<p>Hello,
I have been struggling over the past few weeks over whether or not to submit early decision to Johns Hopkins or apply regular decision along with Pitt and a few other schools. I have toured both campuses (thought they were both great and had their pros/cons) and with the early decision deadline this friday I need to decide pretty much today or tomorrow. My chances of getting in to Hopkins are low as it is (3.8 GPA and 1960 SAT) but if on the small chance I do get in, I want to be certain I can handle it. My fear is that entering the number one bioengineering university in the country as a prospective bioengineering major will be extremely difficult. I have taken (all AP): Bio, Psych, U.S. History/Gov, Calc AB/BC, Physics B/C and done considerably well in all of them but I am worried about both the difficulty and lack of social life at a school like Hopkins. If anyone could give their opinion on the subject (preferably before Friday...sorry I just found out about College Confidential) please help me out.....how does AP compare to work at Hopkins? is the social scene there as drab as I have heard it to be? Basically should I shoot for Hopkins or resort to my second choice; Pitt?</p>
<p>How did you take such a huge leap from Hopkins to Pitt? They are not even remotely in the same league…</p>
<p>Hopkins is a reach and Pitt is safety…Pitt is near home and I would get the benefits of in state tuition…also their bioengineering program is ranked 16 in the country so for what I am interested in, both are very good options</p>
<p>It seems like you aren’t even confident you’ll do well at JHU, which is a good reason NOT to apply ED. If you’re not gonna be happy there and love it, don’t apply ED.</p>
<p>I guess part of my apprehension is just not knowing what to expect at JHU…I hear everyone is always is studying and never has free time…I also don’t know if 10 AP classes can compare to the difficulty of an elite school</p>
<p>Bioengineering is going to be difficult no matter where it is. But the secret is, you’re going to learn essentially the same things at Pitt as JHU because the programs are similar and the research opportunities are similar. JHU is obviously a gold standard being #1 in NIH overall research funding, but Pitt is #5. As you noted, both are considered major biomedical engineering centers. They’re both great places for undergrads interested in any biomedical sciences. JHU obviously has the rep as the better overall university, but on the other hand, Pitt has the better rep for student life sorts of things.</p>
<p>BTW, your GPA and SATs (if your CR+M are around 1300) are a match for Pitt, not a safety (as typically defined). You’re right about their average for this Fall '13. This fall average was a 1293 CR+M and a 3.97 GPA. Pitt’s already way ahead of this time last year in applications received so the trend for admissions statistics is going up from there.</p>
<p>JHU: High reach
UPitt: Match</p>
<p>Honestly, if you don’t feel like you are in love with an institution and that nothing can compare to it at all, you shouldn’t apply ED.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1569738-chances-i-chance-back-3.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1569738-chances-i-chance-back-3.html</a></p>
<p>well not that it matters at this point but 3.8 is my unweighted GPA so maybe Pitt is still a match not safety but the 3.97 average is weighted which means I would be above that with my weighted GPA</p>