I have been accepted to Columbia as a Science Research Fellow and JHU as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and a Hodson Trust Scholar. I’m really grateful to have these options. I’ve received almost equal financial aid at both places. I will major in physics, with special focus on astrophysics. This decision is really confusing because of the following factors:
- Curriculum: JHU has distribution requirements while Columbia has a Core - I'm afraid that the Core will not allow me to pursue STEM interests and research with as much vigor. I also feel it might reduce my GPA, hurting grad school admission chances. Furthermore, my native language is not English so I'm afraid I might not perform that well in the Core.
- Location and Campus: I like that Columbia is in NYC, however, I'm afraid that I wouldn't be able to go out often as I don't have much money. On the other side, I like JHU's campus more.
- Stress Culture and Community: JHU's stress culture is quite uninviting. I've also heard it's extremely cutthroat. Although Columbia is a bit stressful too.
- Reputation of Department and Grad School Chances: Columbia has better results here. This is from current students. (Inputs appreciated)
- Prestige inside and outside USA: (I know, I'm sorry!) Columbia.
- Research Opportunities: Not too much of an issue because I've received research fellowships at both places. However, JHU has more faculty and will have more variety of observational Astrophysics research opportunities because of the Space Telescope Science Institute. (Could somebody help me here too?)
Any inputs will be appreciated. Sorry for the long question. Also, have I missed anything?
These factors are NOT ranked in order of importance.
What is the cost differential? Did you visit JHU? As an alum, it’s not competitive and quite collaborative. Hearsay is just that.
JHU is also a behemoth in astrophysics - you will have an opportunity to do research and take classes under Nobel Winner and Astrophysicist Adam Riess should you choose given the small physics classes.
JHU students (similar to Columbia) also do well when it comes to getting fellowships:
https://hub.jhu.edu/2019/04/19/melissa-mai-hertz-nsf-graduate-research-fellow/
Prestige differential is not that big - both have enough prestige for you to do well.
As for grad school chances, you will have plenty of options from either school. I had fully funded Ph.D. offers from MIT, Stanford (SGF Fellowship), Princeton (Gordon Wu Fellowship) etc etc coming out of Hopkins despite not being top of class. My physics major friends went to Harvard and Caltech for Ph.D.s with external or internal fellowships as well.
Hey, Thanks for the reply! I’m an international, so I couldn’t visit. Could you please explain what kind of research opportunities are available at STScI?
@stevensPR The cost differential is ~4000 $ - JHU provides lesser FA
I think that Johns Hopkins University is more prestigious than Columbia University since JHU spends more money on research per year than any other school.
Perhaps we should qualify it to say “JHU spends more money on healthcare-related research per year than any other school”? Healthcare-related research spending does overwhelm other types of research spending. OP’s intended major is physics.
@Itsmeyaman, my daughter had to decide between JHU and Columbia and chose Columbia because her fields of interest are humanities-based, so your situation is a bit different. Both universities provide excellent financial aid overall. Your overall cost of living should be lower in Baltimore. Both schools have a large international population. Both will be rigorous. I think of both schools as equally prestigious; Ivy League designation is pretty meaningless to me. Based on the supplemental essay this year, I would say that JHU is trying to shift toward a collaborative education model. For you, and if the $4000 difference does not seem huge, I would lean a little more heavily toward JHU for the sciences. Wishing you the best!
You might want to check with JHU financial aid and determine if health insurance is a “hidden” cost in your package. Columbia’s FA office spelled out all the possible fees very clearly.
@1NJParent : You raise an interesting point. But the answer, I suspect, might surprise you.
See https://www.bestcolleges.com/features/colleges-with-highest-research-and-development-expenditures/
JHU is #1 and Columbia is #20.
@1NJParent: Among the top 20 research universities based on R&D expenditures, JHU has the second most balanced R&D expenditures of any school. MIT has the most balanced. The other 18 universities, including #20 Columbia University, have extremely lopsided R&D spending in favor of science over engineering.
@whidbeyite2002 Thanks a lot for the response! Yes, healthcare seems to be a hidden cost. Do you know how much it costs?
@Publisher JHU spends a real lot on healthcare research. A significant portion of that funding comes from NIH in Baltimore. Also, some money goes into APL. But sadly, as an international, I will not be able to access APL. 
@itsmeyaman: So long as you understand the information that I referenced in post #10 above, including the noted fact that JHU has an office of undergraduate research, then at least you can decide knowing that JHU spends more money on R&D in engineering than any other US university.
Columbia’s health insurance plan is around $3300 per year, and health services are around $1200, I think. I suspect JHU would by similar.
Thanks @whidbeyite2002
How difficult is the core curriculum for a newbie to such sort of Western literature?
These are few data points from my family.
My younger daughter’s best friend from high school went to JHU as a pre-med. She thought it was very competitive and she didn’t enjoy her 4 years there. After she graduated she worked for 2 years and is now a medical students. When I do see her now she seems happier and calmer (maybe just maturity).
My nephew and his wife met at JHU. Their feedback about the school was not glowing.
My good friend’s son was also at JHU about the same time when my nephew was there. He said if he had to do it again he would have gone to a different school.
JHU is a rigorous school, and so are other schools, but I am just surprised that almost every JHU students I know didn’t have great things to say about their experiences.
Even though Columbia is in one of the most expensive cities, a student could live fairly cheaply around Columbia. One could get good food/drinks without breaking a bank. NYC also has a lot of free things for students to do, and if you need to get a part time job there are a lot more opportunities in NYC. My daughter gets paid $30+/hr for babysitting, and she also temp at some publishing company. You probably could get paid quite a bit doing tutoring in NYC, especially with your high stats.
If you think both Columbia and JHU can meet your academic needs, I would choose Columbia over JHU. My .02.
@oldfort: Why would he have gone to a different school ?
Why didn’t the other acquaintances enjoy their time there ?
How have they fared professionally & academically after JHU ?
@Itsmeyaman, now that I can’t answer yet! My daughter loves to study classic Western literature and ancient civilizations, so for her it might be easier than for you. Also, she is a native English speaker. Personally, I believe Columbia uses the core curriculum more as an equalizer—everyone has a similar freshman year foundation.