<p>Hey guys!
As you all know college decisions are out, or at least most of them. I got into all the UCs and Johns Hopkins University. However, I am currently debating between UC Berkeley and Johns Hopkins. If I attend Johns Hopkins, I will definitely go for medical. For UC Berkeley, I will major in EECS, but most likely I will move out from the engineering major into something like bioengineering because I am also debating between medical and engineering, though I am leaning a little bit towards medical than engineering. For UC Berkeley, I received the Regents Scholarship, which, though I haven't checked it yet, will probably provide me with a significant amount of aid. Furthermore, being a CA resident would also greatly help me out. On the other side, Johns Hopkins is all the way across the country. JHU is providing me some financial aid for their nearly $50,000 price tag, almost half the price is paid for me. Thus, for JHU I will probably have to pay around $25-$30,000. Aiya!! So much to think about. Please help. JHU vs. CAL O_o</p>
<p>What are the most important factors you consider? price, atmosphere, competitive academics, etc.</p>
<p>i have the same decision to make, except mine also includes cornell & ucla</p>
<p>I'm not even Cal's hugest cheerleader, but I think your choice is pretty clear: Cal. I know a few people at JHU and they all complain about it--bad food, bad social life, bad atmosphere, bad environment. I think Cal is more prestigious (although JHU's medical is of course pretty well known) and will also cost you less $$.</p>
<p>Sorry to disagree on JHU... if medical school is a definite in your future, then consider Hopkins. I don't know about the food, but the few people I know there like the campus and social life. I visited and didn't like the area but it's close to DC and better areas.</p>
<p>Check to see how much money the Regents gives you- it may be less (or more) than you think.</p>
<p>What are your priorities? Think about it.</p>
<p>I'd do some research on what it's like being pre-med at JHU currently. In the past, there are true stories of the pre-med advisory board "strongly advising" students don't apply to medical schools. This meant that the board would give them terrible letters of rec and thus destroy any chance of admissions to medical schools. This was done in order to keep their medical admit numbers look great. I don't know that much the practice, so perhaps ask someone more knowledgeable. This practice may have changed, so it may be no worry. Pre-med at Cal is also no walk in the park, as many of the grade distributions are very harsh. This also goes for mcuh of engineering.</p>
<p>Hey, I'm in the same position!</p>
<p>I'd really go for JHU, but you know... Baltimore. Anyways, the difference is- I only got into Berkeley spring admit. That doesn't really faze me all too much, but this is a really tough chocie. On the one hand, JHU is really high up there, but on the other hand, Berkeley is in my favorite city (I know people hate the hobos but I love them), AND it's near SF which is the most awsome city ever. Also, I can take summer classes and the FPF while staying with my sister who lives there.</p>
<p>I guess it seems like Berkeley wins out, but really, my whole worry is that baltimore is as bad as people say it is.</p>
<p>Being a spring admit shouldn't be the deciding factor. Trust me on this.</p>
<p>Well it seems like CAL is covering almost all of my expenses there financially, whereas JHU leaves me with about 20,000 to pay up. AIYA!! My head is twirling around and around. JHU vs. CAL</p>
<p>I think you should visit the two colleges and see which one you feel more comfortable at. Now, if medicine and engineering are anywhere in your future, then go to Hopkins, assuming the money works out.</p>
<p>Since it's $20k per year we are talking about, it's more appropriate for you to discuss this with your parents. We don't know your family financial circumstances .</p>
<p>bump, d bump, bump bump</p>
<p>Can anyone provide me with info of the environment between the 2 schools? I know that I will be visiting and discovering this myself, but maybe a heads up will be good. Plus, I want to know the general opinion on this matter.</p>
<p>I've heard advising is absolutely critical for medical admissions, and seeing as JHU is so medically-oriented, I have to believe they have the upperhand if you're sure you want to enter that field. But Berkeley in this case is $20k cheaper, and it's still an outstanding school. I don't believe the advising is worth $80k.</p>
<p>you dont need a good adviser...just go to studentdoctor.net and lurk there for a couple years</p>
<p>BME at JHU is a more rigorous and focused program than BioE at Berkeley if you want to go into industry, but this is irrelevant if you're dead set on med school</p>
<p>Cal where your gpa is likely to be higher if med school is really in the plan. The VAST majority of premeds who start at Hopkins don't make it thru Chem and never apply to med school. Yes, the same is true at every college, but the UCs, in their infinite wisdom, admit 33% Pell Grantees which lessens the competition on the lower end.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
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<p>bump bump bump</p>