The Johns Hopkins Global Health and Leadership Program (GHLP) final application deadline approaches as RBHS counseling begins to promote the conference on their website. The Jan. 10 early notification deadline passed; however, students may still submit applications for the regular decision Feb. 15 deadline. The conference is held at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD from April 4-5. The application can be found here.

There is no fee to apply to the application. But the conference costs $50 to attend and transportation and lodging are not provided.

GHLP invites students across the U.S. to learn about clinical training and help develop leadership skills. The application is open to all grades at RBHS. It encompasses a resume, four short essays and a letter of recommendation from a teacher, school administrator or counselor.

Sophomore Abigail Bridgeman, who applied through early notification, said this conference is beneficial to her plans to pursue a medical career later in life.

“I plan on going into the medical field, but that’s the main reason I applied. I run a project called Ask for Angela that works with local buisnesses downtown to prevent sexual violence near campus,” Bridgeman said. “I was interested in hearing from other leaders in global health on how they reach people and give access to resources on a massive scale.”

Counseling coordinator guidance director Rachel Reed said RBHS does not offer any sort of financial aid. Because of this, junior Mohammed Abu-Salah, who was invited last year, said he could not go.

“I was pretty adamant on going,” Abu-Salah said. “However, my parents said no because the price because the price is like $3,000.”

Although price poses an issue for some, the GHLP provides a platform for students to present their personal projects at the conference and commendations from Johns Hopkins professors undergraduate admissions. Bridgeman said the convention itself would not give her an advantage in college admissions but is beneficial for any student wanting to go into a medical job field.

“I am super interested in medical research and outreach,” Bridgeman said. “Do I think that going to the conference will give me a leg up in preparing to become a doctor? No, but I think it’s important to be knowledgeable in that field if you want to pursue it.”

Are you applying to the GHLP conference? Let us know in the comments below!