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College Essay Prompts 2026-27

Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay Prompts 2026-27

Johns Hopkins University's published supplemental essay prompts for first-year applicants in the 2026-27 application year, quoted from the college's own website, with the limit for each and whether it is required.

Application
Common App or Coalition
Status
2026-27 prompts published
What to write
All first-year applicants answer 1 common prompt. Depending on how or where you apply, you may also have prompts for: Direct Matriculation Program applicants: MBA; Direct Matriculation Program applicants: Master’s in International Health; Direct Matriculation Program applicants: Master’s in International Relations.
Last checked
September 26, 2026
Official source
Johns Hopkins Admissions: Application Deadlines & Requirements

The 2026-27 prompts

Quoted word for word from Johns Hopkins University. Limits are as the college states them. These are the first-year prompts the college publishes; transfer essays and questions that appear only inside the application portal are not listed.

Required of all applicants

At Johns Hopkins, community is built through dialogue, collaboration, and a willingness to engage across differences. Whether on campus or in the broader world, community depends on bridge builders who can listen to differing perspectives, challenge their own assumptions, or work together toward shared goals.

  1. 01

    Drawing on your own experiences, what have you learned about engaging across differences and how has it shaped the way you think about building bridges, enhancing community, and working with others?

    350 wordsCommunity

Required for Direct Matriculation Program applicants: MBA

After you submit your admissions application, you must submit a short essay in response to the prompt in your applicant portal.

  1. 02

    Describe a time when you took initiative or led others toward a shared goal. What did you learn about your leadership style, and how might that experience influence how you explore the business field?

    300 to 400 wordsActivity

Required for Direct Matriculation Program applicants: Master’s in International Health

After you submit your admissions application, you must submit a short essay in response to the prompt in your applicant portal.

  1. 03

    Identify a global health issue and outline a solution to a key underlying problem.

    300 to 400 wordsIntellectual curiosity

Required for Direct Matriculation Program applicants: Master’s in International Relations

After you submit your admissions application, you must submit a short essay in response to the prompt in your applicant portal.

  1. 04

    Describe your reasons for applying to the Direct Matriculation Program. What experiences have prepared you for participating in this accelerated consecutive degree program that combines undergraduate and graduate study in international affairs?

    400 to 500 wordsWhy us

What these prompts are really asking

One line per prompt type, from our supplemental essay guide.

Why us
Have you done real research, and can you connect it to your actual path?
Community
How do you define community, and how will you behave in ours?
Activity
What values, problems or responsibilities sit behind the activity list?
Intellectual curiosity
How does your mind move when no one is handing you points?

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Common Questions

How many supplemental essays does Johns Hopkins University require for 2026-27?

All first-year applicants answer 1 common prompt. Depending on how or where you apply, you may also have prompts for: Direct Matriculation Program applicants: MBA; Direct Matriculation Program applicants: Master’s in International Health; Direct Matriculation Program applicants: Master’s in International Relations. This page lists 4 prompts in all, including choices and optional prompts.

What are the word limits for Johns Hopkins's supplemental essays?

350 words, 300 to 400 words, 400 to 500 words. Each prompt above shows its own limit as the college states it.

Which application does Johns Hopkins University use?

Common App or Coalition.

Where are these prompts from?

We copied them word for word from Johns Hopkins Admissions: Application Deadlines & Requirements and last checked on September 26, 2026. The prompts inside your application portal are the final word.

Sources, last checked September 26, 2026

Prompts for other colleges

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