2012: Post-Application Deadline Survival Guide

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As the calendar turned to 2012 a few weeks ago, most of the news stories referenced in some manner the impending doomsday mythology associated with the year 2012. For me the turning of the calendar meant three things: (1) an increase of frantic messages being sent to the main Admissions e-mail account; (2) an increase in my stress level as I adjust to the fact that I am now in the throes of application reading season; and (3) an increase in the need of reminders I have to send myself about not writing the date as 1/11/11 but rather 1/11/12 . Pretty much, this new year represents not an apocalypse for me, but rather business as usual.

Outside of some leadership changes, 2012 feels pretty much like 2011 in the world of Johns Hopkins Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the same as previous years as well. It may be a new year but the team inside Mason Hall is focused on what we always focus on in January: the third floor is inundated with application mail and the processing of online submissions and the counseling staff on the second floor are logging on and reading Regular Decision applications. This same scenario will repeat daily for the next twoplus months. While my colleagues and I press forward through application processing and review, those of you who completed Regular Decision applications now must test the limits of your patience and just wait.

One thing I have learned in my many years of working in Admissions is that waiting is not something high school seniors do well, and this lack of patience often leads to many (MANY!) frequently asked questions. So at the end of this post, I will be providing answers to the most frequently asked questions this time of year. But before that I thought it would be helpful to share some important upcoming deadlines as well as what you can expect from this blog in the coming weeks.

• Financial Aid: If you plan to apply for financial aid (need-based grants, loans, work study) then be aware that you must submit both the CSS Profile and the FAFSA by March 1, 2012. Extremely helpful information about applying for financial aid can be found here: http://www.jhu.edu/finaid/prosp_stud.html. (International students applying for financial assistance, please review this website: http://www.jhu.edu/finaid/international.html.)

• Fellowship opportunity: For applicants interested in a major in the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences and also interested in conducting your own independent research, you should strongly consider applying for the Woodrow Wilson Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program. We have extended the deadline for applications until March 1, 2012. Further information can be found here: http://apply.jhu.edu/story/wilsonfellowship.html?slide and you can apply online here: http://apply.jhu.edu/wilson/wilson_form_2011.html.

• Meet the Admissions Staff: Starting next week, the Hopkins Insider blog will continue an annual winter tradition where you get to know the members of the Johns Hopkins Undergraduate Admissions Committee. (If you click on the Admissions Staff Profiles category on the left-side menu, you can see past entries.) This winter we return to the format of questionnaire profiles. Working with my colleagues Shannon and Shelly, and with a few suggestions from current SAAB members, we have compiled a list of questions we feel will help you all get to know a little bit about the people actually reviewing your application.

• Regular Decision Notification Day: All we can tell you right now is decision notifications will be released during the last days of March. No official date has been set and we tend not to select an official release date until the middle of March at the earliest. We guarantee that decisions will be released by April 1st. Once a notification date has been selected, it will be announced via this blog.

So stay tuned … be patient … and now on to the FAQS:

(The pictures throughout the post are what our Operations space looks like as we process the thousands of pieces of mail we have received in the last few months — the process might be “paperless” but that doesn’t mean there is no paper.)

Is my application complete? Do you have all my stuff?
With the volume of application materials we need to process right now, we are not able to confirm whether application files are complete or to identity which individual items have been received. It takes time, so we ask patience of all of our applicants. Once your application is downloaded and processed, you are sent an e-mail acknowledgment. This indicates that our Operations staff has begun to process your application (not necessarily that it is complete). Please remember, with thousands of applications to process, this e-mail acknowledgment is not automatic and may take a few weeks to be sent.

In early February, once we have processed all received application materials, we will contact via e-mail students whose applications remain incomplete. Applicants receiving a missing items correspondence will be given an opportunity to provide us with any missing items before we complete the evaluation of their applications. Rest assured that application files are checked carefully, multiple times, for completeness.

Most importantly, please do not call right now to check on the status of your application or see if we have received a specific part of your application. We will not be able to answer such questions until February at the earliest. Please be patient and know that we will confirm the receipt of your application once it is processed and we do not review incomplete applications.

Can I check my status online? Why haven’t I gotten a user name and password to check my status through the application portal?
Unlike many schools, Johns Hopkins does not have an online system for checking application status. We do things the old-fashioned way. You will not receive a log-in and password where you can track your application materials. Additionally, be aware that our system does not directly connect with the Common Application system to update the status of all processed materials. Because the Common Application site says something has not been received / processed, that does not mean that is the status of those materials in our office. This is especially true of any mailed materials. (Do note, those who apply for financial aid will get access to the ISIS system that tracks financial aid application materials. This system has nothing to do with applications for admission.)

Can I add items to my application even though the deadline has passed? Uh oh, I made a mistake in my application, how can I correct it?
Yes, we will still accept application updates and we do have a process for error corrections. It is simple. To provide an update or error correction, you must compose a cover letter and submit these materials by fax (410-516-6025) or mail to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. In the cover letter, you should include your full name, birth date, and school name (SS# is optional but can help), so that we can merge this new information with your application folder. Also, all updates should be sent in by February 15. Finally, DO NOT SEND UPDATES VIA E-MAIL, as we do not process application materials received through e-mail.

My e-mail address / mailing address / contact information has changed … what do I do?
All changes to personal contact information including updates to email, phone numbers, and mailing addresses need to be sent to apphelp@jhu.edu. Please include in the e-mail, your full name, birth date, high school name as well as the general time frame when you submitted your application.

May I submit January standardized test scores (SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject exams, or TOEFL) with my regular decision application?
Though Regular Decision candidates should have completed required tests no later than December of their senior year, students may submit January examinations if they are re-taking the SAT Reasoning exam, are taking SAT II subject exams, or are submitting TOEFL exams. Although we cannot guarantee that January scores will arrive before the Admissions Committee evaluation, past experience suggests that scores taken on these dates usually arrive in time. If the scores arrive before the evaluation then they will be considered with one’s application. There is no need to rush scores from the testing agencies, as our office will not process them any quicker. We cannot guarantee that scores sent after our application deadline will be processed in time to be reviewed with one’s application and we do not delay the review of an application to wait for scores sent after the application deadline.

Do I have to submit a mid-year report and updated transcript?
Yes, that is a clearly stated application requirement. All applicants must submit a mid-year report and updated transcript by the deadline of February 15th. The mid-year report must be submitted directly by one’s school and must include an updated senior year transcript. We do not accept any of these materials submitted directly by the applicant.

Remember, if you have any further questions you can:

-      Send an e-mail to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions: gotojhu@jhu.edu.

-      Post a comment to this blog and I will respond back in a few days.

-      Use the Ask Admissions section of the Hopkins Forums: Hopkins Forums – Ask Admissions.

2011 Coming to a Close, Regular Decision Deadline is Here!

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With just a few days remaining in 2011, I am taking a short break from my holiday vacation in Florida with my family to post an update to the blog for those of you working on your Regular Decision application to Johns Hopkins University. For those of you who have waited until the last days and may wait until the last moments to click submit on your application, this blog is for you. As the Janaury 1 Regular Decision deadline looms, many of you will have last minute questions. How do I know? Because of vast experience. Every year during my holiday vacation I take an hour or two out of my relaxation time each day to respond to the questions coming through any number of means.

So in an effort to diminish the time I will spend the next few days responding to questions, I present these answers to the most frequently asked questions by the application procrastinators. I hope these answers assist you in your last-minute haze of forms and looming deadlines. Just remember, next time when you have over three plus months to complete something, waiting until the last minute is never the best policy.

THE DEADLINE QUESTIONS
So what is the exact deadline for submitting one’s application? Before the days of online applications this used to be such an easy question to answer — you need to have a postmark date prior to January 1. Now there tends to be so much confusion over such a simple concept.

