<p>I have no interest in going to JHU or William & Mary for that matter, I just want to fire up the grill about how this isn't your mother's JHU any more. Or is it?</p>
<p>From the William & Mary school paper, The Tribe:</p>
<p>Senior Chrissy Adkison, who transferred from Johns Hopkins two springs ago, was looking for stronger classes outside the sciences, among other reasons. </p>
<p>"Many of the social sciences and humanities departments were not very strong [at Hopkins]," she said.
...
Talking to friends from the College while at JHU, Adkison felt she was not getting the same general experience. "I was very unhappy with the undergraduate experience I was having at Hopkins. The overall student body was not very interested in student activities or volunteering outside of the classroom," she said. </p>
<p>Talking to friends, she realized she lacked connections with the student community and admired her friends' fun traditions, school spirit and closeness with professors. </p>
<p>"They had great rapport with their professors, were involved in research and got tons of personal attention. The JHU body was very disconnected because everyone was so focused on completing their engineering degrees or competing with each other in the pre-med program," Adkinson said. "Also, juniors and seniors had to live off-campus because there was not enough on-campus housing. This also led to a greater disconnect."
...
"At first I had a full ride to Hopkins, but they changed my financial package halfway through the year. I was upset most by how the administration treated me; they acted like it was my fault somehow, and it was bothering them that I was asking for their help," Adkison said.</p>
<p>Isn't this the usual case for any transfer students? I don't think any college has a 100% retention rate and transfers students...well transfer because something isn't suited to their needs. I don't know why they would openly publish this however...are they trying to boost their egos or something?</p>
<p>The off campusing house problem has been partially fixed with the new commons, and I don't know why they would change the financial package like that. I'm sure the admin had some legitamate reason though.</p>
<p>jovenes, i think The Tribe is not the school's official newspaper, it is the same thing as jhu's newsletter...which is just student opinions o.O
anyhow mary and william is a liberal arts college o.O so the professors there have no choice but to focus on their undergrads...and so most likely more bonding will occur hence the benefit of attending a liberal arts. but then like all benefits there are also drawbacks...i think there was an article describing the cons and pros of liberal arts colleges, a pity she didn't have a chance to visit cc or she would have chosen her fit earlier</p>
<p>I am pretty familiar with JHU and William and Mary and I can say with certainty that William and Mary is a great school but it is no Johns Hopkins in any department. Although William and Mary is less expensive (a good thing), the quality of their students varies dramtically. As a state school, William and Mary must accept a sizable portion of its students from Virginia. JHU on the other hand can select its students from any state and the rest of the world. JHU is among the most elite universities in the nation and can attract the best faculty possible because of its reputation and location near several large cities. William and Mary has always been in the shadow of the University of Virginia and is located in a rural/suburban area. A graduate with a JHU degree will often encounter a "Wow" response. A graduate with a William and Mary degree will too frequently encounter (outside of Virginia) a "Where is that school located" response. The opinion of a student (WHO IS NOW AT WILLIAM AND MARY) is certainly something to consider, but there it too much evidence to support an opinion contrary to her opinion.</p>
<p>Hmm.. a couple of random thoughts: I agree with what jovenes132 said about not everyone liking the college they go to - that's why the option to transfer exists. At the same time, I agree that Hopkins isn't perfect and there are problems here as there are at any other school. The upperclassmen housing issue has partially been resolved with the opening of new on-campus housing options for upperclassmen (as a junior, I'm going to be living in University housing next year). Some of my friends still wanted to live off campus or ended up with really bad lottery numbers and couldn't get on-campus housing, but even then, they'll be living within a couple blocks of campus, so it's not like they're completely disconnected from campus. At the same time, we don't really have a collegetown type atmosphere. The University has been trying to create that in the Charles Village area to the east of campus and it's starting to get off the ground, but it's nothing like the collegetown environment at other schools.</p>
