How much does Johns Hopkins care about early decision???

.

http://hub.jhu.edu/2014/12/12/early-decision-class-of-2019
http://hub.jhu.edu/2015/03/27/johns-hopkins-class-of-2019

It looks like an approximately 29% acceptance rate for this particular class compared to about 11% for regular decision.

but when that number is adjusted with recruited athletes being not counted for, does it actually show a strong preference for ED applicants?

I’m not sure.

The ED applicant pool is generally kids who express the strongest interest in the university, and whose applications are the most prepared to be sent in. So, the acceptance rate is generally a lot higher than the regular decision acceptance rate because these are kids who are saying that if accepted, they will (have) to attend the university.

Recruited athletes are being told they need a min ACT score of 32,
higher than in past. They are not making it look easy to get in.
That said, they only encourage athletes to apply if they have those
scores, so % admit rate may be slightly improved, no lowering
of standards to get in (maybe lacrosse team could be an exception since
it’s D1 but not other teams).