<p>Hello, everyone! I am currently buried in pro-con lists as I try to make my decision of where to spend the next four years. Decision-making day (or D-day as I affectionately like to call it) is fast-approaching, and I am torn between both majors and schools. So, I thought I'd ask for a second opinion from all of you at CC. I am considering studying neuroscience and potentially becoming a clinical neurologist; however, language and literature will always hold a place in my heart. My top two college choices, Johns Hopkins University and Middlebury College, have not helped at all in resolving my right-brain left-brain conflict. I love the natural atmosphere of Middlebury, but don't mind Baltimore. Also, I am considering joining the ROTC program at Hopkins as a means of financing my education. This program is not available at Midd, except through the University of VT.
So, my question to you, CC, is what would you recommend? (I don't expect you to choose for me, but if you have any comments, I would greatly appreciate some outside insights!) What caliber of grad schools do students typically enter into after four years at these schools (providing that they don't attend JHU for 8 years)? </p>
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<p>It is very hard to find good data to answer a question like that in any detail.
Both colleges enroll very strong students; both schools have excellent reputations.
The kind of student who would seek out one of these colleges is likely to be inclined also to seek out a top grad school. For what it’s worth, the Wall Street Journal’s “feeder school” study, which ranked colleges for representation at 15 top law, medical and business schools, ranked JHU #24 and Middlebury #23.<br>
(<a href=“http://www.inpathways.net/top50feeder.pdf”>http://www.inpathways.net/top50feeder.pdf</a>)</p>
<p>Having said that, I would expect that for a field like neuroscience, JHU provides better research opportunities. Hopkins has one of the highest levels of annual research spending of any national research university. Its graduate program in neuroscience is one of the highest-ranked by the National Research Council.
<a href=“https://chronicle.com/article/NRC-Rankings-Overview-/124747/”>https://chronicle.com/article/NRC-Rankings-Overview-/124747/</a>
So it may be a bit easier for a JHU student to develop mature, well-focused research interests in that field. That is an important factor in admission to PhD programs. </p>
<p>Thank you so much! 
I did hear about the language programs and writing seminars directly from Hopkins students, but from an objective standpoint, do you (or does anyone) know anything about those/their reputation? (I’m hoping that wherever I choose to go, the school will have strong programs on both ends of the spectrum, as I’m still a tad undecided as to what my major will be.)</p>
<p>If you’re interested in language, I think it would be very hard to turn down Middlebury. They have a long-standing tradition of excellence in the languages, and their lit. department isn’t too shabby either. </p>
<p>You say… “I am considering joining the ROTC program at Hopkins as a means of financing my education.”</p>
<p>Unless you have an ROTC scholarship, you will not get any money from ROTC until your junior year. Even then it will only be a few hundred dollars a month. If you DO have an ROTC scholarship, then your neurology career will very likely be put on hold for at least four years while you serve in the military.</p>
<p>Thanks for the comments everyone! I talked to a recruiter about the ROTC and Reserve, and if I understood correctly, he told me that after my junior year, (and grad school) I would be serving as a doctor (for as many years as I went to school on a scholarship–he also recommended the AMMED program) Am I understanding this correctly? </p>
<p>First, there is no guarantee, at all, that the military will allow you to become a doctor. This is probably an aspect that the recruiter is not clear about either. Recruiters rarely deal with doctors, and being a recruiter is a temporary assignment which lasts maybe three years or so. Recruiters are not specialists. It is not their permanent job. So you personally need to make sure that you know what your future prospects are.</p>
<p>I recommend that you start doing research on the internet about the career path of doctors in the military. I have heard that it is easier to become a doctor in the Army, for example, than in the Navy. Yet, this is only hearsay.</p>
<p>Also, I am not clear about whether you want to be a doctor on active duty, or just serve in the reserves while being a civilian doctor. This probably would make a big difference.</p>
<p>If you do have an ROTC scholarship already, then I recommend that you talk to the ROTC “Executive Officer” at the college where your scholarship has been assigned, or the closest college to you. ROTC deals with officers and future officers far more often than recruiters do.</p>
<p>If you do NOT have an ROTC scholarship, then I would not make ROTC a major consideration about where you choose to go to college (unless it really is a tie-breaker). Just my opinion.</p>
<p>Wow, that is really good to know. Thank you! I’ll start doing my research!</p>
<p>It is possible that what the recruiter told you was accurate. Perhaps he has some experience in this area. But I just would not count on it. Many a career has been derailed because of trusting somebody who was wrong. Verify things yourself, when possible – especially when it is this important.</p>
<p>JHU is generally considered a much more intense school academically than Middlebury. You will burn a lot more midnight oil there than at Midd (where you will still work hard, but not the same). That may be fine with you; I have one kid who wanted as intense an academic experience as she could get, and one who wanted something a little less stressful, so I know people’s preferences vary. But just something to consider.</p>
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<p>Says who? You? What is your basis for your option?</p>
<p>Sorry–meant basis for your opinion.</p>
<p>Also, is anyone familiar with the student body or professors at either of these schools? Could you describe the general atmosphere?</p>
<p>I agree that Hopkins is a tougher academic environment. I would go to Middlebury to enhance chances of making it through the premed program with grades that make you a viable med school applicant. </p>
<p>It’s a whole different environment at the two schools. Much more intense, stressful for more folks at JHU, but top research opportunities and with the locale in a major city, the direct link to the med school, and with Wash DC nearby, much more of a big time school in opportunity. But IMO, Middlebury is the better option for some nurturing and enhancement, and they are absolutely top grade in terms of academic excellence. If you are truly up there in stats like SATs, subject tests, having tested your mettle with AP science courses with 5 scores. and are aching and itching for top research opportunities right there, JHU is for you. But the competition is stiff. Hopkins is second to none as a research institute. Middlebury is tops as a school providing education to students. Whole other vibe. Neither is “better” for everyone. You have to decide where you will best flourish.</p>