How to Succeed as a Johns Hopkins Premed
/Everything you need to know about Johns Hopkins premed, including premed requirements, the best extracurriculars, and the Johns Hopkins premed acceptance rate
LEARN HOW TO GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL AS A Johns Hopkins PREMED
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Part: Introduction
One of the first words that comes to mind when thinking of Johns Hopkins University is medicine. After all, almost 70 percent of incoming freshmen are pre-health with medical school aspirations. JHU produces the most medical school applicants of all private undergraduate institutions, with 494 in 2023 alone! Plus, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine consistently ranks within the top 5 institutions nationally. While Johns Hopkins is one of the schools that declined to participate in the U.S. News and World Report rankings in 2024, they were #2 for research in 2023.
With over 50,000 applicants last year, medical school is simultaneously becoming more popular and more competitive with each cycle. Despite this challenging landscape, over 80 percent of Johns Hopkins premed applicants were admitted to at least one medical school within five years of graduation, far greater than the national average.
The Johns Hopkins premed track is very popular with entering freshmen, but students often find the time commitment and educational content to be overwhelming. Around campus, it’s commonly said that 70 percent of incoming pre-health first-year students will change majors and careers entirely before graduating.
This statistic deserves attention. Why do so many students with aspirations of becoming doctors switch tracks in only a few years? And how can you know if being a premed at Johns Hopkins will be the right fit for you?
Johns Hopkins premed is challenging—there is no way around that truth. The classes needed to meet premed requirements cover diverse and difficult material, including advanced physics, cellular biology, biochemistry, and even mathematics. With so many outside requirements to excel at as well, including extracurricular activities, the MCAT, and volunteering, it’s no wonder that students can feel overwhelmed by the prospect of being a Johns Hopkins premed.
This guide will provide advice and information to help better your understanding of what to expect in your journey from Johns Hopkins premed to future doctor. The topics covered are extensive and will encompass selecting the right major to study, the required Johns Hopkins premed course materials, relevant extracurricular activities, research and volunteer opportunities, and more.
Our goal is to help you navigate all the way through the premed track at Johns Hopkins University, culminating in medical school admissions success.
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Part 2: Johns Hopkins premed requirements
To start, let’s first explore the required Johns Hopkins premed course material.
Although Johns Hopkins University does not offer an explicit premed major, a pre-health focus encompasses all prerequisites needed for medical school. Below, we offer a general guideline that students can follow. In addition, Johns Hopkins provides a useful premed planning guide.
Although some upper-level science classes may differ according to your specific major requirements, many require the same introductory-level courses or credits from AP exams as prerequisites. As such, premed students’ schedules are usually very similar during freshman and sophomore year as they get through introductory science classes.
However, not all schedules will be the same. For example, students in non-science disciplines, such as English and social sciences, may have different schedules due to the variety of courses from which you can choose and differing major requirements.
As a warning, students should be careful when using AP credits to place ahead of introductory courses. The content taught in these AP courses may not always match perfectly with the material that is taught in the equivalent Hopkins courses, information which may be needed down the road for exams such as the MCAT. Additionally, relearning and solidifying content you have already learned in high school often proves beneficial when preparing for exams in upper-level courses.
