Did Johns Hopkins University defer your admission in the Early Decision round to the Class of 2029? If so, turn that frown upside down. You still have a genuine shot of earning admission to the Baltimore, Maryland-based institution. Just as a basketball team shouldn’t give up the fight in the fourth quarter, neither should you! So, what does your Johns Hopkins deferral mean in context, and what can you do to optimize your chances of admission post-deferral? Let’s dive in!

Johns Hopkins Early Decision Admission Rates

Historically, Johns Hopkins has been inconsistent with its release of Early Decision admissions statistics. Some years, the school releases data for both Early Decision I and II, other years the data is combined, and still other years the data isn’t published.

For the Johns Hopkins Class of 2029, 551 students earned admission via Early Decision I. For the Johns Hopkins Class of 2028, 550 students got in through ED I and 259 students got in through ED II. For the Johns Hopkins Class of 2027, 533 students earned admission in Early Decision I and 278 students earned admission in Early Decision II. Between the two rounds of Early Decision admission that year, 811 students earned admission out of 6,200 applicants for a 13% ED admission rate. For the Class of 2026, in the Early Decision I round, 520 students earned admission out of 2,500 applicants for an ED I admission rate of 21%.

Just like at all highly selective universities with Early Decision I and II rounds, Johns Hopkins’ admit rate is typically higher for the ED I round.

Johns Hopkins Early Decision Deferral Rate

While Johns Hopkins does not typically release the percentage of Early Decision I candidates who receive deferrals, in our experience at Ivy Coach, the school historically rejects more applicants than it defers.

5 Steps to Take After Being Deferred by Johns Hopkins

1. Go for a walk, a swim, or a bike ride. It’s important to clear your head before you begin the fight to turn your Johns Hopkins deferral into an offer of admission.
2. Hop on the phone with Ivy Coach for a free consultation to learn your path forward post-Johns Hopkins deferral.
3. Endure a PostMorten application review with Ivy Coach. It might be tough to hear what went wrong, but it’s important you hear the unvarnished truth so you can correct mistakes for your Regular Decision schools.
4. Submit a compelling Letter of Continued Interest to Johns Hopkins. This letter should be submitted within a few days of your deferral so Johns Hopkins’ admissions committee doesn’t surmise you developed a case of sour grapes. But simply submitting a letter doesn’t improve your chances. It’s all about what goes in the letter. In a word, Ivy Coach’s letters are weird. They’re filled with zero updates and zero brags. It’s a big reason why our students stand out.
5. Make a push for an advocacy call. In the New Year, after you’ve submitted the Letter of Continued Interest to Johns Hopkins, bring it to your school counselor, asking them to make a phone call to JHU on your behalf. With the letter in hand, they can present you to your JHU regional representative as you presented yourself in your letter.

Johns Hopkins Deferral FAQ

Does Johns Hopkins defer candidates in Early Decision I and Early Decision II?

No, Johns Hopkins defers candidates in Early Decision I and waitlists candidates in Early Decision II.

Is a Johns Hopkins deferral meaningful?

Yes, because Johns Hopkins historically rejects more Early Decision I candidates than it defers, deferred candidates have a meaningful shot of earning admission in Regular Decision (if they play their cards right!).

Can I change aspects of my Johns Hopkins application post-deferral?

No, you can’t change your submitted application. But you can change this application for every other school you’ve not yet applied to. For JHU, the only submission you still maintain control over is your Letter of Continued Interest — so don’t waste the opportunity.

Could my Johns Hopkins deferral be a harbinger of waitlists and rejections from other schools in Regular Decision?

It’s possible. Suppose you don’t find out what went wrong with your JHU ED application through Ivy Coach’s PostMortem application review. In that case, you’re likely to make the same mistakes again, which could very well lead to waitlists and rejections from your Regular Decision schools.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Johns Hopkins Deferral

Over the last three decades, about 33% of students who first come to Ivy Coach after being deferred by Johns Hopkins have earned admission — compared to an estimated 10% of overall deferred applicants to JHU.

If you’d like to give yourself the best shot of turning your Johns Hopkins deferral into an offer of admission, fill out Ivy Coach’s free consultation form, and we’ll be in touch to outline our college admissions counseling services specifically for deferred candidates.