<p>As for things like school spirit and rapport with professors, it's really what you make if it. Some people really get to know faculty members - they all have office hours and most love to talk to students after class. Hopkins is a research university, so it's not like some liberal arts schools where professors live and interact with students constantly (though they're trying to set up a program with dorm faculty mentors), but at the same time, it's not like the professors are always in their labs hiding from students. If you make the effort to meet faculty, you can get to know them well. </p>
<p>The same is true with school spirit and campus involvement. There are always going to be the people who live in the library (figuratively speaking, of course), but there are also people who get really involved in all sorts of things. At the beginning of each year, there is a Student Activities fair where you can learn about different student groups and sign up for them - it's a huge event and tons of students turn out. I'm personally a Biomedical Engineering major, but my two biggest extracurriculars are running with the campus EMS unit and running a Model UN Conference for 800 high schoolers each March (which has absolutely nothing to do with my major at all, but I really enjoy it). If you take the initiative to get involved, there's a lot to do.</p>
<p>Overall, Hopkins is a great school with a lot of really good departments and I'm happy with my decision to come here. It's definitely not an easy school and everyone has to put in a lot of work to do well, regardless of major. Hopkins is not the best environment for everyone - I had some really good friends last year who decided to transfer out because they preferred to be a small liberal-arts environment. At the same time, I know people who transfered to Hopkins because a small liberal arts school or a huge state school just didn't mesh with them.</p>
<p>I find these comments way off the mark. My son goes to Hopkins, and is having an amazing experience. Did you know that Hopkins has one of the most highly rated English departments in the country? Did you know that the drama department is headed by the actor John Astin? You would know him as Gomer Addams in the "Addam's Family" films. Of course he has acted and directed in a wide variety of films and television, but you might know him best for this particular role. He is also the father of actor Sean Astin.
Also, Hopkins has a highly respected art history major. Not many universities have a world famous museum on its campus.
As far as the social scene, it is up to you to get active. There is so much to do at Hopkins, if you choose. You can join a fraternity or sorority, or join a sports team, etc. Both of these options have great social lives attached to them. And Baltimore does have several fun places to go to. There are several formals to attend, as well.
Let me make this cautionary comment to you kids who think that you might be bored at this or that institution...You will only be bored if you are boring. Do your work, and make room for fun. There are lots of fun kids, and fun things to do at Hopkins, if you are not socially challenged, yourselves.</p>
<p>Outside of the science there is a top 5 History department, the best writing seminars program in the country, a top 10 english department, a well regarded top 10-20 or so art history department, a economics department ranked in the top 5 for faculty productivity (a department whose faculty includes the editor of the American Economic Review, and is currently wooing some future nobel laureates), a top political science department, one of the best French language program in the nation, a top history of science department in conjunction with the medical school and arguably the best undergraduate international studies program in the country. </p>
<p>Many of the rankings are based upon graduate rankings, save for a few. But, undergraduates have the same professors and have many of the same opportunities for classes and research as the graduates. </p>
<p>I've taken courses in a few of these departments, as well as the sciences. I've found the humanities/social science courses equally as strong.</p>
<p>And to competition between pre-meds--this has been beaten harder than the proverbial horse. Many of the students are determined, but I have not seen once instance of real competition. </p>
<p>I am surprised that this girl had such a bad time at Hopkins, but if you understand you're not going to be handed a diploma like one may be at some schools of similar caliber, Hopkins can be the best experience one can have.
