<p>Hi, I'm planning on applying for college this fall (I'm still a junior now) and I'm stuck between UCSD and Johns Hopkins. I plan on majoring in Neuroscience, and both of these schools have great neuroscience programs. Although I hear Johns Hopkins gets a lot more funding and of course is a much higher school.</p>
<p>Right now my decision is to probably attend UCSD in 2008 and then transfer into Johns Hopkins' Medical School for my graduate program. Does this seem like a good choice, or should I attempt to attend Johns Hopkins from the start?</p>
<p>Everyone tells me it's better to transfer, but I'm still not sure. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>I'm going to major in Neuroscience, too, and I applied to UCSD, UCLA, UCI, Hopkins, and USC, among others. I got into all of the above, except waitlisted at Hopkins, though I declined to stay on the waitlist. I honestly don't know why I applied there. I hated the Baltimore area, and the premed students are SOOOOO cutthorat (see this article: <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/opinion/localstatecolumns/article_1582392.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/opinion/localstatecolumns/article_1582392.php</a>) Personally, I LOVE USC, but, if you have to choose between Hopkins and UCSD, I would pick UCSD in a heartbeat. The kids there are a lot more laidback, and there are tremendous opportunities in the UC system (as a bite my tongue). I just didn't get a good vibe from Hopkins; the students lacked something. I can't put my finger on it. But anyways, sorry for the crappy advice, but good luck.</p>
<p>Well actually, my final choice isn't between UCSD and Hopkins. Those are the two which I personally liked, but I'm still open to other suggestions. And now that you mention the competition at Hopkins, I may reconsider my choice. But the reason why I liked UCSD is simply because of their excellent research facilities. I am open to other suggestions if you have any =)</p>
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Right now my decision is to probably attend UCSD in 2008 and then transfer into Johns Hopkins' Medical School for my graduate program. Does this seem like a good choice?
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I'm a bit confused about what you mean. If you mean attending UCSD for undergrad and Hopkins for med school, yes, that's perfectly reasonable. If you mean attending UCSD for a year or two and then transferring to Hopkins, that's probably a bad idea.</p>
<p>warblersrule86 is right about the fact that premed students are pretty intense across the board. But after speaking to students at both schools, I have found that UCSD kids seem to have a more laidback lifestyle (could just be the California mentality ;). In the article whose link is in my above post, the writer cited both a major newspaper and a college guidebook written by students who attend those colleges.</p>
<p>Anyways, to the OP: take everything you read online with a grain of salt and go visit both campuses yourself. Talk to current students and see what they say about life there - that's how your going to get the best and most candid opinions.</p>
<p>i found that new york times article ridiculous as well. i think its what you make of school, and who you hang with. not all pre-meds will be like that. lol. i am atually going to johns hopkins in the fall, and i thought that article was pretty funny.</p>
<p>I think UCSD has the #1 program in neuroscience in the country. Or at least they did a few years ago. In any case, people looking to hire you won't look down at you just because you didn't go to JHU.</p>
<p>Also, UCSD has a Med Scholars program (combined BA/MD). I don't know whether you are allowed to apply out for other med schools when accepted into the program, but if so, I would go that route. At least you would be guaranteed a spot in a good med school (not something to sniff at, even if it isn't your top choice).</p>