| Biology: Two courses with associated labs | General Biology I (AS.020.151) General Biology II (AS.020.152) General Biology Lab I (AS.020.153) General Biology Lab II (AS.020.154) |
Molecular Biology (AS.020.304) Human Genetics (AS.020.331) Microbiology (AS.020.329) Cell Biology (AS.020.306) Introduction to the Human Brain (AS.020.312) |
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| General chemistry: Two courses with associated labs | Introduction to Chemistry I (AS.030.101) Introduction to Chemistry II (AS.030.102) Intro to Chemistry Lab I (AS.030.105) Intro to Chemistry Lab II (AS.030.106) |
Applied Chemical Equilibrium and Reactivity w/ Lab (AS.030.103) | ||||
| Organic chemistry: Two courses with one associated lab | Organic Chemistry I (AS.030.205) Organic Chemistry II (AS.030.206) Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory (AS.030.225) |
Chemical Chirality: An Introduction in Organic Chem. Lab, Techniques (AS.030.227) Intermediate Organic Chemistry Laboratory (AS.030.228) |
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| Biochemistry: One course | Biochemistry (AS.020.305) | Biochemistry Project Lab (AS.020.315) | ||||
| Calculus: Two courses | One of the following tracks: Biology and Social Sciences: Calculus I (AS.110.106) + Calculus II (AS.110.107) Physical Sciences and Engineering: Calculus I (AS.110.108) + Calculus II (AS.110.109) |
Differential Equations and Applications (AS.110.302) Linear Algebra (AS.110.201) |
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| Statistics: One course* | One of the following example courses: Public Health Biostatistics (AS.280.345) Statistics and Data Analysis (AS.250.622) |
Introduction to Social Statistics (AS.230.205) Introduction to Biostatistics (EN.553.230) Advanced Statistical Methods (AS.200.357) |
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| General physics: Two courses with associated labs** | One of the following: Biological Science Majors: General Physics I (AS.171.103) + General Physics II (AS.171.102) Physical Science Majors: General Physics I (AS.171.101) + General Physics II (AS.171.102) Plus: General Physics Lab I (AS.173.111) + General Physics Lab II (AS.173.112) |
Special Relativity (AS.171.207) Classical Mechanics (AS.171.204) Electricity and Magnetism I (AS.171.106) Electricity and Magnetism II (AS.171.107) Stars and the Universe: Cosmic Evolution (AS.171.118) |
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| English/writing: Two courses | Two courses that emphasize English and/or writing-intensive coursework | Introduction to Expository Writing (AS.060.100) Introduction to Fiction & Poetry (AS.220.105) Introduction to Fiction & Nonfiction (AS.220.108) |
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| Social and behavioral sciences: Two courses | We recommend Introduction to Psychology (AS.200.101) + Introduction to Sociology (AS.230.101) to help with the MCAT | The Environment and Your Health (AS.280.335) Introduction to Sustainability (AS.271.107) History of Modern Medicine (AS.140.106) |
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**Calculus I and Calculus II are co-requisites for General Physics I and General Physics II.
Sample Johns Hopkins premed two-year course plan
As described above, basic science courses such as General Biology and Introduction to Chemistry are taken by virtually every Johns Hopkins premed student in their freshman and sophomore years, with variability and flexibility in their junior and senior years when upper-level courses become available.
However, premed courses will only comprise a percentage of all the courses you take. You will have other requirements to fill for your designated majors and minors. Ideally, there will also be space for 1–2 elective classes of your choosing in order to meet the minimum of 12 credits required per semester. A full course catalog is provided on the Johns Hopkins University website.
Traditionally, freshmen premeds will complete introductory courses in biology, calculus, and chemistry with the associated labs at the minimum. Sophomore year is generally when Johns Hopkins premed students complete Organic Chemistry I and II with the lab. Many students will also take General Physics I and II with the lab during this time. The remaining will complete it their junior year.
Remember, calculus must be taken before or concurrently with General Physics I and II. Most students will take it during their freshman year, while others opt to take calculus during their sophomore year and delay physics to their junior year.
Biochemistry is also generally taken junior year. Many students opt to take biochemistry in the fall semester before scheduling the MCAT. This is because the MCAT covers material taught in these basic science classes, and completing these courses prior to your dedicated MCAT studying period will help. (We’ll discuss MCAT timing further in just a bit.)
Pro tip: Many students will choose to take some of these basic science requirements in the summer at Johns Hopkins or other universities as they find they have more time to dedicate to the course. This also allows them more free time and flexibility within their fall and spring schedules.
