<p>The two schools that I'm considering right now are JHU (Johns Hopkins) and Vanderbilt. I want to eventually go into the medical field (medical school), preferably at JHU but not necessarily for undergrad. I know people don't really like JHU but they love Vanderbilt (some more than others). I was just wondering about your guys' opinions, and whether or not Vanderbilt undergrad would be better socially and academically?</p>
<p>Vanderbilt is definitely the more balanced school. Both schools have great academics, but Vandy has a much better social scene, D-1 sports, and more school spirit. Hopkins seems to be more cutthroat.</p>
<p>My decision came down to JHU and Vandy. I'm a bio major (not premed) and I didn't want to be in an atmosphere where everyone was competing against each other. Plus, Vandy gave me slightly more money in my financial aid package. I also really wanted to go South (I'm from Ohio), so that factored in as well. Basically, it depends what kind of environment you prefer. Both are excellent schools.</p>
<p>JHU and vandy were my two top schools this year.
i got deferred from JHU early decision and didn't get into vandy EDII either =(
but anyways... after i had applied ED to jhu i somewhat regretted it. i really think it depends on what type of person you are, though. you will get an amazing education at either school. i like nashville sooo much more than the jhu area of baltimore. and, i realized i would have a lot more fun at vanderbilt, too. i would def say vanderbilt is better socially. academically i don't know which is "better".. they're both really great! good luck w/ everything!</p>
<p>if you're really set on going to jhu for medical school, going there for undergrad would be the best way of increasing your chances. i think the social scene at vandy would be much more fulfilling than the one at hopkins. as for premed academics, i would give the edge to hopkins, although i've heard it can be really stressful being premed there (competition...ahhhh!) either way you choose, you can't lose.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info guys, appreciate it. But 'slipstream', I actually heard the opposite; that going to JHU undergrad does not increase your chances at the gradute school at all. Does anyone have any comments on that? Is there iny validity to that statement?</p>
<p>Yeah, I was in the same situation. I'm going premed and Vandy has always been my first choice, but I did intend on applying to JHU RD b/c of the medical opportunities. I eventually want to go to JHU or Vandy med, ideally anyway. As far as coming from JHU undergrad vs not, I'm not sure whether that would help/hurt you. I hadn't heard.</p>
<p>I remember reading in the JHU forum that Hopkins' Med School does not officially give a boost to applicants who attended JHU undergrad. That being said, they may view applicants from JHU as somehow more qualified than those from Vanderbilt. Remember that almost always the plurality of students attending a medical school also went to that school for undergrad.</p>
<p>Going to undergrad at an institution will not help grad/ med/ law school admissions to the same school.</p>
<p>JHU definitely has a reputation for being more cutthroat than Vandy. I have not experienced a very competitive atmosphere in Vandy premed classes, but that doesn't mean that it isn't competitive and that the Vandy premed track is not stressful. Vandy has a very talented student body and administration is very stingy with high grades, so it is quite difficult to make an A in many courses. If you want to go to a top-notch med school like Hopkins, you will need these high grades and your undergraduate years will undoubtedly be quite stressful. You will certainly have to make sacrifices and will not get to experience everything that the Vandy social scene has to offer. I still prefer the Vandy environment to Hopkins, but it comes down to where you're more comfortable.</p>
<p>the average premed should avoid hopkins undergrad: extremely competitive, no grade inflation -- plenty of C's handed out in the sciences, which eliminates med school. OTOH, the successful top (few) kids a hopkins premed can go anywhere to med school, including hopkins. But, the top few kids at Vandy can pick their med school as well.</p>
<p>BlueBayou, it's the same way at Vanderbilt. Average grade for premed courses is around B-, with some courses closer to C. A student who thinks that he/she won't cut it at Hopkins isn't going to do much better at Vandy. Hopkins and Vandy have different atmospheres, but it is every bit as difficult to make A's at Vandy.</p>
<p>mjc:</p>
<p>I wasn't trying to infer that Vandy was not rigorous, but that there is HUGE difference between a Gentlemen's B- and and Gentelemen's C. GPA is the #1 criteria for med school, ~3.5 in the sciences to be competitive. Obviously, a few B minuses can be brought up with an A. But, a C needs two A's to bring it up.</p>
<p>You said "many C's" are handed out at JHU. With 50% of students below B- in most Vandy pre-med courses, "many C's" are handed out at Vandy as well. When I took BSCI 110A (intro bio) at Vandy, the average grade was a C, so you had a large percentage of students earning less than a C in a crucial pre-med course. I'm no Hopkins expert, but if you're suggesting that many students who may not be able to earn a med-school competitive GPA at Hopkins will be able to do so at Vandy, I disagree.</p>
<p>don't read into what's not written; I made no such suggestion. I only opined that the average premed should skip Hopkins....</p>
<p>Vandy's got hotter girls and a kick butt greek scene, if that's what your into...</p>
<p>Ok, first of all, Hopkins is not nearly as cutthroat as some of you made it out to be. Yes, its true that there is no grade inflation, so that may hurt your gpa, but its not like the students are out to get each other! Also, regarding the increased chances of getting into Hopkins Med school, they say that going to Hopkins undergrad will not boost your chances, but this is only directed towards the application itself. Think of all the professors you will get to know who work at the Med School during your undergrad years. If that doesn't make you stand out, I don't know what would.</p>
<p>The premed track in vandy is really competitive rite? Or is it just really hard to achieve A's due to the fact that there is the grade deflation? or is that just a rumor that is passed around?</p>
<p>is it true that if you do go to vanderbilt, your chances at getting accepted at vanderbilt med would be much slimmer because they are so focused on diversity from schools aroudn the nation?</p>
<p>The last part is definitely not true. Most medical schools say that they do not give preference to applicants who attended their university for undergrad, but whenever a preference appears to exist, it nearly always favors those who did.</p>
<p>jhu is definitely more cut throat..</p>