<p>So, I'm kind of embarrassed for making what is kind of a "chances" post, but, I recently decided I would really really like to go to Johns Hopkins. I was kind of a high-school failure, I got a 3.46, this was mainly due to a dismal senior year. I had very good extra-curricular activities, but couldn't do sports due to a mild but present physical disability. I was not a top-ten (is JHU top 10?) university student, nor did I want to be. I ended up at Sarah Lawrence -it used to be a top 50 LAC (40 or something) until it dropped out of US News last year-. It's a free-spirited school, and I was a free spirited guy, it was my first choice.
After my first year, though, I found a love of classics and a great ambition to go into museum studies. So, with this new vocational slant, I decided I want to apply to a more serious academic environment. At first I wanted to apply to only other LACs, but after researching more, I found I really like Johns Hopkins.
I want to go to a university because of the work opportunities, the depth of classes they offer, and its greater similarity to the "real world." I want to go to Johns Hopkins because it has a great classics/art history program, has a world class art museum basically on campus, and offers a minor in "museums and society" -as well as a certificate program open to undergraduates-.
Anyways, that was longwinded. I got a 3.5 was my first year, I'm going to redouble my efforts and aim for that 4.0 next semester. I got a 1370 old SAT and a 2050 new, 780 US 750 Lit -if that's at all relevant-. I'm going to have pretty good recs, I often eat lunch with my Latin professor. I started a few clubs; I was a teacher's assistant in my local school district the past two summers.
So, what are my chances? Does it help I'm not applying for a medical or engineering degree? What can I do to help myself? I'm pretty lopsided towards humanities, I only took one non-humanities class my first year (and it was poli-sci), all of my classes were in different disciplines. I am taking a programming class next year, because I want experience in data organization. Should that be good for showing more breadth, or should I take a more hardcore math/science class -or two-? What other schools are good for classics, art history and/or museum studies? All the schools besides John's Hopkins I've seen seem second tier. Connecticut College offers a certificate, but it's a college, although if you know of any good colleges for this let me know.
Thanks, sorry to go on for so long,
Michael</p>
<p>I think you have good chances. I also think you have presented your reasoning for the transfer quite well here, which means you'll probably do the same on your transfer essay.</p>
<p>I would recommend you go forward with the classes you would like to take, for the reasons you would like to take them... rather than take "more hard core science of math" just for the sake of doing so. Only caveat to that is... I would recommend you look at the JHU recommended curriculum for your intended major and for students wanting the certificate - come as close as you can to that in your remaining choices.</p>
<p>I think you are on the right track for a strong transfer application - with good reasons, good relationship with your profs meaning likely strong recs.</p>
<p>Note that, unless they change policy, SAT scores are not required for transfer (and I know from personal experience with my S that not submitting will not hurt you). Your scores are strong imo... but you have the option of only self-reporting your really best ones on the application form and skipping the actual official score reports, if you like.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks, that's what I was thinking about classes. I didn't think about checking major specific requirements.</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins for a free spirit?</p>
<p>I feel I can do the work, I've always gotten A's in my subjects, they have a great program -maybe the only program- in what I'd like to do.
Do you go there? Is it a very serious/conservative school? Is there something about it I should know?
I plan on visiting it this fall, once I'm back on the East Coast.</p>
<p>It is not a conservative school. </p>
<p>I think it is pretty intense in the Engineering/pre-med spheres. Not so intense in other disciplines. The experiences I know about are that it is competitive in these fields - not competitive in the sense of students out to cut-throat each other, but competitive in the sense that students are very focused on achieving strong GPAs.</p>
<p>I surely know very free spirits who are there/have been there; as well as more middle of the road types. I don't happen to know any conservatives there, but I'm sure they are present.</p>
<p>There are stereotypes about many/most schools. Worth knowing about, but not worth presuming they are accurate. Use them to test your own impressions, just as you plan on doing.</p>