Johns Hopkins is a Leader in Undergrad Diversity

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an alum and wouldn't send my kid there. It's a definite slog with little school spirit and historically the students are incredibly intense because so many are pre-med. There was a decent amount of cheating, hiding of source documents in the library, etc. (Back in my era when there were required textbooks or readings on-loan in the library kids would check them all out and keep them/destroy them so their classmates couldn't read them). Basically--weird, super competitive stuff was not abnormal.

Also, historically kids would enter having had years and years of advanced high school science and math. My kids are on the "calculus in 11th grade track" at a non-magnet and if you had asked me if I'd feel like they would be prepared for Hopkins my gut would say "no way! They'll be really far behind many of their peers." Interestingly, I don't know how this jives with the heavy minority enrollment because many of these kids will be becoming from under resourced high schools that may not even offer AP classes, Calc BC, etc. How does this group jive with large percentage of kid coming from STEM magnets etc. who are 2 or 3 or 4 years beyond calculus in high school?
Hopkins would seem about the last school on the planet that's a good fit for some of these kids. And lest you say I'm a racist--I work daily with these kids. We have a bunch from very poorly resourced schools in DC and Baltimore who are heading to Hopkins this fall. They're smart but most have never had math beyond pre-calc. How are they going to jive with the 30% of the class that took linear algebra in high school? I'm sure many will do great but some will not. They'll realize that a STEM heavy, slog of a university is a terrible fit. It's just all a bit odd but I'm not the one making decisions at Hopkins.

Another alum here. The cut throating is REAL.

I have warned my kid but he is still interested.

Just curious: Are there other schools that have a similar atmosphere? (Asking so that we can avoid similar schools on the college search.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an alum and wouldn't send my kid there. It's a definite slog with little school spirit and historically the students are incredibly intense because so many are pre-med. There was a decent amount of cheating, hiding of source documents in the library, etc. (Back in my era when there were required textbooks or readings on-loan in the library kids would check them all out and keep them/destroy them so their classmates couldn't read them). Basically--weird, super competitive stuff was not abnormal.

Also, historically kids would enter having had years and years of advanced high school science and math. My kids are on the "calculus in 11th grade track" at a non-magnet and if you had asked me if I'd feel like they would be prepared for Hopkins my gut would say "no way! They'll be really far behind many of their peers." Interestingly, I don't know how this jives with the heavy minority enrollment because many of these kids will be becoming from under resourced high schools that may not even offer AP classes, Calc BC, etc. How does this group jive with large percentage of kid coming from STEM magnets etc. who are 2 or 3 or 4 years beyond calculus in high school?
Hopkins would seem about the last school on the planet that's a good fit for some of these kids. And lest you say I'm a racist--I work daily with these kids. We have a bunch from very poorly resourced schools in DC and Baltimore who are heading to Hopkins this fall. They're smart but most have never had math beyond pre-calc. How are they going to jive with the 30% of the class that took linear algebra in high school? I'm sure many will do great but some will not. They'll realize that a STEM heavy, slog of a university is a terrible fit. It's just all a bit odd but I'm not the one making decisions at Hopkins.

I'm not a Hopkins grad, but I live a few blocks from campus and I see students all the time. For what it's worth, all the ones who live near me seem to be standard preppy white kids. Your take is very interesting. My impression is that Hopkins is not much fun, but the description of kids hiding resources in the library takes things to another level. I wonder if perhaps a more diverse student body will alter some of the culture in a good way?

Yep, I don't know. Maybe the whole place has mellowed out. My experience was 20+ years ago. I know that it wasn't much fun and that none of my college friends have kids applying there. That's why the whole "no longer considering legacy" thing is a kind of a joke. Most legacy kids are not applying--save for a very select few who want this exact, unique product. It's not a bad place, it's just by no means a "one size fits all" kind of place.
Which is why this super heavy URM recruitment (as the institution's number one priority and now identity) is so weird. I can't stress enough that I wouldn't send my kids with their A's in two years of well taught calculus there. I'd worry they'd get their asses kicked by the TJ and Bronx Science brigade (and more than that--be miserable in the process). I can't imagine being from Ballou or Dunbar in DC (like kids are this year) and trying to make it work after having only pre-calc. I don't get it but I hope it works out for these kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if this is a reflection of Hopkins; reputation as a miserable grind for undergrads as well as a school focused on graduate students. Kids with parents who know the reputation and who attend schools with good counselors are likely avoiding it. That leaves the uninformed (who the post praises them for targeting) and kids who want that kind of a college experience.

