<p>I think one of the reasons WHY Hopkins is known for having the top undergraduate IS (International Studies) program is because:</p>
<p>1) The faculty, the faculty, the faculty. They are outstanding and at the university campus, these faculty are all focused on the undergraduates.</p>
<p>2) The university encourages a liberal arts background so you don't have JUST students interested in International Studies there. You get the History majors, the Biology & Chemistry majors, and the Engineering population. It's a healthy mix of students. </p>
<p>3) The size of the school is a HUGE asset; only about 1200 in the freshman class which is AMAZINGLY small for a major research university.</p>
<p>4) Covered grades: meaning that you don't get grades your first semester, everything is PASS/FAIL which is nice since Hopkins is a tough place to be academically... nobody can really float through.</p>
<p>5) Flexibility: Hopkins is known as being the International Studies program with the most flexibility allowing students LOTS of study abroad options and no Gen. Ed. requirements (!) which is amazing. You'll never have to take, for example, a FRESHMAN ENGLISH or something like that - they just don't exist at Hopkins.</p>