Johns Hopkins is right in the middle of Charles Village, a residential area in Baltimore and a great place to grab a bite to eat. If you’re in the mood for some Asian cuisine, Charles Village is the place for you. Niwana offers Korean and Japanese just across the street from campus. They have lots of different options, so if you’re in the mood for amazing bento boxes, stir fry, Korean BBQ, or sushi, this is the place to go. If you’re in the chicken bulgogi (a spicy chicken noodle dish), noodle bowls, or fried rice, Ajumma has great Korean food.

“Thai Restaurant is also one of my favorite restaurants near campus, especially because Thai is my favorite cuisines- I actually asked the owner once about his oh-so-creative name and he told me that it was to make sure that people knew it was Thai food and to not get any orders for General Tso’s Chicken, which made me laugh.” – Wafa K., Class of 2015

Another awesome Asian restaurant is Chocolatea, a delicious place that serves dumplings (but get there early because they run out), udon noodle bowls, and yummy wraps for lunch. Chocolatea also serves coco-lattes or hot chocolate infused with different flavors. Favorites include the Banana Split (dark chocolate with banana puree) or the Nutty Irishman (milk chocolate with Irish cream). Chocolatea also specializes in camellia sinensis teas, specifically: white, green, black, oolong, and herbal teas- and of course chocolate truffles!

Do you really like burrito bowls or Frappuccinos? There are many chain restaurants just across from the east entrance on St. Paul Street like Subway, Sandella’s, Quiznos, Starbucks, or Chipotle.

Just down the block is Carma’s, a great café for any meal of the day. They offer coffee, soups, sandwiches, and desserts. Be sure to try their delicious cookies and chocolate paninis! If you’re in the mood for something customizable, Freshii  offers yummy salads, noodle bowls, or wraps. They also have some great frozen yogurt. The best part is that the restaurant is very “green”; all the disposable items in the store are compostable or recyclable! There’s great pizza at Maxie’s and Ledo’s. Together, they have enough different types to even appease the Italian JHU students.

On weekends, the University Market is filled with students looking for a late night bite—“Uni Mini” can be looked at as a convenience store with a twist. Not only does Uni Mini carry chips, sodas, packaged foods, etc., but it also has a grill open until 3:00am where you can purchase freshly made sandwiches like their infamous Uni Mini special (eggs, cheese, hash browns, bacon, and steak). It’s not on the menu; you have to specially ask for it!

If you want to get groceries, Eddie’s Market offers a great selection of fruits and fresh vegetables. They also have great subs named after people and places in Charles Village. Another cool thing about Eddie’s Market is that they have a lot of locally sourced foods, so you can try the different awesome products of Baltimore. Suggestions from current students include the Berger and Otterbein cookies.

Also in the neighborhood is a student favorite, Tamber’s, a unique diner that offers a mix of Indian cuisine and traditional favorites like burgers and fries. The food is absolutely delicious, and a favorite among JHU students is their malts.

Before I came to Hopkins, I had never tried Indian food. Now, I’m obsessed. I love that they have both Indian and American food; if I’m in the mood for a milkshake and some Chicken Tikka Masala, I can get them all at one place!”- Tess T., Class of 2014

Another restaurant with a unique vibe is Paper Moon Diner, a diner with extravagant decorations. The restaurant has great everything, like their amazing bacon milkshake (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it) or their delicious sweet potato fries, and cool servers. The restaurant has an awesome design with different tables, including desks and nightstands. You have to see it in person to believe it.

For more formal occasions in Charles Village, you can go to Donna’s, a trendier restaurant (great ambiance for a date!), for their great salads, pastas, desserts, and coffee or Gertrude’s,  by the Baltimore Museum of Art, for great Mid-Atlantic cuisine. Try out Tuesdays with Gertie, where you can have selected entrees for only $12.

A Short Walk Away

Hampden, a short walk or ride from Homewood (in fact, the Johns Hopkins Security Shuttle will take you there for free!), is a great place to head on the weekends and boasts plenty of eclectic restaurants on The Avenue and its adjoining streets. Try the tacos at Holy Frijoles. If you like really, really, really good coffee (not exaggerating), check out Café Spro.  If you agree with the store’s motto, “Friends don’t let Friends Drink Starbucks”, check out Common Ground, another coffee shop with great food.

“If you had to go to only one place in Hampden or even all around Baltimore, I’d suggest Dogwood. The food is “farm-to-table” and you can definitely taste the freshness in the food. While lunch is more of a bistro (soup-sandwich-salad) type place, dinner is definitely a more sit-down fancy dinner type place. They also serve the best bread. Instead of Italian bread and butter, they serve Irish soda bread and mango butter. SO good.” – Kate T., Class of 2014

Woodberry Kitchen is another must-eat in Baltimore; they have also delicious farm-to-table foods. You have to try the desserts and the entrees and the appetizers. What does the C.M.P. stand for? You gotta go to find out!

The Mt. Vernon neighborhood, where Peabody (just a short shuttle ride away) is located, also offers a variety of restaurants from Indian food at Akbar to Afghan cuisine at the Helmand. If you’re in the mood for something sweet and french, Sofi’s Crepes will definitely hit the spot. If you like clever names, Never On a Sunday is a delicious pizza place that is never open on a (you guessed it) Sunday. On N. Calvert St. is Iggie’s, a popular Baltimore pizza joint with a casual yet quirky vibe. Iggie’s makes their own mozzarella cheese and bakes each pizza to order—local can’t resist the “Anatra” pizza, a combination of roasted duck, mozzarella, bleu cheese, asparagus, and red onions. A few blocks away from the shuttle stop is Sotto Sopra, a fancy restaurant ranked extremely well for its Italian cuisine. Though it is on the expensive side, it is a student favorite for Baltimore’s favorite restaurant week, where you can get a three-course meal for $30.

Downtown Baltimore

If you want to hit the mother-lode of restaurant options, head down to the Inner Harbor and Fell’s Point, both of which offer literally hundreds of places to eat.

In the Inner Harbor, there are many fast-food restaurants and many places to try the Baltimore specialty- crabs! Grab some fast food at one of the city’s two Five Guys. Get some cheap, delicious noodles at Noodles and Company, the only restaurant where you don’t tip the waiters (because they’re paid with pasta).