Hopkins rejects 90 percent of applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an alum and wouldn't send my kid there. It's a definite slog with little school spirit and historically the students are incredibly intense because so many are pre-med. There was a decent amount of cheating, hiding of source documents in the library, etc. (Back in my era when there were required textbooks or readings on-loan in the library kids would check them all out and keep them/destroy them so their classmates couldn't read them). Basically--weird, super competitive stuff was not abnormal.

Also, historically kids would enter having had years and years of advanced high school science and math. My kids are on the "calculus in 11th grade track" at a non-magnet and if you had asked me if I'd feel like they would be prepared for Hopkins my gut would say "no way! They'll be really far behind many of their peers." Interestingly, I don't know how this jives with the heavy minority enrollment because many of these kids will be becoming from under resourced high schools that may not even offer AP classes, Calc BC, etc. How does this group jive with large percentage of kid coming from STEM magnets etc. who are 2 or 3 or 4 years beyond calculus in high school?
Hopkins would seem about the last school on the planet that's a good fit for some of these kids. And lest you say I'm a racist--I work daily with these kids. We have a bunch from very poorly resourced schools in DC and Baltimore who are heading to Hopkins this fall. They're smart but most have never had math beyond pre-calc. How are they going to jive with the 30% of the class that took linear algebra in high school? I'm sure many will do great but some will not. They'll realize that a STEM heavy, slog of a university is a terrible fit. It's just all a bit odd but I'm not the one making decisions at Hopkins.

Which makes me wonder, and the article doesn't address, how many of these diverse students actually graduate. The article talked a lot about those being admitted, and lots on the freshman class, but I didn't see anything on how many make it to the finish line, with a degree.

My guess is humanities and social science majors. The gunners applying for Hopkins want engineering or something health related.

Did you even read the article? The diverse students profiled are all interested in STEM majors,

[Anonymous]

They get an absolute TON of international applicants. This must contribute quite a bit to the low acceptance rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an alum and wouldn't send my kid there. It's a definite slog with little school spirit and historically the students are incredibly intense because so many are pre-med. There was a decent amount of cheating, hiding of source documents in the library, etc. (Back in my era when there were required textbooks or readings on-loan in the library kids would check them all out and keep them/destroy them so their classmates couldn't read them). Basically--weird, super competitive stuff was not abnormal.

Also, historically kids would enter having had years and years of advanced high school science and math. My kids are on the "calculus in 11th grade track" at a non-magnet and if you had asked me if I'd feel like they would be prepared for Hopkins my gut would say "no way! They'll be really far behind many of their peers." Interestingly, I don't know how this jives with the heavy minority enrollment because many of these kids will be becoming from under resourced high schools that may not even offer AP classes, Calc BC, etc. How does this group jive with large percentage of kid coming from STEM magnets etc. who are 2 or 3 or 4 years beyond calculus in high school?
Hopkins would seem about the last school on the planet that's a good fit for some of these kids. And lest you say I'm a racist--I work daily with these kids. We have a bunch from very poorly resourced schools in DC and Baltimore who are heading to Hopkins this fall. They're smart but most have never had math beyond pre-calc. How are they going to jive with the 30% of the class that took linear algebra in high school? I'm sure many will do great but some will not. They'll realize that a STEM heavy, slog of a university is a terrible fit. It's just all a bit odd but I'm not the one making decisions at Hopkins.

Which makes me wonder, and the article doesn't address, how many of these diverse students actually graduate. The article talked a lot about those being admitted, and lots on the freshman class, but I didn't see anything on how many make it to the finish line, with a degree.

College Navigator- six year grad rate by race
Asian- 95%
Black- 95%
Hispanic- 92%
White- 94%
2 or more races- 95%
International- 95%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an alum and wouldn't send my kid there. It's a definite slog with little school spirit and historically the students are incredibly intense because so many are pre-med. There was a decent amount of cheating, hiding of source documents in the library, etc. (Back in my era when there were required textbooks or readings on-loan in the library kids would check them all out and keep them/destroy them so their classmates couldn't read them). Basically--weird, super competitive stuff was not abnormal.

