Johns Hopkins Nursing Interview: MSN Entry Video Interview
The early deadline for fall 2027 entry to Hopkins' MSN Entry into Nursing is November 1, 2026. Here is how its recorded video interview works and what it asks about.
Every MSN Entry into Nursing application includes a Virtual Interview/Video Essay. You answer 3 questions, one each on motivation, teamwork and cultural humility, with 60 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to answer. It takes about 20 minutes in one sitting. The fall 2027 early deadline is November 1, with decisions in January.
Key facts (Fall 2027 entry)
- Next deadline
- November 1 (early deadline, decisions released in January). The priority deadline is January 15, with decisions in March.
- Interview
- A Virtual Interview/Video Essay, part of every application. You record it on your own, not with a live interviewer.
- Questions
- 3 questions, one from each theme: Motivation, Teamwork and Cultural Humility.
- Timing
- 60 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to answer each question. About 20 minutes in one sitting.
- Spring 2027 entry
- The July 1 and October 1, 2026 deadlines have passed. Priority decisions are released on a rolling basis.
- Requirements
- A non-nursing bachelor's, a 3.0 cumulative GPA, 3 letters (2 academic, 1 professional), one written essay and a resume.
- Program
- 4 semesters, full time and in person in Baltimore, with fall and spring starts.
What happens in the video interview
Hopkins calls this step the Virtual Interview/Video Essay. It works like a short in-person interview, but you record your answers alone.
- 3 questions. One from each of three themes: Motivation, Teamwork and Cultural Humility.
- 60 seconds, then 90. You get 60 seconds to prepare after each question appears, then 90 seconds to respond.
- One sitting. You do it in one sitting, on a day and at a time that suit you. It takes about 20 minutes.
- Be yourself. Hopkins says it values natural, authentic and honest responses.
- Free workshops. Hopkins posts recorded admissions workshops, including video interview tips from current MSN Entry students and a session on the Kira assessment.
90 seconds goes fast. Aim for one clear point and one real example per answer. Use the 60 seconds to pick the example, not to write a script.
How offers are decided
The early and priority deadlines differ only in when decisions are released. Pick the one that fits your timeline.
- Early deadline. November 1 for fall entry, with decisions released in January.
- Priority deadline. January 15 for fall entry, with decisions released in March.
- Late applications. Hopkins prioritizes applications received before the deadline, but considers later ones if space is available.
- Scholarships. You are considered for merit scholarships at admission, under both deadlines, with preference for applying before the deadline. Awards range from $5,000 to full tuition.
- Three weeks. For most programs, admitted students have about three weeks to respond to an offer.
What Hopkins reviews
Every applicant records the video interview, so there is no interview invitation to win. The admissions committee reviews the whole application holistically.
- Holistic review. Academic records, health care, professional and community experience, interviews, recommendations, and your goals and interests.
- Grades. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale across all colleges you attended.
- Letters. Three: two academic and one professional. They must be recent and written for this program. Letters from colleagues, friends or family do not count.
- Essay and resume. One written essay and a current resume. The GRE is accepted but not required.
Prerequisites
You need 17 to 21 credits of prerequisites at B- or better. They can be in progress when you apply, but must be finished before the program starts.
- Courses. Anatomy and physiology with labs (two courses), human growth and development through the lifespan, microbiology with lab, nutrition and statistics.
- Don't mix formats. Take Anatomy with Physiology, or A&P I with A&P II. Hopkins does not accept a mix of the two.
- Five years. Hopkins recommends, but does not require, that prerequisites be done within the last five years.
Dates and other details
Hopkins lists deadlines by start term. The spring 2027 deadlines have passed, so the next entry point is fall 2027.
Fall 2027 entry
- November 1, 2026. Early deadline. Decisions are released in January.
- January 15, 2027. Priority deadline. Decisions are released in March.
- Info session. A virtual information session for the MSN Entry into Nursing/MPH runs on October 28, 2026.
The program
- 4 semesters. Full time and on site. There is no part-time option, and the program is not self-paced.
- Tuition. An estimated $28,000 per semester, pending approval by the JHU Board of Trustees.
- Clinicals. In Baltimore and within 60 miles of the school. You arrange your own transportation, and some sites are not on public transit.
- After you graduate. You can sit the NCLEX once you finish the program. Some credits can transfer into Hopkins' DNP or PhD.
How to prepare
You know the three themes, so you can build your stories now. Practice out loud with a timer until 90 seconds feels normal.
- Motivation. Know why you want nursing now, after your first degree, and what you did to test that choice.
- Teamwork. Have two examples of working with people in other roles. Say what you did, not only what the team did.
- Cultural humility. Think of a time you learned from someone whose background differs from yours. Show that you listened before you acted.
- Rehearse the setup. Check your camera, light and sound before the real attempt. You only get one sitting.
Practice cold. Have a friend read you a question you have not seen, start a 60-second timer, then answer for 90 seconds.
Practice questions
Questions in the style of a Recorded video interview (3 questions) station, written for applicants to Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.
You already have a degree and a career. Why nursing, and why now?
Give one real reason and show what you did to test it before applying.
Describe a time when you had to rely on someone in a different role or department to reach a shared goal.
Name what the other person knew that you did not, and how you made the handoff work.
A patient asks for their hospital bed to be turned to face a certain direction for daily prayer, but the new position makes it hard for the care team to move around the room. How do you handle this?
Ask what the patient needs first, then find a safe compromise with the team.
You are a nursing student caring for a transgender patient. You accidentally use the wrong pronoun, and the patient becomes visibly upset and withdrawn. What do you do to repair the relationship?
Apologize briefly, correct yourself, and keep the focus on the patient's care rather than your guilt.
On your unit, you notice that one physician consistently ignores the nursing assistants' input and misses important details about patients' daily function, like how they're eating or walking. How would you approach bridging this communication gap?
Find a practical way to get the information heard without making it a personal attack.
Why become a nurse through a direct-entry master's program rather than a BSN?
Show you understand what the master's route offers and how it builds on the degree you already have.
Frequently asked questions
Does Johns Hopkins nursing interview MSN Entry applicants?
Yes. Every application includes a Virtual Interview/Video Essay that you record on your own. You answer 3 questions in about 20 minutes, in one sitting.
What questions are in the Hopkins nursing video interview?
Hopkins does not publish the questions. It says you get one question from each of three themes: Motivation, Teamwork and Cultural Humility.
How long do you get to answer?
You have 60 seconds to prepare after each question, then 90 seconds to respond.
When is the Johns Hopkins MSN Entry deadline?
For fall entry, the early deadline is November 1 (decisions in January) and the priority deadline is January 15 (decisions in March). Spring entry deadlines are July 1 and October 1.
Does Hopkins require the GRE for the MSN Entry program?
No. GRE scores are accepted but not required for the MSN Entry into Nursing program.
Sources
Official pages only, read on the date shown. Schools change their process every year, so check the school's own page before you apply.
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing: Master of Science in Nursing (MSN): Entry into Nursing Program · read October 26, 2026
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing: Application Deadlines · read October 26, 2026
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing: Admissions · read October 26, 2026
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing: Admissions Workshops and Blog · read October 26, 2026