The regular decision deadline is January 1, 2012. This is our online submission deadline and our postmark deadline. Applicants should submit their online application materials no later than 11:59 p.m. on January 1st. Since January 1 is a Sunday this year, any mailed materials should have been sent before the weekend. But since we are nice, we will accept application materials that are postmarked by January 3, 2012, as January 2 is a national holiday.

What subsequently follows are two issues – time zone questions and Common Application / Universal College Application technical difficulties. This is why I strongly urge you all to finish your applications prior to January 1 and submit it. This gives you a window in case anything goes wrong, and it rules out any confusion about time zones. There will be a ton of traffic on the Common Application / Universal College Application servers throughout January 1, and we all know that computer servers are sometimes not the most reliable devices. We are understanding of such issues, but once again, why risk it.

SUBMISSION OF SCHOOL MATERIALS
Is it a problem if you have yet to submit your application, but some of your application materials (school forms, tests, etc.) have already been submitted? Not a problem at all. Applicants to Johns Hopkins University may submit application materials such as test scores, letters of recommendation, and school reports along with transcripts in advance of their submission of their application. These documents will be processed and placed in a pending folder until one’s application is submitted, received, and processed. Then we will merge all documents and determine whether one’s application is complete. To assist with the proper processing of documents we request that all materials include the applicant’s full name, birth date, and school.

What if your school materials have yet to be submitted and because of the holiday week or inclement weather, they won’t be submitted until after the deadline? First, this should not be a problem since you should request this information before your school goes on holiday break. However, we understand though at times school-related application materials such as the secondary school report, transcript, fee waiver forms and letters of recommendation cannot be sent by that date. We will be flexible with the application deadline for those parts of the application; however the student portions of the application must be submitted online or postmarked by the January 1st deadline. The school materials of the application may be sent after the January 1 deadline, but not later than January 15th. If your school materials are going to be delayed longer than that, your guidance counselor needs to call the admissions office to request an extension.

SENDING SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
Can I submit supplemental materials (such as an arts supplement) to support my application? Applicants to Johns Hopkins University may submit supplemental information such as CDs, DVDs, slides, art portfolios, research abstracts and other such items. There are no additional forms that need to be completed nor do we have a preference regarding format. We accept Arts Supplement forms but do not require them. We do request that you include your full name, birth date, and high school on any supplement materials you send in. All information needs to be mailed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions; we do not process materials submitted through e-mail. Supplemental materials should be submitted by the application deadline.

Please note that supplemental information will not be sent to academic departments for official reviews, but will remain in the Admissions Office with your application. There is no guarantee that supplemental information will be reviewed, but in most cases the Admissions committee will have some time to evaluate such additional information. Finally, it is important that original items not be sent, as the Admissions office is not able to return submitted application materials.

SUBMITTING STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES
Always a ton of questions about how to submit your test scores, can scores be sent via transcript, what is the deadline to submit scores, and can I confirm you have received my scores? The Admissions Office requires that prospective applicants send their standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, or TOEFL) to Johns Hopkins University directly from the testing agencies. Our school codes are:

SAT: 5332
ACT: 1704
TOEFL: 5332

The Admissions Office will accept standardized test scores submitted with an official high school transcript only if all test scores are displayed and that the scores appear officially on the transcript, not hand-written in by the student or counselor.

Test scores need to be requested from the testing agencies prior to our stated application deadlines but may arrive after the deadline. Though the scores will arrive past the deadline they will still be considered if requested in advance of the deadline. There is no need to rush score reports as they do not arrive any earlier.

The Admissions Office does not send confirmation of test scores received. You will need to contact the College Board and ACT directly to confirm that your scores were sent to Johns Hopkins University. If they confirm your scores were sent than that means they are in our database.

May I submit January standardized test scores (SAT, SAT Subject exams, or TOEFL) with my regular decision application? Though regular decision candidates should have completed required tests no later than December of their senior year, students may take the January examinations if they are re-taking the SAT exam, are taking SAT II subject exams, or are submitting TOEFL exams. Although we cannot guarantee that January scores will arrive before the Admissions Committee evaluation, past experience suggests that scores taken on these dates usually arrive in time. If the tests arrive before the application review then they will be considered, but we will not delay the review of an application to wait for January test scores.

Should I rush my test scores? There is no need to rush test score reports as they do not get processed by our office any sooner.

POST-SUBMISSION QUESTIONS
After you submit your application, immediately you start asking questions like did they receive my application; did my school materials arrive correctly; is my application complete? As you can imagine, this becomes a very busy time in the Admissions Office as we process all the application materials. Because of the volume of records we handle, it is not possible to automatically confirm whether application files are complete or to identity which individual items have been received. Unlike many school, Johns Hopkins does not have an online system for checking application status.

Once your application is download and processed, you will be sent an e-mail acknowledgment. This indicates your application file has been opened (not necessarily that it is complete). Please remember, with thousands of applications to process this e-mail acknowledgment is not automatic and may take a few weeks to be sent. In late February, once we have processed all received application materials, we will contact students whose applications remain incomplete. Those students will be given an opportunity to provide us with any missing items before we complete the evaluation of their applications. Rest assured that application files are checked carefully for completeness.  Please do not call to check on the status of your application as we will not be able to answer such questions until the beginning of February at the earliest. Please be patient and know that we will confirm the receipt of your application once it is processed.

Some additional post-submission questions include:

When is the Financial Aid deadline and where can I learn more about applying for Financial Aid? The Financial aid deadline for the submission of the FAFSA and CSS Profile is March 1, 2012. Please review this web site for full details: http://www.jhu.edu/finaid/prosp_stud.html.

Can I add items to my application even though the deadline has passed? Uh oh, I made a mistake in my application, how can I correct it? Yes, we will still accept application updates and we do have a process for error corrections. It is simple. To provide an update or error correction, you must compose a cover letter and submit these materials by fax (410-516-6025) or mail to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Please note that we do request in the cover letter you include your full name, birth date, and school name (SS# is optional but can help), so that we can merge this new information with your application folder. Also note, that all updates should be sent in by February 1st. Finally, DO NOT SEND UPDATES VIA E-MAIL, as we do not process application materials received through e-mail.

Even more questions asked after post-submission. These are all legitimate questions, but all too early to ask. Once we have updated information, it will be posted on the blog.

When will decisions be released?
— Last week in March. No official date has been set yet.

How many applications have been received?
— Not sure yet. We will reveal a total sometime in February.

How many will be admitted?
— No clue. We have to review applications first.

What will the acceptance rate be?
— Also, no clue. We will rely on our formulas when the time comes.

EVEN MORE QUESTIONS

Here are additional sources to obtain answers to your questions:

Admissions Site: Frequently asked questions: http://apply.jhu.edu/faqs/all.html

Hopkins Forums: Ask Admissions section: http://www.hopkins-interactive.com/forums/ask-admissions/

I hope these answers help, and that in some way they minimize the number of e-mails we will receive the rest of the week (probably not going to happen, oh well). Best wishes and we will see you in the new year.

Breaking News: RD Notification Release Explained

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For the past few months, the Admissions staff has been hard at work processing, reviewing, and discussing the over 18,000 Regular Decision applications for freshman admission. We spent the end of December, January, February, and the first week in March doing what we call “first reads”—where each admissions counselor thoroughly reads through each application in his or her region and provides in-depth decision write-ups. Since March 7, each and every day (including weekends), the various admissions committees have been going back over all the first reads, discussing and debating, and ultimately shaping our class. To say this is an arduous process is an understatement, but we are excessively diligent in what we do and truly believe our process will create the best Johns Hopkins Class of 2015 possible. Thankfully, the light at the end of the long tunnel is shining a bit brighter each and every day.