Things to consider when creating your schedule:
Avoid taking too many premed required courses in one semester.
Meet the requirements for your major.
Balance heavy science classes with lighter elective courses.
Allow adequate space between classes for studying and extracurriculars.
Plan your sophomore and junior year schedules around preparing for the MCAT.
Consider whether a gap year, which will provide more flexibility in your schedule, is appropriate for you (we’ll provide more information on gap years later on).
A two-year sample schedule is provided below and can serve as a general guideline when crafting your freshman and sophomore schedules:
| Freshman Fall | AS.030.101 Introduction to Chemistry I AS.020.151 General Biology I AS.030.105 Introduction to Chemistry Lab I AS.020.152 General Biology Lab I AS.110.106 Calculus I (Biology and Social Sciences) Major requirement class |
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| Freshman Spring | AS.030.102 Introduction to Chemistry II AS.020.152 General Biology II AS.030.106 Introduction to Chemistry Lab II AS.020.153 General Biology Lab II AS.110.107 Calculus II (Biology and Social Sciences) Major requirement class |
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| Sophomore Fall | AS.171.101 General Physics I (Biology OR Physical Sciences) AS.173.111 General Physics Lab I AS.030.205 Organic Chemistry I AS.220.105 Introduction to Fiction & Poetry Elective/major required class |
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| Sophomore Spring | AS.030.206 Organic Chemistry II AS.171.102 General Physics II (Biology OR Physical Sciences) AS.173.112 General Physics Lab II AS.030.225 Introduction to Organic Chemistry Lab AS.200.101 Introduction to Psychology |
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| Sophomore–Junior Summer | AS.020.305 Biochemistry | |||||
Keep in mind that your own course load will vary depending on how heavy you prefer your first four semesters. In addition, major requirement courses can be divided as you wish through your four years at Hopkins. Sometimes you may take 0 courses required for your major in a semester, other times you may take 3–4. It depends on how you create your schedule.
Some departments may also provide sample course plans for their major, which can be useful in planning out your course schedule. For example, here’s a sample schedule for biology majors.
How to maintain a high GPA as a Johns Hopkins premed
Johns Hopkins demands hard work and dedication to achieve high grades. The average high school GPA of incoming classes is generally greater than 3.9, with SAT scores in math and reading well above 700. Incoming freshmen should already have well-established study skills, but the transition to college-level courses can still be challenging. Plus, most students take a heavy load of premed requirements right off the bat.
At JHU, basic science courses tend to be graded on a curve, making it more difficult to receive As (typically given to the top 10–15 percent of students). Other courses may be graded in a more straightforward manner.
As a rule of thumb, most medical schools prefer a GPA of at least 3.5 for science courses, and it is a good number to aim for in your overall GPA as well. Of course, the higher, the better.
Some guidance to help maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher is provided below:
Create a schedule for dedicated study time. It’s easier to set aside blocks of time for dedicated studying rather than find spare moments to study. Most important: find a schedule that fits your study style.
Stay disciplined with required readings and assignment due dates. Do not procrastinate. Follow along with the recommended readings and start early on semester-long assignments.
Expect to study. This is a challenging journey—know that there will be long hours in the library. Visit the Student Affairs Academic Resources website for helpful tips.
Avoid too many difficult science premed courses in one semester. Instead, spread them out in your schedule over your first three years and take some classes in the summer to avoid overfilling your schedule.
Join study groups and attend TA sessions. Sometimes group studying can improve your understanding of a topic.
(Suggested reading: How to Study as a Premed)
What are the best academic resources for Johns Hopkins premeds?
Maintaining a high GPA at Johns Hopkins will require substantial effort but there are a plethora of resources available to you to ensure your grades don’t fall below what’s required to get into medical school.