Try some delicious fudge at The Fudgery, where they sing amazing a cappella songs about chocolate all day long (talk about a dream come true). Get some lettuce wraps at P.F. Chang’s or have a nice afternoon studying at Panera’s. If you’re still hungry, go over to Rita’s Italian Ice stand or feel full by looking at the world’s largest gummy bear at It’Sugar, any candy lover’s dream candy shop.

In Little Italy, head over to Chiapparelli’s or Amicci’s for some delicious Italian food. For dessert, stop by Vaccaro’s for some cannolis and gelato that’s out of this world. Insider’s tip: they have all you can eat Vaccaro’s every Monday night. That should be on every Baltimorean’s bucket list. If you like amazing empanadas, you can check out the geographically-confused Max’s Empanadas also in Little Italy.

In Fell’s Point, head over to Blue Moon Cafe for a great breakfast, including delicious cinnamon rolls and Captain Crunch French Toast. Brick-Oven Pizza was featured on the Food Network for their amazing pizza! Also, in Fell’s Point, Mezze offers great Greek tapas; definitely try the shark fritters. A student favorite is the frozen yogurt place, Mr. Yogato, has great flavors like Pumpkin or Cake Batter. The best part about Mr. Yogato is the vibe that it has. It’s a colorful and fun restaurant where you can lower the price of your dessert by answering trivia questions or dressing like a Baltimore Hon. They have board games and video games to play. It’s an awesome place to go and hang out in!

Dietary Restrictions

For students with dietary restrictions, there are some unique options. On East University, is One World Café, a vegan (that especially caters to gluten-free people) café that has a bohemian feel. There’s a full bar, coffee bar, and delicious vegan and non-vegan desserts (blondies, red velvet cake, cheesecake, etc.), in addition to their wide variety of vegan entrees. They love Hopkins students- you even get discounts with your J-Card. Cool fact- their coffees are markedly different from what you would find at Starbucks—customers swear by the “Chocolate Chai.” Liquid Earth, in Fell’s Point, serves vegan, vegetarian, and raw food; they have delicious smoothies and yummy sandwiches.

Meet 27 is a great gluten-free restaurant in Remington. It’s a very cute, intimate (perfect for a date!). None of the gluten-free foods are artificial. It is different and quirky; it has great hamburgers (with gluten-free buns!), lots of vegetarian (and vegan) options, and interesting entrees. Definitely try the sweet potato fries. Sweet Sin is a gluten-free bakery. You must try one of their ginormous cupcakes! Don’t be turned off the fact that it’s gluten-free if you can eat gluten; these places are delicious on their own.

With so many neighborhoods and so many eclectic choices, Baltimore never fails to satisfy that notorious college student appetite. Going hungry is one thing you’ll never have to worry about!

Hope you enjoy our suggestions and get to take a look around some of these places when you’re in Baltimore!

1.) Go on Pre-orientation! The week before orientation begins students can choose to spend a week hiking, rafting, and camping with small groups of other Hopkins students. It’s a great way to come in to Hopkins with a close group of friends and some crazy stories to tell.

2.) Go to as many Orientation events as you can!  Orientation is one of the rare moments of your life when you can walk up to absolutely anyone, introduce yourself, and become friends. Hopkins helps this occur with fun mixer events such as the mysterious “Playfair”, Barbecues  and ice cream socials. And of course, you get to take part in the JHU Class of 2017 photo!

The Class of 2015 photo

3.) Sign up for a million clubs at the SAC Fair during the beginning of the semester.

4.) Go to the Annual JHU Fall Fest and check out the fun events including the haunted house, pumpkin carving, movies on the beach, lazer tag, pumpkin smashing, and concert – this past year it was Super Mash Bros and Far East Movement!

5.) Find your favorite restaurants and coffee shops. Charles village has some really unique and delicious places, such the One World Café, Chocolatea, Carma’s, Donna’s, Silk Road Café, Paper Moon, Café Q, Pura Vida, Starbucks, Alkimia, and Chipotle!  Everyone has that place they go to for the absolute best cup of coffee or dinner – find yours!

Paper Moon Diner– An Unusual Eatery Near Campus

6.) Go down to Fells Point for Halloween – it’s one of Hopkins’ best traditions and one of the top 2 biggest Halloween parties in America!

Halloween in Fell’s Point

7.) Climb to the top of the rock wall in the Recreation Center!

8.) Go to the Lighting of the Quads – it’s quite the winter kick-off event with lights, a cappella, hot chocolate, a loud countdown and massive fireworks displays that you absolutely cannot miss.

The Lighting of the Quads– 2012

9.) Take a crazy class over Intersession like the Science of Baking or Ballroom Dancing. You can even do something cool like get your WFR (Wilderness First Responder) Certification! The choices are endless.

You Could Even Try the Intersession Class in Rubik’s Cube Solving

10.) Join the nest, learn the rules of lacrosse, and see the D1 Blue Jays play on Homewood Field, especially during Homecoming Weekend. Non-negotiable.

Homecoming in Homewood Field

11.) Go to Spring Fair – a time of food, fun, and more food when vendors and shows come to Hopkins. It’s a great time to spend time with friends and take a well-deserved break from work!

12.) Embrace the Baltimore Sports Teams. Don’t forget that the Ravens won the Superbowl in 2013!

Many Hopkins Students went to Fell’s Point to Celebrate the Raven’s Victory in 2013

13.) Attend the High Table – an exclusive event where freshmen get to have a free catered dinner with their professors!

Chefs Preparing the High Table Food

14.) Take the Collegetown shuttle for free to the Inner Harbor or Towson and explore the shops and restaurants. Check out the Collegetown website for more!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4GIJ6GjPPo

15.) Find your favorite study spot on campus, be it the Beach on a sunny day, the “Hut” in Gilman Hall, or D (“dungeon”) level of the library at 2 in the morning.

The Beach in Front of the JHU Library

16.) Take the $7 MARC train down to Washington D.C. for a day trip with friends!

17.) Go see the speakers at the Milton S. Eisenhower and Foreign Affairs Symposiums.  In past years, we’ve brought in speakers such as Nelson Mandela, Hillary Clinton, Aziz Ansari, Malcolm Gladwell, Karl Rove, and even Bill Nye, the science guy!