As I posted late last night, Dean Latting announced yesterday that Regular Decision notifications will be released to all freshman applicants on Tuesday, March 29. The committees will continue to work throughout the week, the weekend, and even late through Monday evening but we will ensure that decisions are released next Tuesday. There are always a ton of questions about how the release of decision notifications will work, so let me attempt to explain how everything will operate next Tuesday. (As always, things change from year-to-year so if you have read how we have released decisions in the past I still suggest you read through the FAQs and answers below.)

JHU CLASS OF 2015, REGULAR DECISION NOTIFICATION DAY =
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2011

How will decisions be released?
By mail: On the afternoon of Tuesday, March 29, all decision letters (admits, wait lists, and denies) will be taken to the main Baltimore postal center or the Johns Hopkins postal center in Mt. Washington. All decisions will enter the postal system by the close of business on Tuesday. Admit packets are sent priority mail, whereas deny and wait list letters are sent first-class mail. We hope that admit packets sent within the U.S. will arrive within three days, and other decision letters can take 4-7 days to arrive. International mail is sent a variety of ways depending on the country and will take longer to arrive.

By e-mail: In the evening of March 29, we will also be releasing decision notifications via e-mail. E-mails will start going out AROUND 6:00 p.m. ET. lease see that I have emphasized the word AROUND. It can take up to two hours for all decision e-mails to be sent. E-mails are sent in batches and will take time to arrive. They are also sent in random order so there is no way to deduce the order that decisions will be released. I can guarantee that you all will not get your decision e-mail exactly at 6:00 p.m. Please have patience. In fact, I suggest you find something to distract you for an hour, then check your e-mail account.

Can I check my decision online?
No, Johns Hopkins University does not have an online system for the release of admissions decisions. We do not post our decisions online or through a portal.

Can I call the Admissions Office to receive my decision over the phone?
We prefer not to release decisions over the phone. Decisions will only be released over the phone starting Friday, April 1. At that time, if you have not received your admissions notification you may call the Admissions Office (410-516-8171). Please be aware, when we do begin to release decisions over the phone, we will only release the decision to the applicant or a parent or guardian of the applicant. Decisions will be released only if the identity of the caller can be reasonably assured. As well, please do not call asking why a certain decision was rendered as Admissions Committee decisions are confidential and we are unable to discuss the factors behind our decisions.

Regarding the e-mailed decisions, what will be the subject line?
We do not release the “subject lines” of our e-mail decisions in advance. The content of these e-mails change year-to-year.

Do not share your decision e-mail!
Each decision e-mail is personalized. Acceptance e-mails have a personalized URL in the message and therefore should not be shared, especially on any public forum or Web site. To protect your privacy and the accuracy of information, do not share or post your decision e-mail.

What happens if I do not receive an e-mail decision on Tuesday evening?
If an applicant does not receive an e-mail there a few things he or she can do: 

1. Check SPAM folders.
2. Check ANY and all e-mail accounts you have ever used during the college search process. We send the e-mail to the account you listed on your application. However, our database system does track all e-mail accounts that have ever been matched to your record, so on occasion the notification e-mail may be sent to an old e-mail address. (So check e-mails that you may have used when registering for the SAT/ACT for example, such as your parents e-mail accounts.)

If none of those methods work, then unfortunately the student will need to wait to receive the decision in the postal mail, or can call on April 1. Every year some e-mail notifications just don’t work. The reasons for an applicant not receiving an e-mail notification include that there was no e-mail provided on the student’s application, the e-mail provided on the application is no longer active, there was a SPAM filter blocking the message, or some error occurred that caused a bounce-back. WE ARE UNABLE TO RE-SEND E-MAIL NOTIFICATIONS. Once again, in such situations the applicant must wait. We understand how frustrating that can be, but unfortunately mistakes can happen when processing over 18,000 applications.

I applied to the biomedical engineering (BME) program; will I receive that decision via e-mail as well?
BME decision e-mails will come as a second e-mail to all admitted students who selected BME as their first-choice major. Those e-mail notifications will also be sent Tuesday evening, following the release of all other decision notification e-mails. Further details about one’s BME decision will be included in the admit packet.

What about scholarship notifications and notifications about program such as the Woodrow Wilson research fellowship or Dean’s Innovation Group?
Those decisions will be included in acceptance packets only.  

I applied to Johns Hopkins and also the Peabody Double Degree program. How will I be notified of my decisions?
Homewood / Peabody Double Degree applicants will receive their admissions decision notification about their Hopkins (Homewood) application in the same fashion as been discussed above. Decisions about admission to Peabody and the Double Degree program will be released as a second e-mail on Tuesday evening, following the release of all other decision notification e-mails.

****************************************************************************

So I think that covers everything for right now. If you have further questions, please feel free to post a comment and I will try to respond when I have the chance.

It is 2011, and that means more FAQs

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Posted by Admissions_Daniel

Happy New Year and welcome to 2011. Five days into the new year and I already broke all of my resolutions. Just kidding. For me, and I assume many of you, 2011 seems just like 2010. The weather is still cold in Baltimore, there is little if any good television on these days, and most of the water cooler discussion is about being optimistic for a new year or how disturbing a movie Black Swan is.

It may be a new year but I am pretty much doing exactly the same tasks as I was doing at the end of December—answering e-mails and reading applications. Though there are more Admissions staff members in Mason Hall on a daily basis this week than there were during the holiday weeks, the same actions are going on: the third floor is inundated with application mail and the processing of online submissions and the counseling staff on the second floor are logging on and reading regular decision applications. This same scenario will be repeated daily for the next two plus months, except many of the counselors will choose to read from the comforts of their own homes.

One of the things I am most thankful for at the end of each year and into the start of each new year are my e-mail answer templates. For the past five years I have managed our main Admissions e-mail account: gotojhu@jhu.edu and during that time I have amassed close to 300 answer template responses. As you can imagine during this time of year, our e-mail inbox is overflowing, and it is these trusted templates that help me process through over 100 e-mails each day. From December 15 to the end of 2010, close to 1,500 responses were sent out and within a maximum of 48 hours of receipt. And since the start of 2011 we are already nearing 900 responses and the first week is not even complete.

The funny thing about responding to so many e-mails in such a short window of time is that close to 90% of the project is cutting and pasting. Basically this time of year the vast majority of questions can be labeled as frequently asked. And since I have this amazing blog as a vehicle of information, I thought the best topic for the first entry of 2011 would be a patented FAQ post with my patented template responses. Hopefully some of you reading this were planning to e-mail the gotojhu@jhu.edu e-mail account but now you don’t have to because the answer is posted here. Enjoy:

(The pictures throughout the post are what our Operations space looks like as we process the thousands of pieces of mail we have received in the last few months — the process might be “paper-less” but that doesn’t mean there is no paper.)

Is my application complete?  Do you have all my stuff?
With the volume of application materials we need to process right now, we are not able to confirm whether application files are complete or to identity which individual items have been received. It takes time so we ask patience of all of our applicants. Once your application is downloaded and processed, you will be sent an e-mail acknowledgment. This indicates your application file has been started (not necessarily that it is complete). Please remember, with thousands of applications to process this e-mail acknowledgment is not automatic and may take a few weeks to be sent.

In early February, once we have processed all received application materials, we will contact students whose applications remain incomplete via e-mail. Those students will be given an opportunity to provide us with any missing items before we complete the evaluation of their applications. Rest assured that application files are checked carefully, multiple times, for completeness.

Most importantly, please do not call right now to check on the status of your application or see if we have received a specific part of your application. We will not be able to answer such questions until the February at the earliest. Please be patient and know that we will confirm the receipt of your application once it is processed and we do not review incomplete applications.

