Attention: JHU overcharges for everything and provides a miserable environment

Colleges and Universities A-Z Johns Hopkins University
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<p>This place is miserable. "Fun" disappeared long before I came here. If you've ever questioned the status quo, this place isn't for you.</p>

<p>Oh yah, and it costs a fortune. Think nearly 20$ meals that are cafeteria ****. And 4000/month for an "apartment," in a room which you'll share.</p>

<p>Unless you are filthy rich and only care about USNWR, avoid this **** like the plague.</p>

<p>I used to think there was such a thing as a selfless educator. I used to think Hopkins would offer that. Think again.</p>

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<p>so you like it there then?</p>

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<p>The only thing in that entire post that piques my interest is "if you've ever questioned the status quo, this place isn't for you." I'd like to hear what those examples are or if others don't feel this is true and see education as a avenue to question and explore everything, please offer concrete examples of those experiences.</p>

<p>While on the surface it does seem like an unsubstantiated rant, I don't mind the negative as long as it's constructive. Of course, it could just be a momentary lapse or an exercise in stress release. But sweeping statements are generally not helpful.</p>

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<p>I admit, "stress release" describes the timing of this post. However, the feelings have been persistent. </p>

<p>This place is miserable.
* My opinion of the place. Shared by many others. </p>

<p>"Fun" disappeared long before I came here. If you've ever questioned the status quo, this place isn't for you.</p>

<p><em>There is very little programing. This would be OK if kids did exciting things, however many (if not most) do not leave campus. Based on that statistic, one would expect the campus to be abuzz weekend evenings. No, the only buzz to be found is in the library. This is just perpetuation of a cutthroat academic environment. Kids just live in the illusion that it's insanely hard, based upon really hard tests that just end up getting curved. That is, a professor gives a test, you think, "wow this is </em>*-balls hard, I'm stupid" when that's the result everyone has. </p>

<p>Most clubs are academic, providing only resume boosting, rather than enjoyment.</p>

<p>Oh yah, and it costs a fortune. Think nearly 20$ meals that are cafeteria ****. And 4000/month for an "apartment," in a room which you'll share.</p>

<p>*Meal plans are way overpriced and required (so as to gain more $$ for the university), and there wasn't an unlimited dining option available this year, which requires binge eating throughout the day if you want to stay full.
5k+ for 14 or 19 meals per week equates to well over 10 dollars per meal, and since meals don't roll over, nor are they transferable, statistically, most students are paying much more. 9 month leases are really 8 months when you consider the breaks. 7.5-9 grand over those 8 months for a double-double works out to be about 4 grand per group per month. That doesn't reflect housing prices in urban Baltimore. </p>

<p>Unless you are filthy rich and only care about USNWR, avoid this **** like the plague.</p>

<p>*Most kids come here don't care about the previously mentioned stats, because it's a drop in the pond. Half of kids here don't receive any financial aide. So many kids here are so stuck up on the fact that this school has "prestige" and will yield them a "good" job. But, there's another measure of "good" that which you're doing for society. Playing with money numbers gets people in global financial crises, there's no utility to those jobs. </p>

<p>I used to think there was such a thing as a selfless educator. I used to think Hopkins would offer that. Think again. </p>

<p>*Most of the professors don't know how to teach, only research. We had a JHU-alum comedian come and he described it best: his first professor was a brain suspended in fluid on a wheelchair. Brilliant: yes. Educational: hardly.</p>

<p>No one here is questioning the nature of any of it, why else would they put up with it so willingly? There's nothing vocal. Just passssssive like a pasture.</p>

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<p>why so bitter? hopkins is a great school and many people love it..your gonna find expensive living in most cities and meal plans are generally pricey everywhere</p>

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<p>you're overcharged and miserbale</p>

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<p>What to do on weekends: Calendar</a> of Events
If you're not partying, this weekend you have an Egyptian Sun Bellydance
Spring concert, Witness Theater, a production at Johns Hopkins University theater and a piano concert.
I think the Marylander has studio apartments available for 9 month lease at ~$880/month.
My son has fun there but obviously YMMV. He spends little time in the library and yet has a 3.94 GPA. He has had dinner with several of his professors. I would definitely consider transferring in your case. I agree its pretty bad to pay a fortune and be miserable.</p>

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<p>As a parent whose daughter is at JHU, I cannot completely disagree with this post. There are definite truths here concerning the environment and the professors. If you're looking for a warm, nurturing place where the profs know your name, please know that this is not the place for you. Although there are exceptions, on my last visit with my daughter and her roommates, the group was very critical of the professors and their ability to teach undergrads, or their willingness to help them in any way. This is a great school for the right type of student, but in retrospect I believe that my daughter should have gone to William and Mary, which was her 2nd choice. The campus is beautiful and the school has a great reputation, but the environment is cold and uncaring in some ways. My daughter commented during her freshman year how strange it was that people didn't say "hello" to one another. She also said that after 3 years there is only 1 prof. that knows her name.</p>

