Are Johns Hopkins and UC Berkeley similarly competitive for undergraduate admission?

UC Berkeley’s competitiveness changes more sharply by California residency and academic college, while Johns Hopkins has a more consistent admissions framework across applicants. Berkeley’s Engineering and computing-related pathways draw exceptionally heavy demand. Johns Hopkins is also highly selective, particularly for applicants interested in its biomedical, public health, engineering, and research opportunities.

At Berkeley, an applicant’s intended college, course preparation, and California residency can substantially affect the decision. Berkeley does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission, so grades, course rigor, activities, and UC application responses carry particular weight.

Johns Hopkins considers applicants holistically and can take test scores under its current test-optional policy, though strong academics remain essential. Its applicant pool is often especially research- and STEM-oriented, so clear intellectual interests and sustained involvement can help distinguish an applicant.

Viewed nationally, Johns Hopkins and UC Berkeley belong in a similar top tier of undergraduate selectivity. Berkeley can be at least as difficult, and sometimes more difficult in practice, for out-of-state applicants or applicants seeking high-demand STEM programs; Johns Hopkins is comparably challenging across a broader national and international pool. Treat both as reaches, rather than assuming either is noticeably easier to enter.