Can I check my status online? Why haven’t I gotten a user name and password to check my status through the application portal?
Unlike many schools, Johns Hopkins does not have an online system for checking application status. We do things the old-fashioned way. You will not receive a log-in and password where you can track your application materials. Additionally, be aware that our system does not directly connect with the Common Application system to update the status of all processed materials. Because the Common Application site says something has not been received / processed, that does not mean that is the status of those materials in our office. This is especially true of any mailed materials. (Do note, those who apply for financial aid will get access to the ISIS system that tracks financial aid application materials. This system has nothing to do with applications for admission.)

When is the Financial Aid deadline and where can I learn more about applying for Financial Aid?
The Financial aid deadline for the submission of the FAFSA and CSS Profile is March 1, 2011. Please review this web site for full details: http://www.jhu.edu/finaid/prosp_stud.html.

Can I add items to my application even though the deadline has passed? Uh oh, I made a mistake in my application, how can I correct it?
Yes, we will still accept application updates and we do have a process for error corrections. It is simple. To provide an update or error correction, you must compose a cover letter and submit these materials by fax (410-516-6025) or mail to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. In the cover letter, you should include your full name, birth date, and school name (SS# is optional but can help), so that we can merge this new information with your application folder. Also, all updates should be sent in by February 1. Finally, DO NOT SEND UPDATES VIA E-MAIL, as we do not process application materials received through e-mail.

My e-mail address / mailing address / contact information has changed … what do I do?
All changes to personal contact information including updates to email, phone numbers, and mailing addresses need to be sent to apphelp@jhu.edu. Please include in the e-mail, your full name, birth date, high school name as well as the general time frame when you submitted your application.

May I submit January standardized test scores (SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject exams, or TOEFL) with my regular decision application?
Though Regular Decision candidates should have completed required tests no later than December of their senior year, students may take the January examinations if they are re-taking the SAT Reasoning exam, are taking SAT II subject exams, or are submitting TOEFL exams. Although we cannot guarantee that January scores will arrive before the Admissions Committee evaluation, past experience suggests that scores taken on these dates usually arrive in time. If the scores arrive before the evaluation then they will be considered with one’s application. There is no need to rush scores from the testing agencies, as our office will not process them any quicker. We cannot guarantee that scores sent after our application deadline will be processed in time to be reviewed with one’s application and we do not delay the review of an application to wait for scores sent after the application deadline.

Do I have to submit a mid-year report and updated transcript?
Yes, that is a clearly stated application requirement. All applicants must submit a mid-year report and updated transcript by the deadline of February 15th. The mid-year report must be submitted directly by one’s school and must include an updated senior year transcript. We do not accept any of these materials submitted directly by the applicant.

When will decisions be released?
This tends to be the second most popular question asked this time of your and the only answer we can provide is … last week in March. No official date has been set and we tend not to select an official release date until the middle of March at the earliest. All we guarantee is that decisions will be released by April 1st.

How many applications have been received?
I am unable to officially reveal an application total for fall 2011 freshman admission until Dean Latting officially determines the count and officially releases that information. (Yes I did mean to use the word “officially” three times in that last sentence.) Typically we don’t have a complete application count until the end of January when we are sure that all mailed applications are received. There are not many mailed applications anymore, but some do come from abroad and take a few weeks to arrive after the January 1 postmark deadline.

I can provide a sneak preview: this will be the largest applicant pool in Johns Hopkins history and we have seen an increase for the ninth straight year. Make sure to vote in the poll on the right of this blog, and stay tuned for a future blog update with the final count.

Last Blog Entry of 2010

5

Posted by Admissions_Daniel

The final days of 2010 are upon us and 2011 is less than a week away. Those of you who are frequent visitors to the main Admissions Web site http://apply.jhu.edu also know that less than a week away is the Regular Decision application deadline. As I wrote this the gold banner is gone, replaced with a red banner that reads “4 days until Regular Applications are due.” For this final entry of 2010 I thought I would share some helpful links for the application procrastinators.

Before the links, though, I also want to share a fun end-of-the-year “thank you” video produced by the University and shared with thousands of students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends who support Johns Hopkins every day. We truly are “the model of a modern university.”

As most people are enjoying the holiday week and most of the east coast is blanketed in snow, some of you reading this are stressing out big time. You are the application procrastinators. You are the students frantically emailing us on a daily basis with last minute questions before you click submit. In an effort to diminish the numbers of e-mails we will receive the rest of this week, I present a series of links that will hopefully provide answers that assist you in your last-minute haze of forms and looming deadlines. Just remember, next time when you have over three plus months to complete something, waiting until the last minute is never the best policy.

Regular Decision FAQ Blog Post
http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/blog/2009/12/year-ending-rd-deadline-approaching/
Though I posted this late December of last year, the answers to the questions are still the same. The only thing you need to remember is to change 2010 to 2011.

Admissions Site: Frequently asked questions
http://apply.jhu.edu/faqs/all.html

International Students FAQs
http://apply.jhu.edu/faqs/international.html
http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/blog/2009/11/so-you-are-an-international-student-applying-to-jhu-read-this/

Hopkins Forums discussion on Application Essays
http://forums.hopkins-interactive.com/topic/6648512/1

Hopkins Forums discussion on Submitting Supplemental Materials
http://forums.hopkins-interactive.com/topic/563109/3/#new

Hopkins Forums discussions on Standardized Exams
SAT / ACT: http://forums.hopkins-interactive.com/topic/563122/1/
Deadline questions: http://forums.hopkins-interactive.com/topic/563302/1/
SAT II Subject exams: http://forums.hopkins-interactive.com/topic/563112/1
AP / IB exams: http://forums.hopkins-interactive.com/topic/6648332/1
TOEFL: http://forums.hopkins-interactive.com/topic/563167/1

Hopkins Forums discussion on Letters of Recommendations
http://z14.invisionfree.com/Hopkins_Forums/index.php?showtopic=517

Hopkins Forums discussion on Interviews and the Admissions Process
http://z14.invisionfree.com/Hopkins_Forums/index.php?showtopic=229

I hope these answers help. Good luck in these final days as you complete your applications and celebrate the New Year.

ED Deadline Approaches: Some FAQs Answered

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Those of you who have been a frequent visitor to the main Admissions Web site (http://apply.jhu.edu/) over the past couple of weeks will know that we’ve had a countdown reminder to the Early Decision deadline of November 1. When I woke up this morning and went to the main site I noticed that there are just four days until Early Decision applications are due and that the reminder bar is now red instead of the golden color it was previously. As well, if you have visited this blog since October 12, you’ve probably read Early Decision: the Pros and Cons, written by Dean of Undergraduate Admissions John Latting.

Obviously, Early Decision is on the mind of many prospective applicants right now. During our Open House program last Saturday, the majority of questions my colleagues and I received were about the Early Decision process. (By the way, if you didn’t get to attend our last Open House we are holding another one this Saturday and there is still room for visitors; full details here: http://apply.jhu.edu/visit/openhouse.html.) Easily 50% of the emails we have been receiving over the last two weeks to our main Admissions e-mail account (gotojhu@jhu.edu) have been about Early Decision. So I thought the best blog topic for today would be to provide answers to these frequently asked questions.

