University of Maryland: College Park B/K vs Johns Hopkins University

Colleges and Universities A-Z Johns Hopkins University
1

Hi, I’m really torn between JHU and UMD:CP. Both I think are great schools, but they each have very striking allures to them that keeps me heavily undecided. To start off…

Finances:
UMD is giving me the full Banneker/Key Scholarship, not to mention that supposedly unused funds get deposited as credit into my account. JHU has given me a lot of money, mostly from the half-tuition parent benefit, a large grant, and a Hopkins Academic Success Scholarship. The cost would be around 7000 the first year, however it is likely to increase in upcoming years because in the previous financial aid form that requested 2016 taxes my dad was unemployed for a good portion of the year, so our ability to pay will probably shoot up in resulting years (at least for 2017/2018, my mom recently got fired). As of now finances are probably good as my grandparents can help, so it isn’t too much of a deciding force. Along with any comments any of you may have, I suppose I have two questions:

What other benefits are there to Banneker/Key in terms of getting distinguished, forming high-level connections, or special events (I’m partly deciding based on food)?

Is JHU known to drastically decrease financial aid for changing family situations?

Academics:
I also need opinions on academics. Right now my major for UMD would be Chemistry, however after a visit to JHU and learning about Chemical Engineering, which uses both math and chemistry, I think I would rather pursue ChemE. The issue is: I practically switched my major twice at umd already. On my app I said mathematics, then I sent an email asking for chemical engineering to which the admissions officer agreed and started putting me in chemical engineering, and at that point I told them I meant pure chemistry, so they put me in there. Now I realize ChemE is pretty cool, but I really don’t want to be such a nuisance and change my major like every two seconds. So that’s a big headache that pushes me away from umd. However, umd also accepted me to ACES (I guess I gotta learn how to program) which I think is very prestigious and a huge resume booster. From what I’ve heard about JHU, however, is that everybody says getting a high-paying job would be much easier. True, a ChemE degree from JHU probably looks good, but it’s a bit of a dilemma if I want to be an average kid at Hop or shine at UMD (I have heard that graduate school is basically all GPA, and I’m pretty sure my GPA at UMD would be higher). The research and coursework for JHU is a little intimidating.

To what extent would a ChemE degree from JHU beat Banneker Key/ACES/High GPA at UMD?

Is switching majors so often really a big deal at UMD?

Big fish in a small pond or small fish in a big pond. Which is better?

Campus Life:
UMD would undoubtedly have the better dorms as the ACES P Freddy hall has spacious rooms, clean areas, and good AC. At JHU I would probably go with AMR I/II, however the dorm is a little small and hallways cramped. It’s like the lights are strategically placed to make some of the dorms at JHU more depressing. At UMD I would have all the Bro-skies from High School, and my brother will be a junior there when I enter so that would be fun. My friends and brother pull me pretty close to UMD, and at JHU I would practically start anew. So that’s a pretty big consideration. UMD also gave me a really nice luncheon at the B/K interview and I feel so indebted no one has ever done that for me before. I love the scenery at both campuses, but UMD would definitely be a lot more walking. It’s tough to compare food because ive only eaten at a diner from each once, but it seems like JHU has more unique and changing items, but UMD has unlimted biscuits.

Do I place too much importance on staying comfortable socially at UMD vs the prestige and opportunity at JHU?

Who has better food?

So that’s what im torn between really. If anyone has anything about either school, or college as a whole, that they think would help me make a decision please share. Thanks a million sorry for all the text.

2

I am not sure I understand. What is it at UMD that you like better than JHU other than the dorms and some friends? Is this primarily a financial decision?

3

Finances are pretty much covered so they don’t really influence my decision too much. I guess the thing about UMD would be the opportunities in research and stipends that B/K provides as well as just making connections in general. Or would Jhop be better for that?

4

I think it is hard to predict. Both offer lots of research opportunities and great courses. If you have scores above average at each school, I think you will find you can handle the work and thrive. Whether one leads to better research or connections is probably luck after that point.

5

That’s a good point. You right you right I will take consider this.

6

Good luck to you. My child is making a hard decision also. I just say to pick the one where she thinks she will feel most comfortable and where her instincts tell her she will thrive. You can’t go wrong with such great choices.

7

If you’ve got questions about Hopkins I can answer them, as I’m a student (not engineering, though).

In regards to what you’ve said already, though- don’t be afraid to change your major if you feel you want to, especially as you haven’t even gotten to college yet! You don’t need to have it all figured out right now, and you don’t need to have it all figured out after one semester or your first year. Of course don’t officially change it every other day, but if you strongly feel that there is something new that you want to pursue (or that what you thought you’d love isn’t something you feel as strongly about), don’t feel afraid to change more than once.

8

I suppose I am vastly overthinking how much the faculty at UMD cares about major changes so thank you for the insight it really helps. If I may ask, which dorm did you choose for your freshamn year at JHU?

9

AMR II. If you want more info on freshman housing, here’s a thread where I and someone else discuss it a bit:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/johns-hopkins-university/2065297-johns-hopkins-housing.html#latest

10

A bit late to the party but snoopy, go with JHU. Their research opportunities are unparalleled and it’s definitely easier to obtain a research position. And for things like ChemE or ChemBE, JHU is a lot stronger. You’ll also have an easier time switching majors at JHU but idk about UMD. ACES is surely a resume booster but it would be a lot stronger if you did computer science. It seems irrelevant tbh. I remember I applied for ACES solely cause I wanted to do cybersecurity.

I was given a step below the Banner key scholarship for UMD and I went with JHU even though their CS rankings are lower.

11

Hopkins is way better and more prestigious for undergraduate. However, if your intention is premed, you might be better off going to Maryland or UMBC or whatever to get GPA. Hopkins is intense and you will be in classes with lots of premeds in your major. However, with the cost similar, I would find it hard to take Maryland over Hopkins.