"I used to giggle at doctors" - JHU Supplement #1

Johns Hopkins offers 50 majors across the schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering. On this application, we ask you to identify one or two that you might like to pursue here. Why did you choose the way you did? If you are undecided, why didn't you choose? (If any past courses or academic experience influenced your decision, you may include them in your essay.)

When I was little I used to giggle at doctors while they were talking about me. I remember one poking at the stomach on a poster as they explained to me that my acid reflux was because my esophageal sphincter was contracting incorrectly. The things they said, while they didn't always make perfect sense to me at the time, intrigued me because I was learning about how my body works. As a result, I have always aspired to do something in the field of medicine. While it was one of the harder classes, biology was definitely one of the more interesting experiences in my sophomore year. Learning about genetics and the functions of cells always got me excited to leave lunch so I could get to my biology class, and the double labs were nothing short of fun. That interest transitioned into my junior year during anatomy class. Not only did the information we were taught come to me easily, but it was also the only class in which I would stay awake after those sleepless nights that happened so consistently, just because the subject matter was so exciting to me. I even stayed late afterschool one day to continue dissecting the fetal pigs we were given. My strengths lie in the field of natural sciences, but my interests also lie in the field of philosophy. Reading Nietzsche in seventh grade gave me an entirely new viewpoint on life, and I would like to experience the same at Johns Hopkins.

The two majors I picked were biology and philosophy - I feel like the philosophy point was really rushed in comparison to the biology points, but then I really just find philosophy interesting and I don't have much to back up my reasoning for it so maybe two sentences on it is enough? Any advice would be appreciated

If you are having difficulties finding reasons why you choose philosophy is best to just focus on one which you have very strong reasons for - in this case biology or you could use some of your philosophy knowledge to argue why you have chosen biology and in turn say that through philosophy I was able to reason out why I have chosen biology ... and thus the reason why philosophy is my second choice.

Hope that help in some way ... = )

The philosophy part of your answer is too short. You should elaborate on it more, maybe talk about Nietzsche and some points in it that made you interested in philsophy.

you state "when i was little" but then go on to talk about acid reflex and sphincter..
if you're talking about an experience in the past, write as if your that age.
maybe you were around eighth grade where you can remember those terms. in that case,
mention what age or grade you were in.

I have to say that your title was the main reason I clicked on this essay and it did not disappoint. You clearly develop the essay chronologically from when you were a child with acid reflux to why you want to enter the medical field. I agree with the other posters about elaborating on the philosophy aspect but otherwise great essay.

Not only did the information we were taught come to me easily, but it was also the only class in which I would stay awake after those sleepless nights that happened so consistently, just because the subject matter was so exciting to me.- this sentence is rather long. You may want to cut out the part about falling asleep in class though because it doesn't shed a positive viewpoint on you as a student.

great essay. Please take a look at my Northwestern essay I just reworked it and I need feedback.

Revised it! I'm still a little uncomfortable with the philosophy portion, but I think it'll do fine. 250 words exactly

When I was little I used to giggle at doctors while they were talking about me. I remember one poking at the stomach on a poster as they explained to me that my acid reflux was because my esophageal sphincter was contracting incorrectly. The things they said, while they didn't always make perfect sense to me at the time, intrigued me because I was learning about how my body works. As a result, I have always aspired to do something in the field of medicine. While it was one of the harder classes, biology was definitely one of the more interesting experiences in my sophomore year. Learning about genetics and the functions of cells always got me excited to leave lunch so I could get to my biology class, and the double labs were nothing short of fun. That interest transitioned into my junior year during anatomy class. The information came so easily to me and I loved every minute of that class. I even stayed late afterschool one day to continue dissecting the fetal pigs we were given. My strengths lie in the field of natural sciences, but my interests also lie in the field of philosophy. I want to better define my own existence, and I feel one way to do that is to understand the viewpoints of others. Reading Nietzsche gave me an entirely new viewpoint on life, and I would like to experience the same to a much higher degree in a class in Johns Hopkins.