<p>Okay, so I'm seriously considering some 'premed' schools and I want to know</p>
<p>Where are students happier as premeds? Washington University in St. Louis or at Johns Hopkins?</p>
<p>I've never been to Baltimore, only heard that it's a 'shady' place... but how does the Johns Hopkins campus look? Is it beautiful (those who've visited, please tell)? </p>
<p>Just in the case when I apply and if I get into both, I want to have an idea of which school is a better fit for me-- as in where I would be happiest and which campus would be better-looking.</p>
<p>In my opinion, the JHU campus is very beautiful. Georgian red brick with white trim is the predominant style, so it has a very different look than the Gothic buildings at many other schools.</p>
<p>Baltimore has had serious crime problems, including a high homicide rate, for many years. I believe the same has been true of St. Louis. I’m talking about each city as a whole, not necessarily the areas immediately surrounding these schools.</p>
<p>Baltimore does have its charms, such as major league sports franchises and Chesapeake Bay seafood. However, from my reading of reviews on a couple of college sites, I get the impression that the quality of student life at WUSTL is somewhat higher. Hopkins has a reputation as a very demanding school, especially for pre-med. According to data on gradeinflation.com, the average GPA for fall term 2006 at JHU was 3.24. At WUSTL, for spring term 2007, it was 3.41. I don’t know how accurate or significant that spread is, but it does seem to be consistent with JHU’s reputation as a comparatively tough school.</p>
<p>Both campuses are beautiful. I prefer Hopkins, but its admittedly a subjective thing (I’m a sucker for Georgian architecture).</p>
<p>Baltimore has its share of crime problems. It is ranked the 12th most dangerous large city in the U.S. But the dubious honor of being the most dangerous large city is St. Louis. See [City</a> Crime Rankings by Population Group](<a href=“http://www.morganquitno.com/cit07pop.htm#25]City”>http://www.morganquitno.com/cit07pop.htm#25). But both campuses are in relatively safe areas of their respective cities. While you may hear people say that “Johns Hopkins is in a bad neighborhood,” that comment is usually directed to the Hospital/ medical campus in East Baltimore. The University is spending a lot of money to improve the area surrounding the Hospital and it is much better than it once was, but it is still sketchy. The area surrounding Homewood (where Arts & Sciences and Engineering are located) is much better. </p>
<p>Overall, I much prefer Baltimore to St. Louis but that also is subjective. The biggest difference is that Baltimore is close to Washington, Philadelphia & NYC. St Louis, on the other hand, is…well…you can go to Kansas City. </p>
<p>I think the quality of student life at the two institutions is also comparable. Hopkins has made real strides in recent years toward improving student life.</p>
<p>I have never visited the Johns Hopkins campus, but check it out-- the Gregorian architecture sounds intriguing. The WashU campus, in my experience, is simply gorgeous. It is closed off from the rest of the city, and it is quite safe. Same goes with the surrounding area. Of course, common sense applies-- don’t go walking alone at night, whether you’re in Baltimore, St. Louis, or New York City! </p>
<p>More on the WashU campus-- it has a fairy-tale appeal, with robust architecture designed by the same contractors who designed Princeton campus. Come springtime, the trees alight with blossoms and flowers bloom all over campus. The bells of the Graham Chapel plays classic music in the late afternoon (it once played Gone with the Wind’s Tara theme). The campus is always clean, the grass always lush (unless it’s winter, of course)</p>
<p>I think both schools are large in the premed sector; Johns Hopkins is certainly a fine institution, though WashU gets more recognition for being a top premed school.
And in terms of happy students, WashU wins, hands down. If you go to the Johns Hopkins forum, you will find threads initiated by unhappy JHU students. I don’t know how accurate these threads are and whether the students are simply ranting, but many students seem to have posted…you could read those threads and decide for yourself.
In recent years, WashU has been ranked Number One by The Princeton Review for its quality of life; the PR has also ranked WashU food and dorms highly (‘Dorms like Palaces.’) Simply put, you will enjoy your undergraduate very much at Washington University in St. Louis. There is nothing lacking. Also, premedical students at WashU are not cutthroat-- everyone is smart, motivated, and supportive of each other. People share notes and worry about doing their best on the next exam, not trying to take down someone else’s grade.</p>
<p>There is a thread on the WashU forum for “WashU Premeds: Questions and Answers.” Be sure to check that out about the high quality of the WashU premed program.</p>
<p>Zenith602 has it right on par. The WashU premed program is highly well-known and phenomenal. Anyways, this isn’t what the OP is interested in, however. The OP wants to know where students are happier and where the campus is more beautiful.</p>
<p>I’ve seen both WashU and the JHU campus, and I do think the WashU campus has a gentler, more relaxing, and lovelier feel. There is a sense of harmony with how everything is designed on campus. However, this is just my opinion! Check out both campuses yourself. </p>
<p>“JHU is number one for pre-med!”… I doubt it. JHU has a terrific medical school, but their rank in pre-med is not so clear-cut at all (not even sure if there is a "pre-med program and if it is ranked). </p>
<p>I do know that JHU is super competitive, and professors are hard to find. Look at the number of JHU who get into their top rank medical school and it’s seriously low. While that doesn’t mean its pre-med is lacking, but most kids who begin in JHU’s pre-med program do not attend The Johns Hopkins Medical school.</p>
<p>So what makes a good pre-med program? Course work, advising, access to professors, camaraderie (some of you may question this, but I think it makes a difference), access to good research opportunities, etc. You decide what criteria is important. </p>
<p>There are also other schools that offer equally strong pre-med courses, including some terrific LACs. When you come right down to it, some schools that offer strong pre-med courses like WashU are stand-outs, but also schools (like Northwestern and Rice) consider some LACs and other schools as well. In truth, it really comes down to fit. Doesn’t it always?</p>
<p>Thank you limabeans. You are right. It’s all about fit. That is why I started this thread…I really wanted to know that between these two fine institutions, where students are happiest. From what I read so far, it seems that the Washington University in st. Louis kids are happier, though there are happy Johsn Hopkins students. I haven’t visited the Jhu campus yet, but I plan to. Anyways, I realize you also mean I might look into other schools. I’m currently rewriting my list of colleges and will look into a wider range of schools.
