What separated Johns Hopkins accepted vs. rejected applicants this cycle? A perfect GPA, a heavy course load and academic achievements, especially in science and math. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6.4% of applicants by its official rate, and in our sample admits were much more likely to have a 4.0 and had taken more AP or IB courses, while their SAT scores were essentially the same as everyone else's.
We compared 98 Johns Hopkins applicants from self-reported 2026 r/collegeresults posts: 29 admitted, 45 rejected and 24 waitlisted. This is part of a larger comparison of accepted vs. rejected applicants at top colleges.
People who post results skew strong, so 30% of this sample got in, far above Hopkins' real rate. Compare the two groups with each other, not with your own odds. With 29 admits, a gap of a few people can be noise.
Johns Hopkins admitted student GPA and SAT
| Admitted | Rejected or waitlisted | |
|---|---|---|
| Median unweighted GPA | 4.0 (23 stated) | 3.98 (53 stated) |
| Median weighted GPA | 4.70 (15 stated) | 4.50 (47 stated) |
| Median SAT (scores sent) | 1545 (24 people) | 1550 (47 people) |
| Median ACT (scores sent) | 35.5 (6 people) | 35 (25 people) |
| Median AP/IB courses | 13 | 11 |
| National-level award | 76% | 71% |
16 of the 23 admits who stated a GPA had a 4.0 (70%), versus 22 of 53 among everyone else (42%). Admits also had a higher weighted GPA (4.70 versus 4.50) and took about two more AP or IB courses. The SAT went slightly the other way: admits' median was 1545 versus 1550, so test scores didn't separate anyone. 94 of the 98 sent scores. We look at how much GPA mattered across all top schools in does a 4.0 GPA matter at top colleges.
Which activities Johns Hopkins admits listed more often
- A science fair award: 34% of admits versus 13% of everyone else.
- Math or computer science competitions: 28% versus 10%.
- Research: 69% versus 51%.
- Founding an organization: 52% versus 38%.
- A selective summer program: 34% versus 25%.
And some showed up more often among applicants who weren't admitted:
- Robotics or engineering teams: 3% of admits versus 26% of everyone else, the biggest activity gap at Hopkins.
- An internship: 31% versus 42%.
- Journalism: 7% versus 16%.
The pattern fits a research university: individual academic results (a science fair award, a math competition placement, research) lined up with admission. The robotics gap is the most surprising result. Robotics is common among engineering applicants, and Hopkins compares you with the many others applying for the same thing, so a team activity may not have set anyone apart. It doesn't mean robotics hurt. It just showed up far more among the applicants who weren't admitted.
By intended major, computer science and engineering applicants did a bit better here: 17 of 51 were admitted (33%), versus 12 of 47 for other majors (26%).
Early Decision II and the waitlist
Hopkins offers two binding rounds, Early Decision I in November and Early Decision II in January. Very few applicants in this sample named either round, so we can't compare them with Regular Decision. If Hopkins becomes your first choice after December results, ED II is due January 2; see our full list of ED2 deadlines by school.
24 of the 98 applicants (24%) ended on the Hopkins waitlist, one of the higher shares in our data, and only a couple of waitlisted applicants were admitted later. We cover how to handle a waitlist spot in college waitlist strategy.
What Johns Hopkins applicants can take from this
- A 4.0 and a heavy course load mattered. Both separated admits from everyone else; the SAT didn't.
- Individual academic results stood out. Science fair awards, math competitions and research were more common among admits.
- Team engineering activities didn't set anyone apart. Robotics showed up mostly among non-admits.
- Expect a real chance of the waitlist. About a quarter of this sample ended there.
Johns Hopkins' College Intel page carries the same applicant-profile comparison, updated as new posts are logged. For comparison, see Duke and Carnegie Mellon.
Sources
- College Intel's tally of self-reported r/collegeresults posts, 2026 admissions cycle (405 posts logged as of Oct 15, 2026; 98 with a Johns Hopkins decision). Recruited athletes and transfer applicants excluded. Aggregates only; no individual post is reproduced, and no figure rests on fewer than 3 people.
- Johns Hopkins ED II deadline, as cited in ED2 deadlines by school
- College Scorecard -- U.S. Department of Education (Johns Hopkins' official admission rate)