Johns Hopkins — Bad for undergrad experience?

[Anonymous]

In some ways it’d be perfect for my DD but I keep reading there is no focus on quality of life for undergrads. My DD does not want a party school so a focused, serious vibe is fine with her but she does want a friendly, connected campus feel with programs & events that help freshman meet each other. The medium size seems great but is it intense with zero school spirit like reviews say?

[Anonymous]

Bump!

[Anonymous]

I was a grad student there in the early 200s and thought it seemed miserable for undergrads then (based on being a TA). I said I'd never want my kids to go there.

However I've met some undergrads who graduated in the last 10 years who are very positive about their experience and say it was a great place to go to college. I think the campus and campus life have improved in the intervening years, definitely, but on the other hand college students don't have another experience to compare it with.

[Anonymous]

I went to Hopkins as an undergrad and really liked it. Not sure where you are getting your info— there are many student athletes and lots of clubs. I was in a sorority, but less than a third of the student participate in Greek life, so there is plenty else to do. I thought the description of the school in the Fiske guide was very accurate.

[Anonymous]

My dd was able to do an overnight visit before she applied. She ended up hating it and refused to apply. See if your kid can do that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dd was able to do an overnight visit before she applied. She ended up hating it and refused to apply. See if your kid can do that

You are the third person I’ve heard of whose kid changed their mind after an overnight there. That plus the fact the student who did the virtual tour recently was terrible makes me think the school isn’t good at picking their representatives. That could be a sign that they don’t care that much, compared to other schools, about attracting undergrads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd was able to do an overnight visit before she applied. She ended up hating it and refused to apply. See if your kid can do that

You are the third person I’ve heard of whose kid changed their mind after an overnight there. That plus the fact the student who did the virtual tour recently was terrible makes me think the school isn’t good at picking their representatives. That could be a sign that they don’t care that much, compared to other schools, about attracting undergrads.

It seems you are determined to not like it. Have your kid do an in person visit.

[Anonymous]

Hopkins puts a lot of effort into activities for undergrads. There are definitely well run sports and activities. Many students are pretty serious and like to do things like volunteering, public health work that the school heavily supports. There is also an extremely strong research program for undergrads. It's definitely not a party school but the undergrads definitely don't seem miserable. I think the changes have also been recent in focus so stories from alums from previous years are probably less relevant than recent years.

That said, it's impossible to really get a feel in the pandemic. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Let’s just say it’s an extremely self-selected bunch in a school with no school spirit in a not great city.

[Anonymous]

It's not a great school for undergrad, and students there will often be the first to tell you that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s just say it’s an extremely self-selected bunch in a school with no school spirit in a not great city.

You’ve clearly never been to a Hopkins lacrosse game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not a great school for undergrad, and students there will often be the first to tell you that.

Not this undergrad. It always is the people who never attended Hopkins that like to chime in on these threads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a great school for undergrad, and students there will often be the first to tell you that.

Not this undergrad. It always is the people who never attended Hopkins that like to chime in on these threads.

Went to graduate school at Hopkins and always felt sorry for the undergrads. I had several friends who were undergrads and their experience was quite unlike my experience at a SLAC (a well-regarded one, even by DCUM!). Hopkins was high pressure and a grind. Obviously, it will appeal to some, but it's certainly not the experience I would want my kids to have in college.

As for Baltimore, it gets a bad rap. Area around campus is pretty nice for the most part--one just has to be careful about where one ventures. School spirit revolves around lacrosse pretty much. Sadly, the men's team is doing miserably this year.

[Anonymous]

Hopkins is not a good place to go for undergraduate. It’s full of highly intense, competitive people who all want to go to medical school. It’s purpose is to fund the graduate school. There are lots of better schools out there. I transferred out of Hopkins to UMD and had a much better experience. I’ve never met anyone who actually liked going there for undergraduate. Not saying they don’t exist, it’s just I’ve never met one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not a great school for undergrad, and students there will often be the first to tell you that.

Not this undergrad. It always is the people who never attended Hopkins that like to chime in on these threads.

Went to graduate school at Hopkins and always felt sorry for the undergrads. I had several friends who were undergrads and their experience was quite unlike my experience at a SLAC (a well-regarded one, even by DCUM!). Hopkins was high pressure and a grind. Obviously, it will appeal to some, but it's certainly not the experience I would want my kids to have in college.

As for Baltimore, it gets a bad rap. Area around campus is pretty nice for the most part--one just has to be careful about where one ventures. School spirit revolves around lacrosse pretty much. Sadly, the men's team is doing miserably this year.

But the women are in the tournament.