2015-2016 Johns Hopkins University Application Thread

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Kind of glad there's no portal for me to compulsively check every day haha! Best of luck to everyone...I would imagine that movement will be happening soon-ish (lol 2 weeks or so?)
 
panda16 said:
Kind of glad there's no portal for me to compulsively check every day haha! Best of luck to everyone...I would imagine that movement will be happening soon-ish (lol 2 weeks or so?)
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yeah, they send out acceptances pretty early for a top school. I hope we hear something soon
 
hellanutella said:
I answered it and second all that @Mwoods18 responded!

My response was also fairly broad; I wrote about how I was leaning towards the surgical subspecialties and related this interest into some of my projects/hobbies. So yeah, don't feel pressured to wax poetic about your love for primary care if you're actually a die-hard specialist... and vice versa.

As always, just answer honestly. Don't try and pander to what you think the adcom wants to hear, because I honestly couldn't tell you what they're looking for aside from authenticity and enthusiasm.
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To piggy back off the first part - I talked even more broadly i.e. What area of medicine (academic medicine etc) and how that tied into my experiences thus far.
 
panda16 said:
Kind of glad there's no portal for me to compulsively check every day haha! Best of luck to everyone...I would imagine that movement will be happening soon-ish (lol 2 weeks or so?)
Click to expand...
I don't know about this year, but last year I got a "secondary application received" email about a month before I got a "your application is complete" email, so there was some processing time. Then, I didn't get an interview invite until late January. I would just be patient. I recognized at least one other name from my interview day on the roster, and I'm sure there are more and some who were accepted but matriculated elsewhere, so if you don't hear something soon - you're not doomed. I'm a hypocrite if I tell you not to check your phone/email and wonder and hope all the time, but if you can help it, you should. Also, realize there is a lot of luck that goes into the whole process. I don't fool myself into thinking I was any more qualified than a lot of people who didn't get interviewed.
 
Thoughts on using the "single most rewarding experience" prompt to talk about how I learned form a failure I had in the lab? I am having trouble coming up with a theme revolving around a single event. Obviously I have academic awards, and a thesis, but I thought that was too cliche.
 
Svenson said:
Thoughts on using the "single most rewarding experience" prompt to talk about how I learned form a failure I had in the lab? I am having trouble coming up with a theme revolving around a single event. Obviously I have academic awards, and a thesis, but I thought that was too cliche.
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This could be good. Idk what to write either. I play guitar and I had trouble learning a certain song and it took me over a month and approaching it different ways to finally learn how to play it. I felt really accomplished after that actually, even more so than graduating or getting a pub or something.
 
Question: looking around last year's thread, it seems that there is a long delay for a "complete" email. Has anyone around here yet received that? I guess I mistakenly assumed the "we look forward to reviewing your app" email was the "complete" email haha
 
panda16 said:
Question: looking around last year's thread, it seems that there is a long delay for a "complete" email. Has anyone around here yet received that? I guess I mistakenly assumed the "we look forward to reviewing your app" email was the "complete" email haha
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I got that email on July 9. After that there has been total radio silence.
 
UCGal2016 said:
I got that email on July 9. After that there has been total radio silence.
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Gotcha. Haha I feel as if the past years' threads are a wealth of information but it just takes forever to go through them haha
 
Is the last essay a chance for applicants to talk about how they would add diversity to the student body? My only concern is that my experiences, while they may be diverse, haven't directly influenced my path for medicine.
 
panda16 said:
Gotcha. Haha I feel as if the past years' threads are a wealth of information but it just takes forever to go through them haha
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Message me any time you have questions. I'll answer if I can. I mentioned earlier in this thread that it took forever for me to be complete. I don't know if that's what is going to happen this year. Mine took a month and 10 days, but I didn't submit my secondary until September.
 
Mwoods18 said:
Message me any time you have questions. I'll answer if I can. I mentioned earlier in this thread that it took forever for me to be complete. I don't know if that's what is going to happen this year. Mine took a month and 10 days, but I didn't submit my secondary until September.
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On behalf of everyone here, thanks for all your guidance so far and to come!!
 
Any MSTP candidates have an issue with their program designation? I received an email saying that I marked "MD/PhD" on AMCAS but that I marked "MD-only" on my secondary and that I can't apply for both. However, when I just logged in to my secondary, it shows that I clearly completed the MD/PhD supplement and I didn't see anywhere that I could have marked "MD-only." Did this happen to anyone else? 🙁
 
This might be a stupid question, but is anyone else listing research as an extracurricular even if you took research for credit?
 
