Johns Hopkins Undergraduate Work

[Guarino3]

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Hey guys, I am pretty new here. I am currently a high school junior who is at the peak of his college searching. I found a school I really like and to which I plan applying early decision, Johns Hopkins. I am aware that it is not school that gives A's out easily, however I think I am capable of doing well. Would you recommend going to a competetive school like this, or one that isn't as academically rigorous but I can get a higher GPA? Do medical schools realize that JHU is tougher than [some] other schools and therefore recognize that it is equivalent to a higher GPA elsewhere? Lastly, for any JHU students, is it really as cutthroat as people try to make it seems? Thanks for the help!


--Mike--

 

[DarkChild]

so....
why exactly have you lighted upon JHU?
btw - have you visited the school? i highly reccomend it 😉
are they binding early decisions?

 

[bujji13]

Guarino,

Hey there. I'm a senior at JHU, I'm glad that you're interested in applying. You're absolutely correct that most professors at Hopkins don't hand out good grades. But, frankly, that's not really a Hopkins-policy, it's a college-policy. Getting strong grades in difficult science courses is hard to do at any school. If it is a little more difficult to do so at Hopkins, it's because the vast majority of students in those pre-med classes are willing to study....hard. But that is something you will also find at Stanford, the Ivy Leagues, etc.

As far as preference for medical school, this is always debatable. In all likelihood, it doesn't matter very much where someone goes to school, since med schools like to enroll people from everywhere. My advice: just pick a school where you think you'll be happy and do well.

Finally, NO, it isn't anywhere near as cutthroat as some people say. I have never run into any trouble of this kind in the past 4 years. If there is a reason for this rumour, it is probably because we tend to have a lot of pre-meds here, who also happen to be very-hardworking in general. If you come to visit, I think you will find what I have: that Hopkins kids are friendly, helpful, smart, and very focused. This may translate into "cutthroat" for some people, but I don't think the atmosphere at JHU is overly competitive at all.

Good Luck!

 

[Guarino3]

Originally posted by DarkChild
so....
why exactly have you lighted upon JHU?
btw - have you visited the school? i highly reccomend it 😉
are they binding early decisions?

Yes, JHU is binding early decision. I really like the intelectually stimulating environment that seems to exist there. Also, the faculty is amazing, I would be studying under some of the most intelligent people I will ever come into contact with. I just really get a good feeling from the school; I was just worried about the cutthroat nature that was rumored to exist.

 

[Guarino3]

bujji13,


Thanks for the response. From what I can tell from the research I have done on Hopkins, it is the place for me. You can see why in the post I directed towards someone else on this thread. I was just really concerned that it would be *too* hard, but then I thought to myself that if I couldn't handle undergrad, how would I handle medical school? I have yet to do an actual on campus visit yet but I plan to in early May. By the way, are there any great profs you recommend that I sit in on a class with? Another question, are students, more specifically pre-med students helpful? Is there a large group dynamic, like "we're all in this together," or is it like "every man for himself"? Thanks


--Mike--

 

[jwin]

keep in mind that everyone who gets into a good school for undergrad is pretty sure that they are going to do so as well and are prepared to put in the time to do well.

unless you are masochistic, i would not advice going to deflationary grading schools to do premed work. you can go to schools with similar reputations that afford you similar opportunities academically and socially, still make you work hard, but do not make you become obsessed with your science classes. learning the minutia in order to beat the curve is not going to make you a better doc; it is just going to make you crazy.

i go to wash u, and i love it. however, i hate the grading of the science classes. i know a lot of people who were unnecessarily weeded out of premed because of our science classes. these are smart people who work hard but were just abused by the grading system.

some super gunners may love this crap, but what can i say, they are gunners. if you derive self worth by being one of the 20 people in your class of 400 to get an A, then go to a school that will abuse you.

 

[bujji13]

Guarino,

As far as great profs, try to find a class taught by Principe, he teaches in humanities and chem. The Cell Bio class is also a good lecture to visit. Also, try to sit in on some classes in the department you're intersted in. I don't know if there is a collective group dynamic amongst all students at any school , to be honest. A lot of people are friendly and willing to help, and there are also those that keep to themselves. So I really can't answer that. But I can tell you that, during freshman year, I would go to the library to study with friends the night before an Orgo exam, and I could pretty much count on people I didn't really know to help me out if I had a question, or if I wanted a copy of a practice test, etc. Whenever someone says that Hopkins is cutthroat/competitive, I always tend to remember that, because it seems so opposite to my own experiences there.

Jwin,

I don't really know anything about how grades work at WashU, but I wouldn't call JHU's grading deflation. It probably just seems that way because there are a lot of people willing to work hard enough to get A's. In any case, I doubt I was "abused" into studying that much harder to get A's than students at other schools do.

 

[Guarino3]

bujji13,

Thank you so much for your replies, they really have put my mind at ease over the whole cutthroat issue. Now I just have to worry about getting admitted.lol...I am pretty set on apply early, pending the school visit. As a senior, are there any things you suggest I do to make my application be viewed upon in a more favorable light? Thanks again, and best of luck to you in whatever field you pursue.

 

[bujji13]

Guarino,

As far as the application goes, I don't really have any specific tips; I'm sure they essay questions have changed in the past 4 years. I would just spend a good deal of time on the essays though; this goes for any school, the essays can count a lot in these applications.

One thing that may help your application is to visit the admissions office when you go to look at the school, and sign up for an optional interview. I didn't do it myself, but I almost positive that it would help your application.

Good luck!

 

[Guarino3]

THANKS!

 

[Thewonderer]

Two very important things....

1) If you have any doubt about any school, please don't apply ED since it is binding. If you HAVE to apply to a school ED because you think that it is easy to get in statistically through ED (that's true and that's why I am against ED), then might as well pick a dream school out of a hat.

2) Intellectual stimulation... All schools can give you stimulation. But be aware, most of the people around you, be at Hopkins, Stanford, Yale or Harvard, don't care about intellectual stimulation. Most kids here and there are practical. College to them is a stepping stone toward the BEST med school, law school, grad school or the coveted Investment Banking or Management Consulting job out there. So if given a choice, your fellow classmates will work hard, NOT for intellectual stimulation, but instead for GRADES. Once you get over that disillusion, you will feel much better in college knowing the real truth....

 

[Dr. Kermit]

I'm in the middle of exams, but I can answer any questions you have about Hopkins next week if you want. Just PM me.

 

[Guarino3]

Thanks, I will PM you next week sometime.