18.) Check out the amazing Inner Harbor! Not only are there great restaurants like Roy’s and the Cheesecake Factory, but you can also take a fun ride on the dragon boats!

19.) Take a class purely for the fun of it! Some favorite classes among students include Contemporary International Politics, Anthropology of Media or even Cognitive Development.

An Emergency First Responder Class at JHU

20.) Explore! Try new things! Make new friends! And, most importantly, HAVE FUN!

The Rec Center is a great place to go to stay fit and work out!

Whether you’re a swimmer, biker, lifting-guru, runner, yoga-enthusiast, or new to working out, the rec center really caters to all types of students and their respective fitness levels. As for the traditional gym equipment, the rec center offers 7 treadmills, 11 elliptical machines, 5 Stairmasters, 12 stationary bikes, 4 rowing machines, weight machines, workout mats, free weights, jump ropes, and medicine balls among other things. As for traditional and some somewhat nontraditional gym facilities, the rec center boasts an indoor track, a 3000 sq. ft. cardio room equipped with overhead TV’s, a multitude of indoor basketball courts, a pool, racquetball courts, a traditional 2500 sq. ft. weight room, a varsity weight room, a rock-climbing wall, and a studio for a variety of fitness classes.

This isn’t your kiddie playground rock-climbing wall, folks.

Try working out with your fellow students!

In terms of personal training programs and group classes, the rec center can usually provide you with whatever or whoever you need. One of the more unique aspects of the rec center is the variety of fitness classes offered. Spinning, yoga, Zumba, and kickboxing are all popular classes that both students and faculty alike can drop in on. Here’s an example of the spring drop-in class schedule – check it out here.

If group settings aren’t for you, the rec center also offers personal fitness training (for an additional fee).

Finally, if the rec center seems somewhat overwhelming, but you still want to get a workout in, don’t forget about the small workout rooms around campus! Both Wolman Hall and Charles Commons have cardio rooms equipped with elliptical machines and treadmills for students looking to stay within their dorm. There are also a few scenic running trails around campus and throughout the surrounding neighborhoods for the joggers out there. Lastly, be sure to check out the prior post about Hopkins sports if you’re interested in taking a more structured approach towards athletics and working out!

Outdoor Opportunities and Pre-Orientation:

If you like the gym, but find yourself craving some outdoor activities as well, Outdoor Pursuits and JHOC (the Johns Hopkins Outdoors Club) will be perfect for you! These groups begin their adventures in late August right before orientation (hence the name “pre-orientation,” or pre-o).

Pre-orientation is a weeklong camping trip of your choice, where you have the opportunity to meet many incoming freshman (your fellow participants) and current students (your leaders) before you even set foot on campus. Options for pre-orientation trips include white water kayaking, climbing, and backpacking, but these trips are in high demand and do come at an extra cost. Make sure to reserve a spot on your favorite trip as soon as possible!

However, don’t despair if you still love the outdoors and can’t make it on pre-o! The two groups offer outdoors trips throughout both semesters at a $10 cost. If you want to get away for a day and see something other than the streets of Baltimore, don’t miss out on trying your hand at caving or going for a challenging rock scramble in western Maryland!

If you have any more questions, the website can answer them here - we hope you will give it a shot!

These pre-o students stayed at this trail shelter!

These students were part of the multi-element trip. This was taken on a two day hike!

Participants on the multi-element trip going on a two day hike

Hopkins students pride themselves on engaging in important and meaningful activities both in and outside of the classroom. It should come as no surprise, then, that we are heavily involved in community service. Hopkins offers a wide array of volunteering opportunities both on campus and in the community, providing students with a unique outlet for their skills and talents.

Any discussion of social engagement on the Hopkins campus would be remiss without mentioning the Center for Social Concern. This is an umbrella organization that gives funding, support, and legitimacy for the scores of community service clubs we have. You can see a full list here, but we would like to spotlight a few off the list for a more thorough description!

Hopkins’ most well-known, largest, and oldest student volunteer organization is the JHU Tutorial Project. The Tutorial Project pairs together Hopkins students with elementary-level children from Baltimore City schools. Tutors plan enriching activities to meet the individual needs of their students in addition to providing academic support. Walk through Levering Plaza on any given weekday between 4 and 6 PM and you’ll see kids of all ages jumping rope, making chalk drawings on the brick paths, reading The Magic Treehouse, doing math exercises, and playing with their tutors. For two days a week, Hopkins students are given the opportunity to take a break from their busy college schedules and form lasting relationships with their younger counterparts form a link to the community. It is no wonder, then, that the Tutorial Project grows in popularity every year and continues to be one of Hopkins’ strongest volunteer organizations.

A tutor-tutee pair at Tutorial Project

For those looking to bring about great social change by reducing the ever-rising levels of inequality, Hopkins offers an amazing program called Jail Tutorial Project.  The mission of this group is to break the cycle of crime and poverty associated with educational disparities by preparing Baltimore City inmates for the GED exam.  By helping them obtain a GED, Hopkins tutors directly improve the lives of those unable to gain employment due to a lack of education.  Jail Tutorial plays an excellent role in reducing social inequality in Baltimore and helps bring the Hopkins campus closer to the city.

A big volunteer event would have to be Relay for Life. Occurring in April of each year, hundreds of students walk around the upper quad throughout the night to raise money for cancer. In 2015 the event raised over $64,000, with this year poised to be bigger than ever! Although Relay for Life is a nation wide organization, here at Hopkins we take it on in a very unique way – lunimaria line the quad and the Gilman steps, there’s music and food, and a moon bounce! Charity has never been more fun.

An extremely popular and unique opportunity aimed at students wishing to pursue a career in health care is the JHU Medical Tutorial.  This program is a 2-credit course offered by the Office of Pre-Professional Advising that places students with renowned doctor mentors at the Johns Hopkins Hospital for a semester of hospital-based volunteering.  Students can opt for either a clinical tutorial, which gives students hands-on experience in patient interaction, or a research-based tutorial.  Medical Tutorial volunteers have been known to scrub in on surgeries, fly to conferences all over the country, and even get their name published in a clinical trial study!

