Before You Apply | Application and Requirements | After You Have Submitted Your Application
After You've Received Your Decision | Other Questions
Before You Apply
How do I schedule an interview?
See Admissions Interviews to schedule an interview on campus. See Alumni Interviews to schedule an interview with an alumni volunteer near you.
What are my chances of being admitted?
Each application is reviewed individually, and the Admissions Committee considers each applicant as an individual. Students are selected on the basis of many attributes—academic record, extracurricular achievements, leadership and community contribution, essays, and letters of recommendation.
Since admissions decisions are comprehensive and there is no magical formula for deciding the perfect Johns Hopkins student, it really is impossible to predict any applicant's chances of being admitted.
What can I do to improve my chances of being admitted?
The most important thing is to be sure to complete the application in full and submit all application materials by the deadline. Beyond that, give us a complete picture of yourself as an applicant and have confidence in your accomplishments. If you have questions about your particular situation, consult your regional admissions representative.
Application and Requirements
Can I get an application fee waiver?
Yes. We accept the College Board fee waiver form or a letter from your secondary school counselor on school letterhead. Extensions cannot be granted.
Is the application fee refundable?
The application fee is nonrefundable.
What is your policy on Score Choice for the SATs?
Johns Hopkins University considers your highest section scores across all SATs taken—even if they were on different test dates—in our evaluation of your application. We therefore encourage you to update your application with new test scores each time you take the SATs. This policy corresponds to the College Board's "SAT Score—Use Practice Highest Section Scores Across Test Dates—Version 2."
Who needs to submit scores from the TOEFL?
The TOEFL requirement is based on the linguistic background of applicants, not citizenship. TOEFL is required of all applicants who have not attended an English language school for the last five years and whose primary language is not English. Applicants who score 670 or higher on the Critical Reading section of the SAT do not have to submit TOEFL scores, but are welcome to do so. Non-native English speakers attending English language schools for the last five years are not required to submit a TOEFL score but may do so to supplement their application. IELTS will be accepted from applicants who live in countries where TOEFL is not administered. A score of 7.0 or higher on each band is expected on IELTS.
Johns Hopkins prefers a score of 600 on the written test. The preferred sub-scores for the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) are 26 (Reading), 26 (Listening), 22 (Writing), and 25 (Speaking) A score of 670 or higher on the Critical Reading section of the SAT Reasoning Test waives the TOEFL requirement for all students.
Test results must be sent to us directly from the testing agency. We cannot accept photocopies of test scores.
See http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/faq_international.html for more information on international student applications.
After You Have Submitted Your Application
How do I know if my application file is complete?
All applicants' files are carefully checked for completion. We will notify applicants who have incomplete files, and give those students an opportunity to provide us with any missing items, before we evaluate their applications. Due to the large volume of application-related documents received by the Admissions Office, a lag of several weeks occurs between receipt of a document and its processing. Students should wait until after February 15 to inquire about their file's completeness or specific documents.
Can I send additional recommendations, supporting materials, or updates to my previously submitted application?
Yes. You may submit additional items if they genuinely contribute to your application file. There is no guarantee that items submitted after the deadline will be added to your file. To provide an update to a previously submitted application, mail or fax (410-516-6025) a letter of update to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Please make sure that all materials include the applicant's full name, birth date, and high school. The Admissions Office is unable to process application updates received through e-mail. Materials such as music recordings, artwork, and course work or research samples must be labeled with your full name, birth date, and high school. (Please note that such items stay in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and do not go to academic departments for review. They will not be returned.)
When are decisions released?
Early Decision: December 15
Regular Decision: April 1
Transfer: By the end of May
When will I be notified about my financial aid package?
You'll be notified of any awards along with your admission decision. More answers to questions about the financial aid process are available through the Office of Student Financial Services.
After You've Received Your Decision
Can I defer my enrollment?
In some cases, students are permitted to defer their enrollment for up to two years to pursue a travel, work, or family experience that does not include study at another academic institution for credit.
Deferrals are considered on an individual basis and must be requested in writing from the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions. To request a deferral, you must submit your Candidate Reply Form, enrollment deposit, and a letter detailing your plans by the enrollment deposit deadline.
Students accepted as transfer students to Johns Hopkins are not typically granted admission deferrals.
What if I move before school starts?
If your address, phone number, e-mail address, or intended major changes between the time you submit your application and the start of classes in the fall, please alert the Office of Undergraduate Admissions as soon as possible by e-mailing apphelp@jhu.edu.
Other Questions
What do you require of home-schooled applicants?
The overall admission requirements are the same. The secondary school report for home-schooled applicants must include a summary of the home-schooling program, a complete transcript with course descriptions, bibliography of textbooks, description of evaluation methods, and the actual grades or evaluations.
Home-schooled applicants must meet the same high school curricular standard expected of all applicants. A letter of recommendation from an academic professional who is familiar with the individual applicant, other than the home-schooling teacher/parent, should be included with the application.
What musical opportunities are available for Johns Hopkins students?
Find more information about opportunities at the Peabody Conservatory here or download the Double Degree brochure here.
I am interested in the biomedical engineering (BME) major. What do I need to know?
Students wishing to enroll in the biomedical engineering (BME) major must indicate BME as their first-choice major on their application. Students are admitted specifically into the BME major, based on evaluation of credentials and space available. Students can be admitted to the university without acceptance to the BME major. No separate application is required.
Notification of acceptance into the BME major is given at the time of decision notification. A limited number of transfer majors for matriculated students may be available through the Biomedical Engineering Department at the close of each academic year.
Early Decision applicants who are admitted to Johns Hopkins and who applied to but were not admitted to the BME major at that time will be allowed to apply to and consider offers of admission from other institutions. Students in this circumstance only will be released from the obligation to matriculate at Johns Hopkins under the original conditions of the Early Decision Plan. Such candidates must still reply to Johns Hopkins' offer of admission by the January 15 deadline.
