<p>Ok, I'm a 17 year old male from Westchester, NY. I applied early decision to Brown, was deferred then accepted. I was ecstatic, so happy to be in and thought that my college plans were basically set. But then, 2 days later, Johns Hopkins comes along and throws this Hodson Trust deal at me for $21k a year (which I'm pretty amazed at because the book says only 18 people are offered it, I was just hoping to get in) and I have a serious decision to make. Luckily, my family is pretty well off, so the money would go to me when I graduate for starting off my new life. I'm trying to weigh not only how beneficial this is, but also which school I will be happier at.</p>
<p>If you had asked me a week ago which school I'd rather go to, I would have said Brown in a heartbeat, but now I'm not so sure. I'm beginning to think that perhaps Hopkins may have some edges in my preferred areas of study, math/physics. I also plan to study music (composition), but not as a major so I don't need a top notch music program. What I don't like about Hopkins compared to Brown is really the culture (which I gather from both word of mouth and my visit is competitive and uptight), the location (have to drive to get to anywhere useful really) and the male female ratio (hey 45/55 sounds a lot better to me than 60/40). I still have yet to visit each school again and I'm sure that will give me a much better idea. What do you guys think though, as far as departmental strength and campus culture goes. Also, how much is an extra 80 grand in my pocket going to help me when I graduate? Would it be worth going to my second choice for?</p>
<p>Go to JH. I mean, you basically get to go for free and then don't have to worry about what you're doing for a while afterwards. Also, you can use the money for grad. school, if need be. I go to Hopkins now, and I wouldn't say that the students are up-tight or anything like tht; I don't know really where you got that impression. It is really not like that at all! Truthfully, lol, and I'm getting sick of people saying tht it is. Also, I don't know if you knew or not, but the Peabody Conservatory, JH's music program, is one of the top in the nation, and it has its own separate campus and stuff. Just last year the renovated it for tens of millions of dollars, and we have world-renowed music professors. Anyway, that's all I can think of for now. Good luck!</p>
<p>cuz if u are, did u apply to the brown 8 year PLME prog? That's a LONG time to stay in one place. At JHU, u get 4 years and then u can go elsewhere for grad school.</p>
<p>I suggest that nobody even touch the whole 8-year med student programs with a ten-foot-pole. You're going to change your major, I can almost guarantee it. You will hate pre-med, I guarantee it.</p>
<p>You will hate pre-law, I guarantee it.</p>
<p>You will hate school if you use it just to get into grad school, I guarantee it. Go to whichever school offers the best underaged drinking. Or the best squirrels. Or whatever YOU like. I personally thought the squirrels at UCLA were the best. Screw Stanford's evil black squirrels.</p>
<p>To the previous two posters: GOOD. That's what you should be doing. Don't "pre-said professional school major." Study what you enjoy, because if 3 years into your major you realize you have no desire to go to law/business/medical/dental/nursing school, you're f'ed in the A.</p>
<p>I'm kinda in the same boat, except with Northwestern and JHU (Bloomberg Scholarship). I think I'd enjoy college life at NU better, but it is tough to pass up a deal that gives you so much money, especially at such a terrific school like JHU. I'm thinking of studying economics or IR in college. I know NU has a great econ department and a mediocre international studies dept, while JHU has a great international studies department and a mediocre econ department.</p>
<p>I am faced with a pretty similar decision between Hopkins and St. John's College. I asked everyone I could find for advice on what to do- including the admissions counselor at St. John's.</p>
<p>I realized, though, that everyone's advice is based on what they would do. Personally, I think I am going to go to Hopkins because the cheaper price means I will have more freedom to try what I want to do, as will the actual ability to choose my classes. But I still love St. John's with a passion. In the end, you have to decide what type of person you are and what type of education you want. Which sucks as far as advice goes, but it really is the truth.</p>