<p>I've wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon since the start of highschool. JHU to me is an international hub of medical thinking and creativity, a place where a person like me would be inspired and surrounded by experts in the biomedical field.</p>
<p>I live in Northern Virginia, and am senior in high school. I will be applying RD for the fall 2007 session.</p>
<p>Transcript shows a drastic upward trend over past 3 years. This year 4 APs: CalcBC, Stats, Government, Chemistry
5 A+'s senior year (including AP Stats and APcalcBC).</p>
<p>Founder/Captain of Science Olympiad Team
National Honor Society
National Math Honor Society
...and many others which i don't feel i need to write</p>
<p>My essays are great...not another boring average essay...will make them laugh/get to know me and my goals/etc.</p>
<p>I'm working on a research project involving the effects of computerized entertainment on limbic activity in the brain. (I'm in the Academy of Science in my county). The Academy of Science is for students in my county with advanced math/science profeciency. This program was started by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, who funds it today. I go to another school every other day to take my math and science classes.</p>
<p>I also am planning to schedule an interview on campus.</p>
<p>I'm trying to do everything i can think of to get into JHU...please advise me on what more I can do to stand out and differentiate from the usual crowd...</p>
<p>Medical school will be nothing like undergrad. Just because JHU has a great medical school and hospital attached to it doesn't mean you will ever see the med school as an undergrad. I only say this so that you can relax a little. While JHU is a top university, it's not the only one of its kind and I assume that -- being such a smart student -- you are putting equal energy and enthusiasm on your applications to a half-dozen schools. You've got a good shot at JHU anyway, it's already too late to add any of the normal Type A, hoop-jumping, overachiever ECs to your resume, and you obviously need to relax a little. If you are comfortable that your application contains your best effort at meeting JH's requirements, it's time to move on to the other equally-amazing colleges you should be applying to. Try not to make acceptance to JHU your criteria for success in the world. It's best to leave that sort of destructive all-or-nothing thinking to your parents!</p>
<p>2PInZ, you have a great record and exciting accomplishments. I agree with Rick Tyler that you can and should relax. But I know you might not ;).</p>
<p>Really, the best way you can stand out now (you already have some standout accomplishments) is with your essays. Write them from your heart as well as your mind. I suggest you have someone you trust, and who can be objective, review them. Especially when one is going for a laugh - that is a great idea, but very difficult to do in an essay, so you want to be sure your approach is working and doesn't come across as flippant or sarcastic.</p>
<p>"Medical school will be nothing like undergrad. Just because JHU has a great medical school and hospital attached to it doesn't mean you will ever see the med school as an undergrad." </p>
<p>I am assuming you say this with some form of authority, right? Because I'm currently participating in a research project at the medical school and so are a lot ( a lot!! ) of people in my major and in the University in general. Some of my professors (2 so far) work at the medical school and are experts in their field, excellent teachers too. This is not true. Undergrads @ JHU directly benefit from the grad programs (including the humanities & social science majors)</p>
<p>"Try not to make acceptance to JHU your criteria for success in the world." Hmm I agree with this.</p>
<p>Pre-Prof. advisers here advise against knowing what kind of medical field you'll want to go into while you're here. Hell, you're even told to explore other options before dedicating your life to the pre-med track when you just get here. I'd say relax a little. </p>
<p>Many of those who stand out realize that there is a whole other world out there besides academia and research. If research and medicine is your passion, that's great- but this goes for many other students here as well. As long as you be yourself in your essays and application, you can't go wrong.</p>
<p>Scorp, I'll stand behind what I wrote. While there is a chance for undergrads to participate in research at nearly any research-oriented university, that doesn't make it an automatic feature of the program. Or -- and I'll retract what I wrote and apologize immediately -- does JHU guarantee that any interested undergrad will be involved in research at the medical school just by asking?</p>
<p>I just wanted to add more to what I wrote. Personally, I chose to come to Hopkins specifically because of the wealth of research opportunities they have. A lot of public universities in california require students to apply and compete for research assistant positions, which often result in them doing remedial work anyway. </p>
<p>If you're not going to come to Hopkins to reap the benefits of its research opportunities at places like the Med School, School of Public Health or even the resources at the Welch Library for our history majors, then you really might as well consider another school.</p>
<p>So what I'm trying to say here is, many students DO see the med school here (some groups even participate in Med School tours...at the least), as well as the many other Hopkins facilities.</p>
<p>Rick Tyler it may not be garanteed but the research position I'm at now was offered to me (the professor sent an email to the students in the program offering the position) I didn't have to compete, I didn't have search high and low. It's not garanteed but I have yet to find someone who wants to do research and can't find a professor to take them on. Yes, the Med School, hospital, the school of public health, and SAIS amongst other grad programs are a HUUUUUUGE asset to JHU students.</p>
<p>You have discussed one of the truly great advantages that Hopkins provide undergraduates. We talk about it a lot, but it is always nice to hear it backed up from actual students. Research opportunities are everywhere -- just ask and you will find them.</p>