<p>I want to major in physics, but I also want D1 sports, a community atmosphere, and a great city right near me. If I go to BC, and I want to go to grad school for physics, will that hurt me in the grad school admissions process because I didnt go to the better school?</p>
<p>By every objective measure, Hopkins would be better. But it's not Mercedes vs. Yugo. More like Mercedes vs. Cadillac. However, your undergrad GPA will have a lot to do with your grad school admissions. In other words, a 3.7 at BC would be better than a 3.2 at Hopkins. And if you really do like D1 sports, a community atmosphere, and a great city, it's no contest. Just be prepared for people who will blast you for not using the US News rankings as your one and only compass on this voyage.</p>
<p>Grad school admissions is mainly a numbers game. Your undergrad school doesn't play any role in admissions</p>
<p>For example: Journalist Rob Parker of the Detroit News did his undergrad at Western (or maybe central) Connecticut State University and went to Columbia University for grad school.</p>
<p>If you are interested in grad school in Physics, consider looking at the cv's of the faculties at a few dozen highly respected research universities (and institutes) and see where THEY went to school as undergraduates. I assume that it would be too difficult to research where their current grad students/interns went as undergrads. It may be a "numbers" game (GRE, GPA) but at the higher tiers what also counts highly (if not most) is what undergrad professor makes a phone call to what grad school professor. This is a very individualized process and if the grad school faculty does/doesn't repect their colleagues at one university or another (for whatever reason) it can help/hurt your chances. You may simply want to ask the chairs of the respective physics departments where they have former undergraduates studying NOW.</p>
<p>J. Hopkins name will definitely do well for you in grad school admissions should you do well there.</p>
<p>I've been to a BC football game--great time and the college is in Beantown--love it.</p>
<p>Hopkins has Baltimore and it isnt a bad city at all--and close to philly & D.C. only D1 sport is, of course, lacrosse. </p>
<p>I would say quality of academics is better at Hopkins</p>
<p>Good luck</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>yes I know that lax is the only d1 sport at JHU, in fact I have a friend going there as a lax recruit next year. But a very good friend of mine is going to Harvard for lax next year so if I went to BC i could see his games, which I would like more probably.</p>
<p>Pretty much it comes down to this: do I go where I like more or do I go for the higher ranking?</p>
<p>It is sad that that last question even has to be asked.</p>
<p>people always say go where you would be more happy, but do they really mean that? I am just saying that I would feel bad declining JHU since it is the only top 20 school that I got into.</p>
<p>1) JHU is 45 minutes from Penn and 90 minutes from Princeton. If your friend is playing for Harvard you'll be able to see his games at those Ivy League schools. And if you're studying physics seriously you're not going to have all that much time to be hanging out at other schools' Lax games. If the only serious reason that you are thinking of BC is your friend's games, go to JHU.</p>
<p>2) OTOH, it is easier to study and excell in an environment in which you are happy. If the only reason that you are considering JHU is because of a ranking, and you feel that you otherwise will be miserable there, AND you for whatever reason think you'll be significantly happier at BC, go to BC.</p>
<p>Parents on this site have different opinions about many topics, but I'd bet that almost all would agree with one thing: Life is short. You're only going to go to college once. Go where you will feel most comfortable. The work -- and grad school opportunities -- will follow.</p>
<p>no I am considering BC for more reasons than watching Harvard lax haha, and I think I will be happier attending BC. I hope I will have a different feeling about JHU when I visit next week (I went there once already)</p>
<p>If you will be happier at BC, go to BC and to hell with the rankings. You will do better in your classes if you are happier, and a good GPA from BC is better than a lower GPA from Hopkins.</p>
<p>If you love beautiful women, go to BC. If you love a phenomenal sports atmosphere, go to BC. It appears as though you and I will be making similar decisions, ckmets! I'll probably be going to Georgetown, where I'll be happier, can watch amazing basketball, and can watch a friend play sports (he'll be playing soccer and basketball at Goucher which is only an hour away).</p>
<p>Are you visiting BC this Saturday? I've almost ruled out BC, but I signed up to see if they change my mind. Plus I'm only like 20 minutes away.</p>
<p>yea I will be at BC this saturday</p>
<p>Look for me. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bpb5%5B/url%5D">http://www.myspace.com/bpb5</a>. I'm that goon.</p>