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JHU 2015 College Conversations
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1JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
The College Conversation: Building Your
Strongest Application
2
Spoiler alert.Let’s jump ahead. Imagine you’ve finished all
the essays and done every task on your to-do
list. How did you get there without the stress
that the college search process, with its
guidebooks and “don’t-forget”s, can bring?
Maybe it started with taking a deep breath,
and then moved forward with a conversation.
Maybe this is that conversation.
2
3JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
Odds are, this isn’t the first college guide
you’ve seen. But we know you’re busy,
so let’s get right to why you should
hold on to this one.
WHAT is this? This resource, put together by the Office
of Undergraduate Admissions at Johns
Hopkins University, will help you build your
strongest college application—not just to
Hopkins but to all the schools on your list.
WHY is it important?
The work you’ve done, the topics that matter
to you—those things already exist. We can
help you tie it all together to start a solid
college application that best represents your
accomplishments and goals.
HOW is it unique?
You’ll hear from admissions professionals
who actually read applications and from
current students, folks who were in your
shoes not too long ago.
[ ]
4
Prologue: Taking stock.Evaluate where you are right now in your
college search—even if you’re just thinking
about thinking about it.
Building a strong college application starts
with thinking critically about what you’ve
accomplished and how to demonstrate,
from your side of the process, why the
college you’re applying to is a good fit.
Use the advice and questions we’re
asking in this resource—based on things
admissions officers at selective schools
think about when reviewing applications—
to start the college conversation.
THINK FAST: What do you think is the most important piece of the college application?
4
5JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
Hopkins admissions officer says:
A useful piece of advice I received
during my own college search
was ‘don’t worry about picking
a favorite yet; colleges will make
some decisions for you.’ And that’s
where the Admissions Office comes
in. Selective colleges have more
academically sound students than
they have seats in the class, so here
at Hopkins, we use a holistic review
process to evaluate ‘fit.’
“
”
5JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
6
Big question #1:
We don’t mean to get personal—but we
kind of are, because figuring out what’s
important to you is a big step in preparing
your college applications. Seeing how you’re
already pursuing your academic passions
can help an admissions committee imagine
what kind of student you’ll be in college.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE?
7JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
Application translationFor selective schools, your test and transcripts
tell only a piece of the story.
Your recommendations should speak to
your level of intellectual curiosity—another
reason to make sure you’re asking teachers
who really know you as a student.
In your essays, admissions counselors
evaluate how you might take advantage
of the academic culture at Hopkins or
what kind of hands-on experiences may
interest you.
Don’t neglect the supplemental essay.
How might you grow with all the
opportunities—academic and social—
offered at a place like Hopkins?
PRO TIP from the admissions committee:
It’s worth the time to personalize your applications.
Read up on each school’s programs so that you can
really make a case for why that school is a good
match for your interests or goals. This benefits you,
too: if, along the way, you’re struggling to connect
your interests with a particular school, maybe
that’s not the best place for you.
8
—Jenny H. ’16, Public health studies
Read more about academics at Hopkins on pages 18–19.
The opportunity for academic
exploration [at Hopkins] with the
distribution requirements instead
of a core curriculum really appealed
to me because I had always been
interested in a wide variety of
subjects, which Hopkins not only
accommodated but encouraged.
“
”
Making an academic match:
8
9JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU5 Steps to Finding The Right College 7
THINK FAST: If you had to take an entire year of one class, which one would it be?
9JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
10
Big question #2:
No matter where you go to college, you might be
surprised at the amount of free time you have.
At a place like Hopkins, with an active, vibrant
community, our students take advantage
of every free moment—so tell us what your
interests are outside the classroom.
HOW ARE YOU MAKING YOUR MARK?
11JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
Leap beyond the listAdmissions committees need more than a list of
all your activities to gauge how you thrive outside
the classroom.
Use your essays to introduce the things
that matter to you, how you’re currently
pursuing your interests and how you
might grow those interests in college.
Recommendations from teachers and
counselors can give an admissions
committee a view of the kind of leader
you are and how you contribute to the
community.
Remember that list of extracurriculars we
mentioned above? Include jobs, family
responsibilities, volunteer work, or other
pursuits where you’re investing a lot of
your time.
PRO TIP from the admissions committee:
Being a leader doesn’t always mean President of
All Things. While you should list your leadership
positions on your application, use your essays to
highlight the roles that were the most meaningful
to you. When you’re really passionate about
something, it will show through in your writing.