A Hopkins student after scrubbing in on a neurosurgery at JHH

Another volunteer opportunity specific to Johns Hopkins that simply must be mentioned is the Hopkins 4K for Cancer.  Each year, a team of highly motivated Hopkins students raises over $4,500 each in preparation for a 4,000 mile bike ride across the country.  The journey takes two months and has stops in major towns and cities along the way where the cyclists participate in local fundraisers and charitable events to benefit cancer research.  The journey is a test of physical and emotional endurance, but it has a significantly positive impact on communities from coast to coast.

Cyclists on the 4K stop at the Ohio border

Apart from these volunteer opportunities, Homewood also hosts a variety of popular national community service organizations.  On campus, one can get involved in Habitat for Humanity, a great club that rehabilitates homes in Baltimore and across the country; Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity that has several on-going projects both on-campus and in the community; and Circle K, the collegiate branch of the Kiwanis Club.

Greek organizations get in on the community service as well! The sorority Phi Mu runs a competition called “Hopkins Most Eligible Bachelor” which last year raised $3000, the fraternity Phi Delta Theta organizes a 5k run to raise money for ALS, and the sorority Alpha Phi hosts charity Zumba classes and pancake brunches!

Alpha Phi Omega brothers volunteering as phone operators at the Maryland Public Television studio in Owings Mills, Maryland

Service is so important to Johns Hopkins that President Ronald Daniels has established an annual “President’s Day of Service” – an extremely popular event in which the whole campus gets together to participate in volunteer projects around Baltimore. Day of Service is a great way to start every academic year off on an optimistic and ambitious tone, and it prepares students for charitable service work throughout the semester.

Residents of Wolman 5W preparing for a day of service.

Blue Jays are proud to be at Hopkins and even prouder to be productive and responsible citizens of the City of Baltimore.  We realize our connection to the community and strive to volunteer wherever we are needed.  From opportunities in the medical field to social justice issues, Hopkins is full of ways for students to give back and get involved.

Community service is often a connection among Hopkins students. To spend four years here and remain apathetic towards Baltimore’s plights is to do a disservice to the opportunities offered by the college experience.  Sitting in lecture, learning how to think, articulate, argue and fail are all important to the classroom education in college; however, there are equally fundamental lessons that are learned through one’s immersion into a new community. That community extends beyond the walkways and lecture halls of a college campus. Community service allows students to expand our capability for compassion and involvement, and gain the values and experience to apply the lessons learned to real-world experiences.

As a freshman, you’ll be bombarded with t-shirts from student groups, academic departments, and many school-wide events. Let’s take a look at a year at Hopkins, all through the free t-shirts you can receive!

The year begins with Orientation, which begins in late August, and continues through the first week of school. Freshmen move in, learn how to navigate their way around campus, and also get to attend some cool events, like an Orioles game and a trip to the Inner Harbor, with passes to places like the Aquarium and the Viewing Deck of the Baltimore World Trade Center.

Orientation t-shirt from 2009

After the Convocation ceremony, your Class of 2016 banner (which will be designed / voted on by members of the Class of 2016 this summer) will be unveiled and hung in the library along with the 2014, 2015, and 2016 class banners.  Each member of the Class of 2017 will receive a Class of 2017 T-shirt with a picture of your banner on the back.

The class of 2013's design

One of the last Orientation events is Dorm Wars. Every floor (or house, if you live in the AMRs) form a team, and compete against all the others, and get free t-shirts in the process.

Each dorm's t-shirts are also differently colored!

In 2009, when President Daniels was inaugurated, he started the tradition of the Presidential Fun Run, a 2.5K non-competitive race.

There's Ron Daniels!

To bring in the fall, ResLife (Residential Life) has fall cookies and cider and other treats, along with free Fall Fest t shirts to advertise the various fall events like Scary Movies on the Beach and a Haunted House.

2009's Fall Fest

Formal sorority and fraternity recruitment happens at the beginning of spring semester. Students in sororities and fraternities get plenty of t-shirts during Recruitment.

JHU_Nick's fraternity

JHU_Allysa's bid night

Each year we celebrate the birthday of Johns Hopkins on Commemoration Day and those who come wearing Hopkins apparel get a free shirt (sometimes there are free hats/scarves too)!

2010's Commemoration Day

Lacrosse Season is a big deal at Hopkins. Our sport shirts have “The Nest” written on them (get it? Blue Jays, The Nest…”) The gym gives them out for free each year and students wear them to lacrosse games, and just in general.

Sporting the black Nest shirt

Another version of The Nest

At Hopkins, we have our Homecoming in the Spring (during lacrosse season). Many different student groups will design their own T-shirts to wear to the homecoming game.

Phi Mu's homecoming tank top

Back of shirt

One of the biggest events is Spring Fair, which occurs at the end of April. This is a student organized weekend of fun, with events including a concert (Passion Pit is headlining this year), the Freshman Quad covered in food vendors, a Beer Garden (for students 21+) in front of the President’s House, and a kid’s section.

Last year's theme was dinosaurs and t-shirts were modeled off Jurassic Park

In addition to campus events, various student groups also have free shirts:

Hopkins Emergency Response Unit's shirt

Men's soccer team

Hopkins' wrestling team

JHU Chinese Lion Dance's shirt

Student Admissions Advisory Board (we're the ones bringing you this blog!)

But it’s not only events and student groups! Some academic departments, programs and labs also have t-shirts!

The Wirtz Lab

Center for Foreign Language Education

Africana Studies program

Biology department

Back of Biology department's t-shirt!

Hopkins engineering

As a final word of advice, be sure not to bring too many of your high school t-shirts to Hopkins – you’re going to need to save room in your drawers for all of these free tees!

The course offerings fall under the categories of Academic Exploration, Personal Enrichment, Study Abroad, and Career Development. Most courses are pass/fail, with the exception of Study Abroad and language courses, which award a letter grade. Students can up to 3 credits, which allows them maximum flexibility in the number of classes/credits they take.

Academic Exploration
Academic Exploration courses are a great way for students to reach their distribution credit requirements, especially if they are unable to take a course outside of their major during the regular semester. The course topics themselves range from “Introduction to Model Rocketry” to “The Ethnic Gangster in American Cinema” and “The Archaeology of Beer.” Academic offerings also include beginner language courses in Italian, German, and French, which are 3 credits and cannot be paired with any other Intersession class.