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<p>The same complaints can be and are made about every top research university. Tthe OP is also not alone in expressing these complaints, but he is wrong in suggesting that these sentiments are the majority opinion or widespread. To the contrary, surveys have repeatedly demonstrated that the vast majority of Hopkins students are happy with the experience. More importantly, surveys of alumni (who have the benefit of of perspective after a period of time) show that most view the experience at Hopkins as very positive. A Hopkins degree is a very valuable commodity in our competitive world. </p>

<p>It is true that Hopkins (and all other great research institutions) promote faculty primarily on their research and writing--that does not mean that they may not also be great teachers. Many (admittedly not all) are.</p>

<p>And yes, Hopkins is expensive--but so are the Ivies, Stanford, MIT, Duke, etc.</p>

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<p>Today's Newsletter has an article about a student conducted survey that shows (not surprisingly) that one's satisfaction with the Hopkins undergraduate experience is directly linked to the student's involvement in activities, and leadership. SGA</a> reports satisfaction among student leaders - News & Features</p>

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<p>At jennsmom, what is your daughter's major? If we're talking something like BME or International Relations, or some other very big major, then yes, the professors are less likely to know your name. But in smaller (and still great) programs, the professors will learn your name, especially at the upper levels. And this is especially the case if you make an effort to get to know your professors.</p>

<p>True, some of the professors/instructors here are horrible and I would sign on for them to be fired in a second. But most are very good if you actually make an effort to know them. In my major (math), every professor I've ever had has known me personally.</p>

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<p>Johns Hopkins is certainly not the place for everyone just like dartmouth, duke or Texas A&M are not for everyone. </p>

<p>I take the above comments as the experience of 1 student of 5,000, posting on an anonymous message board and not the general concensus about the institution. </p>

<p>Nice to see the student leader satisfaction survey bonanza... thanks for posting that.</p>

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<p>JHan it is a shame your experience is so dismal. JHU is obviously not the place for you. We think Hopkins is a diamond in the rough, a true gem. My S is a junior, economics major and his experience has been extremely positive. In terms of professors and their relationships with students, he has found many to be personal and extremely approachable. Never has he had a professor tell him he/she didn't have time or pass him off to a T.A. I went to one of his philosophy classes last year and was stunned by the interaction the professor provided during the hour long class. With 50 students in attendance the professor taught the class like a small seminar. He knew almost everyone by name and encouraged participation. According to my S this was typical not atypical of many of his classes.
My S is an outgoing fun student who is involved in many things from athletics to community service. He works also works on campus. I now know many of his friends both male and female who are well rounded, well adjusted fun students with a wide variety of majors and interests. These kids get off campus and explore Baltimore, get out of town to Wash DC and other places on the train ($7).
If your looking for a huge party school this is not the place. These are serious students who also have fun. There's always something artsy or entertaining on campus. Great speakers and groups come to campus. Kids study in groups all the time. My S says that even his pre-med and engineering friends are not cut throat--serious, but not cut-throat.
If you are thinking about Hopkins don't but be turned away the negative chatter until you've research a little more. The people at Hopkins want the students to succeed on every level.</p>

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<p>My son graduated from JHU last May- and really loved it there. He was an athlete on an excellent team- so he was instantly involved. Did he have some so-so/not very good professors? Yes he did. But he will tell you that most were very good- to downright amazing. He was a computer engineering major/ business and entrepreneurship minor- and had an excellent rapport with his professors- who all knew him by name. He is now in an amazing job- and says that the quality of education that he received was top notch.</p>

<p>Hopkins is not for everyone- nor is Yale, Harvard, Swarthmore, Cal, UCLA, etc. The important thing is to find the right fit. But I believe that it is essential at ANY college to find you niche and join clubs,government, club athletics, religious or political organizations, fraternities/sororities, etc- anything to meet people with similar interests to find a sense of belonging- and to meet like minded individuals. The college experience is definately what you make of it.</p>

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<p>i've heard lotsa people complain about hopkins, and i've reached a conclusion -- i don't think that hopkins makes students unhappy; i think that hopkins attracts a lot of unhappy students. >:]</p>

<p>sorry you're not having a good time, though. i'm sure things'll get better! the way i see it, in a school that's not tiny, anyone can find a niche in which they'll have a lot of fun. it's just pretty hard to find that niche in some cases.</p>

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<p>^ Hehe, Poseur, that's a good way of looking at it.</p>