12
HALF PAGE PHOTO
A place like Hopkins that has
passionate, enterprising students
spends a lot of time building a class
that cares about and will contribute
to the campus community.
Students who thrive here are
proactive and take ownership in
and outside the classroom. On your
application, we want to see that
you’ve taken your involvement
in extracurricular activities to the
next level and that you’re showing
passion by the actions you take.
“
Hopkins admissions officer says:
”
12
13JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
THINK FAST: Which of your extracurricular activities—whether it’s a sport, club, music, afterschool job, or service commitment—is your favorite? Is that something you see yourself continuing in college?
13JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
14
Big question #3:
That’s deep, we know. How about, what
personal qualities do you have that would
make you a good fit for the places where
you’re applying? What are you interested
in and why, and how do you see yourself
pursuing your interests at each of the
schools you’re applying to?
WHAT MAKES YOU, YOU?
15JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
Nice to meet you!It’s all about the essay here. Students who
are resourceful and driven will do well at any
college—tell admissions committees why
that should be their school. Think about how
you engage with your current community on
the academic, personal, and social levels,
and how you hope to do that in college. Then,
use that information to write a compelling
essay that speaks to why you think you’ll
succeed at each particular school.
PRO TIP from the admissions committee:
A little (genuine) enthusiasm goes a long way.
One way to narrow down your list of schools
is by seeing which communities you’re really
excited about the prospect of joining. Once
you make those decisions, let that enthusiasm
show in your essays.
16
—Jorge J. ’18, Chemical and biomolecular engineering
Read more about academics at Hopkins on pages 18–19.
My favorite thing about Hopkins
is the students. In no other place
will you find so many interesting
individuals who are not only
incredibly smart but are also
extremely passionate about the
things they are doing—from
research to extracurricular
activities. The students are all
coming from different places in
the world, and getting to learn
from them as they learn from me
is one of the most exhilarating
experiences here at Hopkins.
“
”
On finding community:
16
17JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
THINK FAST: What would your best friend say are your best qualities? (Go ahead—ask him or her. We can wait.) How do you see those qualities connecting with the programs, academic and extracurricular, you’re interested in pursuing in college?
17JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
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take a Meeting the main characterTake a moment to learn more about Johns
Hopkins University.
Embracing the liberal arts. Hopkins is a
research university that was founded on,
and continues to build on, a liberal arts
philosophy. Students in all majors learn how
to think critically and take a broader
world view.
Redefining research. Research and hands-
on learning are a part of our culture. Whether
in traditional labs or countries across the
world, our students are making discoveries
that shape the way they see the world.
19JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
breath.Academic freedom. With no core
curriculum, our students explore all their
academic options across disciplines.
That means students can take classes just
because they genuinely sound interesting;
they sometimes even find a new passion.
Over half our students double major or
minor, combining academic interests in
unique ways.
Engaged campus. As leaders, innovators,
or performers, or in ways we haven’t yet
imagined, Hopkins students are engaged
members of their community—both on
and beyond campus. The Hopkins campus
is located in Baltimore, Maryland, a city
that becomes an extension of campus for
learning, living, and entertainment.
20
Epilogue. We hope that you found this information
helpful. A few closing thoughts before we go:
Keep the focus on you, and what you
want out of your college experience.
All the rankings and guidebooks in the
world won’t help you make a match
where there isn’t one.
The advice here is meant to give you the
tips and tools to start a conversation—
One you should continue to have as you
start building your applications.
The hardest work has already been done.
All your accomplishments and pursuits
over the past few years are already in
progress. What you need to do—and
what this resource hopefully helped
you think about—is determine the best
way to present them in your college
applications.
21JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
Footnotes.Keep up with all things Hopkins
Admissions—including more advice and
tips from our staff—by reading the Hopkins
Insider: hopkins-interactive.com/blogs.
Learn more about Johns Hopkins by
visiting us online: apply.jhu.edu. While
you’re online, plan a visit to our Homewood
campus in Baltimore, Maryland.
Hear from current students and see blogs,
photos, videos, and more student-generated
content at hopkins-interactive.com.
TY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
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23JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
The advice in this resource can help you
build your successful college application,
with hints and tips from admissions
professionals and current Hopkins
students along the way.
Inspiration station: you received access to
“Essays that Worked” when you requested
this guide. Check them out to read successful
college essays, along with essay writing tips
from admissions counselors. [ ]
23JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | APPLY.JHU.EDU
24
Office of Undergraduate AdmissionsMason Hall / 3400 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21218 Tel. (410) 516-8171 Fax (410) 516-6025
apply.jhu.edu