The first place to look for study help is the academic support center. Here, you’ll find fantastic resources such as Learning Den Tutoring, where you can join a drop-in tutoring session and get help with many premed prerequisite courses. In addition, there’s also the PILOT (peer-led team learning) program which will have you joining teams of six to ten students that meet weekly to study and work out problems together. This collaborative learning environment can be extremely helpful in keeping you focused and its social aspect can speed up your learning as you bounce ideas and questions off team members.
Struggling with writing a paper? Make sure you schedule an appointment at the Writing Center and get individualized feedback on your work. Students of the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences can find more general academic guidance here, while students of the Whiting School of Engineering can look here.
Study Consulting is another enormously beneficial academic resource for premeds at Johns Hopkins. This program will pair you with a junior, senior, or graduate student at Johns Hopkins to meet once a week and nail down effective study skills to help you succeed, such as dealing with high reading loads and test anxiety.
Mental health as a Johns Hopkins premed
It’s no secret that earning a top GPA as a Johns Hopkins premed is stressful. Long hours of studying while juggling other responsibilities like extracurriculars is a significant challenge. While you’re studying and meeting deadlines for papers, it’s important to remember to take care of your body and mind to give you the best chance of hitting your GPA target.
If you ever feel overwhelmed, make sure to take advantage of some of Johns Hopkins mental health support resources on campus. University Health Services offers a variety of physical and mental health services to keep you at the top of your academic game. There’s also an organization for mental health services within the Division of Student Health and Wellbeing, where you can schedule appointments for counseling, get immediate assistance, or utilize the TalkNow telehealth service. Additionally, you may want to learn about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques through the SilverCloud service.
Aside from Hopkins resources, make sure you look after your mental health by engaging in healthy coping techniques. When workloads become too much, mindfulness meditation can bring you much-needed relief and a sense of perspective that goes a long way toward managing your anxiety and improving focus. And don’t forget to look after your physical health! Getting regular exercise will help clear your mind and keep you positive in the face of difficulties.
What is the best Johns Hopkins premed major?
First, it’s important to note that JHU does not have a “premed” major. Instead, you major in an area of your interest and take the required course load for medical school detailed above.
There is no perfect major that medical schools look for, nor is there a major that perfectly prepares you for what lies ahead. There has been no statistically significant difference in medical school acceptance rates among students majoring in the sciences vs. humanities vs. other disciplines when factors like GPA and MCAT scores are on par. In fact, non-traditional majors have become common among first-year medical students.
However, science majors do provide the opportunity for some classes to count both towards premed and major requirement credits, which helps reduce course load per semester. Accordingly, these majors are far more common among premed students.
The most popular premed majors at Johns Hopkins are neuroscience, biomedical engineering, molecular/cellular biology, and public health studies. Together, these four majors account for more than 70% of Johns Hopkins medical school applicants.
Other common premed majors include:
Psychology
Behavioral biology
Molecular & cellular biology
Chemistry
A full list of majors/minors and descriptions is available here.
As mentioned previously, non-traditional applicants are now more common, with many choosing fields of study such as writing seminars, political science, mechanical engineering, anthropology, and sociology.
When picking your major, first explore all the possible options. It is most important to pick a topic that you enjoy and feel that you can succeed in (this includes maintaining a competitive GPA). Talk with your advisor and senior students about the majors you are considering to obtain a full understanding and hear firsthand experiences before committing in your sophomore year.
When should you take the MCAT?
There are many factors to consider when scheduling your exam date, but generally students elect to take the MCAT during their junior year.
Here at SAC, we typically recommend taking it during the fall of your junior year, as it builds in plenty of extra time in case you wind up needing to retake the test. However, it is equally important that you’ve completed the premed classes listed below before taking the MCAT:
Introduction to Chemistry I and II with Lab I and II
General Biology I and II with Lab I and II
General Physics I and II with Lab I and II
Biochemistry
Organic Chemistry I and II
Note that Organic Chemistry Lab is not required before the MCAT as it does not provide new information from Organic Chemistry I and II, but it may help solidify your knowledge. In addition, courses in psychology and sociology are also recommended but by no means required.