The best place to start for answers to frequently asked questions about Johns Hopkins University’s Early Decision Plan would be here: http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/faq_early.html. I would then recommend heading over to the Hopkins Forums and reviewing our 10 page discussion thread on Early Decision Questions. But in addition to those resources, here are some additional answers to ED FAQs:

Is my Early Decision application complete? How can I track the status of my Early Decision application? Did you receive my tests scores / recommendations / etc.?
As you can imagine, it gets busy in the Admissions Office as we process application materials. Because of the volume of records being handled, it is not possible for us to confirm with each individual applicant whether application files are complete or to identity which individual items have been received. We do e-mail applicants an acknowledgment message after their application has been received and processed.  Rest assured that application files are checked carefully for completeness. At the end of the November we will contact students whose ED applications remain incomplete. Those students will be given an opportunity to provide us with any missing items before we complete the evaluation of their applications. Early Decision applicants may call the Admissions Office at (410) 516-8171 after November 30 to check if their application materials have been received, but once again we are not able to confirm the receipt of individual parts of your application.  Often applicants ask if there is a way they can track their application online. Unfortunately, our office does not have such a system. For that reason, our Operations team is quite proactive in contacting applicants and guidance counselors to make sure all required application materials are received and processed correctly.

I know Johns Hopkins offers a binding Early Decision plan, but do you also offer Early Action or rolling admissions?
No, we only offer Early Decision and Regular Decision processes.

If I apply to Johns Hopkins under the Early Decision agreement, can I also apply Early Action elsewhere?
This is not the easiest question to answer. It is important to note that when you choose to apply ED to Johns Hopkins you, your parents, and your secondary school counselor will be required to sign an agreement/contract stating that you will enroll at Johns Hopkins if admitted and withdraw all applications to other schools.

The Early Decision agreement is binding, so you may not apply to any other school under an early decision plan. You also may not apply to any school through a Single-Choice Early Action (SCEA) plan because you will be breaking the contract of that SCEA school which states you cannot participate in a SCEA plan if applying ED elsewhere.

Applying to a non-binding Early Action school is allowed. However, when you apply early to a school you are stating to that school that it is your first choice, no matter if it is an ED, EA, or SCEA school. By applying through any type of early program, you are conveying a commitment to an individual school; applying early to multiple schools may make it seem like you have conflicting intentions.

 Finally, please be aware that if a student does not abide by the ED contract then they forfeit their admission to Johns Hopkins and will not be able to enroll at a later date. We strongly urge students not to apply Early Decision if there is any possibility of later breaking the ED contract.

How do I go about submitting the Early Decision Agreement?
As stated above, all Early Decision applicants are required to submit the Early Decision agreement along with their signature, a parent/guardian signature, and the signature of their guidance counselor. Whether using the Universal College Application or Common Application, you may find the Early Decision agreement form as part of online application system or as a downloadable PDF. Just log-in to your account to access this form. If your school is submitting your application materials online, then you and your parent/guardian can sign the form online and pass it to your guidance counselor. They can submit their signature online and submit the form with the other required school materials such as the secondary school report and high school transcript.

We know that not all high schools are submitting materials online. In such situations, the student should print out the Early Decision agreement as a downloadable PDF and sign the form. After having your parent/guardian sign the form, turn the form into your guidance counselor. They should sign the form and mail it with all of your other school materials. If your application materials have already been submitted and mailed, then your guidance counselor can fax the form to our office at 410-516-6025.

Can I take October exams (SAT, ACT, SAT subject exams, TOEFL) and have those exams considered with my ED application?
As stated on our standardized test requirements web site (http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/testreqs.html), Johns Hopkins requires that ED candidates complete their required tests no later than the end October of their senior year. Test scores need to be requested from the testing agencies prior to our stated application deadlines but may arrive after the deadline. Though October exam results may arrive past the deadline they will still be considered if requested in advance of the deadline. There is no need to rush score reports as they do not arrive any earlier.

Will November exam scores be considered?
We cannot guarantee that November scores will arrive before the Admissions Committee evaluation. Past experience does suggest that exams taken in November usually arrive in time. Therefore, Early Decision applicants may only submit November testing if they are taking the SAT, ACT, or TOEFL a multiple time, or if they are taking the recommended but not required SAT subject exams. If the scores arrive before the evaluation then they will be considered with the application. We cannot guarantee that scores sent after our application deadline will be processed in time to be reviewed with the application and we do not delay the review of an application to wait for scores sent after the application deadline. Do note there is no need to rush scores from the testing agencies, as our office will not process them any quicker.

A unique way of delivering his ED application to JHU: I guess Conan is hedging his bets re: his new TBS show.

So these are the many questions we have been fielding lately, and I hope you find these answers helpful. To those of you who have chosen to apply Early Decision, good choice and good luck. Make sure to have all of your materials submitted online and/or postmarked by this Monday, November 1.

 

So Many Questions!

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It’s a new year and a new decade and to be honest not much seems different. Maybe that is because I have pretty much been doing the same thing as I was during the last week of the previous year and previous decade. As I discussed in my last two blog posts of 2009 one of the chief tasks of my job is to be responsible for our main Admissions e-mail account: gotojhu@jhu.edu. And as you can imagine during the weeks surrounding the Regular Decision application deadline we receive A LOT of e-mails.

As my colleagues return to the office after the holidays and dive into reading Regular Decision files, my role is split between reading files and answering e-mails. From December 26th through this past Monday (January 11th), 1632 e-mails were responded to. Add to that the countless responses on our Hopkins Forums, College Confidential, Facebook, and my personal e-mail account, and well let’s just say I have earned my Admissions_Daniel name these past two weeks. I am happy – no, ecstatic – to say that as of Monday the in-box was completely cleared out, well aside from the 30-50 e-mails we receive daily. But to be honest, that many e-mails a day now is a drip in a sink compared to the Niagara Falls of the last month.

Staying on this topic, I thought it would be beneficial to provide all of you Regular Decision applicants out there with another FAQ post, touching on those post-deadline questions that flood our in-boxes. Hopefully these answers answer some of your questions, and reduce the number of daily e-mails … yeah, that is probably not going to happen.

(The pictures throughout this post is what our Operations space looks like as we process the thousands of pieces of mail we have received in the last few months — the process might be “paper-less” but that doesn’t mean there is no paper.)

Is my application complete?  Do you have all my stuff?
With the volume of application materials we need to process right now, we are not able to confirm whether application files are complete or to identity which individual items have been received. It takes time so we ask patience of all of our applicants. Once your application is download and processed, you will be sent an e-mail acknowledgment. This indicates your application file has been started (not necessarily that it is complete). Please remember, with thousands of applications to process this e-mail acknowledgment is not automatic and may take a few weeks to be sent.

In mid-February, once we have processed all received application materials, we will contact students whose applications remain incomplete via e-mail. Those students will be given an opportunity to provide us with any missing items before we complete the evaluation of their applications. Rest assured that application files are checked carefully for completeness multiple times.

Most importantly, please do not call right now to check on the status of your application or see if we have received a specific part of your application. We will not be able to answer such questions until the beginning of February at the earliest. Please be patient and know that we will confirm the receipt of your application once it is processed and we do not review incomplete applications.

Can I check my status online? Why haven’t I gotten a user name and password to check my status through the application portal?
Unlike many schools, Johns Hopkins does not have an online system for checking application status. We do things the old-fashion way. You will not receive a log-in and password where you can track your application materials. Additionally, be aware that our system does not directly connect with the Common Application system to update the status of processed materials. Because the Common Application site says something has not been received / processed, that does not mean that is the status of those materials in our office. This is especially true of any mailed materials. (Do note, those who apply for financial aid will get access to the ISIS system that tracks financial aid application materials. This system has nothing to do with applications for admission.)

When is the Financial Aid deadline and where can I learn more about applying for Financial Aid?
The Financial aid deadline for the submission of the FAFSA and CSS Profile is March 1, 2009. Please review this web site for full details: http://www.jhu.edu/finaid/prosp_stud.html. Also, stay tuned for a special Financial Aid blog post in the coming weeks.

