Johns Hopkins University Top Questions

I think there are a lot of good things about Hopkins, but that it can be also a really hard place at times too. It's a good size, small enough to really feel like you're in a community and can make a difference, but large enough to still always have new people to meet. It's also in a great location. I think Baltimore is a really great college city, and I travel to DC, Philadelphia and New York easily. It's a pretty politically apathetic school however, which can be frustrating at times. A big complaint about Hopkins is just that it's really decentralized. There's not really much Hopkins pride and so there can be a lot of disconnect between people. People make good solid friends, but there's not this big common bond like one sees at a big state school like Michigan. I'd say a lot of kids struggle socially. That being said, there are so many academic opportunities available to students. There are so many research grants people can apply for, and the school really does attract famous people regularly to come and speak. So in that regard, it feels special.

When I first got into Johns Hopkins, I was super excited! I was 18 and finally going to be away from home with some freedom and a chance to make my own mistakes. Unfortunately, leaving home means not having your family there one hundred percent of the time. I became extremely homesick and hated being in Baltimore. But over the years, I grew up and learned to love Hopkins. Overall, the school is academically challenging but still fun. Although we're all nerds and need to get our homework done before attending that Friday nights frat party, we manage. With Hopkins, location is everything. Being in the city is great because there are lots to do and lots of different forms of cheap/free transportation. Being a medium sized school with about 5,000 enrollees, it is sometimes hard to see new faces but since we're in the center of a college town, meeting new people off campus is super easy. The administration is supportive of all student endeavors and there are staff that can help you with just about everything. I love being at Hopkins and I am definitely going to miss it when I leave. The lacrosse games, the stressful finals, the international students, and the excessive amount of things to do - academic and otherwise - made it all worth it.

I think there are a lot of good things about Hopkins, but that it can be also a really hard place at times too. It's a good size, small enough to really feel like you're in a community and can make a difference, but large enough to still always have new people to meet. It's also in a great location. I think Baltimore is a really great college city, and I travel to DC, Philadelphia and New York easily. It's a pretty politically apathetic school however, which can be frustrating at times. A big complaint about Hopkins is just that it's really decentralized. There's not really much Hopkins pride and so there can be a lot of disconnect between people. People make good solid friends, but there's not this big common bond like one sees at a big state school like Michigan. I'd say a lot of kids struggle socially. That being said, there are so many academic opportunities available to students. There are so many research grants people can apply for, and the school really does attract famous people regularly to come and speak. So in that regard, it feels special.

I LOVE HOPKINS! I never would've chosen to go anywhere else. It's an awesome city, with so much to do and see. The Inner Harbor is awesome and you can get there for free with various means of free transportation offered around the city. Baltimore is close to New York City and D.C so if you don't like Baltimore you're not stuck here. But, honestly this whole semester I haven't even wanted to leave campus because there's so much awesome stuff to do on campus - sports, plays, outdoors trips, a cappella concerts, parties, etc. Although school spirit isn't a big deal at Hopkins and sports aren't the center point of the school there are so many extracurricular activities you can go to that you will never get bored! One night last week I went straight from class to a jazz concert and then to a pie eating contest and straight to a performance in one of the dining halls and then to an inter mural water polo game at night! If I could change one thing it would be that people actually had school spirit at least with lacrosse. When I tell people I go to Hopkins they usually immediately ask if I'm Pre-Med, which I am not - I am a Sociology Major. But, the humanities departments are so amazing at Hopkins I would never have chosen anything else!

One of the first things you'll realize about this place, is that it's fun. Despite the academic rigor in place, Hopkins affiliates have a sense of humor. Students regularly receive videos of flash mobs or lip dubs to funny Hopkins jingles. Even the deans and the staff are involved! I remember for April Fool's Day during my sophomore year, Hopkins wrote an article about finally surrendering to frustration and removing the 's' from Johns [Hopkins], and even photoshopped photographs of staff removing the letter 's' from landmark signs. I didn't expect Hopkins to participate (so cleverly!) in April Fool's Day - what highly ranked school really embraces its inner child? Hopkins may surprise you, but it will not bore you.

I love Hopkins. It's really the perfect size school: not so large that you do not recognize anyone on campus, but not so small that you met your entire class during orientation either. Students here are friendly, brilliantly-smart and talented. The Hopkins name is recognized worldwide (I come from Europe so I have seen this firsthand) for its academic rigor. The nightlife is fun, and Greek life is open to everyone (even those who are non-Greek). My favorite place on campus is Gilman Hall's Hutzler reading room (aka The Hut), a beautiful room with large stained-glass windows that you can study or relax under. If you want a world-renowned school with friendly and very intelligent students and faculty, Hopkins is a great fit for you.

Johns Hopkins has a little of something, for a little of the everyone you'll find on and off campus. There is a school of engineering and a school for the arts and sciences, so between the two, there are plenty of classes from which to choose, and many excited classes to take with equally exciting faculty members. Unlike common perceptions of big research institutions, Hopkins has an unbelievably accessible administration, full of eager staff, up to and including the deans, who will help students navigate any and all problems they may come across in their time in Baltimore. In this respect, Hopkins is a truly remarkable place. Sports aren't very big on campus with the exception of Lacrosse, which is huge, thanks to our Division I, National Championship-winning team, that frequently draws a full stadium to its games in the Spring season. It's to get excited about, and Homecoming is an attraction for current and former students alike.

I love how diverse this school is. Here, there is literally a place for everyone to fit in, grow, and succeed. To be honest, I was intimidated to attend such a caliber school and I was not sure what to expect. But instead in the past couple of years, I’ve found that the students here are so dedicated and have many passions in different areas - academics, athletics, community service, and it goes on. It’s amazing, really. I’ve really come to appreciate and respect the different cultures, backgrounds, and knowledge they possess.

JHU has a gorgeous campus. The buildings are brick and beautiful and the foliage looks beautiful, even in the winter. People are usually impressed that I go to Hopkins (even though they normally assume I mean that I'm in the med school...). I spend most of my hanging out time at Hillel, where I am actively involved (Jewish group on campus). A lot of people hang out in the library, I'm not kidding. Hopkins is really nerdy.

You get respect for having attended Hopkins. I chose it because it was a relatively small self-contained liberal arts school with the major city amenities and internship opportunities of Washington DC nearby. The environment promoted an informal and friendly atmosphere among professors and classmates. My most memorable experiences were with the friends I made in my freshman dorm. I remember there were always parties, social events and opportunities do those silly and crazy things that you only really do in college.