I’ve chosen to come back to Hopkins for the past three Intersessions, and each time I’ve gotten to take a class just for fun that I would have never gotten the chance to take otherwise: Fiction for Foodies, Salsa dancing, and German.After taking German over Intersession last year, I decided to add German 2 to my schedule last spring and it was one of my favorite classes of the semester for sure.  I continued with German this year, which would have never happened if I hadn’t had the opportunity to take it over Intersession. 
- Sarah S., senior Biology and Spanish double major from Gwynedd Valley, PA 

Personal Enrichment
Personal Enrichment courses are a series of non-credit, informal classes that students can register for over the three weeks. They include music workshops (such as “Introduction to Playing the Appalachian Fiddle” and “Guitar for Beginners”), visual and performing arts (such as “Breakdance Fundamentals” and “The Makings of a Musical”), health and wellness (such as yoga, acupressure, and massage classes), personal enhancement (the “Bartending and Alcohol Awareness” class is a hit amongst the upperclassmen who are 21+!), and languages (such as Chinese or Swahili).

My favorite part about Intersession was the chance to try something completely different. As a personal enrichment course, I got to take ‘Dancing Like Jane Austen,’ which was all about English country dances and pretending like you were at a ball in the beautiful Homewood house! I took it with some friends and it was a really fun, interesting class that opened myself up to a whole new interest I’m sure that I never otherwise would have discovered.

- Kevin C., sophomore History major from Southport, CT 

Dance Like Jane Austen class during Intersession

Study Abroad
Study Abroad programs provide students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in an entirely different culture and language, without the stress or hassle of taking an entire semester off. Study Abroad trips over Intersession 2011 sent Hopkins undergraduates all over the world – Cuba, the Galápagos Islands, Florence, Uganda, and Munich are just a few of the places that our students explored for three weeks!

Over Intersession I took a course called Perspective on the History and Culture of Spain … in Madrid. I had the most amazing time ever, and wrote about it in a blog entry which you can read here. Intersession is best!
- Tess T., junior History major from Ridgewood, NJ 

Traveling to Ghana for Intersession

Career Development
Domestically, the Career Development programs take students on overnight trips to Washington, D.C. and New York City. Designed for students who wish to network and/or study a topic more geared towards their career goals, these courses are a combination of academic analysis and fieldwork. Students get to meet and learn from big names in Economics, Entrepreneurship and Management, Political Science, Media/Public Relations, etc.

I participated in the Perspectives on Globalization course last year and it was a great opportunity to meet new people, learn about globalization, explore possible career paths, and network with successful alums in the field.
- Erica Z., sophomore Economics major from Elk Grove, CA 

Globalization class in NYC for Intersession

Intersession is purposefully structured so that students can truly have the experience of “learning for the sake of learning,” while also having the option to pursue any other interests – whether it’s interning, doing research, studying abroad, or just exploring Baltimore with friends. The amount of free time allows students to complete their classwork and enjoy their break at the same time, offering a nice transition into the spring semester.

Some students do choose to stay home for the entire six or seven weeks to work at a part-time job or relax. However, Intersession makes it easy for students to pick and choose when they return to campus. The actual duration of the classes vary according to the program – some last the entire three weeks, while others only last one or two weeks.

B’More

“B’More” is one such program, offered exclusively to freshmen. B’More takes place during the last week of Intersession, and provides freshmen with an opportunity to learn more about Baltimore through various perspectives. B’More classes are offered in areas ranging from photography (“Charm City Through the Lens”) to sustainability (“Cleaner, Greener, and Sustainable Baltimore: An Inside Look”), although all classes attend various events like keynote speakers and panels, as well as an afternoon of service.

It was so nice to have the relaxed Intersession atmosphere last year during my B’More: Vaccines and Child Health class. It was also a great way to ease back into the new semester. I’m so happy I had a chance to explore a topic completely unrelated to my major because it is not necessarily easy for engineers with a busy schedule.

- Ian H., sophomore Materials Science & Engineering major from Milan, Italy 

Intersession also provides students with an opportunity to work or do research full-time. Unlike during the semester, where students have classes and other responsibilities, Intersession offers a chance to focus solely on research or a job.

From interning in their hometowns to learning about homelessness in Baltimore or studying sports and entertainment law, Hopkins students look forward to Intersession each year as the best of all worlds.

Regardless of the number and variety of Intersession options available to students, Intersession is what you make of it – which is precisely why it’s such an integral part of many students’ time here at Hopkins. The opportunities are endless, the classes more relaxed, and the benefits are both personal and professional. And the best part? With the exception of personal enrichment courses and study abroad programs, classes are free for all degree-seeking, full-time undergraduates!

Interested in learning more about Intersession? Check out our blogs from current students on Hopkins-Interactive!

• http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/lucie/2012/01/its-about-time/
• http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/trisha/2012/01/a-reely-great-time/
• http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/2015/2012/01/globalizin-in-nyc/
• http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/miranda/2012/02/interestingsession-v-2-0/
• http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/2015/2012/01/if-not-now-when/
• http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/2016/2013/01/intersession-2013-the-inauguration-snow-and-so-many-pictures/
• http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/2016/2013/01/my-birthday-in-baltimore/
• http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/2016/2013/01/intersession-2013-super-bowl/

Also, be sure to check out our brand new Project Intersession video, made by our Hopkins student videographers.

1. Café Azafran

Cafeteria-style, amazing food, pretty forest views…all on the Hopkins campus? Located snuggly on the outskirts of the northwest end of campus in the Space Telescope Science Institute (which is a building that definitely doesn’t scream “great food,” so trust us), Café Azafran is basically unknown to many undergraduates. But it’s a grad student favorite and chances are that a TA will hold office hours here at least once during your time at Hopkins. It’s definitely worth it to come with friends for breakfast or lunch too! We recommend the burgers.

The Space Telescope Science Institute

2. Hydrodynamics Testing Facility

On campus, there’s a two-story tank that holds 43,000 gallons of water – that is a LOT of liquid. Researchers use the tank to test computer control systems that will allow deep-sea robots to navigate unknown deep waters and report information back to scientists. Engineering students know and are proud of this unique opportunity to study hydrodynamics, but most students walk right by this tank…every single day! It’s located behind closed doors in the basement of Krieger Hall, right off of a hallway that students use daily as a shortcut from the Lower Quad – if you’re trying to go from Levering Hall to the bookstore, you’ll probably go through here. Next time you walk here, keep in mind the water power you’re near.