Can I add items to my application even though the deadline has passed? Uh oh, I made a mistake in my application, how can I correct it?
Yes, we will still accept application updates and we do have a process for error corrections. It is simple. To provide an update or error correction, you must compose a cover letter and submit these materials by fax (410-516-6025) or mail to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Please note that we do request in the cover letter you include your full name, birth date, and school name (SS# is optional but can help), so that we can merge this new information with your application folder. Also note, that all updates should be sent in by February 1st. Finally, DO NOT SEND UPDATES VIA E-MAIL, as we do not process application materials received through e-mail.

My e-mail address / mailing address / contact information has changed … what do I do?
All changes to personal contact information including updates to email, phone numbers, and mailing addresses need to be sent to apphelp@jhu.edu. Please include in the e-mail, your full name, birth date, high school name as well as the general time frame when you submitted your application.

May I submit January standardized test scores (SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject exams, or TOEFL) with my regular decision application?
Though regular decision candidates should have completed required tests no later than December of their senior year, students may take the January examinations if they are re-taking the SAT Reasoning exam, are taking SAT II subject exams, or are submitting TOEFL exams. Although we cannot guarantee that January scores will arrive before the Admissions Committee evaluation, past experience suggests that scores taken on these dates usually arrive in time. If the scores arrive before the evaluation then they will be considered with one’s application. Do note there is no need to rush scores from the testing agencies, as our office will not process them any quicker. It is important though to note we cannot guarantee that scores sent after our application deadline will be processed in time to be reviewed with one’s application and we do not delay the review of an application to wait for scores sent after the application deadline.

Do I have to submit a mid-year report and updated transcript?
Yes, that is a clearly stated application requirement. All applicants must submit a mid-year report and updated transcript by the deadline of February 15th. The mid-year report must be submitted directly by one’s school and must include an updated senior year transcript. We do not accept any of these materials submitted directly by the applicant.

When will decisions be released?
This tends to be the second most popular question asked this time of your and the only answer we can provide is … Last week in March. No official date has been set and we tend not to select an official release date until the middle of March at the earliest. All we guarantee is that decisions will be released by April 1st.

How many applications have been received?
I am unable to officially reveal an application total for Fall 2010 freshman admission until Dean Latting officially determines the count and officially releases that information. (Yes I did mean to use the word “officially” three times in that last sentence.) Typically we don’t have a complete application count until the end of January when we are sure that all mailed applications are received. There are not many mailed applications anymore, but so do come from abroad and take a few weeks to arrive after the January 1 postmark deadline.

I can provide a sneak preview – this will be the largest applicant pool in Johns Hopkins history and we have seen a significant increase from last year. Make sure to vote in the poll on the right of this blog, and I will reveal the total some time in February.

As always, if you have other questions the best place to get them answered is the “Ask Admissions” thread of the Hopkins Forums. First search to see if your question has been answered (probably), but if not feel free to post a question and I will respond within 48 hours. Also, check out the rest of the Hopkins Forums as there is a ton of information, and always the chance to connect with current JHU students.

Year Ending, RD Deadline Approaching

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As the final week of 2009 and of the decade (have we figured out what to call this decade yet?) begins, I thought it best to post one of my patented FAQ entries. See at this time of year when everyone is enjoying the relaxing final days of the year, there is one group of people who are stressing out big time. Yup, the application procrastinators!!!With the January 1 Regular Decision deadline looming, this group of high school seniors are locked in their rooms frantically completing online applications, finishing supplemental essays, ordering score reports, and potentially annoying their guidance counselors and teachers because they waited until the last minute. You know who you are!!!

I have a love / hate relationship with these procrastinators. The love part is because I am one of them. Well not when it comes to huge things like applying to college (or in my case submitting my taxes each year), but I have been known to have notorious procrastinating skills. Heck, my favorite quote is from Ellen in one of her comedy shows when she says, “Procrastinate now … don’t put it off.” Despite having an affinity for application procrastinators, I also dislike them since they impact on my enjoyment of what is supposed to be this relaxing week between Christmas and New Years. While my colleagues get to unwind and enjoy their time off or quiet days in the office, I must log-on every morning and spend 2-3 hours dealing with the abundance of questions we receive from the procrastinators. On any day during the last half of the month of December we get about 100 e-mail questions, and additional 10-15 posts on our Hopkins Forums or other social media sites. During this final week that number of e-mails can double to 200 per day. And by the day before the deadline, I can expect to get a nice 300 or so messages I need to respond to. This is not a complaint, just more a part of my job (one that I do not love).

So in an effort to diminish the numbers of e-mails we will receive this week, I present these answers to the most frequently asked questions of the application procrastinators. I hope these answers assist you in your last-minute haze of forms and looming deadlines. Just remember, next time when you have over three plus months to complete something, waiting until the last minute is never the best policy.

THE DEADLINE QUESTIONS
So what is the exact deadline for submitting one’s application?Before the days of online applications this used to be such an easy question to answer — you need to have a postmark date prior to January 1. Now there tends to be so much confusion over such a simple concept. Thanks again procrastinators.

The regular decision deadline is January 1, 2010. This is our online submission deadline and our postmark deadline. Applicants should submit their online application materials no later than 11:59 p.m. on January 1st. Since January 1 is a national holiday, any mailed materials should be sent by December 31, but since we are nice, we will accept application materials that are postmarked January 2, 2010 as well.

What subsequently follows are two issues – time zone questions and Common Application / Universal College Application technical difficulties. This is why I strongly urge you all to finish your applications prior to January 1 and submit it. This gives you a window in case anything goes wrong, and it rules out any confusion about time zones. There will be a ton of traffic on the Common Application / Universal College Application servers throughout January 1, and we all know that computer servers are sometimes not the most reliable devices. We are understanding of such issues, but once again, why risk it.

SUBMISSION OF SCHOOL MATERIALS
Is it a problem is you have yet to submit your application, but some of your application materials (school forms, tests, etc.) have already been submitted?: Not a problem at all. Applicants to Johns Hopkins University may submit application materials such as test scores, letters of recommendation, and school reports along with transcripts in advance of their submission of their application. These documents will be processed and placed in a pending folder until one’s application is submitted, received, and processed. Then we will merge all documents and determine whether one’s application is complete. To assist with the proper processing of documents we request that all materials include the applicant’s full name, birth date, and school.

What if your school materials have yet to be submitted and because of the holiday week or inclement weather, they won’t be submitted until after the deadline?:First, this should not be a problem since you should request this information before your school goes on holiday break. However, we understand though at times school-related application materials such as the secondary school report, transcript, and letters of recommendation cannot be sent by that date. We will be flexible with the application deadline for those parts of the application; however the student portions of the application must be submitted online or postmarked by the January 1st deadline. The school materials of the application may be sent after the January 1 deadline, but not later than January 15th. If your school materials are going to be delayed longer than that, your guidance counselor needs to call the admissions office to request an extension.

SENDING SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
Can I submit supplemental materials (such as an arts supplement) to support my application?: Applicants to Johns Hopkins University may submit supplemental information such as CDs, DVDs, slides, art portfolios, research abstracts and other such items. There are no additional forms that need to be completed nor do we have a preference regarding format. We do request that you include your full name, birth date, and high school on any supplement materials you send in. All information needs to be mailed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions; we do not process materials submitted through e-mail. Supplemental materials should be submitted by the application deadline.

Please note that supplemental information will not be sent to academic departments for official reviews, but will remain in the Admissions Office with your application. There is no guarantee that supplemental information will be reviewed, but in most cases the Admissions committee will have some time to evaluate such additional information. Finally, it is important that original items not be sent, as the Admissions office is not able to return submitted application materials.

If sending supplemental materials, must I complete the Arts Supplement page?: No, applicants to Johns Hopkins do not need to submit the arts supplement page to submit supplemental materials with their application.

