Johns Hopkins University Supplemental Essay Prompts & Writing Guide 2025-2026

This essay is your chance to reveal what drives you at your core. Rather than picking something grand or resume-worthy, choose a specific moment that genuinely changed how you see yourself or the world around you. Johns Hopkins celebrates the philosophy that discovery often begins with small, intentional steps, so your "first" can be surprisingly modest: the moment you picked up a microscope for the first time, tried writing poetry in sophomore year, or had a conversation that shifted your perspective on a problem in your community. The key is showing why this particular moment mattered and how it rippled through your life afterward. Be concrete and vivid; describe what you felt, what you noticed, what confused or excited you. Admissions officers want to see your authentic voice and your capacity for reflection, not a polished narrative designed to impress.

The real substance of this essay lies in the second half: tracing the trajectory from that first step to who you are today. What did you do as a result of that initial moment? How did your values, skills, or understanding shift? Johns Hopkins is built on a culture of discovery and intellectual curiosity, so demonstrate that you share this ethos by showing how you pursued deeper understanding or took on meaningful challenges after your first step. If you initially stumbled into a science fair project and later founded a research club, or if you wrote your first article and now pursue journalism, spell out the connection. Admissions officers want evidence that you don't just dabble; you commit, reflect, and grow from experiences. This is where you show maturity and intentionality, qualities Hopkins deeply values in its community.

Finally, if possible, create a subtle bridge from your growth story to Hopkins itself. You don't need to dedicate multiple sentences to this, but it strengthens your essay significantly if you can hint at how Hopkins will be the next chapter in this trajectory. For example, if your first step led you toward public health research, mentioning that Johns Hopkins' particular resources, faculty expertise, or residential college system align with where you want to take this passion shows you've done your homework and aren't simply applying to an elite school. Avoid listing specific classes or professors by name unless you've genuinely engaged with their work; instead, speak to the values and opportunities Hopkins offers that excite you. Let your authentic curiosity and self-awareness be the star of your essay, supported by specific details that only you could write.