All courses listed above comprise the different components of the MCAT. The most important course is biochemistry, as there is a heavy emphasis on this topic in multiple sections of the MCAT. Do not take this course lightly!
Allow plenty of preparation time to dedicate to studying for the MCAT. Suggested study schedules commonly incorporate MCAT-specific classes as well as self-directed learning. We recommend taking at least three practice tests, but the more the better. Remember, retaking the MCAT is not a failure and schools like to see an improvement in your score on your second attempt.
Some students elect to take a gap year following graduation, which allows more flexibility in scheduling, as they can delay taking the MCAT until senior summer. Gap years also give students the advantage of making their application more competitive through jobs in healthcare for more clinical exposure or additional research opportunities.
Over 80 percent of students accepted to medical school from JHU have taken at least one gap year, as it helps to add more experiences to strengthen your application and overall resume. This trend is not JHU-specific, with a majority of first-year medical students also taking at least one gap year.
(Suggested reading: How to Get a Perfect MCAT Score: Strategies From a 528 Scorer)
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Part 3: Johns Hopkins premed extracurriculars
Participating in extracurricular activities is an important component of medical school applications—it shows interest and involvement in subjects relevant to medicine, and it demonstrates to schools that you have a passion for service and the medical field.
Johns Hopkins provides ample opportunities for students to get involved in premed activities through student-run organizations and clubs. Although some require an application as well as an interview, many others are easily joined via a simple email.
Although premed clubs at Johns Hopkins can be competitive, there are other activities such as working in a lab, volunteering in charitable organizations, and shadowing doctors that are perfect ways to build your resume and round out your experiences.
A selected list of premed organizations is provided below. Feel free to explore the diverse opportunities these organizations have to offer. You can also browse this list of all student groups on the JHU campus or visit the Student Affairs Office website for a full list of other opportunities!
If you are having difficulty with selecting the right club for you, reach out to alumni or the Office for Pre-Professional Advising to speak with someone who can provide firsthand knowledge of each club you wish to join.
And remember, although engagement in pre-health activities is encouraged, participation in other extracurriculars outside the scope of science and medicine still exhibits engagement and passion in your community, which will boost your application as well.
(Suggested reading: How to Choose the Right Extracurriculars for Medical School)
Johns Hopkins premed community volunteering
These clubs offer the opportunity to engage the Hopkins and local Baltimore community through outreach activities and events. This is a great way to gain leadership skills, interpersonal abilities, and to give back to the community.
Johns Hopkins premed clinical volunteering
As mentioned above, some experience in medical and pre-health volunteer opportunities is critical, but always save time for other opportunities you care about or are interested in. Below is a list of potential volunteering sites that focus on medical experience in a clinical environment:
If you find yourself particularly interested in gaining firsthand experience in the medical field, other options include working as an EMT, paramedic, phlebotomist, etc. These opportunities, while extremely valuable and insightful, do require extensive course work and pre-employment requirements.
Johns Hopkins premed shadowing
Shadowing is an encouraged activity as a Johns Hopkins premed, as it allows you to gain early exposure to the medical field. Reaching out to pre-health advisors at the Office of Pre-Professional Advising is one of the best ways to get in contact with physicians offering shadowing hours.
If the Office of Pre-Professional Advising has no hours available, students will often contact surrounding hospital systems for shadowing opportunities. Some potential sites are recommended below:
Feel free to reach out to smaller doctors’ offices or family practices in the area, even if they are not affiliated with academic institutions.
(Suggested reading: How to Ask to Shadow a Doctor)
Johns Hopkins premed research
Research is a fantastic facet of science that allows students early exposure to crucial aspects of medicine. JHU is known for its dedication to research and has a wide range of subjects offered to its students. Although opportunities are competitive and at times challenging to find, JHU offers numerous ways to get involved with clinical or basic research.