SUBMITTING STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES
Always a ton of questions about how to submit your test scores, can scores be sent via transcript, what is the deadline to submit scores, and can I confirm you have received my scores?:  The Admissions Office requires that prospective applicants send their standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, or TOEFL) to Johns Hopkins University directly from the testing agencies. Our school codes are:

SAT: 5332
ACT: 1704
TOEFL: 5332

The Admissions Office will accept standardized test scores submitted with an official high school transcript only if all test scores are displayed and that the scores appear officially on the transcript, not hand-written in by the student or counselor.

Test scores need to be requested from the testing agencies prior to our stated application deadlines but may arrive after the deadline. Though the scores will arrive past the deadline they will still be considered if requested in advance of the deadline. There is no need to rush score reports as they do not arrive any earlier.

The Admissions Office does not send confirmation of test scores received. You will need to contact the College Board and ACT directly to confirm that your scores were sent to Johns Hopkins University. If they confirm your scores were sent than that means they are in our database.

May I submit January standardized test scores (SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject exams, or TOEFL) with my regular decision application?: Though regular decision candidates should have completed required tests no later than December of their senior year, students may take the January examinations if they are re-taking the SAT Reasoning exam, are taking SAT II subject exams, or are submitting TOEFL exams. Although we cannot guarantee that January scores will arrive before the Admissions Committee evaluation, past experience suggests that scores taken on these dates usually arrive in time. If the tests arrive before the application review then they will be considered, but we will not delay the review of an application to wait for January test scores.

Should I rush my test scores?: There is no need to rush test score reports as they do not get processed by our office any sooner.

FEE WAIVER QUESTIONS
Does Johns Hopkins accept fee waiver requests and if so how does that process work?: If paying the application fee to Johns Hopkins University presents a financial hardship, we are happy to waive the application fee for our applicants. Johns Hopkins accept both the NACAC and College Board fee waiver forms, and also fee waivers through the Expanding College Opportunities program. As well, applicants who received finalist or semi-finalist status through the Maryland Distinguished Scholars program are eligible for a fee waiver. Finally, one may have their guidance counselor officially request a fee waiver in written form and have the guidance counselor send that request along with the applicant’s Secondary School Report and high school transcript.

For students applying online who plan to use a fee waiver, the process is simple. Complete and submit your online application, and mail in your fee waiver. The fee waiver can also be faxed to 410-516-6025. We do not accept fee waivers submitted through e-mail. When completing your online application, if the option for your specific fee waiver is not available (such as Expanding College Opportunities, Maryland Distinguished Scholar, guidance counselor submitted) just choose any of the options that are available and mention in the additional information section which form of fee waiver you are submitting. Do not submit a payment as we will not send refunds. If your fee waiver request is not approved by our office after we receive it in the mail, then we will contact you to submit a payment. If the fee waiver request follows the instructions above then it will be approved.

POST-SUBMISSION QUESTIONS
After you submit your application, immediately you start asking questions like did they receive my application; did my school materials arrive correctly; is my application complete??? As you can imagine, this becomes a very busy time in the Admissions Office as we process all the application materials. Because of the volume of records we handle, it is not possible to automatically confirm whether application files are complete or to identity which individual items have been received. Unlike many school, Johns Hopkins does not have an online system for checking application status.

Once your application is download and processed, you will be sent an e-mail acknowledgment. This indicates your application file has been opened (not necessarily that it is complete). Please remember, with thousands of applications to process this e-mail acknowledgment is not automatic and may take a few weeks to be sent. In late February, once we have processed all received application materials, we will contact students whose applications remain incomplete. Those students will be given an opportunity to provide us with any missing items before we complete the evaluation of their applications. Rest assured that application files are checked carefully for completeness.  Please do not call to check on the status of your application as we will not be able to answer such questions until the beginning of February at the earliest. Please be patient and know that we will confirm the receipt of your application once it is processed.

Some additional post-submission questions include:

When is the Financial Aid deadline and where can I learn more about applying for Financial Aid?: The Financial aid deadline for the submission of the FAFSA and CSS Profile is March 1, 2009. Please review this web site for full details: http://www.jhu.edu/finaid/prosp_stud.html.

Can I add items to my application even though the deadline has passed? Uh oh, I made a mistake in my application, how can I correct it?: Yes, we will still accept application updates and we do have a process for error corrections. It is simple. To provide an update or error correction, you must compose a cover letter and submit these materials by fax (410-516-6025) or mail to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Please note that we do request in the cover letter you include your full name, birth date, and school name (SS# is optional but can help), so that we can merge this new information with your application folder. Also note, that all updates should be sent in by February 1st. Finally, DO NOT SEND UPDATES VIA E-MAIL, as we do not process application materials received through e-mail.

Even more questions asked after post-submission. These are all legitimate questions, but all too early to ask. Once we have updated information, it will be posted on the blog.

When will decisions be released?
— Last week in March. No official date has been set yet.
How many applications have been received?
— Not sure yet. Vote in the poll on the right of this blog, and I will reveal the total some time in February.
How many will be admitted?
— No clue. We have to review applications first.
What will the acceptance rate be?
— Also, no clue. We will rely on our formulas when the time comes.

EVEN MORE QUESTIONS
Here are additional sources to obtain answers to your questions:

Admissions Site: Frequently asked questions
http://apply.jhu.edu/faqs/all.html

International Students FAQs
http://apply.jhu.edu/faqs/international.html
http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/blog/2009/11/so-you-are-an-international-student-applying-to-jhu-read-this/

Hopkins Forums discussions on Application Essays
http://z14.invisionfree.com/Hopkins_Forums/index.php?showtopic=1806
http://z14.invisionfree.com/Hopkins_Forums/index.php?showtopic=1442

Hopkins Forums discussion on Letters of Recommendations
http://z14.invisionfree.com/Hopkins_Forums/index.php?showtopic=517

Hopkins Forums discussion on Interviews and the Admissions Process
http://z14.invisionfree.com/Hopkins_Forums/index.php?showtopic=229

Applying BME FAQs
http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/blog/2009/12/applying-to-hopkins-as-a-bme-applicant/
http://z14.invisionfree.com/Hopkins_Forums/index.php?showtopic=513

I hope these answers help, and that in some way they minimize the number of e-mails we will receive this week (probably not going to happen, oh well). And remember, there is a ton of helpful information already stored on the Hopkins Forums.

Advice on Letters of Recommendation

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A Note of Introduction from AdmissionsDaniel: Here it is, the third post in our series of guest entries about parts of the admissions application. Former Admissions Office intern and JHU Class of 2009 alum Rena Barch tackles the topic of letters of recommendation. Heed her advice here as it echoes what all the admissions counselors at Hopkins have to say about recommendation letters.

I graduated from Hopkins in the spring of 2009. Throughout my senior year and the summer after I graduated I worked as the Office of Undergraduate Admissions intern. As the intern, I gave information sessions, conducted perspective interviews, and helped with general office tasks. I was the indentured servant to the Admissions office, and in the meantime learned a lot about the Admissions process. Now that I have paid off my dues, I will be headed of the London School of Economics to pursue a master’s degree in Comparative Politics. Before I depart though I thought I would share some advice and thoughts about letters of recommendation.

The process of applying to college can seem like a daunting task. There appear to be so many different things to keep track of. This process can become particularly stressful when you have to rely on other people to submit components such as recommendations. However, the process of asking for recommendations is one that you are likely to have to repeat many times for internships, jobs, or graduate schools, so now is the best time to master it!

The first part of asking for a recommendation is deciding who you would like writing on your behalf. For Johns Hopkins, we require one from a guidance counselor and one from a teacher of your choice. When deciding which teacher to ask, think about who you think will be most able to speak positively about you. If there’s a teacher you are particularly close with, they should be an obvious first choice. Don’t just pick a teacher based on the grade you received in their class or because they teach the subject closest to your future major. If there’s a teacher with whom you’ve built a relationship, and that teacher does not fall into either of those two categories, they are still a superior choice. Your grades already say enough about your performance in those classes. We don’t need to hear a teacher repeat those facts. What we prefer to hear are details about you as a student, about your work habits, about your presence in class. Try to pick a teacher who could provide this kind of information for you.

