<p>Phead--While a bigger endowment would be wonderful (and I hope you plan to contribute when you get older)--there is an answer to your question. You may have noticed that Hopkins' annual budget is comparable to that of Harvard, Yale, and Stanford--even though it's endowment is much smaller, the institution as a whole is smaller and tuition is comparable to those richer universities. How does Hopkins' do that? The answer is RESEARCH. Hopkins has been number 1 in receiving outside support for research for over 30 years--and is number 1 by a lot (i.e., it receives almost twice as much funding as number 2). A portion of every grant goes toward general overhead--and the total amount of that contribution toward overhead approximates the revenue generated by the bigger endowments of those larger institutions (except for Harvard--a $26 billion endowment generates a lot of money and no other place can come close to that). That's how Hopkins can compete.</p>
<p>hmmm i don't want to get shot if i wander 4 blocks to 29th street...</p>
<p>i wish there were more witty people like you, hinmanceo</p>
<p>Well actually hinmanCEO demonstrates there's hope for EVERYONE to get into college.</p>
<p>You gotta problem with THUG LIFE, hinmanCEO?</p>
<p>XD</p>
<p>I'm a freshman at JHU and I am also unhappy. I don't need to transfer, but my first semester experience was not too different from those discussed above. </p>
<p>Also, my roommate is a member of that Korean clique mentioned above. She is very sweet as an individual - but I really must say that as part of a group, she and her friends are extremely exclusive and unfriendly. Seriously, she does not acknowledge me around campus when I wave or say hello. On move-in day she jetted out of the dorm room without introducing herself, leaving her parents to set up her stuff while she met the Korean crowd. Understandably, she wanted to start up her social life with a group of people who have the most in common with her, but you would think that someone would attempt to show interest in a new roommate. I know people get touchy when it comes to commentary on race, but I call it like it is. It is also very important to keep in mind that the behavior of this clique is not representative of all Koreans. I have made several Korean friends over the course of the semester who are not a part of said clique.</p>
<p>I read this thead once before and went back to it today after speaking to someone whose grandson transferred from JHU to NYU this year. He too was very unhappy at JHU and is very happy now, even though NYU is ranked lower. One of the big reasons was the social aspects, especially the Korean cliques. The people posting on this site are not the only ones who have experienced this sense of exclusion.</p>
<p>1) Cliques exist at every school, not just Hopkins.</p>
<p>2) Students tranfer INTO Hopkins each year from other institutions. </p>
<p>3) The 1st year to 2nd year retention rate is 97% so it's very rare students elect to leave Hopkins. </p>
<p>4) Happiness and opportunities are not simply handed out like Halloween candy at a place like Hopkins. You have to go and get it! </p>
<p>5) All the people I know who are at Hopkins currently or recently graduated had a freakin' blast. They worked their butts off, partied hard on the weekends and made close friends.</p>
<p>Considering the demographics of the student body--deciding to transfer because some members of a minority ethnic group may be cliquish seems to me to be exercising very poor judgment. My observations suggest that unhappiness due to the social life at Hopkins is driven either by immaturity (i.e., expecting the University to make a social life for you) or unrealistic expectations (e.g., "I worked really hard in high school and I came to college to have fun."). Fun is important--but if you aren't prepared to put academics first, then you're not likely to be happy at JHU.</p>
<p>I strongly suggest getting to know some upperclassmen...I've met a lot through clubs and it's really nice to have a much more knowledgeable person around you when you don't know much as a freshman. I get input on classes, professors and they know how to really have fun =]</p>
<p>I think MAPP is one of these programs? I know some of my friends got to know many upperclassmen through this program. It's nice to join a small club tailored to your interests b/c then you get to know a lot more people personally. Having lots of People in a club does not mean you'll make that many more friends.</p>
<p>While I agree with some of the observations made above, it looks to me that colleges should be a little more implicated in helping with this "happiness" factor.</p>
<p>For example, a 97% retention rate for freshmen doesn't necessarily translates to 97% "happy" students. I remember reading a stat about 87% "happy students with their college choice".</p>
<p>Maybe a simple "how to be happy at JHU" club is what's missing? Maybe there is one but it's not well publicized? Maybe there's need for a special counseling service for these students? Maybe this counseling exists, but again, is not well publicized and these students feel they'll become even more "separated" if they seek advice?</p>
<p>Another major issue, and maybe one of the reasons why some students are not "happy", is the sudden and major change in their lives when they leave home and best friends.
Simply sending these students to "join a club" could not work for some of them!</p>
<p>I agree. I also think, like at most schools, the squeeky wheels get noticed and the happy, involved kids aren't .... well... posting on the message boards. </p>
<p>Like at most schools, kids at Hopkins are happy, just a few here and there that need a little change, time to grow and get used to new surroundings.</p>