Advice for a Potential Hopkins Transfer Student

<p>To those who responded to an earlier post. I've decided definitely against accepting transfer to Boston College and am looking for persuasive information on Johns Hopkins.</p>

<p>I recently found out I was accepted at Johns Hopkins as a junior for the Fall 2006 semester. I'm hoping this might be the right place to ask for some advice regarding my transfer decision. Here's my backstory:</p>

<p>I attended Cornell the first semester of my freshman year, but transferred to the University of Scranton (closer to home) where I've since been. As a recovering Cornell biology major, I realized my passions lay elsewhere and wanted to use Scranton as a stepping stone to figure out exactly what I wanted to do with my life.</p>

<p>At Scranton, I discovered my love for Psychology and rekindled my obsession with Film. I've also continued my study of French. However, Scranton only offers a "Communication" major with a "Film" track. To study film and find like-minded individuals (we don't even have a film club--and we're woefully conservative), I'd have to travel elsewhere. The issue is, however, that I don't actually want to direct or write films--but rather work somewhere in the industry. (Exactly what sort of job, I'm not sure--but I would like to find a job that allows for creativity and some form of personal expression).</p>

<p>So I'm presently at a crossroad. Though I'd love to work in the film industry, I worry that a "Film Studies" major (with a double major in "Psychology") at JHU would be too specific. Perhaps doing a triple major at Scranton (Psych, French, and Comm--with Comm tracks in "film" and "journalism") would be more advantageous--since I will definitely be attending grad school?</p>

<p>If I stay at Scranton (where I have a 4.0 GPA), I was offerred a job in the Foreign Languages department and (more substantially) offered a research position in the Psychology department (I would likely be able to travel to Boston to help present my professor's research project). Though I certainly need to escape the area, I know this opportunity will exist upon enrolling in grad school (when, perhaps, I'll be more secure in my post-college pursuits).</p>

<p>However, I fear staying at Scranton might be the easy way out. Though I feel secure here and have created a niche, perhaps I'd be screwing myself out of potential opportunities at JHU. But then again, I WOULD be entering JHU as a junior, and it would take time to acclimate and take advantage of those opportunities. Though Scranton is small, I can certainly more visibly accel (and we have a great Psych program that gets Ivy League graduate placements). Is the name JHU really worth it? (I'm also a little concerned about how financial aid will work at JHU--for, at Cornell (which provides full need-based financial aid), I was able to take out loans for what I couldn't afford.</p>

<p>haha--Well for those who have braved my ambivalence, I hope some of you might be able to offer some (ANY!) advice to help influence my decision. Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond!</p>

<p>Michael</p>

<p>Disregarding the specific programs, I for one would not be able to transfer AGAIN, especially during your junior year. If you have a 4.0 and Scranton's program is respected I doubt it will make much of a difference to a graduate school. I'd just stay where you are if you are happy!</p>

<p>i disagree----in the long run, ppl DO care where u went to school</p>

<p>JHU is one of the premier institutions, and i can't say the same about ur current school, though Cornell was one as well.</p>

<p>People care alot where you went to school, especially in industries like film where unless you grew up in LA and have a local network, a prestigious degree is literally one of the only other paths in. I would go to JHU, not even close. A 4.0 from scranton means nothing within the industry. I work in media and have two Ivy degrees, and I am managing people 20 years older than myself.</p>

<p>go to jhu. i'm from the south jersey/pa area also.</p>

<p>even the people that live here have never even heard of scranton.</p>