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<p>Basically, there are students who don’t know happiness. There are kids who’ve been censored and restricted since their infancy. The Hop’s set of restrictions doesn’t faze them. They live in a cloud of smoke that hides the reality, the society. They will go on to have corporate lives, amassing a small fortune, checking that off. But does that foster meaning? </p>

<p>Kids who are “happy” are just so relieved to be out of their helicopter parents’ homes. </p>

<p>It’s TV society. </p>

<p>What to do on weekends: Calendar of Events
If you’re not partying, this weekend you have an Egyptian Sun Bellydance
Spring concert, Witness Theater, a production at Johns Hopkins University theater and a piano concert.
<em>**Oh wow, sounds like fun!
I think the Marylander has studio apartments available for 9 month lease at ~$880/month.
*</em><em>Not available, because students are locked into Univ. Housing.
My son has fun there but obviously YMMV. He spends little time in the library and yet has a 3.94 GPA. He has had dinner with several of his professors. I would definitely consider transferring in your case. I agree its pretty bad to pay a fortune and be miserable.
</em> Kids who come from helicopter parents find “happiness” because they do not know the difference between free joy and an illusional happiness. </p>

<p>The same complaints can be and are made about every top research university. Tthe OP is also not alone in expressing these complaints, but he is wrong in suggesting that these sentiments are the majority opinion or widespread. To the contrary, surveys have repeatedly demonstrated that the vast majority of Hopkins students are happy with the experience. More importantly, surveys of alumni (who have the benefit of of perspective after a period of time) show that most view the experience at Hopkins as very positive. A Hopkins degree is a very valuable commodity in our competitive world.</p>

<p>**Your last sentence describes the perspective of the happy students. Happy in their greed, when the fact is, a state degree is just as profitable.</p>

<p>*** Most students are unhappy. Surveys are inaccurate and do not reflect the sentiment you actually feel on campus. This is widespread. Show me these surveys that say students are happy. </p>

<p>“In light of this survey, they plan to develop suggestions for how the administration could improve the mental health of the undergraduate population.” Wow, that wouldn’t be needed on a happy campus?
*** Most activities are academic, there is no release. </p>

<p>He was an athlete on an excellent team- so he was instantly involved. </p>

<p>*** Atheletes tend to get hammered and enjoy that. Vapid, but </p>

<p>i’ve heard lotsa people complain about hopkins, and i’ve reached a conclusion – i don’t think that hopkins makes students unhappy; i think that hopkins attracts a lot of unhappy students. >:]</p>

<p>*** I was the happiest student/kid on the block before this place. I am still happy when I leave.</p>

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<p>And I hate to sound like some counter-culture jerk, but really, that’s what it’s come down to. The “cool” kids here are just hipsters, our society’s vapidity.</p>

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<p>I’m currently a senior at JHU, and I have to agree with the OP. Most of my friends either “don’t like” Hopkins or “hate” it here. Yes, Hopkins does attract the type of student who is very motivated, and probably spent most of their high school years studying or doing some other activity to get them go to an Ivy or at least top 20. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that the OP is wrong in all his accusations against Hopkins. </p>

<p>First, I think the reason why this place makes many students unhappy is because of the work load. I’m a natural sciences pre-med, so I cannot speak for engineering or humanities majors. But even in my senior year, taking the minimum number of credits, I still have to study most of the time. My happiest years here were freshman year and junior year, and I can tell you why. Freshman year –> mostly play no work, didn’t care much about grades, and hung out with friends a lot. Hence, I ended up with a 3.1 that semester, but had a lot of fun. Junior year –> easy work load (although max number of credits) and interesting classes. So i ended up with a 3.9 year but didn’t have much outside contact. </p>

<p>So yes, there ARE happy students here. However, MOST of them, are either those gifted enough to be not have to study 24/7 to earn an A, or their major/program is more relaxed then pre-med or BME or engineering. As far as “there are so many things to do at hopkins, you just have to look for it” well if you have 3 papers and 2 exams in 2 weeks, would you REALLY have time to go watch some belly dance thing? I’m not exaggerating, in my sophomore year, I had an exam about every other week, and I was ALWAYS studying. </p>

<p>Overall, the blame is not entirely on Hopkins. Many, if not most, students who decided to come here have already anticipated it would be a lot of work. If you get through this place, it DEFINITELY makes you a better person. Some people drink their way through college and can’t hold a steady job when they get out, and others (like Hopkins) work their *** through college, and get $40 thousand dollar raise in 2 years (yes I know both of those examples). So it’s really your choice. If you thought coming here would be just like any other college, you’re wrong. It’s just a matter of whether you are willing to work.</p>

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<p>Interesting perspective. I do however find that there is downtime from study, it’s just not utilized in a traditional college way. Kids instead opt for watching anime in their rooms rather than going out and doing things.</p>