The tank

3. Gilman Hall Atrium and Lobby

The newly renovated Gilman Hall is absolutely beautiful!  While many students and professors can be found studying and chatting in the three-story atrium, the chairs in the lobby are often unoccupied and overlooked.  These incredibly comfortable chairs are a great place to study or to relax with friends.  Alkimia, the new café in Gilman Hall, is conveniently close, so you won’t have to travel far to get great coffee or baked goods.

Comfy chairs

4. Bloomberg Hill
The Hill behind the Bloomberg Building is the perfect place to go sledding after the first snowfall in Baltimore. If you don’t have a sled or a snow-tube, there’s no need to worry – grab a cardboard box from someone in your dorm, and you’re good to go.

Sledding down the hill

Pete’s Grill

5. Pete’s Grill

Several blocks east from campus lays possibly the best breakfast place in Baltimore. Because its only seating is located along a short bar, Pete’s feels super intimate and seems like the perfect way to get a real taste of life as a Baltimorean. Their long menu offers something for everyone…and they even accept JCash! And some Hopkins students are still waiting for their chance to spot Olympic gold medal swimmer Michael Phelps, who reportedly gets his breakfast fix here on the weekends, so don’t forget to bring your camera…just in case.

6. Miracle on 34^th Street

Here’s a seasonal gem for you to check out. Think of the feeling you get when you see a house elaborately decorated for the holidays. Now, multiply that by more than 30 times. In the weeks before Christmas, an entire block of 34^th Street in Hampden decorates their houses with twinkle lights, animatronic figures of Santa, reindeer, and other personalities, Christmas trees and ornaments, music, and more. There are even large Christmas lights strung across the street from house to house, making a festive canopy over the block itself. For some students, this has become an essential tradition during the holiday season. For most though, they don’t even know this happens! Walking down the block feels absolutely magical – trust us, it is something you don’t want to miss.

Miracle on 34th Street

7. Carma’s Cafe

Located literally underground, Carma’s Cafe is a hipster-esque location for Hopkins students to eat at. Offering organic foods ranging from the all-time favorite tomato basil soup to grilled cheese, Carma’s has something for everyone.

Carma’s

Beautiful gardens

8. Sherwood Gardens

What began as a hobby for a Baltimore resident has become one of the city’s most charming destinations. John W. Sherwood planted a host of Dutch tulips on his property in the 1920′s. He gradually expanded his property and his gardens throughout his life – now, they are a nationally-recognized landmark. Located just a 15 minute-walk up North Charles Street from the Hopkins campus are the Sherwood Gardens, a spring favorite among the Hopkins romantics and nature-lovers alike. The gardens are full of beautiful, perfectly-tended flowerbeds and greenery: there are six acres of tulips, cherry blossoms, apple blossoms, grassy fields, shady trees, azalea bushes, dogwoods and more. It’s completely free and open at all times. We recommend rounding up your friends for a lunch picnic! Don’t forget to bring your camera.

Delicious coffee

9. Chocolatea Café

Since Chocolatea is farther from the freshman dorms from Starbucks, Café Q, or the extremely popular Carma’s Café, not many freshmen have discovered this great local spot.  Chocolatea is located only about a block away from the lacrosse field and has fantastic sandwiches, salads, noodle bowls, great breakfast food, and much more!  If you ever need a quiet place to study or a great place to get a meal with friends, Chocolatea is only a short walk away.

10. Woodberry Kitchen

This new restaurant in Hampden, the neighborhood directly west of the Homewood Campus, offers a relaxing atmosphere and a fantastic menu featuring seasonal, locally grown ingredients. The restaurant is so unique to Baltimore that the Learn More, See More, B’more student video crew filmed a full episode there last year.

Woodberry Kitchen

11. Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum

Located right next to Camden Yards (that’s our baseball stadium, home of the Baltimore Orioles) is the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum. It’s combined with the Sports Lenders Museum and is a great spot for any sports or history fan to check out. They offer great exhibits designed to educate the public about the historic legacy of Babe Ruth and the Baltimore sports scene (from the Orioles to the old Baltimore Colts to the Ravens), and the best part is that it’s done in an entertaining, fun, family-friendly way. Check out their website for a virtual tour and definitely add it to your “must-see” list when you visit!

The museum

12. Rams Head Live

Ok, so this isn’t really a hidden gem (since Rams Head is one of the largest of its kind here), but we just couldn’t resist including a concert venue. And really, lots of Hopkins students don’t realize just how easy it is to take a break in the middle of the week with a concert! Keep your eyes peeled for a musical act you’d like to see by checking out their website, then jump on it and buy your tickets. Most concerts average about $35 per ticket so, while it’s a little pricey, you will still have room in your budget for a cab ride downtown. Splitting the fare with friends will make it even cheaper! But as a Hopkins student, you also get to take advantage of a free shuttle system: the Collegetown Shuttle will pick you up at the library and drop you off right down the street from Rams Head. Couldn’t be simpler! So when you get to campus, show Hopkins that you know how to shut your textbook, venture deeper into the city and go enjoy some fantastic music with your friends.

What makes Baltimore rock

Delicious ice cream

13. Pitango Gelato

We’ll admit it: Baltimore may not rival Italy, but Pitango Gelato in Fells Point is easily the best ice cream in Baltimore. We love the gelato itself for its organic ingredients and amazing flavors, while the store seems really unique because of its hip, clean vibe in the middle of historic Fells. It’s definitely worth a Water Taxi ride from Inner Harbor to grab a cup and stroll down the cobblestone streets!

14. Water Taxi

Don’t underestimate the fun of super-touristy city attractions. We recommend the Water Taxi – it’s designed as an easy transportation between points along the harbor, but it can be a great way to see some Baltimore landmarks…and relax after a long day of walking. Keep your eyes peeled for the Domino Sugar plant, the Bo Brooks lighthouse in Canton, and the cobblestone streets of Fells Point.  And it’s light on the wallet: it costs $10 for an entire day of taxi service.  It’s efficient and practical, so it’ll be really easy to incorporate this into your day of exploring Charm City.

