<p>I am majoring in Biology. So i thought the obvious choice would be JHU-- but I love Literature and the Humanities. I know JHU has a good literature/Humanities department. But I've heard that Columbia's department is obviously better. I am worried by what I've heard to be Columbia's lack of a campus. I also love to discuss and debate local/interantional events so I want to be with a very active student body. But JHU is supposed to be excellent for Biology. I want to know what people think of NYC vs. Baltimore. Also, at Columbia and JHU-- what is the quality of the professors and how they interact with students?</p>
<p>Columbia: </p>
<ol>
<li>More prestigious </li>
<li>It’s campus, while small, is still nice. Plus you have NYC to enjoy yourself in. </li>
<li>The student body at Columbia is hardcore. You will meet future leaders, politicians, etc. if you decide to go to Columbia. </li>
<li>Less cutthroat. </li>
</ol>
<p>Johns Hopkins: </p>
<ol>
<li>Cutthroat </li>
<li>Baltimore < New York City</li>
<li>JHU Undergrad is not equal to JHU Med School. Not even close…</li>
</ol>
<p>The biology departments at both schools, for Undergrad, are probably around equal. People often equate Johns Hopkins Med School with the Undergrad school, which simply isn’t true.</p>
<p>what about vs. Cornell?
people at Cornell seem to be really close-knit. It seems like a lovely family atmosphere. I don’t know what to do.</p>
<p>I would never attend Johns Hopkins because of the extraneous ‘s’ in its name.</p>
<p>I would choose Columbia over Cornell. Cornell is in the middle of nowhere, which I suppose is okay if you are into that sort of thing. However, the general consensus is that Columbia’s academic programs are better than those found at Cornell, with the exception of engineering. Plus, since I’m assuming that you want to become a doctor, there are TONS of amazing hospitals in the New York City area that you could intern at. </p>
<p>Really, let’s be blunt here. I’m not one who generally cares for rank or things like that, but Columbia is at a whole different level than Cornell or Johns Hopkins.</p>
<p>CORUMBIAAA</p>
<p>10char</p>
<p>you know Columbia really isn’t THAT much more prestigious than JHU.
JHU has topped ranked programs many ranking higher than Columbia at the undergrad level.</p>
<p>Now the question comes down to where you feel more comfortable. I have a friend that HATED Columbia…he transferred out after his 1st year. His reason? The student body of Columbia wasn’t a close knit group…students would leave the small campus whenever they had the chance. NYC is great but it’s def not a city for everyone…especially those who enjoy to take a moment and look at nature or actually see stars in the sky (lol I’m like this). Both JHU and Columbia are in urban areas.</p>
<p>People complain about Baltimore, but I visited and the city def has charm. I love the historic houses in (I think it’s called) Charles village or Fell’s Point?..and DC is right there which is great for a poli/international studies major like me.
I spoke to a JHU chem major ans she said that she has had amazing opportunities for her own research. She applied for and got the $10,000 ww fellowship and she used that to develop her research…I can’t really remember what her research was about lol but it sounded impressive. JHU has a small student body with tons of research grants designated for them.
As a bio major, contacting an JHU medical school professor and asking to do research, etc with them is also a possibility. </p>
<p>So the decision should really be based upon where you are most comfortable. The prestige factor is def not that much of a difference. I’ve met pretty impressive people at both places.
If this was an argument about Harvard, Yale, or Princeton vs JHU then I would go with HYP.
But you’re talking about Columbia…i mean come on.</p>
<p>Columbia…And I’m completely unbiased; didn’t apply to Cornell, Columbia or JHU. It’s the most prestigious, in the best location and isn’t as cutthroat.</p>
<p>bump 10char.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>What the hell are you going on about? Columbia has the most noble laureates associated with its school than any other school in the country. Furthermore, the top 4 colleges in the country are, according to US News, </p>
<ol>
<li>Harvard</li>
<li>Princeton</li>
<li>Yale</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
</ol>
<p>Johns Hopkins undergrad pales in comparison… nay, it sucks in comparison. Yeah, JHU is an amazing school and its medical school is tops, but it loses to Columbia across the board for undergrad. </p>
<p>I believe that the OP just wants to go to JHU undergrad because she/he thinks that it will make it easier to go to Johns Hopkins Medical School. Columbia University would fare just as well in that race.</p>
<p>I’d choose Cornell, but that decision would be partly based on the fact that I’m not too fond of large cities.</p>
<p>Actually I am one of those rare biology majors who doesn’t really want to be a doctor when I grow up. Ever since, I was a ten-year old, I’ve wanted to use science to help solve the world’s problems like (AIDS/Alzheimer’s Disease/Schizophrenia). Sure, it’s kind of cliche but I really want to be a scientific researcher.</p>
<p>bumpity bump</p>
<p>What does everybody mean by ‘cutthroat?’</p>
<p>As long as cost is similar, I’d go with Columbia.</p>
<p>I would pick wherever you think would be the most happiest at and where you you think you’d FIT in at. Don’t listen to this BS on CC about which program is more prestigious. SERIOUSLY who cares if Columbia bio is like #8 and JHU’s is #3. JHU sounds kind of boring 
but that’s just my opinion…</p>
<p>I would pick Columbia! I’d also consider Cornell too but Ithaca is a pretty ****ty city…but I’ve heard Cornell’s really fun and huge. But i can imagine the student body being more friendly/close-knit at Cornell. I’ve heard that the kids at Columbia are intellectual and not as friendly…and a lot of the parties are usually off campus. Oh yeahh, Columbia has some kind of CORE curriculum…also look into that.</p>
<p>so if I had to pick it would be Columbia vs. Cornell. But make sure to visit both though to get a feel of what it might be like there…</p>
<p>Good luck & congrats on getting in! :)</p>
<p>I am in the EXACT SAME SITUATION. Ill be a bio major and I want to be involved with research as a career. I toured JHU a couple of days ago and I was really impressed with how many research opportunities they seem to have available beginning freshman year. I have yet to tour Columbia but I’ve visited NYC and I love the city. Personally, that is the only reason I would choose columbia over jhu. but I love the research available in baltimore!
But then again, i guess columbia would have more prestige, being an ivy league and all</p>
<p>I guess, but fit and happiness is more important than prestige.</p>