VirginiaResident said:
This might be a stupid question, but is anyone else listing research as an extracurricular even if you took research for credit?
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The title of the section is "Activities." People forget that academic stuff is still activities! "ECs" is just a shorthand way to put it in writing
 
So question about this adversity prompt. I faced adversity in my early childhood as my mother struggled with alcoholism, but I talked about it a bunch in my personal statement. How terrible would it be to use it again here, as it really is the only "adversity" I've ever faced? I would focus on lessons learned and how it affect me, which I didn't really get into in my PS (it was more of a frame for it). Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!
 
nsa13 said:
So question about this adversity prompt. I faced adversity in my early childhood as my mother struggled with alcoholism, but I talked about it a bunch in my personal statement. How terrible would it be to use it again here, as it really is the only "adversity" I've ever faced? I would focus on lessons learned and how it affect me, which I didn't really get into in my PS (it was more of a frame for it). Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!
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I think that's totally fine. They understand that some stuff is going to be repeated. Just don't take anything word for word though. Rewrite it to fit the prompt more precisely.
 
wanderyonder said:
I think that's totally fine. They understand that some stuff is going to be repeated. Just don't take anything word for word though. Rewrite it to fit the prompt more precisely.
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Okay, thanks! It ended up not repeating any phrasing from my PS or anything. Now onto this diversity question.. The "not included in the rest of your application" thing has really got me in a bind.
 
nsa13 said:
Okay, thanks! It ended up not repeating any phrasing from my PS or anything. Now onto this diversity question.. The "not included in the rest of your application" thing has really got me in a bind.
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You got this! :highfive:
 
Question, are you guys counting research that had a stipend attached employment?

I'm also not sure how to put research that was volunteer for most of the time, and paid as a stipend for summers.
 
Last edited:
tea guzzling traveler said:
Question, are you guys counting research that had a stipend attached employment?

I'm also not sure how to put research that was volunteer for most of the time, and paid as a stipend for summers.
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A stipend, to me, is not a paycheck. They're usually nowhere close to the same amount of compensation.
 
This is how long it takes from the date you submit your Secondary to when your application is "complete":
  • APPLICATION STATUS: SUBMITTED
    success.gif
    • Submitted Date: 7/9/2015 5:52:00 PM EST
    Your application was completed on 7/21/2015 3:48:00 PM
 
Mine was a bit quicker:
  • APPLICATION STATUS: SUBMITTED
    success.gif
    • Submitted Date: 7/7/2015 1:08:00 PM EST
    Your application was completed on 7/13/2015 2:00:00 PM
    success.gif
 
UCGal2016 said:
This is how long it takes from the date you submit your Secondary to when your application is "complete":
  • APPLICATION STATUS: SUBMITTED
    success.gif
    • Submitted Date: 7/9/2015 5:52:00 PM EST
    Your application was completed on 7/21/2015 3:48:00 PM
Click to expand...
Ahhh gotcha thanks for posting! didn't realize that the status would be updated there (all they said is that email updates would be sent). I submitted 7/7 so I guess I should be completed soon hopefully!
 
breezy16 said:
Mine was a bit quicker:
  • APPLICATION STATUS: SUBMITTED
    success.gif
    • Submitted Date: 7/7/2015 1:08:00 PM EST
    Your application was completed on 7/13/2015 2:00:00 PM
    success.gif
Click to expand...

Hmmm. So if mine has a submitted date right when I log in but doesn't have "Your application was completed on....", does that mean it isn't actually done? I submitted on 6/12. 🙁 Maybe they're waiting for my most recent MCAT score.

Best of luck to all! Happy to hear some of you are all complete and ready to go!
 
I finally finished the secondary for Hopkins and I just want to say it was my least favorite to do. I did not have much of an issue with the essay questions but I was irritated that we had to re-write alot of basic information, like our parents education level etc. And, was I the only one who spent 20 mins trying to make the picture smaller? I'm just happy its done!
 
@hellanutella ,@Mwoods18 or anyone else: For the single most rewarding experience, is it okay for me to talk about giving my parents the opportunity (and means) to leave my home country for the first time to attend my college graduation here? Helping them realize that dream is quite honestly my most rewarding experience.
OR
should I use one of my clinical volunteer experiences?

I know JHU is very insistent on showing "evidence of unequivocal commitment to medicine [since] medicine is hard work!" Am I toast if I don't regard one of my health-related exp as my single most rewarding one, even if other aspects of my app show volunteer involvement? Thanks!
 
gublagu3 said:
I finally finished the secondary for Hopkins and I just want to say it was my least favorite to do. I did not have much of an issue with the essay questions but I was irritated that we had to re-write alot of basic information, like our parents education level etc. And, was I the only one who spent 20 mins trying to make the picture smaller? I'm just happy its done!
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Yeah, similar problems. Also really tedious interface.
 