Water Taxi

15. Thrift Shops in Hampden

Following the trend set by Macklemore’s most recent hit, Hopkins students enjoy exploring the thrift shops scattered around Baltimore. The Hampden Thrift Shops are a particular favorite due to their unpredictable and eclectic array of items.

Hampden Junque

Semester and full year programs
Hopkins runs its own programs, enables students to direct enroll in other universities, and partners with organizations such as CIEE and IES to provide a huge range of study abroad experiences to students. Hopkins programs include:

• Hopkins in France (International Studies) – Sciences Po, Paris: Junior Year
• Hopkins in Madrid (Spanish) – Universidad Carlos III, Madrid: Fall Semester
• Hopkins in Berlin (German) – Berlin Consortium for German Studies (Freie Universitat, Berlin): Semester or Full-Year
• SAIS Bologna (International Studies) – SAIS Bologna Center: Junior Year
• Hopkins Engineering Abroad – India, Korea, Singapore and other locations

Last year, hundreds of Hopkins students studied across the globe in locations from South Africa to Argentina, Sydney to Copenhagen.

“My four months in Madrid were an experience I’ll never forget. My language skills improved immensely, I loved living with my two Spanish host sisters, and I met students from all over Europe in my classes at Universidad Carlos III.”
- Sarah S., a junior biology and Spanish double major 

Intersession Abroad Programs
One of the unique features of JHU is its option three-week term in January called Intersession. In addition to offering free courses on the Homewood campus, Hopkins also provides students with the opportunity to go on one of the Intersession Abroad trips. These trips are great ways for students who can’t go away for an entire semester to get a study abroad experience. The programs offered this past Intersession included:

• Cuba: Cuba and the USA: Worlds Apart
• Ecuador: Tropical Biology and Evolution
• Florence: Italian Renaissance Art and Culture
• Ghana: History, Politics, and Culture
• Italian Cities: Medieval and Renaissance
• London: Art, History, and Culture in Context
• Munich: Science and Innovation in Germany
• Uganda: Childhood, Health, and Society

“Intersession is a time where you can look to expand your interests and course selections without worrying about grades, major stressful exams or other things that comes with classes during the year. And sometimes, life changing ideas and events come from this time of the year at Hopkins. For me my intersession trip to Spain was my best experience at Hopkins, hands down! It was so much fun and I had a great time learning about the country’s history from our “exuberant” professor. But the best all was that this trip allowed me to expand my horizons of thinking to which I was not able to do throughout the normal school year and led to me changing my major into something that I realized I liked so much more. That’s my intersession experience.”
- Joel M., a senior history major 

Summer Abroad Programs
Studying abroad over the summer is another great option for students who maybe cannot study abroad for a semester, but are still looking to go overseas. Hopkins Summer Study Abroad Programs are courses that complement the Hopkins curriculum. Some programs include courses taught by JHU faculty abroad. Hopkins department sponsors others. JHU currently offers:

• Argentina: Program in Latin American Studies
• Ireland: Photographing the Burren
• South Africa: Public Health Cape Town
• Italy: Italian Language Summer in Catania, Italy
• Spain: Neuroscience in Salamanca, Spain

Whether you are hoping to study abroad for a semester, or considering a shorter stay, Hopkins offers a wide variety of opportunities so that you find the study abroad experience that fits your needs! Be sure to check out the JHU Study Abroad website for more information.

Pre-Orientation/Pre-O:
To kick start the orientation festivities is Pre-Orientation (or Pre-O as the natives call it), an optional outdoors program led by Hopkins’ Outdoor Pursuits club. It starts in the week before orientation (in case you didn’t get that from the name) where you get to participate in fun outdoor activities along the Appalachian Trail and other scenic spots on the east coast and do some major bonding with your classmates!

Pre-O Bonding

Here’s how it works:
1. Choose your adventure: Canoeing/Hiking, Backpacking, Climbing, Whitewater Kayaking, or Multi-Element (a combination excursion)
2. Get a physical, do the paperwork, get your shots, and send it all the waivers.
3. Pack your bags and head to Hopkins!
4. Get outside and have a blast!

Each trip is unique and completely dependent upon your tastes.  If you are adventurous and don’t mind getting wet, go whitewater kayaking.  If you are more of a pensive, relaxed, “enjoy nature calmly” type, go backpacking.  If heights get your blood pumping, climbing is for you.  And, if you can never make up your mind, do Multi-Element; it’s a buffet of outdoor delights!

JHU Pre-Orientation

Moving into the Dorms
We know that one of the biggest sources of anxiety for people is the move-in process at college. Worry not because move-in at Hopkins is easy! After carefully packing everything into your car (or suitcases) and driving (or flying) to Hopkins, pull up to your dorm (AMR’s, Wolman, Buildings A&B, or McCoy). The rest is easy; just let students empty your car and take all of your stuff to your room. Even though you have to unpack all of your belongings, at least you don’t have to carry them!

Road Tripping to Hopkins

JHU Move-In

Current students unload and transport all of your belongings.

You may even get President Daniels to help unload your belongings into your dorm!

Some of our favorite O-Week events:

Students Meeting: Alcohol & Making Informed Decisions
Dr. Linda Gorman, Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies of the Neuroscience Program, will discuss some facts about alcohol, your brain, and the issues that arise in college when you mix the two.  This isn’t your average alcohol awareness speech, though. Dr. Gorman prides herself on being innovative and fun, and she definitely succeeds. This will be one talk you won’t want to miss!

New Student Convocation on Decker Quad
President Daniels and the Homewood Deans will address the Class of 2016 at this traditional academic welcome to the Johns Hopkins University. Your whole class gets dressed up, and comes together as one for the first time. After the ceremony, make sure to mingle with faculty and look out for President Daniels at the reception. (The desserts are also amazing at the reception!) Here’s a peek at the Class of 2015’s Convocation ceremony:

Freshmen all dressed up for Convocation

President Daniels presides over Convocation

Convocation ceremonies welcome the JHU Class of 2015

Sexcapades at Shriver Hall
Sexcapades is a comedy show you don’t want to miss! Come follow Ernest, a pubescent freshman, who learns about the birds and the bees during his interactions with a female classmate. Learn about contraception, STIs, campus health services, and the best place to have sex on campus! Get there early to make sure you get a seat because the house is sure to be packed. Even upperclassmen try to sneak in; it’s that funny!

