Achieving Your Dream: A Comprehensive Guide to Johns Hopkins Medical School Admission

Johns Hopkins Medical School is renowned for its rigorous curriculum, groundbreaking research, and commitment to producing compassionate and skilled physicians. For aspiring medical students, understanding the admission requirements and crafting a compelling application is crucial. This article provides a detailed overview of the key elements that Johns Hopkins considers during its holistic review process, offering valuable insights and strategies to enhance your candidacy.

Holistic Review: Beyond the Numbers

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine employs a holistic review process, meaning that admissions decisions aren't solely based on academic metrics. The committee considers a multitude of factors to assess an applicant's overall suitability for their program. These factors include the rigor of the applicant’s course of studies, grades, MCAT scores, clinical and research exposure, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and the applicant’s understanding of medicine.

Academic Excellence: Building a Strong Foundation

Medical school studies build on a strong foundation in the sciences and mathematics at the premedical level. While there is no required major for entrance into a health professions school, there are many skills, abilities, and values you can develop during your undergraduate years to help you succeed. Among them are: Mastery of basic scientific principles Demonstration of a broad exposure to the humanities and social sciences Mastery of life-long learning skills An understanding of the physician-patient relationship Demonstration of desired personal traits such as maturity, integrity, compassion, empathy, and leadership Establishment of relationships with faculty members Demonstration of caring for fellow human beings Demonstration of an understanding of the health care profession of choice Demonstration of a commitment to public service. Beyond the successful fulfillment of these basic prerequisites, the Admission Committee considers the overall quality and scope of an applicant’s undergraduate educational experience.

Prerequisite Coursework: Essential Building Blocks

Johns Hopkins University does not have one standard set of classes that will help you fulfill course requirements for medical/health professions school. We recommend students consider the following general guidelines for completing pre-medical/pre-health course requirements. We strongly recommend that Johns Hopkins students complete the following coursework (or the equivalent):

General (Inorganic) Chemistry: Two courses with associated labs.
Organic Chemistry: Two courses with associated lab (JHU offers one 3-credit organic chemistry lab)
Biology: Two courses with associated labs.
Biochemistry: One course (taking the lab varies with each student, depending on AP credit and major).
General Physics: Two courses with associated labs (Calculus I and II are co-requisites for General Physics I & II at JHU).
Mathematics: One course in mathematics and one course in statistics.
English/Writing: Two courses that emphasize English and/or writing.
Social and Behavioral Sciences: Two courses that emphasize social and behavioral sciences principles; Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Sociology are recommended for MCAT preparation, but they are not specifically required for medical school admissions.

Important Considerations for Coursework:

AP/IB Credit: Policies regarding AP and IB credit are inconsistent across medical schools, so most students must complete additional coursework even if they have AP or IB credit on their transcript. If you have AP or IB credit for an introductory science sequence for medical school, you are advised to take at least one additional course in that area. However, if you have AP/IB biology credit, you will need two biology classes with labs.
Recommended Courses: Courses in the areas of ethics, philosophy, cross-cultural studies, and population health are recommended, regardless of the discipline. Not only will the pursuit of such academic areas impact performance on the MCAT, but it will also provide a broad and relevant foundation for medical/health professions school.
Letter Grades: Medical programs expect applicants to have earned a letter grade for each of the pre-health prerequisites. Therefore, all pre-health students must take all pre-health science courses for a letter grade. Please note that you are expected to earn a minimum grade of “C” in each pre-health prerequisite. If you are in danger of earning a “C” or lower in a prerequisite course, please consult with your academic advisor as well as a pre-professional advisor immediately to discuss your options.
English/Writing Requirement: Ultimately, it is at the discretion of a medical or dental school to determine whether a particular course meets their English or writing intensive requirement, and it is your responsibility to be familiar with the requirement for each medical/dental school to which you will apply. However, we recommend the following guidelines for choosing classes to fulfill the requirement: Complete two (2) writing-intensive courses. One writing-intensive course should preferably be taken in the English Department, Writing Seminars Department, or University Writing Program. A second writing-intensive course can be taken in the English Department, Writing Seminars Department, or University Writing Program, OR from other humanities or social sciences departments such as Philosophy, History, Anthropology, etc.

GPA and MCAT: Demonstrating Academic Prowess

You should have a strong undergraduate GPA, particularly in the prerequisite courses (biology, chemistry, physics, math, and English). Aim for a GPA at or above 3.7. The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required for acceptance. The MCAT must be taken no later than September in the year the application is submitted. The oldest MCAT considered will be four years before the date of expected matriculation. While Johns Hopkins does not have a minimum MCAT requirement, the median MCAT score for the accepted class is high. Aim for at least a 515 to be competitive.

Summer Science Courses: A Word of Caution

Generally speaking, taking pre-health science requirements in the summer is discouraged. Health professions schools look for applicants who have demonstrated success in rigorous science courses. Taking science courses within a full course load during the academic year best reflects your ability to manage the science coursework you will encounter in health professions school. That said, many JHU students do choose to complete a prerequisite course over the summer. If you do choose to take classes over the summer, be sure to get pre-approval through Krieger or Whiting Academic Advising if you would like to transfer your coursework back to JHU, and also check with the Office of Pre-Professional Programs to make sure that the course you’ve selected is appropriate to fulfill pre-health prerequisites. While spending one summer taking pre-health coursework may be acceptable, please keep in mind that the expectation is for you to complete your pre-health prerequisites during the academic year. Therefore, please plan on only one summer of classes-medical schools do not want to see multiple summers of coursework.

