join and explain why it would help your personal development. “I’m interested in the Vredenburg Travel Fund because it would allow me to combine my passion for engineering with the opportunity to travel—for free!”

This helps them see that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely excited about what Hopkins offers, not just parroting what they want to hear.

3. Ignoring the word limit

Always stick to the word limit. Going over it can make it seem like you didn’t pay attention to the guidelines or can’t express your ideas clearly. Hopkins values being clear and to the point, so make sure every word and sentence matters.

If you find yourself going off-track, it’s a good sign you need to refocus on the main point. Don’t try to add extra details just because you have more space. Remember, the goal isn’t to tell your whole life story but to highlight what’s most relevant to your application.

Worried your essay isn’t as focused or engaging as it could be? Consider hiring a professional editor. They can help you fine-tune your writing and make sure your own voice stands out from a sea of applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does Johns Hopkins have supplemental essays?

Yes, Johns Hopkins requires a supplemental essay along with your personal statement. The prompt for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle asks applicants to think about how their life experiences have shaped their personal story and their college goals at Hopkins.

2. How many supplemental essays does Johns Hopkins have?

Johns Hopkins has only one supplemental essay of 350 words. Don’t underestimate this one, though! Hopkins is ultra-competitive, so you’ll want to dedicate enough time and effort to this essay. You only get one chance to make a strong impression and stand out.

3. How much do Johns Hopkins supplemental essays matter?

The Johns Hopkins supplemental essays matter a lot to your application since they’re your chance to showcase your personality, values, and goals beyond your GPA. The school isn’t just interested in your grades and test scores—they want to know who you are, what you value, and how you’ll contribute to the Hopkins community.

Takeaways

• Johns Hopkins has only one supplemental essay, which asks you to share how your life experiences have shaped your character and values and how they connect to your goals at Hopkins.
• Keep your essay focused on one meaningful experience. Don’t try to cover everything. Quality over quantity is key with the 350-word limit.
• Be specific and authentic when explaining why Johns Hopkins is the right fit for you. Mention courses, faculty, or programs that you’re interested in.
• Avoid common mistakes like listing chronological events or parroting information from the university’s website. Instead, focus on what makes you unique and how you’ll contribute to the Hopkins community.
• Consider hiring a private consultant to help with your entire Johns Hopkins application, including your supplemental essay, to strengthen your application and boost your chances of admission.