Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 20:13     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
JHU is too Asians for many folks here. End thread.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 20:04     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
Anonymous wrote:We only talk about 3 things:
Ivys
Duke
UVA

Get with the program

Hopkins is too brainy for us


Add Chicago and LACs to that list, which has everyone fighting like we're on a trashier Real Housewives of DCUM.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 20:02     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
Anonymous wrote:After being on this forum for a while, I've noticed that nobody really talks about Johns Hopkins, even though it's a top 10 (people often forget) and is elite for pre-med and sciences. Is there a reason why? Is it just that unpopular, given that many of us live in the DMV, or is there something I've missed.

It’s a good school, but does not belong in the top 10. There’s a partial explanation right there.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 20:00     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
We only talk about 3 things:
Ivys
Duke
UVA

Get with the program

Hopkins is too brainy for us
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 19:55     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
At least CMU has probably one of the top 5 CS programs. I can't think of anything other than Biomedical Engg that is of a similar caliber for Hopkins (their undergrad neuroscience program is solid but probably the sheen is from the excellent grad school programs). But I guess they are consistently strong in most areas which makes for a top 10 school.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 19:54     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
Swarthmore is just as bad from a grinder perspective but folks talk about it a lot
Maybe it’s JHU’s location?
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 19:52     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, JHU does have a reputation as a grinder school and its Baltimore location likely turns many off, but I also think it suffers from some lack of brand recognition, especially amongst this set. It’s not an Ivy and like Rice or CMU, it doesn’t really have the sports to give it a big national profile (unless you’re a lax head). Doesn’t move the needle as much for the prestige whore moms in NoVa and MoCo. Obviously an objectively “elite” institution, though.


Is its reputation as a no-fun school warranted, compared to similar STEM institutions?
And is its Baltimore location really unsafe? We drive to Baltimore every weekend for youth orchestra, and while certain areas are terribly rundown and depressing, others are pretty nice.


The area surrounding the Hopkins campus is beautiful and very safe.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 19:50     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
Baltimore. Full stop.

Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 19:48     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
Agree no fun.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 19:47     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
Anonymous wrote:Yes, JHU does have a reputation as a grinder school and its Baltimore location likely turns many off, but I also think it suffers from some lack of brand recognition, especially amongst this set. It’s not an Ivy and like Rice or CMU, it doesn’t really have the sports to give it a big national profile (unless you’re a lax head). Doesn’t move the needle as much for the prestige whore moms in NoVa and MoCo. Obviously an objectively “elite” institution, though.


Is its reputation as a no-fun school warranted, compared to similar STEM institutions?
And is its Baltimore location really unsafe? We drive to Baltimore every weekend for youth orchestra, and while certain areas are terribly rundown and depressing, others are pretty nice.

Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 19:32     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
Yes, JHU does have a reputation as a grinder school and its Baltimore location likely turns many off, but I also think it suffers from some lack of brand recognition, especially amongst this set. It’s not an Ivy and like Rice or CMU, it doesn’t really have the sports to give it a big national profile (unless you’re a lax head). Doesn’t move the needle as much for the prestige whore moms in NoVa and MoCo. Obviously an objectively “elite” institution, though.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 19:25     Subject: Re:Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
It's one of the few schools like MIT, Caltech, where there really are no schools that feed into it. I think that alone deters many parents and their children.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 19:18     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
Yes, I've noticed that. They have a bad reputation, for some reason.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 19:17     Subject: Re:Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
It's a pretty depressing school where there isn't much fun. And their admissions are honestly one of the most random that I've seen, almost like Stanford.
Anonymous
Post 01/31/2026 19:13     Subject: Nobody talks about Johns Hopkins here
After being on this forum for a while, I've noticed that nobody really talks about Johns Hopkins, even though it's a top 10 (people often forget) and is elite for pre-med and sciences. Is there a reason why? Is it just that unpopular, given that many of us live in the DMV, or is there something I've missed.