This one hurts. You spent so much time crafting your Early Decision application to Johns Hopkins, drafting essays, triple-checking the activities list, and imagining your future in Baltimore, only to find yourself in admissions purgatory. It’s not a yes, but it’s not a no – it’s just... deferred. It’s a strange, uncomfortable middle ground, and if you’re feeling deflated or disoriented, that’s entirely valid.
But take a moment and breathe. A deferral doesn’t mean your shot is gone, it means you’re still under consideration. The story isn’t over yet.
Hopkins is a tough admit in any round. Their ED acceptance rate typically ranges from 15–20%, while Regular Decision hovers closer to 6–7%. And while they don’t release stats on how many deferred students make it through in the spring, we’ve seen it happen. A deferral means you were competitive, and that’s important to keep in mind. So, once you’ve processed the news, it’s time to come back with a strategy. Let’s walk you through the next steps.
Step One: Double-Check Your College List
If Johns Hopkins was your top choice and the bulk of your energy went into that ED app, you’re not alone. We see many students go all in on their first choice, but now that the outcome is uncertain, your Regular Decision list needs to be a priority.
First, review your schools. Do you have a strong mix of reaches, targets, and safeties? A well-rounded list usually includes 8–12 colleges, with a variety of academic profiles and acceptance rates. Use your GPA, test scores (if you submitted them), course rigor, and extracurricular impact to get a sense of where you stand in the middle 50 data.
Now, go back to the drawing board on school fit. What made you love JHU in the first place? Maybe it was the research-first approach, the interdisciplinary flexibility, or the collaborative energy on campus. Great news: there are other schools that share that ethos! Consider places like Emory, WashU, Rice, CMU, and Tufts, or even reach liberal arts schools like Pomona or Swarthmore if you're drawn to intimate classrooms and undergrad-focused research. You can also look at state schools with top STEM programs or honors colleges at those schools.
Remember, prestige isn’t everything. What matters is where you can thrive. Keep your academic goals, personality, and learning style at the center of your list. And once you have your list, you can check out our guides on how to write tons of different schools’ supplements.
Step Two: Revisit Your Common App
Now’s a perfect moment to re-evaluate the Common App essay that you sent to Hopkins. After a little distance, read it like an admissions officer would. Does it showcase your voice and values? Does it tell a story only you could tell? Or could it have come from any number of other driven, high-achieving students?
We’re not saying it has to be some dramatic narrative or shocking twist. In fact, the most effective essays are often subtle and sincere. We’re huuuge fans of Prompt #7, which lets you write about anything that matters to you, but any prompt can work if you write with clarity and purpose.
Things to watch for as you revise include overused tropes (like scoring the winning goal, the service trip that changed your life, or a sentimental story about someone else), essays that list accomplishments instead of reflecting on them, attempts to turn your life into a big metaphor, or pieces that summarize instead of analyze. If your essay reads more like a resume in paragraph form, it’s worth another pass.
And if you’ve realized your original draft is pretty good, but it just isn’t working, that’s okay. You’ve still got time to revise, and we can help with that.
Need to completely revamp your Common App essay? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Step Three: Other Applications
From now until January 1st (or slightly later for some schools), you’re in the busiest stretch of the admissions cycle. Your next move is to lock down the rest of your applications.
Start by double-checking your activities section. Have any new accomplishments popped up since you applied to JHU? Any awards, leadership roles, or independent projects? If so, be sure to add them. Then shift to the supplements, a.k.a. those questions asking you “Why this school?” or “What will you contribute?” Schools want to see that you’ve done your research and that you genuinely care about joining their community.
The quality of these short essays can make or break your application. Start early, get feedback, and resist the urge to reuse your JHU supplements for every other school – it won’t work. Use concrete research (like classes or professors) to back up your case for why you should go to these schools
And don’t wait until the deadline to submit. Things crash. Wi-Fi goes out. Submit with time to spare! Once that’s done, it’s time to pivot to updates.
Step Four: Update
Here’s what JHU officially says about deferrals:
I applied Early Decision I and my application was deferred to Regular Decision. Should I send any additional information to improve my chances?
You’ll be required to send mid-year reports when they are available. Additional materials are not required. However, you can update your application with additional letters of recommendation, an updated resume, standardized test scores (optional through the 2024–2025 application year), or a written statement of interest in Hopkins for review during the Regular Decision selection process. Send any additional materials to applyhelp@jhu.edu.
More info than most! Here’s what you should compile:
Mid-Year Report/Transcript:
Your counselor will handle this once your first semester grades are finalized. Confirm it’s been submitted.
Updated Test Scores:
Only send updated ACT or SAT scores if they reflect a clear improvement.
Additional Rec Letters (optional):
Only submit if they provide new and meaningful insight, not a repeat of what’s already in your file.
Your Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI):
This is the most important piece you’ll send. More on that next.
The Deferral Letter – Letter of Continued Interest
A Letter of Continued Interest, also known as your LOCI, is your opportunity to make a second impression with Johns Hopkins and remind them why you’re still all-in. Think of it as a mini-update, a reaffirmation, and a re-pitch all in one.
There are three key things your LOCI should accomplish: (1) confirm that Hopkins is still your top choice and that you will attend if admitted, (2) provide thoughtful and relevant updates, and (3) strike a tone that’s confident, clear, and enthusiastic, not panicked or beggy.
Keep your letter to 300–400 words. More than that, and it starts to feel like an essay. You want this to be concise, direct, and easy to digest. The more straightforward and brief, the better your chances of getting a close, engaged read of your letter.
Start with a respectful greeting. If you know your regional admissions officer, and have communicated to them prior to submitting an ED app, address them directly. If not, “Dear Johns Hopkins Admissions Committee” works just fine.
Your opening lines should leave no ambiguity – say explicitly that if you’re admitted, you will enroll. This is especially important now that you’re no longer bound by the ED agreement. They need reassurance that you’re still a guaranteed “yes” and will positively contribute to their yield rate.
Next, outline 2–3 significant updates. These could be new academic achievements (like awards, high-level research, or top grades), leadership roles, creative or extracurricular projects, or other meaningful ways you’ve continued growing since you submitted your application. Prioritize quality over quantity – what you choose to include says as much about you as what you leave out. That means you may want to avoid talking about non-academic things like sports or personal life updates about family.
Now, if you’re light on updates, you can also re-emphasize a specific program, professor, or academic interest at JHU that connects directly to your goals, but avoid repeating your original supplement.
Wrap things up with a sincere thank-you and a final reaffirmation of your commitment. Email it to the admissions email they gave you, and if you’ve been in contact with your rep, send them a quick note letting them know you sent it in.
Step Five: Wait
And now…you wait! Once your applications are in and your LOCI has been submitted, there’s nothing more to do. Resist the urge to send extra updates or emails “just to check in.” You’ve done what you can!
JHU typically releases Regular Decision results in late March. Until then, focus on keeping your grades strong, working hard, and staying engaged in your extracurriculars. No matter what happens, you’re on track for great things.
If you need guidance on your LOCI or the rest of your applications? We’re just a message away. You’ve got this.
We can help you bounce back from a deferral or rejection. Reach out to us today to learn more.