2025-2026 Johns Hopkins

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chilly_md

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2025-2026 Johns Hopkins Secondary Prompts

It appears they have changed these prompts or word limits considerably from the past year, so please read carefully.

1. 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. (300 word limit)

2. Describe an interaction or experience that required you to understand or engage with a perspective different from your own. How did you respond and what was the outcome? (300-word limit)

3. Please review the Johns Hopkins Medicine Website. Is there an area of medicine or a particular medical specialty at Johns Hopkins that interests you and why? (300 word limit)

4. Every future physician has a story. What’s yours? Share the experience, insight, or connection that first made you see yourself in medicine—and how it continues to shape your path. (300-word limit)

5. What draws you to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine? Reflect on how our mission, culture, and academic community align with your values, experiences, and aspirations as a future physician. In your response, please highlight specific aspects of both the Hopkins community (academic, research, and/or extracurricular opportunities) and the Baltimore community, particularly the patients and families that we serve. Elaborate on how you intend to actively engage with and contribute to both of these communities as you pursue your medical education. (300-word limit).

6. 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 words, optional).

If applicable:

1. Please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year (300 word limit).

2. We recognize academic journeys can be complex and varied. If applicable, please briefly explain any withdrawals (W), incompletes (I), or academic coursework grades below a B on your transcript. Your explanation helps us understand your academic history better and how you have overcome challenges. (300 word limit)



Good luck to all applying!

Interview Feedback:

 
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Mr Bean Waiting GIF by MOODMAN
 
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. (300-word limit)

Describe an interaction or experience that required you to understand or engage with a perspective different from your own. How did you respond and what was the outcome? (300-word limit)

Please review the Johns Hopkins Medicine Website. Is there an area of medicine or a particular medical specialty at Johns Hopkins that interests you and why? (300-word limit)

Every future physician has a story. What’s yours? Share the experience, insight, or connection that first made you see yourself in medicine—and how it continues to shape your path. (300-word limit)


What draws you to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine? Reflect on how our mission, culture, and academic community align with your values, experiences, and aspirations as a future physician. In your response, please highlight specific aspects of both the Hopkins community (academic, research, and/or extracurricular opportunities) and the Baltimore community, particularly the patients and families that we serve. Elaborate on how you intend to actively engage with and contribute to both of these communities as you pursue your medical education. (300-word limit)



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.


@wysdoc @chilly_md
 
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. (300-word limit)

Describe an interaction or experience that required you to understand or engage with a perspective different from your own. How did you respond and what was the outcome? (300-word limit)

Please review the Johns Hopkins Medicine Website. Is there an area of medicine or a particular medical specialty at Johns Hopkins that interests you and why? (300-word limit)

Every future physician has a story. What’s yours? Share the experience, insight, or connection that first made you see yourself in medicine—and how it continues to shape your path. (300-word limit)


What draws you to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine? Reflect on how our mission, culture, and academic community align with your values, experiences, and aspirations as a future physician. In your response, please highlight specific aspects of both the Hopkins community (academic, research, and/or extracurricular opportunities) and the Baltimore community, particularly the patients and families that we serve. Elaborate on how you intend to actively engage with and contribute to both of these communities as you pursue your medical education. (300-word limit)



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.


@wysdoc @chilly_md
They got rid of the wonder prompt? I spent so much time prewriting that one...

Confused about prompt 4, is that not just the personal statement all over again?
 
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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. (300-word limit)

Describe an interaction or experience that required you to understand or engage with a perspective different from your own. How did you respond and what was the outcome? (300-word limit)

Please review the Johns Hopkins Medicine Website. Is there an area of medicine or a particular medical specialty at Johns Hopkins that interests you and why? (300-word limit)

Every future physician has a story. What’s yours? Share the experience, insight, or connection that first made you see yourself in medicine—and how it continues to shape your path. (300-word limit)


What draws you to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine? Reflect on how our mission, culture, and academic community align with your values, experiences, and aspirations as a future physician. In your response, please highlight specific aspects of both the Hopkins community (academic, research, and/or extracurricular opportunities) and the Baltimore community, particularly the patients and families that we serve. Elaborate on how you intend to actively engage with and contribute to both of these communities as you pursue your medical education. (300-word limit)



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.


@wysdoc @chilly_md
+1 OOS

Also:

Please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year (300 word limit).

We recognize academic journeys can be complex and varied. If applicable, please briefly explain any withdrawals (W), incompletes (I), or academic coursework grades below a B on your transcript. Your explanation helps us understand your academic history better and how you have overcome challenges. (300 word limit)

@wysdoc @chilly_md
 
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is that not just the personal statement all over again?

personally, i'm adapting some of my diversity essay to fit this… just because the wording slightly reminds me of diversity
 
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+1 OOS MD. No wonder Hopkins took a while, they were flat out just making new secondaries

1. 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. (300 word limit)

2. Describe an interaction or experience that required you to understand or engage with a perspective different from your own. How did you respond and what was the outcome? (300-word limit)

3. Please review the Johns Hopkins Medicine Website. Is there an area of medicine or a particular medical specialty at Johns Hopkins that interests you and why? (300 word limit)

4. Every future physician has a story. What’s yours? Share the experience, insight, or connection that first made you see yourself in medicine—and how it continues to shape your path. (300-word limit)

5. What draws you to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine? Reflect on how our mission, culture, and academic community align with your values, experiences, and aspirations as a future physician. In your response, please highlight specific aspects of both the Hopkins community (academic, research, and/or extracurricular opportunities) and the Baltimore community, particularly the patients and families that we serve. Elaborate on how you intend to actively engage with and contribute to both of these communities as you pursue your medical education. (300-word limit).

