<p>I'll try to answer your questions even though I'm not pre-med (I was, I guess, when I first started here)...I <em>do</em> work for admissions, but I think you'll find that there are some things I'm more than happy to criticize, too...I just figured you'd prefer <em>some</em> answers as opposed to none: </p>
<p>Students do a variety of things for fun - everything from hanging out and watching their favorite shows with their friends in the lounge to going clubbing downtown (my group's favorite is Red Maple, right near the Charles theatre & accessible from the Hopkins shuttle). People go to frat parties, into DC or downtown for concerts, to Little Italy for dinner & dessert, to the Orioles to cheer on the home team...anything you can imagine a typical college student would do for fun, we do here. </p>
<p>I think you'll find on tons of other threads that the stereotypes about premed culture being cutthroat are unfounded. Sure, everyone wants to succeed and do well, and some people have had dreams of being a doctor since childhood (or their parents have told them they should be a doctor since childhood)...and there is certainly some level of pressure to do well. HOWEVER, most of this pressure is internally-developed by individuals to be put on themselves, and not at all fostered by others' competitiveness. I know I personally was surprised by how willing people were to help out with calc homework or to work in groups to edit and proofread chem lab reports...BME students, in particular, are assigned lots of group work, so it's encouraged to work together. You'll always find that A level in the library (the "most social" level since you don't have to be quiet) is full of groups working together to study/take study breaks. </p>
<p>Premed advising (and preprofessional advising in general) is pretty spectacular. Lots of advisors who know a lot about the process, since they've been doing it for years. There are special meetings for prehealth students beginning freshman year, so there is always guidance available every step of the way. Walk-ins and appointments are available with advisors every day of the week. </p>
<p>Research & involvement at the med school can start freshman year, no problem. You do have to show initiative, no doubt, and you might be turned down at first - but honestly, there are more spots available (b/c you're essentially free labor!) than there are students to fill them. See this thread for lots of people's input: <a href="http://z14.invisionfree.com/Hopkins_Forums/index.php?showtopic=325%5B/url%5D">http://z14.invisionfree.com/Hopkins_Forums/index.php?showtopic=325</a></p>
<p>Professors are generally quite accessible, but again, you have to show initiative...they won't hunt you down. Sometimes it might take repeated showings at their office before you track them down; in general, they'll tell you the best way to contact them (in person, email, phone) - stick with that, and you'll be fine. The main thing is forcing yourself to take the first step to seek them out. </p>
<p>Community service is, admittedly, one of the areas <em>perceived</em> to be weak at Hopkins. Many people serve the community individually through volunteering with lots of different organizations, but group involvement is less visible. There are many groups hosted under the Center for Social Concern that do lots of service...but again, it's not quite as visible. Some of the largest projects include Tutorial Project, where students are brought to campus two days a week for tutoring by JHU students, and general fund-raising and awareness campaigns as sponsored by different cultural/regional/Greek organizations. There is also a freshman day of service during orientation, which helps freshmen see what sorts of opportunities are available. </p>
<p>The campus bands together most visibly around lacrosse season. People really come out of the woodwork to cheer on the team, paint their faces, and show their Hopkins pride. But generally, you're just not going to find the same sort of D1 school spirit at a school like say, UM-CP or Georgetown. Hopkins students are proud & happy to be here...but the atmosphere is just a bit different. The classes mix together, because we're a pretty small/medium-sized school; the freshmen stick together a lot since they physically live together, but beyond that there is quite a bit of mixing because you meet people in clubs, etc. One thing that people criticize sometimes is the self-segregation of people of different races as well as socioeconomic background...I wouldn't say it's extreme, but it's definitely something that you'll see (though I expect it's the same at lots of other schools).</p>
<p>Most visible student groups? That's a bit harder to pin down. Obviously, Greek organizations are quite visible, since they proudly wear their gear. :-) The theatre groups are very strong & have high membership. The different athletic teams are also really cohesive. Recently, a new freshman helped organize HEAT (Hopkins Energy Action Team) to promote environmental consciousness...and it has quickly become really visible on campus with lots of events & rallies. The cultural groups like the Black Student Union, Chinese Students Association, etc., also have a strong presence on campus. The two student-run symposiums (MSE symposium in the fall, Foreign Affairs in the spring) are really well attended and popular with students and the larger community as well.</p>