Oops lunchtime over. gtg</p>
<p>Objective 678,
sorry but I don’t find your post very informative. and by all means, if you are a jhu student, I am turned off/ away from the school.
I’m not talking prestige here. WashU and JHU are comparable in terms of premed prestige, though I heard of WashU first.
I’m asking for the quality of life/happier students/ campus aesthetics.
Please don’t start a flame war and try to be helpful here.
Thanks.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why there is so much illwill towards WUSTL. The school has excellent programs, facilities, and professors. The students are intelligent and motivated. WUSTL is an amazing school for pre-med. I know there are study abroad programs specifically for pre-med, so you can take advantage of that. The campus is gorgeous; it looks like an ideal college. I think both are excellent schools.</p>
<p>Hopkins Med Research: #2
WashU Med Research: #3</p>
<p>They’re peers with Johns Hopkins slightly ahead.</p>
<p>I would advise you to choose WashU for a superior quality of life and a more enjoyable academic experience. Less competition and less cutthroat.</p>
<p>Hopkins has many top departments in languages and in the humanities, but it’s undergraduate student body is just a turn-off.</p>
<p>As an admitted student to WashU and planning to attend as freshman, I will share with you my reasons for having chosen WashU as my choice for taking premed.</p>
<p>From what I have heard over cc and doing a bit of my own research, I agree with many of the posts above that WashU has a better quality in life and have happier students. From many of the cc other posts (you should start looking around), there have definitely been complaints of premed students being miserable at JHU, since so many bright students go there for premed; it’s really cutthroat and competitive. (you won’t really be able to do anything special there or stand out) As well, I have heard that JHU screens their applicants (not entire sure though, hope someone can confirm this), and judging from WashU’s premed stats, it’s pretty high with a 74% success rate and judging from some of the low MCAT and GPA scores, it doesn’t look like WashU screens, at least not to an alarming extent of some schools. (Though there are definitely “weed” out classes, such as Gen and Org Chem.) Reiterating what Zenith said, I’m getting the impression from many sources that WashU students are very helpful towards each other and you’ll receive a much better academic experience. (One of the main reasons I’m planning to attend WashU.)</p>
<p>Overall, for the OP, if you want to be in a happier environment, I would highly recommend WashU. I cannot comment on the campus look, since I can’t really judge without having visited both schools. However, if you’re one of the brightest genii in the world and can survive in a much more competitive environment, by all means attend JHU.</p>
<p>I got legacy at Hopkins, but scholarship at WashU.
The Ideal Thing would be: undergrad at WashU, and med school for Hopkins! haha</p>
<p>Sorry I’m not contributing much, but in my honest opinion, I don’t think these posts will play a major role in your final decision. Both are marvelous schools! Good luck to where you choose to go. And FYI, Hopkins BME is the apex of all premed. ;)</p>
<p>Can2010,
Muchos gracias for your informative reply, and to those who also have posted helpful information, thank you again. Reading so many posts on CC, I’ve been noticing that WashU students seem really happy, with both school and their peers/friends. And WashU premeds seem to be happy…and successful in applying to medical schools! That’s quite a combination. Johns Hopkins is a great school. but I get a feeling on CC that Washington University in St. Louis has happier students who are also wellrounded. Interestingly, whenever I post on the Washu forums, everyone is so helpful and courteous-- that doesn’t always happen on CC … Thank you to those who’ve helped answer my questions. WashU was actually my dream school before, but coming onto college confidential I notice people seem to apply widely everywhere and so I wanted to make sure I wasn’t making WashU my dream school for nothing. Well, now I see that I do have good reasons for making WashU my number 1.</p>
<p>Not even a question, I would go with WUSTL. This is coming from a college Freshman, who got into both schools and may have had to make the same choice. I have 3 friends who chose WUSTL over Hopkins and it is a fabulous school, with relaxed happy students, a great quality of life (possible the best out of all colleges) and a beautiful campus. In terms of where you will be happier, I have never heard a bad word uttered about WUSTL. I cannot say the same for hopkins. Hope that helps</p>
<p>Thank you Bescraze for your take on this…The other thing I’ve been noticing is that WashU students are not only happy but seem to love their school quite a bit! Maybe there’s a happy bug going around on the WashU campus?</p>
… Thank you to those who’ve helped answer my questions. WashU was actually my dream school before, but coming onto college confidential I notice people seem to apply widely everywhere and so I wanted to make sure I wasn’t making WashU my dream school for nothing. Well, now I see that I do have good reasons for making WashU my number 1.</p>