Beyond the Classroom: Cultivating Essential Experiences

While academic excellence is essential, Johns Hopkins seeks well-rounded individuals with diverse experiences that demonstrate their commitment to medicine and their potential as future physicians.

Clinical Experience: Witnessing Medicine in Action

JHU Med School looks for applicants with significant clinical experience, which can be obtained through volunteering, internships, or shadowing physicians. This will demonstrate your commitment to the medical field and help you understand the realities of working as a healthcare professional.

Research Experience: Contributing to Medical Advancements

Research is highly valued at JHU, so having research experience in a clinical or basic science setting will make you a more attractive candidate. If you can present your research at conferences or publish in scientific journals, that's even better.

Extracurricular Involvement: Demonstrating Well-Roundedness

The admissions committee wants to see a well-rounded applicant who has pursued their passion outside of academics. This can include volunteering, community service, involvement in clubs, leadership positions, or athletics. Your extracurricular activities should demonstrate qualities like compassion, teamwork, leadership, and resilience.

The Application: Showcasing Your Potential

The application is your opportunity to present yourself to the admissions committee, highlighting your strengths, experiences, and aspirations.

Personal Statement: Telling Your Story

Your personal statement should convey why you want to pursue a career in medicine and how your experiences have inspired and prepared you for this path. Make sure to emphasize the unique aspects of your story, strengths, and the perspective you can bring to the medical profession.

Letters of Recommendation: Seeking Endorsements

Strong letters of recommendation that speak highly of your character, work ethic, and potential as a physician are important in showcasing your fit for JHU's medical program. Not acceptable science letters of recommendation include Computer Sciences, Earth Sciences [Botany, Ecology, Geology, Oceanography], and Psychology are not accepted as satisfying the science letter requirement. M.D.-Ph.D. applicants require two (2) additional letters that are typically from faculty with whom the applicant has done research, in addition to those necessary letters for application to the M.D.

Johns Hopkins Secondary Essays: Delving Deeper

There are several secondary essays for Johns Hopkins’ medical school application. In the 2020-2021 application cycle, the secondary almost doubled: from 4 essays to 7 essays! The Cracking Med School Admissions team suggests that you answer as many questions as you can, even if you think they are optional.

Johns Hopkins Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts (2020-2021):

Essay 1: Briefly describe your single, most rewarding experience. Feel free to refer to an experience previously described in your AMCAS application. (max 2,500 characters)
Essay 2: Are there any areas of medicine that are of particular interest to you? If so, please comment. (max 2,500 characters)
Essay 3: 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 (max 2,500 characters)
Essay 4: Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from the experience? (max 2,500 characters)
Essay 5: 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? (max 2,500 characters)
Essay 6: The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. 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 sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc.

Transcripts: Providing Official Records

Official transcripts are required from all colleges attended outside the United States and Canada for matriculating students.

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The Interview: Making a Lasting Impression

Following receipt of all required credentials, the Admissions Committee will review applications and make interview decisions. The committee will notify applicants selected for interview. All interviews are conducted virtually. A successful interview will demonstrate your communication skills, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and your motivation to become a physician. Be prepared to discuss your experiences, why you want to attend JHU, ethical dilemmas, and healthcare topics.

Curriculum Overview: Genes to Society

As a Johns Hopkins med student, you only do pre-clinical work for the first 1.5 years (or January of your second year). Then, you do 1 year of core clinical clerkships followed by taking USMLE Step 1 January of your 3rd year. The rest of your 3rd and 4th years are focused on electives and advanced clinical clerkships. As an Hopkins med student, your first 1.5 years are based on the Genes to Society 101 Curriculum. The Genes to Society Curriculum is organ-based, which teaches each organ system from genetics, molecular biology, physiology, and the impacts on society. During your pre-clinical years, you also have a Longitudinal Clerkships where you work with one attending to start having direct patient access in outpatient care. You have TIME courses, which teaches students about other topics in medicine, such as substance abuse care and palliative care. This way, students get a wholistic view of how to manage patients.

Clinical Curriculum

You start clinical rotations January of your second year at Johns Hopkins Med School.

Core Clerkships:

Emergency Medicine
Internal Medicine
Neurology
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Surgery
Women’s Health (OB/GYN)

Unique Highlights about clinical years:

Hands-on learning during your clerkships at the Simulation Center
Several global health electives available. Check out the Global Health Leadership Program.

Clinical Rotation Sites:

Johns Hopkins Hospital
Sinai Hospital
Johns Hopkins at Bayview Medical Center
St. Agnes Healthcare

Additional Information

Deferral Policy

Admitted students may request to defer their matriculation by April 15. The Deferral Committee will consider requests individually and will typically grant deferrals for research, academic programs (graduate studies, scholarship) or service programs.

Rotations for Visiting Students

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has limited availability for students at other medical schools to participate in rotations.

Taking Time Off

Many MD candidates at Johns Hopkins Medical School graduate in more than 4 years.

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