Johns Hopkins University has truly brought together the ideal three characteristics of a school, in my perspective. The atmosphere is challenging but the people are willing to help. The education is top-notch, yet one must work for the desires grades, and there is a great deal of help from upperclassmen that I doubt is found at any other school.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Apply Early Decision! This shows commitment and a great want to attend their school. Just remember you are legally bonded to the school, if they accept you (and provide you with enough financial aid). You should also visit the school. Get the feel for the classes (attend a few lectures!) and sit down and talk to students. Walk into the Brody Learning Commons and just ask a few people how they like it there.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
It's a lot of work, but it will only pile up if you LET it pile up. Just like in high school, you're going to get homework and assignments, but they will be weeklong assignments. With that being said, there is a reason why they give you a week to do it. The worst thing you can do is ignore it until the night before, because chances are, it's a lot more than a night's worth of work. Keep that in mind. Also, take classes that will ease you into the school. Taking all upper-level classes probably won't be the best thing to do.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
I live in a single (yes! A freshman in a single, those are a rare breed.) And I absolutely love it. Most people opt for roommates because they like having someone to share a room with, which I completely understand. Sometimes, your roommate ends up being your best friend. The building I live in is suite-style so I share a bathroom with two other girls. Those girls are roommates and they barely talk. However, my guy friend has a roommate and they do everything together. The thing with Hopkins is that it's very luck-of-the-draw. The buildings are nice. Well-kept. CLEAN, but you also need to put in effort into keeping your room nice. As for the social aspect, the people are awesome. You can generally just walk into someone's room and just start talking to them. It's really awesome and everyone is very open.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Here's where I start getting picky. I love my school, and I'm grateful for the meal plans, but the food they provide is generally... well, not the best quality. I ate their eggs for breakfast and I felt sick afterwards. The bread is stale. Always. The one good thing about our cafe is the Home-Style food they have. Hearty mashed potatoes, green beans, and sometimes exotic dishes; those are your best bet. Either that or the pizza. The pizza is pretty popular too. Those aren't your only choices though. Being in a city, there are MANY restaurants around the campus including Subway, a Ledo's pizza, Chipotle, a Starbucks, a Korean place, and many, many cafes.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
The first week, I remember I spent most of my time ON campus. The place is a decent size, but you always discover new things on the walk. We also have activities every day. ResLife makes sure that they keep up busy, but in the best way possible. Just to name a few activities, we had Celebrity Poker, Condom Bingo, TV Show Marathons with Pumpkin Pie, and many more! If you're not into the school-activity spirit, there are always frats that have parties on the weekends. If partying isn't your thing, there are always stores and places you can check out. Just a hop, skip, and a bus ride away, there's the Inner Harbor. It's one of the most touristy places in Baltimore, and it's really nice. There you can check out the Baltimore Aquarium, or the Science Museum, or a brand-new Ripley's Believe It Or Not. There are SO many things. You can also take the college shuttle (just a free bus for college students) to the Towson Town Mall. A very nice mall with 4 floors and a variety of stores and restaurants. You can even walk out by the plaza across the street, which has a hidden, Indie Store (complete with records and old-school CDs) and a Smoothie King! Just be sure never to go to these places alone. ALWAYS, have at least one other person with you. You will be living in the city.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
The thing about Hopkins is that if they accept you there, you were chosen for a reason. Therefore, they WANT you to be there. The sticker price is $60,000, but in reality, not everyone pays the full price. They will provide you with scholarships, grants, and student loans that don't accrue interest while in school. You definitely get the bang for your buck, IF you use your resources wisely. Like I said, there are many upperclassmen who are willing to help, but you have to reach out to them. You can enjoy fancy-eating but if you do that too much, you'll be spending WAY more than you need to, on food.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
People have tried to get up to the Gilman Bell Tower, yet I haven't heard of a successful story yet. One unusual thing about our school is that we celebrate our Homecoming during the spring. Why, do you ask? Well, our lacrosse team is D1, and one of the best in the nation. Whereas our football team is still very good! (I have a few football buddies) But, not as good as the lacrosse team. With that being said, our school spirit knows no bounds when it comes to our lacrosse Homecoming game. We get into it. Another thing that freshman do during Orientation is the Dorms Wars. We won this year (: It's legitimately a lot of fun. Music is blasting, people are playing relay games, and it feels like you're back in elementary school on Field Day.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Hard workers, but also, people who are willing to have a good time. Down-to-earth individuals. You don't have to think you're all that and a bag of chips because you probably will meet people who are WAY smarter than you. And that's just something you have to be willing to accept.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
