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Johns Hopkins medical school is one of the foremost educational institutions in the United States. What does it really take to get accepted into this prestigious school?
As an ambitious, aspiring medical student, you’re likely wondering how to get into Johns Hopkins medical school. We’ve created a comprehensive guide on getting accepted to this highly prestigious institution, with everything from admissions statistics, requirements, essay information, and more.
There are several excellent medical programs offered at JHU SOM, meaning you have plenty of options to fit your goals. Programs offered include:
Beyond these programs, Johns Hopkins medical school offers other academic pathways, including several other dual-degree programs.
As you may know, admissions at JHU SOM are highly competitive. At a glance, here are the details of how hard it is to get into Johns Hopkins medical school.
The acceptance rate at Johns Hopkins medical school is 2.08%. Recent data shows Johns Hopkins received 6,240 applicants, of whom just 589 were invited to interview. Only 130 candidates matriculated or deferred, with a final enrollment count of 129.
Please note that this is an approximate acceptance rate and refers to the percentage of matriculants and deferred students compared to verified applications. Medical schools often don’t release data pertaining to accepted applicants and verified applications.
Being such a well-regarded school, academic expectations are high for students applying to Johns Hopkins’ medical programs. The average GPA of accepted applicants was 3.95.
This means you should aim for a GPA above 3.95 to be a strong applicant. Landing above the average will improve your odds of getting into JHU SOM.
JHU SOM’s accepted applicants achieved an average MCAT score of 520.6. You should aim for an MCAT score of 521 or above to increase your chances of getting accepted.
Johns Hopkins medical school estimates a yearly tuition (not including other fees) of $66,580. When factoring other fees, this works out to a total of $286,432 over four years. These costs are similar to the average price for medical school in the United States.
JHU SOM also offers significant financial aid. The school provides students complete cost-of-attendance financial aid packages for those whose families earn less than $175,000 annually. Families earning less than $300,000 annually are eligible for scholarships covering the cost of tuition.
Most medical schools in the United States have stringent requirements for hopeful applicants, and Johns Hopkins medical school is no exception.
Here are the most critical requirements and prerequisites* to have when applying to JHU SOM.
Johns Hopkins Medical School prides itself on academic excellence. This begins with high standards for the foundations of medicine: sciences, mathematics, and humanities. In addition to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), here are the coursework requirements for JHU SOM at a glance:
You’ll need to have completed at least one year (eight semester hours) in a college biology course in a laboratory. Johns Hopkins medical school also recommends separate supplementary biology courses. This includes a semester on genetics (four semester hours) and courses in mammalian or molecular biology.
JHU SOM requires one year (eight semester hours) of general college chemistry in a laboratory. You’re also required to have one semester (four semester hours) of experience with organic chemistry in a lab and a minimum of three semester hours in biochemistry (no lab required).
JHU SOM requires applicants to have eight semester hours, or one year, of general college-level physics coursework (in a laboratory) under their belt.
Johns Hopkins medical school requires at least 24 semester hours, combined, on humanities subjects (e.g., English, History, Philosophy, Arts), social sciences (e.g., Sociology, Political Science), and behavioral sciences (e.g., Psychology, Psychiatry). You’ll also need to include two writing-focused classes in any of the above subjects as part of the JHU SOM communication skills requirements.
Johns Hopkins medical school's math requirement is a minimum of six semester hours of calculus and/or statistics. JHU SOM also strongly recommends that applicants take at least one semester of statistics, epidemiology, or both.
*Note that Johns Hopkins Medical School now accepts online prerequisite courses. JHU SOM also accepts AP and IB credits for prerequisites, although these students may have different requirements.
JHU SOM requires applicants to take the MCAT no later than September of the year of their application. You can use an MCAT score for up to four years prior to your expected enrollment date.
Additionally, students who received their undergraduate education in a language other than English will have to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
You have three options* to fulfil your letter of recommendation requirements for Johns Hopkins Medical School. You can submit one of the three following letter types:
*For students applying to JHU SOM’s M.D.-Ph.D. program, you’ll need two additional letters of reference from faculty with whom you have performed research.
You’ll need to demonstrate key skills to get into Johns Hopkins medical school. Communication is an example; you’re expected to have a “precise and fluent” command of the English language (spoken and written). Conversational fluency in another language is also recommended.
You should also demonstrate teamwork skills in your application, whether through academic work or extracurricular activities. Generally, JHU SOM is looking for students who are:
You should be prepared for the JHU SOM admissions process to evaluate your application holistically. They will evaluate you not only as a student but also as a person and potential doctor.
Going above and beyond these requirements for Johns Hopkins medical school will significantly improve your odds of admission. So be sure to think of these as minimum requirements and exceed them wherever possible!
Now that you understand the prerequisites and requirements to apply to Johns Hopkins, it’s time to set your expectations for the application process.
Like all M.D. programs in the United States (aside from those in Texas), JHU SOM uses the AMCAS as its primary application. This means that for the first segment of the application process, you’ll need to fill out some forms outlining your information. Because it’s standardized, there are some general AMCAS best practices.
Here’s the timeline you can expect for your Johns Hopkins Medical School application:
*The AMCAS application functions on a first-come, first-served basis. Submit your primary application as soon as possible to improve your odds of admission.
Once you’ve completed your AMCAS primary application, it’s time to start work on your secondary application. This part of the process – five essay-format questions with an optional sixth question – is unique to JHU SOM. Here are the questions you’ll answer:
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? (400 words)
The wording of this question might make it seem optional, but you should absolutely answer it as thoroughly as you can. Notice that the language used is “area”, meaning you should try to choose just one aspect and expand on your why.