Last thing before I submit. So if I had an activity that I did intensely but for a short period of time off and on, i.e. traveling or camp counseling, would I put 168 hours for the dates that I did it, i.e. 01/2012-08/2016? I'm assuming they'll understand, but just wanted opinions. I could also put another club I was in to be on the safe side.
 
tea guzzling traveler said:
Last thing before I submit. So if I had an activity that I did intensely but for a short period of time off and on, i.e. traveling or camp counseling, would I put 168 hours for the dates that I did it, i.e. 01/2012-08/2016? I'm assuming they'll understand, but just wanted opinions. I could also put another club I was in to be on the safe side.
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That's what I did; there's really no other way to put it. Hopefully they will review our AMCAS app!
 
Did anyone get an email stating their application was complete? Is there a webpage which will show us our status?
 
Svenson said:
Did anyone get an email stating their application was complete? Is there a webpage which will show us our status?
Click to expand...

I didn't get a complete email. But on the secondary page, it should say under application status "Your application was completed on..." if you're complete
 
Anyone's opinion on whether or not I should contact that admissions office about my application not marked as complete yet? Submitted on 7/7. My initial thought is to wait until about Wednesday or so, but I'm always erring on the side of not contacting in these cases. Has anyone who submitted around then still not gotten completed?
 
Svenson said:
Did anyone get an email stating their application was complete? Is there a webpage which will show us our status?
Click to expand...
My status page says:
  • APPLICATION STATUS: SUBMITTED
    success.gif
    • Submitted Date: 7/12/2015 x:yy:zz PM EST
    Your application was completed on 7/23/2015 x:yy:zz PM
    success.gif
 
Guys, I'm really confused about their thing with sending the letters directly to amcas? I don't know whether or not my committee did this for my committee letter. Did you guys have to do something special for this?
 
Just submitted and marked complete. Hope Hopkins medicine shows love to a Hopkins undergrad!
 
Marked complete! Most likely have zero shot, LizzyM ~70, but you never know, right?
 
Were we supposed to ever get a "complete" email from the school after submitting the application? I submitted mine on 7/21 but I don't think I've ever gotten an email afterward.
 
vitaminL said:
Were we supposed to ever get a "complete" email from the school after submitting the application? I submitted mine on 7/21 but I don't think I've ever gotten an email afterward.
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Just kidding I found the email!
 
Allaboutthatbass said:
@hellanutella ,@Mwoods18 or anyone else: For the single most rewarding experience, is it okay for me to talk about giving my parents the opportunity (and means) to leave my home country for the first time to attend my college graduation here? Helping them realize that dream is quite honestly my most rewarding experience.
OR
should I use one of my clinical volunteer experiences?

I know JHU is very insistent on showing "evidence of unequivocal commitment to medicine [since] medicine is hard work!" Am I toast if I don't regard one of my health-related exp as my single most rewarding one, even if other aspects of my app show volunteer involvement? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Sorry, I don't get an alert that I had been tagged. I don't know if you've already submitted, but my most rewarding experience wasn't anything clinical. So go with what means the most to you.
 
FutureBenCarson said:
Guys, I'm really confused about their thing with sending the letters directly to amcas? I don't know whether or not my committee did this for my committee letter. Did you guys have to do something special for this?
Click to expand...
Not sure if I'm maybe misinterpreting your question, but you should be able to check AMCAS to see if your committee turned in their letter. Most schools will only accept these letters directly from AMCAS. If your school has a committee set up, then I'm almost certain that they are aware of how to submit to AMCAS.
 
wanderyonder said:
Not sure if I'm maybe misinterpreting your question, but you should be able to check AMCAS to see if your committee turned in their letter. Most schools will only accept these letters directly from AMCAS. If your school has a committee set up, then I'm almost certain that they are aware of how to submit to AMCAS.
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Yeah I'm good. They were just the only school to say on the app "must arrange to have letters sent directly to amcas". It confused me because the other schools didn't say that directly. Thanks
 
FutureBenCarson said:
Yeah I'm good. They were just the only school to say on the app "must arrange to have letters sent directly to amcas". It confused me because the other schools didn't say that directly. Thanks
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Some schools will allow you to send letters in either through AMCAS or yourself. JHU just explicitly doesn't allow you to do the latter, that's all it is. Best of luck!
 
Geez is it even worth applying here if my GPA is below the 10th percentile? MCAT above median, but not excessively so...
I wish they would release histograms instead of medians (as if).
 
SoCalPipeDreamer said:
Geez is it even worth applying here if my GPA is below the 10th percentile? MCAT above median, but not excessively so...
I wish they would release histograms instead of medians (as if).
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I would say depends on how you're doing financially. It never hurts to apply... it's a win-nogain situation. The 10th percentile still means that a tenth of the class got in with those stats, so it's certainly not impossible!But if you already have a buttload of other schools and the financial burden of another hundred or so is a lot, then no.
 
Anyone get a SUPER delayed confirmation of complete application from JHU? Just received mine 20 minutes ago; I had all of my letters in as well as my secondary by July 15th. Pretty frustrating. My primary was processed mid June.
 
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