I joined this really cool club called MEDLIFE, because I'm pre-med and I really like travelling (so this club has two). The clubs and organizations are SO much fun. The religious groups are actually very active and this ranges from Christians, to Muslims, to Jewish people. There are plenty of pre-health clubs but also regular volunteering groups, like the Red Cross. Then of course, there are the sports, which are really fun. Although they're not the official teams, people know there is a lot less at stake so they don't take it as seriously. They are fun to watch. Another cool thing is you can get a gym membership and do things like Zumba (which sounds weird but it's a lot of fun!) There are cultural groups out there too like Organizacion Latina Estudiantil (OLE), which is AWESOME. The other night, we had a dance party and it was all latin dancing. Even white kids, who didn't know how to dance salsa or merengue, got on the floor and had a good time. It was wonderful.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Your best bet is Pi Kappa, but I would also check out Sigma Chi (personally, I like AE Pi the best). Just text an upperclassmen and they'll tell you where the parties are. I'm not a huge fan of the Greek Life, but one thing that I do like is that they sponsor really cool activities. They had a Luau once sponsored by Sigma Chi, and because of how good the food was, we decided to go to their party that night. I would also go with people who know where to go and what they're doing. Otherwise, it won't be fun.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
Like I said, it is a city, so it's dangerous to walk around with no one. They dedicate an entire, mandatory morning to safety on campus, which I feel is important. One thing is that there are security guards everywhere. I was walking home from work (not late, but not early) and I didn't feel entirely safe until I saw the bright-yellow jacket. Those people know what they're doing. We also have many, many cameras that can detect suspicious activity and will send security or a police officer to the premises. One last and important safety tip is that we have these blue emergency lines. There are poles with a blue light on the top. If you don't feel safe or comfortable in any sort of way, you can press the button and a security guard will come to walk you back to your building. The buildings are very secure too. You need to swipe in to get into any residence hall and there are security guards who make sure no one sneaks in as well. Overall, I'm pleased with the amount of security and steps the school takes in order to increase campus safety.
Johns Hopkins University has truly brought together the ideal three characteristics of a school, in my perspective. The atmosphere is challenging but the people are willing to help. The education is top-notch, yet one must work for the desires grades, and there is a great deal of help from upperclassmen that I doubt is found at any other school.
Apply Early Decision! This shows commitment and a great want to attend their school. Just remember you are legally bonded to the school, if they accept you (and provide you with enough financial aid). You should also visit the school. Get the feel for the classes (attend a few lectures!) and sit down and talk to students. Walk into the Brody Learning Commons and just ask a few people how they like it there.
It's a lot of work, but it will only pile up if you LET it pile up. Just like in high school, you're going to get homework and assignments, but they will be weeklong assignments. With that being said, there is a reason why they give you a week to do it. The worst thing you can do is ignore it until the night before, because chances are, it's a lot more than a night's worth of work. Keep that in mind. Also, take classes that will ease you into the school. Taking all upper-level classes probably won't be the best thing to do.
I live in a single (yes! A freshman in a single, those are a rare breed.) And I absolutely love it. Most people opt for roommates because they like having someone to share a room with, which I completely understand. Sometimes, your roommate ends up being your best friend. The building I live in is suite-style so I share a bathroom with two other girls. Those girls are roommates and they barely talk. However, my guy friend has a roommate and they do everything together. The thing with Hopkins is that it's very luck-of-the-draw. The buildings are nice. Well-kept. CLEAN, but you also need to put in effort into keeping your room nice. As for the social aspect, the people are awesome. You can generally just walk into someone's room and just start talking to them. It's really awesome and everyone is very open.
Here's where I start getting picky. I love my school, and I'm grateful for the meal plans, but the food they provide is generally... well, not the best quality. I ate their eggs for breakfast and I felt sick afterwards. The bread is stale. Always. The one good thing about our cafe is the Home-Style food they have. Hearty mashed potatoes, green beans, and sometimes exotic dishes; those are your best bet. Either that or the pizza. The pizza is pretty popular too. Those aren't your only choices though. Being in a city, there are MANY restaurants around the campus including Subway, a Ledo's pizza, Chipotle, a Starbucks, a Korean place, and many, many cafes.