Class Photo on Keyser Quad
After the Cultural Competency program, head to the Upper Quad to take your official JHU 2016 class photo. It’s definitely a memory you’ll appreciate! Here is last year’s class photo:

Playfair
We don’t want to ruin the surprise of Playfair, but try to imagine your whole class in the Recreation Center running around and having a great time. Make sure you attend this event because it always ends up being one of the most memorable experiences of Orientation!

Playfair

Playfair: The Hopkins Rite of Passage

Tom DeLuca Hypnotist Show
Prepare to be hypnotized (literally) by Tom DeLuca as he explores the imagination like no one else in the world. This program is sponsored by the HOP (Hopkins Organization for Programming) and is definitely a favorite.

Dorm Wars
Come join in the fun as Hopkins’ Residence Halls square off against one another in a (mostly) friendly competition ranging from tug-of-war to ultimate Frisbee. Donations at the event can help your team win. All proceeds go to the Lymphoma Research Foundation and all competitors receive a free T-shirt specific to their floor. Come out to help your floor and dorm win campus superiority!

Preparing for Dorm Wars

Battles of Dorm Wars

Dorm Wars: Who Will Win?

After Orientation:
As you can see there’s plenty of activities and opportunities to meet your classmates the first week of school, and Orientation events keep going even after classes start. Orientation makes the process of settling into Hopkins an easy transition and you’ll make incredible memories. Get excited for move-in and orientation because your Hopkins experience is about to begin.

Students Relaxing in the Inner Harbor

Dorm Life

Once you’ve enrolled with the university, you’ll be able to fill out a form ranking your housing preferences. There are four main choices available to freshmen: The Buildings, The AMR’s, Wolman, or McCoy. On the survey, freshmen rank these dorms in the order of their liking, and can either request a roommate or enter the room selection process randomly (which is highly recommended).

Alumni Memorial Residences (AMR’s I & II)
Let’s say you always imagined your college experience consisting of sitting around at 3 am in a long hallway eating pizza and chatting with your friends about simultaneously everything and nothing at all – the AMR’s are for you! Considered as the most social of the Hopkins dorms and located on the Freshman Quad, these buildings follow the traditional college dorm format. What is that format? All of the bedrooms (comprised of singles, doubles, and the occasional triple) are connected to hallways with communal bathrooms and grouped into “houses.” Your housemates become your first real family at Hopkins, because nothing brings people together better than the mad rush to snag a shower space at 8:30 in the morning before everyone’s classes.

Alumni Memorial Residences

Amenities

• Common Kitchens, laundry rooms in both
• Two multipurpose rooms (AMR I)
• TV Room (AMR I)
• Mail Room (AMR II)
• Housing and Dining Office (AMR II)
• Blue Jay Café – a study room with vending machines (AMR II)
• Pool table/TV room (AMR II)
• Steps away (224, to be exact) from the FFC

Hopkins Interactive has a number of blogs with students writing up walkthroughs of their dorm rooms: Here’s Alexa, Kaitlyn, Miranda, and Sarah showing off their rooms! A few students even let video cameras in to tour through, which you can watch at the bottom of this page!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOodpzdYOj8

Building A and Building B
Let’s say instead that you always thought your dorm would be your sanctuary, a quiet and comfortable space for you to get work done and retire after a long day on campus – choose the Buildings! These are suite-style dorms – there are two bedrooms (comprised of singles, doubles, or triples) in each suite that share a bathroom and shower, and the suite itself is off of a hallway in the dorm that connects all of the suites.

 Buildings A & B

Amenities

• Climate-controlled rooms
• A laundry room and kitchen in each building
• Bathroom in each suite
• Directly above the FFC
• Largest rooms by floor space for freshman housing

One of our students, Caitlin, wrote a blog walkthrough for her room in Building A, and we have some cribs videos as well!

Wolman Hall and McCoy Hall
Perhaps you thought that you kind of fit the description of the person who lives in the AMR’s and one who lives in the Buildings, and wish there were an option that split the difference between the two – choose either Wolman or McCoy! These are suite style dorms to give you more privacy and quiet, but the always-buzzing common rooms that all suites open up to make them very social as well. A large difference between Wolman and McCoy is that Wolman is freshman-only, whereas McCoy houses freshmen exclusively on the first floor, but other than that they are functionally the same. They are located across North Charles Street, approximately 3 minutes away from the Freshman Quad and much closer to the shops and restaurants in Charles Village. The Charles Street Market in particular, which accepts Dining Dollars and meal swipes from your meal plan, sits directly below Wolman!

Wolman Hall

McCoy Hall

Amenities

• Both bathrooms and kitchenettes in suites. A kitchenette has a sink, stovetop, counter space, and mini-fridge
• Climate-controlled rooms
• Common rooms on each floor
• Mail room (Wolman)
• Workout room in each building
• Computer room (Wolman)
• Multipurpose room (Wolman)
• 60-person Movie theater (Wolman)
• Common kitchens
• Bicycle storage room (McCoy)
• Multipurpose room (McCoy)
• Office of Housing and Dining (Wolman)
• Office of Residential Life (McCoy)

Here are walkthroughs of McCoy Hall from Joe, Miranda, and Joseph, as well as one on Wolman from Ruthie! As always, enjoy the Cribs videos:

All of the dorms have one upperclassman Resident Advisor (RA) per floor/house who is available to help with any issues or questions new freshmen may have.  Also, there are laundry rooms in the basements of each building and different communal areas to socialize and/or study. Regardless of personal preference, the variety of on-campus housing options at Hopkins provides the perfect setting for freshmen to mingle, adjust to college life, get involved, and start making Hopkins their home for the next four years.

Home Sweet Hopkins

For more information, visit the official website of the Department of Housing and Dining Services, and to ask current students about their perspectives, be sure to check out the “Housing” thread on the Hopkins Forums. Also, for more Cribs videos, take a look at our Hopkins Cribs 2.0 YouTube Channel! Finally, check out housing photos and videos on our pinterest board!