Also, historically kids would enter having had years and years of advanced high school science and math. My kids are on the "calculus in 11th grade track" at a non-magnet and if you had asked me if I'd feel like they would be prepared for Hopkins my gut would say "no way! They'll be really far behind many of their peers." Interestingly, I don't know how this jives with the heavy minority enrollment because many of these kids will be becoming from under resourced high schools that may not even offer AP classes, Calc BC, etc. How does this group jive with large percentage of kid coming from STEM magnets etc. who are 2 or 3 or 4 years beyond calculus in high school?
Hopkins would seem about the last school on the planet that's a good fit for some of these kids. And lest you say I'm a racist--I work daily with these kids. We have a bunch from very poorly resourced schools in DC and Baltimore who are heading to Hopkins this fall. They're smart but most have never had math beyond pre-calc. How are they going to jive with the 30% of the class that took linear algebra in high school? I'm sure many will do great but some will not. They'll realize that a STEM heavy, slog of a university is a terrible fit. It's just all a bit odd but I'm not the one making decisions at Hopkins.

I'm not a Hopkins grad, but I live a few blocks from campus and I see students all the time. For what it's worth, all the ones who live near me seem to be standard preppy white kids. Your take is very interesting. My impression is that Hopkins is not much fun, but the description of kids hiding resources in the library takes things to another level. I wonder if perhaps a more diverse student body will alter some of the culture in a good way?

Yep, I don't know. Maybe the whole place has mellowed out. My experience was 20+ years ago. I know that it wasn't much fun and that none of my college friends have kids applying there. That's why the whole "no longer considering legacy" thing is a kind of a joke. Most legacy kids are not applying--save for a very select few who want this exact, unique product. It's not a bad place, it's just by no means a "one size fits all" kind of place.
Which is why this super heavy URM recruitment (as the institution's number one priority and now identity) is so weird. I can't stress enough that I wouldn't send my kids with their A's in two years of well taught calculus there. I'd worry they'd get their asses kicked by the TJ and Bronx Science brigade (and more than that--be miserable in the process). I can't imagine being from Ballou or Dunbar in DC (like kids are this year) and trying to make it work after having only pre-calc. I don't get it but I hope it works out for these kids.

Another alum here and I would definitely send my kids to Hopkins if we didn’t live nearby. I was active in Greek life and had a great social life. Had fun cheering for the lacrosse team and my friends who played for Hopkins various D3 sports. Did well enough to attend a T5 law school, I will say Hopkins did have a decent amount of kids who weren’t social before college, spent most of their Hopkins life in the library and like to complain about the school. Every top 10 school has their share of such kids.

[Anonymous]

Wow I see this thread has really attracted the resident dcum racists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an alum and wouldn't send my kid there. It's a definite slog with little school spirit and historically the students are incredibly intense because so many are pre-med. There was a decent amount of cheating, hiding of source documents in the library, etc. (Back in my era when there were required textbooks or readings on-loan in the library kids would check them all out and keep them/destroy them so their classmates couldn't read them). Basically--weird, super competitive stuff was not abnormal.

Also, historically kids would enter having had years and years of advanced high school science and math. My kids are on the "calculus in 11th grade track" at a non-magnet and if you had asked me if I'd feel like they would be prepared for Hopkins my gut would say "no way! They'll be really far behind many of their peers." Interestingly, I don't know how this jives with the heavy minority enrollment because many of these kids will be becoming from under resourced high schools that may not even offer AP classes, Calc BC, etc. How does this group jive with large percentage of kid coming from STEM magnets etc. who are 2 or 3 or 4 years beyond calculus in high school?
Hopkins would seem about the last school on the planet that's a good fit for some of these kids. And lest you say I'm a racist--I work daily with these kids. We have a bunch from very poorly resourced schools in DC and Baltimore who are heading to Hopkins this fall. They're smart but most have never had math beyond pre-calc. How are they going to jive with the 30% of the class that took linear algebra in high school? I'm sure many will do great but some will not. They'll realize that a STEM heavy, slog of a university is a terrible fit. It's just all a bit odd but I'm not the one making decisions at Hopkins.

Another alum here. The cut throating is REAL.

I have warned my kid but he is still interested.

I have a DC at JHU who absolutely loves it! Is always hanging out with friends on the weekends, goes to all the sporting events, and says students are friendly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if this is a reflection of Hopkins; reputation as a miserable grind for undergrads as well as a school focused on graduate students. Kids with parents who know the reputation and who attend schools with good counselors are likely avoiding it. That leaves the uninformed (who the post praises them for targeting) and kids who want that kind of a college experience.