So, I don't exactly know what she was expecting from Hopkins, but I have sat in on classes at Penn, Cornell, Brown and Georgetown, and all classes I've seen were comparable or less engaging than classes I've taken at Hopkins. </p>
<p>And I'd have to agree with JHURocks, WM is no Hopkins.</p>
<p>I have pretty much nothing to add in response to the article mentioned by the OP that the other posters who know the "real" Hopkins have already said. </p>
<p>I do want to mention how strange I find this article in the William & Mary school newspaper to be. I actually am a big fan of W&M as a good friend of mine attended there and had an amazing experience. My confusion is why the newspaper found it interesting to publish a story/opinion attacking another university. I am happy that Senior Chrissy Adkison found a University that fit her personal preferences and that the transfer option is out there for so many students who find that their first choice of college might not be the best choice. But how is that of interest to current W&M students and alums who would be reading the article??? A profile of a student having great experiences at W&M is to me an interesting article to read, but to "attack" another school seems just out of place in my personal opinion.</p>
<p>Now clearly, I work for Hopkins and part of my job is to put the school in the best light possible. Which for me is very easy to do, because I see a lot of great things about JHU and see a school improving each day. But JHU is not for everyone, and clearly was not for Senior Chrissy Adkison. Maybe she didn't go through the college search process the right way? Maybe a Liberal Arts college was a better fit for her? Maybe Hopkins did her wrong? Maybe she didn't actively pursue a positive life at Hopkins? WHO KNOWS. But to just assume that Hopkins is a horrible place because of one student's opinions is just wrong - and does not seem to be worthy of an article in a school newspaper, or even a thread on College Confidential. Plus our 95% freshman to sophomore retention rate I think contradicts the "Same Old Hopkins" statement.</p>
<p>In the end, as has been said, HOPKINS IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT. If you do a thorough college search, visit the campus, and like what you see then apply to JHU. If you are lucky to be admitted and choose to enroll, then get involved, pursue your passions, meet with the faulty, have fun, study hard and you can have an amazing experience. Make the decision on your own, not based on the lone opinion of one person who is either in love with Hopkins or not a fan of the school. Get as many opinions as possible, but also make your own conclusions void of bias. </p>
<p>Now I step off my soap box and get back to work...</p>
<p>A correction and a couple of comments. The W&M nickname is the Tribe but the newspaper is the Flat Hat. Here's the link to the story because I had only cut and pasted the parts about the transfer from Hopkins.</p>
<p>And to Ad/Dan -- that was a very classy post. I'm clearly not JHU material, but a couple of my friends have chewed off their fingernails waiting for the end of the month waiting to see if they'll be watching lax at Homewood next year. So how about admitting a couple of guys with 1350's so that I'll have a room to crash next year when my beloved Red Sox are playing at the Yard?</p>
<p>Hey, Ad/Dan -- I can't let this pass without smiling ... a lot.</p>
<p>" If you are lucky to be admitted". Lucky? I love it!</p>
<p>You got it right -- how much of the admissions game can come down to pure dumb luck? Who reads your app, what he or she just had to eat, how many times interrupted by cell calls or IMs, how awful or awesome was the app that was read right before yours. I'm sure there are a lot of checks and balances, but with so many qualified kids ... there's got to be some luck too, at least for some of the few ... the proud ... the Jays.</p>
<p>You are obviously the most truthful Admissions Officer in the U.S. of A. Keep up the good work!</p>
<p>First let's talk about Hopkins as an institution of higher learning, in terms of the rankings, which seem to plague most of us. When you assess where Hopkins is ranked amongst other elite institutions, pay close attention to the "peer assessment" rank. Hopkins has an outstanding score of 4.6/5. This means that it is one of the most academically respected universities in the nation, if not the world. Very few school have higher peer ranks. In fact those few schools with the highest rate a 4.9. There are the schools du jour, ie. the trendy schools, which while also academically outstanding, do not rank with Hopkins. Look at Wash U. Its peer ranking is several tenths of a point below Hopkins...If I am not mistaken, at about a 4.1. It is also located in St. Louis, which is amongst the most (if not the most) crime ridden cities in America. In fact, several of the Ivies do not rate as well academically as does Hopkins...Look at Penn, Brown, and I believe, Dartmouth.
Hopkins is not only an standout in the sciences. It has one of the most highly ranked English department in the country, as well as a very highly rated art history department. The Baltimore Museum of Art, which is a phenomenal museum, is right there, at Hopkins...There are also other smaller museums either on the campus, or affiliated with it.
