<p>I was lucky and got into both Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt. I got a pretty good offer from both, but I'm having a hard time deciding on where to go.</p>
<p>Both schools have a great premed program, but my family knows a few people with kids that went to JHU, and they were either miserable (some wanted to drop out) or thought that they should've had more fun in college. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, seems enjoyable, but almost too easy (over 50% double major, and many include a minor with that double major).</p>
<p>I like the prestige of JHU, but Vandy isn't bad. In addition I only got $23,000 from JHU while I received $50,000 from Vanderbilt. I really don't want to strain my family with money problems, so the >$25,000 final cost difference between the two is a bit of an issue.</p>
<p>Although it's not a huge factor, I like the area JHU is located way better than Nashville (Vanderbilt). I live near Vanderbilt, and I really want to break away from old stereotypes, my family, etc.</p>
<p>Overall, from my research I like Johns Hopkins better, but money is something I can't really ignore. My family tells me not to worry about it too much, and have also reminded me that they'd willingly shell out the money somehow if I got off one of the schools I was waitlisted at (Duke, WUSTL, UPenn, and UMich).</p>
<p>Well i had a friend who got into both JHU and Vanderbilt and decided to go to JHU. He said that he felt Vanderbilt didn’t put enough effort into when he visited and saw it more as a selective public university, accepting anyone with a high SAT score. He said he liked the environment at JHU and felt they were more focused. My advice would be to try and revisit again, if you havent. Try and get a better feel for the campus and visualize where you see yourself most. Neither will be a bad choice. Good Luck</p>
<p>ufcollins: I feel similar to your friend. My scores were pretty high, but my essays for Vanderbilt kind of lacked. All of the kids from my school who got into Vanderbilt were like that also.</p>
<p>roberthhid: Is saving the money worth all of the prestige of JHU? I know Vanderbilt is a very good school, but Johns Hopkins just has this ring to it.</p>
<p>Lastly, I’m concerned with the fact that I’ve heard from a few people that the kids at Vanderbilt are a bit snobby because a good chunk of them come from wealthy families. While I haven’t heard the same about JHU, its students are rumored to be cutthroat which might be a little overwhelming.</p>
<p>I hear the cutthroat environment is more myth/legend than truth. As well, i heard that Vanderbilt is a somewhat isolated campus/environment and that it was a very southern student body. You may like that you may not, but something to know.</p>
<p>I’ve also heard that the cutthroat atmosphere is a myth, but I’ve also heard of some people who’ve gone to JHU and wanted to drop out/regretted going. I’m not exactly sure which one to believe. From what I’ve read I really, really like JHU, but I’ve heard some pretty awful things about it which scares me.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt students admit to living in the “Vanderbubble,” and it does have a Southern student body (of the 50 states it has the most students from Tennessee). I’m not sure how I feel about that because while I do like how polite Southerners are, I’m kind of tired of them seeing as I’ve lived in the Nashville area my entire life.</p>
<p>Vanderbilt, especially if money is even a slight issue – Where you go for undergrad is not anywhere near as important as where you go to med school. – Plus i have also heard many stories of sabotage @ JHU and the competitive atmosphere… I think just the $ factor though would be an easy pick for me.</p>
<p>You may have heard stories–but that’s just what they are–stories. Talk to actual Hopkins students ( or message them on Hopkins Interactive or Twitter) The stories about cutthroat behavior is almost entirely myth. Sure, you will run into the occasional jerk at Hopkins and everywhere else (including Vandy). It is not the norm. </p>
<p>Visit both. Both are fine schools, but talk to academics and you’ll find that few put Vandy in the same category as Hopkins.</p>
<p>I went to visit Johns Hopkins, and I really liked it, but my parents aren’t convinced. My dad thought the students looked too serious (but isn’t it near finals? So wouldn’t most people at college right now be stressed?). My mom, who didn’t go to JHU with me to visit, seems to really hate it (in fact, she almost demanded that I go to Vanderbilt) because she had a friend whose daughter went to Hopkins and kept wanting to drop out.</p>