First, consider enrolling in courses that offer opportunities in research as required coursework. A minor in courses with research require multiple semesters of research credits. Generally, these courses will connect you with lab coordinators to get you involved with ongoing projects. Other academic programs that incorporate research are INBT Undergraduate Research Symposium and sponsored events by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR).
There are other ways to connect with an on-campus lab:
JHU provides an undergraduate portal through which you can search for current undergraduate and graduate research.
Contacting older students or alumni for availability in their own or related labs may also help connect you with projects.
Finally, emailing lab coordinators of labs researching topics that interest you can sometimes prove fruitful. Remember, provide up to a week for responsible parties to reply and make sure to reach out to more than one laboratory.
Medical schools will not dock students for a lack of research experience on their application as you will have extensive exposure in medical school. However, research provides more value to your overall application and demonstrates a genuine interest in a field particularly important to medical education.
Student Affairs provides further information on research opportunities—head over there to learn more.
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Part 4: Getting into medical school from Johns Hopkins
JHU’s Office for Pre-Professional Advising offers pre-health-specific advising (their website also contains a plethora of valuable application resources). By scheduling a one-on-one with one of the deans, you will gain access to more specific information and advice on being a Johns Hopkins premed. They may also assist you in finding workshops and events that can help with course planning.
An application to medical school has many components. You will submit your applications through AMCAS, including the following:
Letters of recommendation (2–3 recommended). Note that JHU does write committee letters for premed students and that these count as one of your letters of recommendation. Visit the Students Affairs website for more information.
A strong personal statement.
Secondary applications, including 2–5 additional essays for most schools.
(Suggested reading: The Ideal Medical School Application Timeline)
Johns Hopkins premed acceptance rate and admission statistics
As we noted earlier, almost 70 percent of students entering JHU begin pre-health. Students who successfully navigate through their experience in the premed track have a greater than 80 percent chance of acceptance to at least one medical school. In comparison, the national medical school acceptance rate is around 45 percent in 2023.
Among accepted student applicants from Johns Hopkins, stats are high: the median cumulative GPA is 3.82, and the mean GPA is 3.74.
Johns Hopkins premed students have thrived at medical schools across the nation—including Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Weill Cornell College of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Sidney Kimmel Medical College, among others—and will continue to for years to come. They have unique training and excellent preparation, giving them the tools to succeed at even the most competitive universities.
Getting into Johns Hopkins Medical School as a Johns Hopkins premed
Given the prestige and resources of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, it’s no wonder that many JHU premeds hope to stick around for medical school. Understandably, students often wonder if they’ll be viewed as more desirable candidates given their existing connection with the university.
Of course, it’s extremely tough to get into Hopkins Medicine. The acceptance rate of Johns Hopkins Medical School is around 7 percent annually, and the average entering GPA is a 3.92 with an MCAT score of 521.
Each year, between 19 and 24 Johns Hopkins premeds receive acceptances at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, with a percentage of those matriculating. While it does not appear that it’s easier to get into Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as a Johns Hopkins premed, there are still many Hopkins premeds that do matriculate. Between 6 and 14 percent of recent Hopkins Medicine classes were composed of JHU premeds.
(Suggested reading: How to Get Into Johns Hopkins Medical School: Requirements and Strategies)
Final thoughts
A premed focus is challenging at any institution. It requires diligence and commitment to excelling not only in the classroom, but outside of it as well. At Johns Hopkins, you will receive world-renowned teaching and have unique opportunities in research, volunteering, and mentorship, which will prepare you to excel in medical school. You will be fully supported by a staff of experienced advisors every step of the way.
Remember, anything worth doing is worth overdoing. Study hard, dive into extracurricular activities, and focus on gaining experience in the medical field. The lessons you’ll learn and experience you’ll gain as a Johns Hopkins premed will prepare you well to get into and succeed in medical school.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
