For current and former students, how would you characterize the atmosphere at JHU? I’ve heard from some recent grads that they felt stressed and that it was a competitive environment; how true do most people find this to be? I understand that college is stressful and competition will likely always be present, but is JHU more competitive/stressful than other schools of its standing? For students who did attend, did you ever regret going?
The fact their supplement stresses collaboration would make me think otherwise, but I would like to hear thoughts of those who have attended.
Totally subjective opinion based on past experience:
You’ll have every opportunity to study with the smartest people you’ll ever meet–both faculty and other students.
It’s competitive in the sense that those students always have studied seriously, are demonstratively talented, and would not settle for a less stimulating environment: Every person deserves their place and wants to be there.
You may have the sense of riding a wave of excellence that lifts you–raises your goals, your intellectual quality, and what you demand of yourself. The collaborative aspect is typical of JHU’s tradition of collegial research–a very long, well-documented tradition of that. (You can find proof in the medical archives.)
Esprit de corps among genuinely engaged students is exhilarating. It may intimidate you at first, but hang in there, the effort you make will substantiate your right to be there. You will want to work. You will inspire others too.
It’s hard to imagine a more active community–literally daily symposia and lectures you’ll want to attend; your mind will expand.
You’ll miss it when you leave. (Who wouldn’t?)
You’ll be working in a top-notch, well-funded context, where funding for whatever you want to do will be available if your ideas have merit.
Socially, it seemed less tense than, say, the University of Chicago.
Be alert whenever you travel through Baltimore. Crime rate is high. But it’s worth spending time off campus for a variety of (crab) restaurants, music, sightseeing, and museums.
Lucky you!
Thank you so much for your perspective! I’ll have to revisit this should I get accepted come April.
JHU is hard because the professors know that students are typically high-achieving and ambitious. Your professors will be top-tier and so will your classmates. Although there isn’t any direct sabotage or cutthroat behavior, there is a definite sense of competitiveness among students, especially since many classes are based on a curve or are normalized.
On the other hand, the academic rigor of JHU results in a very collaborative learning environment. People work together to do practice tests and problem sets and this is honestly my favorite part of Hopkins
Current JHU sophomore btw