<p>Well, these are my top three choices right now... I applied to all three... I was wondering which would be the best choice considering the following:</p>
<p>-like a pretty campus... visited Emory and thought it was amazing.
-not too competitive... good study atmosphere but the occasional awesome parties
-want to go into bio... I think both Emory and JHU are good in this department ... not sure about Wake Forest
-I hope to go to a school with great facilities and excellent professors
-I prefer warm weather</p>
<p>Can you compare these universities based on the categories I provided and also like academics, prestige, atmosphere etc. I really like all three for now... but I don't know where to apply ED next year... thanks!</p>
<p>All three are great academically… although Emory and Johns Hopkins are probably better than Wake… from your description, it seems like you love Emory… so why not join us?</p>
<p>Pretty campus: 1) Wake, 2) Emory, 3) Hopkins
Not too competitive: 1) Wake and Emory, 3) Hopkins
Bio: all good
Academics: all good
Prestige: 1) Hopkins, 2) Emory, 3) Wake
Facilities & profs: all good
Warm weather: 1) Wake and Emory, 3) Hopkins
Atmosphere: 1) Wake, 2) Emory, 3) Hopkins</p>
<p>Pretty campus: 1) Emory 2)Wake (have not visited… so keep that in mind) 3) Hopkins
Not too competitive: 1) Wake and Emory, 3) Hopkins
Bio: 1)JHU 2) Emory 3)Wake
Academics: 1)some departments Emory… some JHU 2) Wake (still good academics)
Prestige: 1) Hopkins, 2) Emory, 3) Wake
Facilities & profs: 1)Emory (look at endowment and names of famous profs) 2)JHU 3)Wake
Warm weather: 1) Wake and Emory, 3) Hopkins
Atmosphere: depends on the person… can’t answer this question for you.</p>
<p>Pretty campus: 1) Wake and Emory 3) Hopkins
Not too competitive: 1) Wake and Emory, 3) Hopkins
Bio: 1) Hopkins 2) Emory 3) Wake
Academics: 1) Hopkins and Emory 3) Wake
Prestige: 1) Hopkins 2) Emory 3) Wake
Facilities & profs: 1) Emory 2) Wake and Hopkins
Warm weather: 1) Emory 2) Wake 3) Hopkins
Atmosphere: 1) Wake 2) Emory 3) Hopkins</p>
<p>Let’s just say that most of these criteria are highly subjective and I doubt that most of those making comments are basing their opinions on anything other than hearsay. If you are admitted to all three–than I strongly suggest that you visit and form your own opinions. For example, all three have beautiful campuses. You will find reasonable people who think Hopkins is prettier than the others–and visa versa. What difference does other peoples opinion make on your choice, particularly if they are based on hearsay, rumors, or urban myth? Decide for yourself. </p>
<p>The one criterion that is somewhat more objective is academics. Ask most anyone is academia and the order will be Hopkins, Emory, Wake. Most people would also say that Hopkins is the most competitive of the three–although that is a highly subjective opinion because very few people have been students at all three. The only relevant thing is whether you like the atmosphere or not–and no one can tell you that except you.</p>
<p>Yes, yes, yes. Hopkins has a gorgeous campus. The problem, for some people, is the city that surrounds it on several sides.</p>
<p>Bonanza in my opinion is right on every count. You need to go visit. By various school and department rankings Hopkins would be the front-runner for academics (not just in life sciences but in diverse other areas including Art History, Music, English, International Relations, Computer Science) but probably not by so much that it should override strong personal preferences for one of the other schools. However, if research and internships are important to you, be aware that Hopkins gets boatloads of federal grant money for science research; this is perhaps the one academic area where it leaves the other two in the dust.</p>
<p>Higher numbers are likely to translate into more interesting student research opportunities, and more exposure to cutting edge developments in the natural sciences. The possible downside at some schools is that some professors may be relatively more focused on managing all this money than on meeting undergraduate needs. So, this might be an issue to check out.</p>
<p>Yes… it is debatable whether JHU has stronger academics than Emory and I am inclined to say that they do (not by much0… but based on the OPs preferences… which include an atmosphere that is NOT cutthroat, good in bio, good weather… Emory is the perfect fit. I personally like Wake but, in my opinion, the choice is between Emory and JHU … with Emory, based on your preferences, being the winner.</p>
<p>Wake is absolutely gorgeous, but all things considered, I’d go with Emory. Of course, since you’re conflicted, I wouldn’t recommend ED-ing any of them (though EA at Wake is a good idea–demonstrate interest any way you can).</p>
<p>Not aware that Wake offers EA? Are you sure about that?</p>
<p>To OP - one difference that I would note is Wake is more of the “work hard, play hard” variety that either Emory or JHU - which I feel are heavily focused on academics. My impression is that Wake has more school spirit; particularly if you see attending football or basketball games as part of your college experience. My son attends Wake and I know students at both Emory and JHU, so this is based on their feedback. The students at Emory and JHU talk mostly about academics and don’t seem to have as much to say when you ask them about what they do for fun. Wake does have a good biology dept. - we met a senior last year who was a bio major and had been accepted at med school, and he was very pleased with his experience at Wake. So, all 3 are great - you really can’t go wrong, I just feel Wake would be a more fun environment.</p>
<p>I agree that JHU “is often regarded as one of the most cut-throat in the nation.” My point is that opinion is generally held by people who never went to Hopkins, and who base their opinion on what someone told them or on what they read somewhere. Hopkins has had that reputation for many years. But based on my personal experience, that reputation is urban myth–and not based on the reality of 2010.</p>
<p>Without question, Hopkins is a challenging place. But that is different from “cut throat,” or an unreasonably competitive environment. If you want to find out the truth–go visit and talk to current undergraduate students --particularly those who are majoring in the fields in which you are most interested in. And take anonymous opinions with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Are you in NC? There is nothing on the Wake Forest website that mentions EA and given that I work at a high school, I like to think we would be aware of it if they did. I did a search on CC and see that there is an early action type of program for NC residents - is that what you are referring to?</p>