<p>I'm looking at top colleges right now as applications get down to the wire, but unlike Duke and similar universities (UPenn, Stanford), I don't hear of many ups for John Hopkins. In fact, all I see are the stereotypes of JHU's "cut-throatedness" and the necessity of a bulletproof vest for the Baltimore area.</p>
<p>I will pursue some undergrad major along the lines of pre-med (bio, chem), and will advance to med school, but I care about much more than numbers - I want a balanced campus life in which academics do not consume my life. Could someone on the inside or an ex-Hopkins student fill me in on why/why not JHU is the place to be?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>First piece of advice … you need to spell the name of JHU correctly. It is Johns Hopkins University, not John.</p>
<p>Second piece of advice … do your own research and use credible sources. By credible sources I mean students who actually attend or recently attended Hopkins. There are a lot of people on CC who love to pass along the myths of Hopkins because it is just easy to label a school. One great place to do your own research is on the Hopkins Forums ( [Hopkins</a> Undergraduate Admissions :: Hopkins Forums](<a href=“http://apply.jhu.edu/forums/]Hopkins”>http://apply.jhu.edu/forums/) ). </p>
<p>Third piece of advice … if you can visit and make your own conclusions. </p>
<p>Final piece of advice … don’t just apply to a school because of its reputation or because it is a “top college.” </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>