The first week, I remember I spent most of my time ON campus. The place is a decent size, but you always discover new things on the walk. We also have activities every day. ResLife makes sure that they keep up busy, but in the best way possible. Just to name a few activities, we had Celebrity Poker, Condom Bingo, TV Show Marathons with Pumpkin Pie, and many more! If you're not into the school-activity spirit, there are always frats that have parties on the weekends. If partying isn't your thing, there are always stores and places you can check out. Just a hop, skip, and a bus ride away, there's the Inner Harbor. It's one of the most touristy places in Baltimore, and it's really nice. There you can check out the Baltimore Aquarium, or the Science Museum, or a brand-new Ripley's Believe It Or Not. There are SO many things. You can also take the college shuttle (just a free bus for college students) to the Towson Town Mall. A very nice mall with 4 floors and a variety of stores and restaurants. You can even walk out by the plaza across the street, which has a hidden, Indie Store (complete with records and old-school CDs) and a Smoothie King! Just be sure never to go to these places alone. ALWAYS, have at least one other person with you. You will be living in the city.
The thing about Hopkins is that if they accept you there, you were chosen for a reason. Therefore, they WANT you to be there. The sticker price is $60,000, but in reality, not everyone pays the full price. They will provide you with scholarships, grants, and student loans that don't accrue interest while in school. You definitely get the bang for your buck, IF you use your resources wisely. Like I said, there are many upperclassmen who are willing to help, but you have to reach out to them. You can enjoy fancy-eating but if you do that too much, you'll be spending WAY more than you need to, on food.
People have tried to get up to the Gilman Bell Tower, yet I haven't heard of a successful story yet. One unusual thing about our school is that we celebrate our Homecoming during the spring. Why, do you ask? Well, our lacrosse team is D1, and one of the best in the nation. Whereas our football team is still very good! (I have a few football buddies) But, not as good as the lacrosse team. With that being said, our school spirit knows no bounds when it comes to our lacrosse Homecoming game. We get into it. Another thing that freshman do during Orientation is the Dorms Wars. We won this year (: It's legitimately a lot of fun. Music is blasting, people are playing relay games, and it feels like you're back in elementary school on Field Day.
Hard workers, but also, people who are willing to have a good time. Down-to-earth individuals. You don't have to think you're all that and a bag of chips because you probably will meet people who are WAY smarter than you. And that's just something you have to be willing to accept.
I joined this really cool club called MEDLIFE, because I'm pre-med and I really like travelling (so this club has two). The clubs and organizations are SO much fun. The religious groups are actually very active and this ranges from Christians, to Muslims, to Jewish people. There are plenty of pre-health clubs but also regular volunteering groups, like the Red Cross. Then of course, there are the sports, which are really fun. Although they're not the official teams, people know there is a lot less at stake so they don't take it as seriously. They are fun to watch. Another cool thing is you can get a gym membership and do things like Zumba (which sounds weird but it's a lot of fun!) There are cultural groups out there too like Organizacion Latina Estudiantil (OLE), which is AWESOME. The other night, we had a dance party and it was all latin dancing. Even white kids, who didn't know how to dance salsa or merengue, got on the floor and had a good time. It was wonderful.
Your best bet is Pi Kappa, but I would also check out Sigma Chi (personally, I like AE Pi the best). Just text an upperclassmen and they'll tell you where the parties are. I'm not a huge fan of the Greek Life, but one thing that I do like is that they sponsor really cool activities. They had a Luau once sponsored by Sigma Chi, and because of how good the food was, we decided to go to their party that night. I would also go with people who know where to go and what they're doing. Otherwise, it won't be fun.
Like I said, it is a city, so it's dangerous to walk around with no one. They dedicate an entire, mandatory morning to safety on campus, which I feel is important. One thing is that there are security guards everywhere. I was walking home from work (not late, but not early) and I didn't feel entirely safe until I saw the bright-yellow jacket. Those people know what they're doing. We also have many, many cameras that can detect suspicious activity and will send security or a police officer to the premises. One last and important safety tip is that we have these blue emergency lines. There are poles with a blue light on the top. If you don't feel safe or comfortable in any sort of way, you can press the button and a security guard will come to walk you back to your building. The buildings are very secure too. You need to swipe in to get into any residence hall and there are security guards who make sure no one sneaks in as well. Overall, I'm pleased with the amount of security and steps the school takes in order to increase campus safety.