In terms of the performing arts, the Peabody Institute is part of Hopkins. This is one of the finest music conservatories in the country, not too dissimilar from Julliard. One can study vocal performance, musical performance, etc. In terms of the drama department, actor/director John Astin is the head? You may know him as Gomer Addams, the father in the Addams Family films. He is also the father of actor Sean Addams.
Did you know that NASA has a location on the Hopkins campus? Did you know about the Applied Physics Laboratory, which is located on a separate, nearby campus, dedicated to research in the applied sciences?</p>
<p>In terms of fun at Hopkins, let me assure you that there is a lot to get involved in, ranging from a Greek system, to sports, to just about anything you could want. If you are an avid lacrosse fan, Hopkins is the place to be. Just last week there was an exciting Hopkins-Princeton game at the M &T Bank Arena, and Hopkins was the victor. Not so surprising, considering its high standings in Lacrosse.
Baltimore is a thriving city that is gentrifying at a rapid pace. On one side of Hopkins is Charles Village, which is growing and developing, ridding the area of the former urban blight. On the other side of Hopkins there are magnificent communities with large mansions that go for miles, straight down to Towson. Towson, which is approximately 15 minutes from Hopkins, has a great mall, with Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom's, I believe. There are several floors and wings of upscale stores, and the other basic stores commonly found in malls across America. All of these suburban areas that surround Hopkins, and beyond are very beautiful
If you can pick up a copy of Baltimore Magazine, do so. What you will see are listings of literally thousands of restaurants, clubs, bars, and other entertainment venues that host rock bands, year round. The Inner Harbor has become so upscale, that The Four Seasons resorts and hotels, is building a condominium apartment, as is the Ritz-Carleton. Other truly beautiful buildings and waterfront communities are also being built.
The students go to wonderful parties in the inner harbor, and often go to Fell's Point, which is kind of a Greenwich Village on the water. It is a very lively area of Baltimore, where lots of young people hang out, dine, and shop. </p>
<p>Hopkins has an amazing security program/staff. Each Hopkins dorm has a desk with a security guard posted at it, 24/7. Believe me, no matter how familiar you might be to security, you cannot enter the building without supplying your Hopkins ID. Even if you are a familiar parent, you must leave your driver's license at the security desk, otherwise no entry. Hopkins security is always present and obvious. Of course, Baltimore is a city, with city problems, and one must always take care. But Hopkins does a wonderful job, and Baltimore is becoming quite a city.</p>
<p>Getting back to that peer assessment rank, pay close attention to it. When Hopkins figures out its endowment issues, that peer rank will catapult it to even higher overall standings than it has now. Remember, your college degree is not just for today. It is an enduring and valuable asset that will do you well in the future, if you chose wisely.
Good luck to all of you in your college search. Don't be too upset if your first choice does not materialze. You will end up where you were supposed to...for sure. If Hopkins is on your RD list, and you have done well enough to be admitted, look at the school carefully. It is a wonderful place, with warm, caring, and accessible faculty and administration. Truly.</p>
<p>Thanks, for your comment. I am simply telling the truth. Sometimes I wonder where the kids are getting their erroneous info from, and find it very detrimental to making a wise, informed choice. And, by the way, there is nothing wrong with kids working to get good grades. While I think that grade deflation is terribly wrong, and even defeating, I really have not seen evidence of this at Hopkins. That being said, a student has to work. So what? As long as one is getting the grades he/she deserves, no problem. And you know what? While most kids on the site have had the luxury of supportive, caring parents, it is a tough world out there, and kids need to know that they will always have to work hard to succeed. Just do your work, and you will do very well at Hopkins. No one there is trying to hurt you. That thought is really ridiculous, and needs to be said by someone who knows.
After doing their work, and making themselves proud of their considerable accomplishments, by all means, take advantage of all Hopkins and Baltimore have to offer, and have the best time of their live. The two are absolutely not mutually exclusive at Hopkins.</p>