Can anyone share examples of successful Johns Hopkins essays or give tips on what works?

You're absolutely right that Johns Hopkins puts a strong emphasis on collaboration and creative problem-solving in its supplements. Their well-known prompt is: “Tell us about an experience in which you collaborated with others or responded to feedback and how you grew from that experience.”

One strategy that tends to work well is focusing your essay on a single, specific moment rather than trying to cover your entire history with teamwork or leadership. The admissions team wants to see how you respond to real-life challenges and how you think with and learn from others—the story doesn't need to be earth-shattering, but it does need to be authentic and reflective.

For example, an accepted student once wrote about how a group lab project started off rough because each team member had different ideas about the experiment design. Rather than glossing over the conflict, the student described a heated discussion and how they calmed everyone down by proposing a vote and creating a Google Doc where each person could suggest modifications. The essay focused less on the end result (the grade was fine, but not perfect) and more on how the experience taught her humility, patience, and practical leadership. Admitting what went wrong was honest, and sharing what she learned showed how she’d thrive in Johns Hopkins’ collaborative environment.

Another standout essay involved a student who was the editor of their high school literary magazine. Instead of just talking about the magazine itself, he wrote about a disagreement with a staff member over a controversial poem. He recounted how listening to that person’s point of view and involving a broader group in the decision process led to a compromise that satisfied both free expression and sensitivity. The story was very specific—the actual poem’s lines weren’t shared, but the emotions and steps were.

A few tips:
- Zoom in on one moment of conflict or growth.
- Be honest about your initial shortcomings or doubts; show how you responded, not just how you succeeded.
- Let your voice come through. Avoid trying to sound overly polished or using big vocabulary for its own sake.

If you’re stuck, think about moments in school clubs, group projects, part-time jobs, or even family events where you genuinely worked with someone else. It doesn’t have to be academic. Maybe you and your sibling built a backyard fort but argued about the blueprints—you can make that engaging if you show thoughtfulness and growth.

Lastly, keep in mind that admissions officers are looking for who you are as a collaborator and how you’ll contribute to the Johns Hopkins peer community. Show them you’re open to feedback and know how to turn differences into strengths. Good luck—once you get that first idea down, the essay gets a lot less scary!