By asking this question, Johns Hopkins medical school is asking about your specific interests and passions beyond the field of medicine. It’s a great chance to show off your personal goals and ambitions and prove that you’ll be a motivated student.
“Briefly describe your single, most rewarding experience. Feel free to refer to an experience previously described in your AMCAS application if needed (400 words)”
For this question, it’s essential to be honest and highly specific. JHU SOM is looking for clear, tangible examples of rewarding experiences, whether in a medical context or not. Don’t tell a subpar story simply because it involved your studies in medicine; feel free to talk about rewarding moments in your other activities, too!
“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. (400 words)”
Like many other institutions, JHU SOM uses this question to gauge your perseverance, problem-solving skills, and overall tenacity. Being a doctor is often a challenging role, so the admissions council wants to be sure you can handle that adversity, both at Johns Hopkins and beyond.
Consider linking the adversity you’ve faced to your interest at JHU SOM. The more you can connect your personal story to the school, the easier it will be for the admissions committee to imagine you as part of the cohort.
“Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from the experience? (400 words).”
This is your chance to talk about a significant learning experience that you’ve had in your life. It’s a great time to talk about the challenges you’ve faced as a minority (e.g., ethnic, socioeconomic), but it’s not the only way to answer!
Being in the minority could be a time when your opinion on something differed from those around you. It could also be an example of a unique challenge you had to overcome. The most important thing is to tell a story about a time when you were pushed to adapt, grow, and learn – all traits that JHU SOM is looking for.
“Wonder encapsulates a feeling of rapt attention…it draws the observer in. Tell us about a time in recent years where you experienced wonder in your everyday life. Although experiences related to your clinical or research work may be the first to come to mind, we encourage you to think of an experience that is unrelated to medicine or science. What did you learn from that experience? (500 words)”
While it’s easy to get hung up on appearing professional and capable when applying to Johns Hopkins medical school, it’s also important to remember that it’s a learning experience!
As a doctor, your curiosity and drive are vital assets. JHU SOM is looking for examples of natural curiosity unrelated to medicine. This is your chance to frame your passion and ambition holistically—it will help you demonstrate how well-rounded a candidate you are!
“Please review the Johns Hopkins Medicine Equity Statement before answering the question below.
At Johns Hopkins Medicine, we believe that everyone has a role in promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity in health care, research, and education. We must acknowledge, actively address and work toward effectively managing our negative biases, so that we collectively make decisions that improve the lives of our patients, our colleagues, our learners, and our community. We stand against discrimination and oppression in all their forms. It is vital that we achieve equity for all, including those who are most vulnerable.
The purpose of this essay is to get to know you as an individual and a potential medical student. Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to apply to Johns Hopkins Medicine and what has influenced your desire to become a physician in a Medical community that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first-generation college student, or being a part of a minority group, (whether because of your gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnicity, socio-economic status, political affiliation, first-generation status, religion, etc.) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. (500 words)”
This is a classic diversity essay. As you write, try to touch upon elements of your background and lived experiences that you haven’t expanded on in the rest of your application.
Johns Hopkins Medical School values a diverse range of voices and perspectives in its programs. So if there’s something about your background that can paint a complete picture of yourself as an applicant, this is your chance to tell that story!
“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)”
If there’s anything else you’d like JHUSOM to consider as they evaluate your application, this is the opportunity to do it. Not all applicants will need to write an additional essay, which is why this is an optional prompt.
Remember that the secondary application is your best chance to show off your individuality and set yourself apart from other applicants.
Understanding how to make an impact with your secondary essays will be a massive help in getting into Johns Hopkins medical school!
Now that you’ve submitted your primary AMCAS application and all the necessary materials for your secondary application, what’s next? If you make it this far, give yourself a pat on the back – you’re almost there! Now that you’re on the last stretch, it’s time to begin preparing for your interview.
JHU SOM applicants will do two interviews, one with a member of the JHU medical faculty and another with a medical student. The interview gives the committee more insight into you as an applicant, student, and potential doctor.
Expanding on your essay topics is a good way to prepare for your interviews. Be sure that your passion and ambition carry over in this interview – JHU SOM is looking for highly motivated individuals, so make your enthusiasm clear! This is also a great time to explore why you want to attend Johns Hopkins.
As you can see, a lot goes into understanding how to get into Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. If you still have some unanswered questions, we’ve got you covered.
The average GPA at Johns Hopkins Medical School is 3.95, so aiming for a score higher than this will position you as a strong candidate.
To get into Johns Hopkins Medical School, applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic performance, with an average GPA over 3.95 and an average MCAT score of 520.6. Competitive candidates also show extensive clinical experience, research involvement, strong letters of recommendation, and a compelling personal statement.
With an acceptance rate of just 2.08%, admission to Johns Hopkins Medical School is very competitive. However, the school prides itself on a non-competitive atmosphere for its students, focusing instead on collaboration and celebration of each student’s accomplishments.
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine acceptance rate is 2.08%, although this can change from year to year. That means out of 100 students, approximately two get accepted.
Each year, Johns Hopkins Medical School searches for exceptional candidates for their medical education programs. If you’re an ambitious, driven individual who not only excels in their academics but also offers holistic skills in teamwork and leadership, it could be the institution for you!
Inspira Advantage can help you get into the school of your dreams, even highly competitive ones such as JHU SOM. With the support of Inspira, you can polish your application, stand out from the crowd, and make your dreams come true!
Dr. Akhil Katakam was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.
Reviewed by:
Neurologist, Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
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