Oh please, with a 6.5% acceptance rate JHU is swamped with applications from white and Asian kids. They just find it far more challenging to get in.

US News has them at 8% which is far higher than most of their peers

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/lowest-acceptance-rate

8% being far higher than 6 and 7%. What an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if this is a reflection of Hopkins; reputation as a miserable grind for undergrads as well as a school focused on graduate students. Kids with parents who know the reputation and who attend schools with good counselors are likely avoiding it. That leaves the uninformed (who the post praises them for targeting) and kids who want that kind of a college experience.

Oh please, with a 6.5% acceptance rate JHU is swamped with applications from white and Asian kids. They just find it far more challenging to get in.

US News has them at 8% which is far higher than most of their peers

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/lowest-acceptance-rate

8% being far higher than 6 and 7%. What an idiot.

Can’t compare schools with two rounds of ED (Hopkins, Chicago) with schools that are SCEA or 1 round of ED. Or, if you do, the 8% needs to be adjusted upward by several percentage points (to be well within the double digits). 2 ED rounds artificially lowers admit rates…

[Anonymous]

I seriously wonder if some of the clowns in here claiming to be alums are just trying to lower application competition.

https://moco360.media/september-october-2023-digital-edition/

JHU is extremely popular (top 5) in private school applications from the DC suburb schools despite extremely low acceptance. Higher yield than many ivies shows its popularity as well despite some of the contraian viewpoints on here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if this is a reflection of Hopkins; reputation as a miserable grind for undergrads as well as a school focused on graduate students. Kids with parents who know the reputation and who attend schools with good counselors are likely avoiding it. That leaves the uninformed (who the post praises them for targeting) and kids who want that kind of a college experience.

Oh please, with a 6.5% acceptance rate JHU is swamped with applications from white and Asian kids. They just find it far more challenging to get in.

US News has them at 8% which is far higher than most of their peers

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/lowest-acceptance-rate

8% being far higher than 6 and 7%. What an idiot.

Can’t compare schools with two rounds of ED (Hopkins, Chicago) with schools that are SCEA or 1 round of ED. Or, if you do, the 8% needs to be adjusted upward by several percentage points (to be well within the double digits). 2 ED rounds artificially lowers admit rates…

Go check Penn, Columbia, Duke, and other peers with percent of class taken ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if this is a reflection of Hopkins; reputation as a miserable grind for undergrads as well as a school focused on graduate students. Kids with parents who know the reputation and who attend schools with good counselors are likely avoiding it. That leaves the uninformed (who the post praises them for targeting) and kids who want that kind of a college experience.

Oh please, with a 6.5% acceptance rate JHU is swamped with applications from white and Asian kids. They just find it far more challenging to get in.

US News has them at 8% which is far higher than most of their peers

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/lowest-acceptance-rate

8% being far higher than 6 and 7%. What an idiot.

Can’t compare schools with two rounds of ED (Hopkins, Chicago) with schools that are SCEA or 1 round of ED. Or, if you do, the 8% needs to be adjusted upward by several percentage points (to be well within the double digits). 2 ED rounds artificially lowers admit rates…

If JHU wanted to game acceptance rates, it could choose to waitlist vastly more and accept more from the WL which is what Penn does. Instead, it's accepted 0 from the waitlist for about the past 3 years now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if this is a reflection of Hopkins; reputation as a miserable grind for undergrads as well as a school focused on graduate students. Kids with parents who know the reputation and who attend schools with good counselors are likely avoiding it. That leaves the uninformed (who the post praises them for targeting) and kids who want that kind of a college experience.

Oh please, with a 6.5% acceptance rate JHU is swamped with applications from white and Asian kids. They just find it far more challenging to get in.

US News has them at 8% which is far higher than most of their peers

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/lowest-acceptance-rate

8% being far higher than 6 and 7%. What an idiot.

Can’t compare schools with two rounds of ED (Hopkins, Chicago) with schools that are SCEA or 1 round of ED. Or, if you do, the 8% needs to be adjusted upward by several percentage points (to be well within the double digits). 2 ED rounds artificially lowers admit rates…

If JHU wanted to game acceptance rates, it could choose to waitlist vastly more and accept more from the WL which is what Penn does. Instead, it's accepted 0 from the waitlist for about the past 3 years now.

This is not about gaming, but fact. That two rounds of ED lowers admit rates compared to one round of ED is a truism.