6. 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 words, optional).

@chilly_md
 
+1 OOS MD/PhD. From a brief glance, it looks like there are no additional MD/PhD-specific essays unless you are studying History of Medicine, just the MD-only prompts. Rip to all of my prewriting 🙁
 
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Is it just me, or did they forget to update the 2024-2025 portal and put the past deadline message at the bottom? Stomach dropped as I read it just to realize that the date written there is October 22, 2025.

+1 INTL

Update: they removed the message.
 
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Has anyone not received the secondary yet? I was verified a few days ago and still haven't gotten anything from them
 
does anyone know if engineering or math LoR are considered science or non science letter?
 
Is the link to upload the headshot nonexistent for everyone else too?
I submitted everything last night and checked right now and it finally shows up now. They said it can take awhile to update and show you submitted so I'm guessing it's just super slow.
 
Hi everyone, so I'm looking at the final "Anything else?" question. One of the things they ask you to explain is unexplained gaps in work experience. I had no clinical/volunteering experience from freshman year, though I have other clubs I was in that are on my app. It's because COVID caused all the hospitals to raise their minimum volunteer age to 18 so I couldn't do research, clinical volunteering, nothing until I turned 18 that summer.

My question is - is that 1 year even considered a resume gap? I was advised not to mention my age because it can cause them to be biased against me. However, if Hopkins considers it a resume gap I guess I do have to explain. I'm not sure what to do. Thank you so much! I'm in state and could really use some free tuition so I don't want to mess anything up for this school!
 
Did you get an email saying your app was completed? I haven't received one and when I go to login it directs me to the short essay questions (completed) with no navigation to the rest of my app...
 
Did you get an email saying your app was completed? I haven't received one and when I go to login it directs me to the short essay questions (completed) with no navigation to the rest of my app...
I did not! But when I follow the old link it takes me to the application page with all the check marks and it says:

"Thank you for submitting your secondary application to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Your application is now complete and has been forwarded to the Admissions Committee for review..."
 
Hi everyone, so I'm looking at the final "Anything else?" question. One of the things they ask you to explain is unexplained gaps in work experience. I had no clinical/volunteering experience from freshman year, though I have other clubs I was in that are on my app. It's because COVID caused all the hospitals to raise their minimum volunteer age to 18 so I couldn't do research, clinical volunteering, nothing until I turned 18 that summer.

My question is - is that 1 year even considered a resume gap? I was advised not to mention my age because it can cause them to be biased against me. However, if Hopkins considers it a resume gap I guess I do have to explain. I'm not sure what to do. Thank you so much! I'm in state and could really use some free tuition so I don't want to mess anything up for this school!
No you were in school this is not what they are asking for.
 
They got rid of the wonder prompt? I spent so much time prewriting that one...

Confused about prompt 4, is that not just the personal statement all over again?
I was wondering the same thing, I feel like I answered this in my personal statement... so should I reiterate it or generate some other new experience? I'm a bit confused.
 
I submitted everything last night and checked right now and it finally shows up now. They said it can take awhile to update and show you submitted so I'm guessing it's just super slow.
So essentially, I should just wait until the headshot link appears once submitting everything else? Did that take around a day for everyone, or longer? Or should I email?
 
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Hey, y'all! for the course work form, they only give 4 spaces for the gen chem thing - I used ap credit and the way that gen chem shows up on my transcript is with 4 separate courses (gen chem I, ii, and lab-i and lab ii). since they only give 4 spaces for gen chem but also ask for one semester of advanced chemistry if using AP credit (which I was planning on putting as Orgo II - I also don't have space in the Organic Chem section as that is Orgo I + Orgo Lab), what should I do? or do you suggest I just reach out to adcom?
 
Hey, y'all! for the course work form, they only give 4 spaces for the gen chem thing - I used ap credit and the way that gen chem shows up on my transcript is with 4 separate courses (gen chem I, ii, and lab-i and lab ii). since they only give 4 spaces for gen chem but also ask for one semester of advanced chemistry if using AP credit (which I was planning on putting as Orgo II - I also don't have space in the Organic Chem section as that is Orgo I + Orgo Lab), what should I do? or do you suggest I just reach out to adcom?
I ended up combining so my orgo looked like Orgo 1 + Lab on one line and Orgo 2 + Lab on the second line. Not sure if that's the best way to do it, but it accommodates the info they're asking for
 
I ended up combining so my orgo looked like Orgo 1 + Lab on one line and Orgo 2 + Lab on the second line. Not sure if that's the best way to do it, but it accommodates the info they're asking for
ok ok perfect, thanks for the help! i think i'll do that as well
 
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