<p>My dad seems okay with me going to Johns Hopkins, but my mom was upset when I came home from visiting JHU with a grin on my face. I know I’d have to work hard at JHU, but are my parents right to be that worried about the workload?</p>
<p>Classes end next week and finals start in two weeks, so yes, everything is winding down and students are starting to get into gear. This weekend has both the spring fair, which features lots of food and local merchants, and the physics fair, which is always fun.</p>
<p>As a premed at Vanderbilt I would definitely recommend it. The classes are tough, but the student body is amazing. Everyone tries to help each other out and if you need help there are dozens of resources. Getting A’s are still tough, but noone is stealing the books from the library or getting intense pressure from their parents to cheat. If Johns Hopkins premed’s persona is that they study all the time, Vanderbilt’s persona is that they work hard and play hard. I am from Maryland, so I guess we are in an opposite situation, but my friends who went to Johns Hopkins have since switched from premed to other majors.</p>
<p>My advice would be to go to Vanderbilt for undergraduate, get really good grades, have some fun, and then apply to Johns Hopkins for Medical School. I have been told that Vanderbilt is very recognized by medical schools admissions committee as producing great med students. Whatever you choose, know that it’s your decision of where you will be enjoying the next 4 years of your life so don’t let anyone pressure you either way!</p>
<p>going to JHU doesn’t mean your going to go to a good med school at all. JHU has such a competitive nature. I heard in some classes, the curve is so competitive that no one wants to give you notes. I mean Vanderbelt won’t have that kind of competitiveness. Also I want you to know that JHU students who go to med school have a average of 30.6 (that’s low) compared to other schools like duke who have a 33 average. (and this is from their website). So in fact, going to JHU doesn’t mean your going to go a good grad school at all. Also undergrad year is suppose to be a time where you can truly explore your interest, JHU doesn’t allow that. Double major is amazing because you get to experience more topics. Going to JHU is pretty much limited to medicine (JHU has little repetition other than its science and music, and on top of that, there are schools that are ranked lower than JHU who send more kids to good med schools, aka Rice, UMich, Northwestern). And many people are good at science and music. Go to a place where you are going to have fun and enjoy college, not a place where you think will get you to grad school because how do you know you will end up as a doctor, you could become a English major for all you know.</p>
<p>Mmm, I don’t agree with this at all. A lot of students come into Hopkins pre-med but decide to go in other directions during their time there. Only 25% of graduates designate themselves “pre-med”. In fact, the most popular major is IR, which Hopkins has a really good reputation for (top 3 in the country). They’re also known for their sciences and writing seminars (creative writing) programs. Not sure where you got music - are you thinking of Peabody? In any case, you seem rather uninformed.</p>
<p>Anyway, it doesn’t matter - OP has already chosen a school. Wherever you go, I hope you enjoy it!</p>
<p>Completely ignore what cdz512 has said. Hopkins is well-known in pretty much every field, and top 5 in quite a few (several of which are humanities!). I’ve never taken a pre-med class but from all of the pre-meds I know, most people work together because everyone is in the same boat. I personally have not heard of anyone sabotaging others or refusing to give notes.</p>
<p>And among students who get that cover letter written by the pre-med committee, 85% acceptance rate into med school. Quite simply, you can’t top that.</p>
<p>there are lot of misunderstanding about JHU; Some people think JHU is famous in pre med
because of its medical school, actually, JHU is well-known for many fields.</p>
<p>In all schools you can find people being competitive. Just not all schools have it. Frankly, I’m sure JHU doesn’t have it common at all. But I heard somewhere (again I’m sorry if I’m incorrect) but I heard someone say that when they are comparing it to Duke.
Also Rice has a 90% acceptance rate to med schools, I guess that topped it</p>
My dad thought the students looked too serious (but isn’t it near finals? So wouldn’t most people at college right now be stressed?). My mom, who didn’t go to JHU with me to visit, seems to really hate it (in fact, she almost demanded that I go to Vanderbilt) because she had a friend whose daughter went to Hopkins and kept wanting to drop out.</p>