With your guidance counselor recommendation, you do not have as much freedom to select the source of the recommendation. This could be worrying to some of you who attend larger schools where you and your guidance counselor might not be well acquainted. Even if you do not know your counselor well, do not be afraid to request that they discuss a particular event or situation in your recommendation. If you had some sort of extenuating circumstance that led to a particularly weak semester, or if you had a scheduling conflict which prevented you from taking a course that you wish you could have, ask that they mention those events. Overall, the guidance counselor recommendation is intended to provide your admissions counselor with some context on the student in the perspective of their school. In this recommendation, we don’t need to know as much about your presence in class, as your presence in the school.

Furthermore, if you feel that your guidance counselor cannot adequately speak about your strengths, you have the option of submitting up to two additional recommendations. If you choose to submit additional recommendations, try to refrain from simply selecting another teacher unless both teachers have a unique perspective to provide. Also, definitely refrain from parent or peer recommendations. A better source of a recommendation would be an advisor from an extracurricular activity, a sports coach, or a boss from a part time job. Select someone who knows you well enough to write about your strengths and your personality. The additional recommendations should provide supplemental perspectives by offering a different side of you.

So now you’ve chosen who to ask for your recommendation. What next? To make this process run smoothly, never forget that: 1) Your recommender is doing you a favor. 2) To stay organized!  First, make sure you ask your teacher. Do not assume that the teacher you have in mind will say yes. Teachers, especially those that tend to teach primarily juniors and seniors, may quickly have too many recommendations requests on their hands. You will want to ask early. Also, be sure to give them plenty of time to write and send the recommendation! As a precaution you should ask at least six weeks in advance.

Secondly, be prepared to give them all the information they might need. I would suggest compiling a folder for each recommender. In the folder should be any forms that he/she will need. Make sure to fill out any of your personal information, or other information they might not know. Also in the folder, include your resume or a copy of your transcript if you have one available. Remembering that the teacher is doing you a favor, you are going to want to make the process as easy for them as possible. The teacher should not have to include anything other than the recommendation. Therefore, you should include an addressed and stamped envelope. There’s also an option to submit the recommendations online, and that’s an option that should be offered to your teacher. Perhaps most importantly, include a list of any deadlines that your recommender will need to abide by. 

Once your chosen teacher agrees to write your recommendation, present them with your folder. Ask if there is any additional information that they would like to have, and make sure to turn those supplements in as soon as you can. A week or two before any of your deadlines, you should check in with your recommender and kindly remind them of any approaching deadlines. While checking in can be useful for you and your teacher,  make sure you give your teacher time to complete the recommendation. They are busy people, and they might not be able to write and send your recommendation by the next night, or even the next week.

Finally, after all of your recommendations have been submitted, do not forget to thank your recommenders. Small gifts or tokens of appreciation are nice but not necessary. Often just a thank you card will do the trick. Let your recommenders know that you appreciate their time! If you stay organized and show gratitude, your teacher, advisor, coach, or guidance counselor will be more willing to write you recommendations in the future.

Editor's Note: For additional information about letters of recommendation and an opportunity to ask your own questions check out the Letters of Recommendation discussion on the Hopkins Forums.

The Essay: Advice from an Evaluator

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A Note of introduction from AdmissionsDaniel: Here is the second entry in our series of guest entries providing advice on various sections of the application. Today's author is Associate Director of Admissions Amy Brokl, one of our best authorities on the application process since she was admitted to Hopkins and attended. All the counseling staff members have become experts on evaluating application essays, but Amy is the best at expressing advice on how to tackle the task. Enjoy, and thanks Amy.

“Writing is a struggle against silence.”
– Carlos Fuentes

Though much emphasis is placed on the notion of “standing out” in the highly selective application process, this is a difficult (some might even suggest nearly impossible) feat to achieve. With 16,000+ applications in last year’s applicant pool alone here at Johns Hopkins, most having been submitted by high school students in their senior year, the opportunity for a great deal of variation in these pieces of writing is slim. When students ask how to stand out, I do what I can to encourage a reexamination of that thought process. Rather than focusing one’s energies on being entirely “unique” or “different,” I urge these students to concentrate on being themselves. After all, one cannot be all things to all colleges; all one can be is oneself, and all one can do is present that self in its best possible light.

One of the best tools available to students seeking to make themselves known in this process is the essay. Though some schools may ask for a more lengthy response to a single prompt, others might toss out a series of questions that require so-called “short answers.” At Hopkins, we ask for completion of two essays (one from either the Common Application or Universal College Application, and one that responds to the prompt provided on our supplement). Regardless of how these questions are configured, the opportunity to share aspects of oneself with the admission committee should neither be overlooked nor squandered. After all, much of what the student portion of the application amounts to is record-keeping. From address blocks and family information to one’s list of extracurricular activities, there is little room to infuse character or personality. Moreover, this information (though necessary) is immutable! The essay allows you to share yourself, your worldview, and your voice as it currently exists in the immediate present. For admissions counselors, this is invaluable information – and thus for you, the essay becomes a tremendous opportunity.

This summer, I had the chance to participate in a summer admission panel for high school students in my travel territory. Among other things, we discussed the essay. While some colleges and universities view the essay as more of a “writing sample,” here at Johns Hopkins, our essays serve both as writing samples and as revelatory documents. Though we are certainly concerned with your mechanics, spelling, and your use of Johns Hopkins (note the emphasis on that “s”), the content is in fact, the most critical component.

This panel also addressed the question of topics. Though some prompts force one into a literary corner, others are much more flexible. Almost anything can be the subject of a substantive, interesting essay – think wisely and deeply and good thoughts will follow. Most importantly, though, do know that there are very few topics that are poor choices (at least, in my book). Many students worry about how oft used their topic of choice might be; in response, I might observe that there are only so many experiences that one can reasonably have and about which one can comfortably write. Students – don’t be afraid to tackle a difficult topic – but always be sure to bring it back to you!

Admissions counselors are famous for their various pet peeves – many of which are tied to essays. I’ve heard colleagues quibble about those that extol the virtues of family and friends (are we reviewing the application of the writer of that essay, or that writer’s grandmother/brother/uncle?) I’ve heard similar conversations about current events or polarizing issues. Do not forget to bring these sorts of topics back around to you, to the way you think, to the way you feel, and to the way in which you see the world. We hope to access you, inasmuch as that is possible – I become most frustrated in this process when that access is deferred or denied due to an impersonal collection of words on a page.

Finally – don’t forget to have a bit of fun! Certainly, this can be a serious and often stressful process; I understand how high the stakes might feel. That said, personality and character are important. If we have difficulty drawing this from your essay, there are few opportunities wherein one can introduce these critical elements. Enjoy this process – or at least, treat it with some diligence. Your application will be richer for it!

Editor's Note: For additional information on the essays in the Johns Hopkins admissions process  and an opportunity for you to ask your own questions check out the Application Essay and the 2009-10 Application Essay Policy Explained discussion threads on our Hopkins Forums.

Additionally, we encourage you to check out our new Admissions Web page: ESSAYS THAT WORKED. The Admissions Committee selected four examples of essays that worked, written by members of the Johns Hopkins Class of 2013. These essays represent just four examples of essays we found impressive and helpful during the past admissions cycle. These "essays that worked" are distinct and unique to the individual writer; however, each of them assisted the admissions reader in learning more about the student beyond the transcripts and activity sheets. They were creative, original, and showcased each applicant's personal voice. We hope you find them helpful.