<p>Hello!
I've recently received decisions for all three of these schools saying I was accepted, but I'm having a hard time deciding between them. I'm a senior in nyc currently, and I wish to major in Neuroscience, maybe double-majoring with Middle Eastern Studies or History as well.</p>
<p>My personal preferences would be a school with a good close community, a lot of opportunities for me to do research, and allows me the option to take some creative classes. (I want to take a creative writing course in the near future.) Also, I'm planning to go on the pre-med track, so that should probably be accounted for as well.</p>
<p>I know that Johns Hopkins is the most distinguished of the bunch, but I'm a 21st century scholar at Mount Holyoke, which means I get some much needed aid from them. Barnard is very close to home, and I'm loving the tight knit community there, but I'm worried that Johns Hopkins may have the best resources for research and internships.</p>
<p>Help? Thanks in advance!
(Note: I also cross-posted this to other school's forums)</p>
<p>Hopkins was the first research University in America and I believe it is ranked #1 for research. I go here and in my experience, it’s a pretty close community.</p>
<p>If community and creativity are important to you, I would choose Barnard over JHU. Unlike Mt Holyoke you will get the benefit of a big University to choose your classes from while still enjoying a small community. </p>
<p>The character of these schools is quite different.</p>
<p>AAustin: Thank you! I know that Hopkins is ranked very very well in terms of academia, but how is the community there? I’ve heard a lot of horror stories, but in your opinion, how is the overall environment?</p>
<p>4yorkshiremen: Thank you as well! I really do care a lot about the community of a college, as I am a very social person. I was thinking along the same lines, as Barnard has both a nice community and a lot of research options. </p>
<p>I also have an update in terms of Financial aid: Mount Holyoke has given me by far the best aid package, coupled with the 21st Century Scholarship, it becomes 30k yr. However, I’m skeptical of it’s distance and isolation. I have actually found it hard to even go there to visit. Is there any way to easily leave campus?</p>
<p>Johns Hopkins University has also given me good financial aid, around 20k a year w/no loans. However, I’m a little worried about the atmosphere there, as I have heard from multiple sources that it’s very competitive and people actually sabotage each other. I have talked to alumnae from there, and they have said the same. Does anybody know anything more about this?</p>
<p>Barnard College gave me the same, 20k a year, but with loans. Yet, since I already live in NYC, it’s very close to home- which my mother loves- and I’ve already visited and fallen in love with the campus and people. I know I’d be happy going there, but I’m worried about the financial burden to my family. How is the community there? </p>
<p>I’d really like some help, and I’m already really grateful for all the help everyone’s already given me. Thank you!</p>
<p>[Cutthroat</a> opinion?](<a href=“Taiga”>Taiga)
[Grades</a> Vs. Life?](<a href=“Taiga”>Taiga)
[Are</a> you happy with your choice to attend JHU?](<a href=“Taiga”>Taiga)</p>
<p>Or just search the words like “competitive” or “cut-throat” on the JHU sub-forum of CC as this issue has been discussed a ton of times.</p>
<p>Like you my dd was accepted at JHU and Barnard. I think she’s going to choose Bryn Mawr or Haverford instead for the tight community feel. I’m not sure how JHU has changed since I attended in the 80’s, but it did not have a community feel then.</p>
<p>is jhu really that cutthroat? trying to decide between jhu and boston u for biomedical engineering. do I go with the number 1 program at jhu or the number 5 program at bu along with presidential scholarship?</p>
<p>While Hopkins has always been a top academic school, in years past it did not always provide the best undergraduate experience. That has changed markedly in recent years. If you want to know what it is like today, as opposed to thirty or more years ago, talk to current students or very recent alumni. Or if you don’t know anyone to ask, go to Hopkins Interactive.</p>
<p>I agree with Bonanza. The best people to ask are recent alums or current students. I didnt mean to imply that 80s alums know what the school is currently like.</p>
<p>When it comes to community, I guess that a school of 1200 feels different than a school of 5000+ thousands more grad students.</p>