JHU BME (ED) Chance Me

Colleges and Universities A-Z Johns Hopkins University
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Hi everyone! I recently visited Hopkins for an info. session and tour and loved the campus, overall feel, academic opportunities, etc. I am strongly considering applying ED, and will likely do an overnight visit in the fall prior to making this commitment. My desired major is biomedical engineering (BME)–Hopkins’ top-notch program in this field is what led me to look at this school in the first place. However, I realize that this program is VERY competitive. I would greatly appreciate it if some of you could tell me what you think my chances are for being accepted into the BME program are (and if there is a significant advantage of acceptance by applying ED).
Also, disregard my username; I made this account a while ago (though I still do love Duke too).

Old SAT (took Nov. 2015) (720R/750M/800W) (total 2270)
ACT Super-scored: 34 C (36E/32M/33R/34S)
Best sitting: 34 C (35E/32M/33R/34S)
SAT Subject tests Biology M (770), U.S. History (780); planning on taking Math II, Chemistry, Spanish in October

Unweighted GPA: unknown/ school has weird scale, but I have gotten all A’s and some A minuses
Weighted GPA: see above
Rank: 1/92 (I have been number 2 all of high school but just moved up; I could move back down after first semester)
AP Scores: Biology (5), APUSH (5)
Senior Year Course Load:
AP Physics I
AP Calculus AB
AP Spanish
AP Psychology
AP English Lit
AP Comp Sci Principles
College Writing (concurrent enrollment with state school)
Civics
Gym/ Health

Extracurricular Activities:
Major weakness here… Nothing extraordinary or unique to set me apart from other applicants, and no math/ science ECs
National Honor Society (Junior Liaison junior year/ VP senior year)
World Languages Honor Society
World Languages Club (secretary)
Religious education teacher
Tennis (4 yrs. varsity, some awards, hopefully captain this year)
Golf (might not play this year, nothing extraordinary but randomly on varsity in 10th grade)

Summer Activities:
Worked as busser in local restaurant for past 2 summers ~30 hours per week

Essay:
Not done yet, Common App essay about being a twin. I think my “Why JHU?” essay will be good as well because I feel as if I will really be able to convey that JHU is the ideal school for me

Recommendations:
AP Bio teacher (apparently writes best recs in school)
Algebra II Honors & Pre Calc Honors teacher

State: RI
School Type: Public (Class of ~100)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: High

Thanks in advance for your responses!

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Current BME here

Quantitatively you seem like a good applicant. Your SAT/ACT scores and GPA/grades are well aligned with the Hopkins norm, and you seem to be taking a rigorous course load. I have a few notes

  1. Why take so many more SAT2s? From what I remember Hopkins only considers your top two subject test scores and recommends engineers submit Math 2 and a science test. You already have the science (biology). Just take math 2 in October and spend the extra time focusing on your essays and keeping the GPA up.
  1. I think you're being a bit hard on yourself in regards to ECs. Four years of a sport (and captainship) is certainly nothing to sneeze at. However you are correct that you're lacking STEM ECs which may be a detriment to your BME application. Keep in mind though that the BME admissions process is very "hush hush", so it's hard to say for sure what kind of ECs they look for. Not every high schooler has access to research labs or robotics clubs, nor does every entering BME have previous STEM experience, and at this point your have no choice but to work with what you've got.
  2. Technically it's true that the ED admission rate is higher than that of RD, but that statistic trends to be skewed by the number of hooked applicants who apply ED. Don't expect ED to overcome some major flaw in your app. Additionally, don't apply ED unless you're confident you can pay for the school - run an NPC to get an estimate of your (parents') expected price tag.

Keep in mind that Hopkins admission is extremely competitive - and BME even more so. The BME admission rate isn’t published, but 5% seems to be a reasonable estimate. Hopkins BME (as well as Hopkins proper) will be a reach for you so make sure you have a healthy list of safeties and matches.

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Thank you so much for your input @saif235 ! For my senior project, I am going to try to do some sort of science research with a local professor. This will not have yet begun by the early deadline, but do you think I should mention that I will be doing it on my Common App to help supplement my lack of STEM ECs?

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I wouldn’t include it in the ED app. Looking at it from their perspective, saying you “plan” to do something means doesn’t really mean anything. I can “plan” to work in some professor’s lab, get straight As, land that Google internship, and patent a novel drug delivery system, but that doesn’t mean any of that is going to happen.

However, even if you applied RD and included the project as an EC, the admissions committee and BME faculty would (most likely) see the project as you padding your resume with a last minute STEM EC. They wouldn’t hold that against you, but they also wouldn’t give it much thought.

At this point in the game everything relevant to your app has already happened - unless you’re on the cusp of something huge like winning a prestigious competition, publishing a scientific paper, or revealing your true identity as Iron (wo)Man. So work with what you’ve got.

PS if you have any questions about Hopkins or the BME program feel free to PM me.

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For anyone looking at this thread in the future: I got into Hopkins BME RD!