A Post for the Class of 2016 Admits – Congratulations!

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How to begin an entry dedicated to the 3,071 students who this past Thursday received the “YES” news from Johns Hopkins University. To be honest, I am at a loss for words. You have heard, read, and seen the word “Congratulations” so many times that the word may be losing its impact by now. But what other word works? You look up the word in a thesaurus and you can weaker phrases like compliments, best wishes, felicitations (?), and good going. Even though I can’t find that perfect word right now, I hope that those of you who received the good news on Thursday evening and will receive a big packet in the mail feel an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment, and have taken some time over the last couple of days to celebrate and jump for joy.

I think my failure at finding a more significant word to say congratulations has a bit more to do with me sheer exhaustion. I hope to be able to catch my breath this weekend following the whirlwind of activity that takes place just before the release of decisions. There were times during the hectic months and weeks of Admissions committee review and deliberations that I never thought decision release day would come. But then you get to drop the letters off at the post office and click send on the e-mail notifications and the exhaustion transforms into a state of reflection.

So despite my exhaustion, despite the calm reflection after the storm that seems to be settling in this overcast Saturday morning in Baltimore, I am confident of one thing … starting next week my mood will be sheer excitement. There are a ton of April events on the horizon and the chance to meet admitted students over the next few weeks does make me smile from ear-to-ear.

You have been admitted to the strongest class in Johns Hopkins history. Each and every one of you should feel a great sense of honor. You need to know that, by offering you a spot in the Johns Hopkins community, we are saying loud and clear that we think you fit. We think you will make a difference at Johns Hopkins and we can provide you with the challenge and excitement you are looking for. After months of getting to know you all through your applications, we eagerly wait until the time when you and the Early Decision admitted students arrive on campus this coming fall. Great things are going to be expected from the JHU Class of 2016.

There will be much time to celebrate over the coming weeks, but for many of you a tough decision lies ahead. Let me give you the best advice I can … CHOOSE JOHNS HOPKINS. Make it simple. You can’t go wrong. For some of you it will be that simple; but I also know that many of you will need to weigh your options and determine which of your admitted schools will make the best fit for you.

For those of you who are undecided, the question is how you will make this big decision. What is the right choice? These questions are justified, but in the end it is you and you alone who has to make the choice. Choosing which college or university to attend is one of those life-altering decisions where you must weigh all the factors, big and small. This choice not only impacts the next four years—it will leave an eternal mark on you as the school becomes your alma mater and an important line on your resume.

If I can provide any early advice it would be to first do your own self-analysis and decide what it is you want and need in the college you attend. Then you need to do your own research on each school you have been admitted to and consider the big questions of fit. I am a big fan of creating pro / con lists and using a weighted system to help determine what it is you are searching for and where you will be most comfortable. I strongly encourage you to avoid focusing on statistics and rankings, as these are quite superficial and do not help get down to the personal decision level. I also warn you of weighting other opinions more than your own. And finally, in my experience, the gut decision is typically the right one.

I am going to sign off now and let you celebrate some more. Don’t forget to utilize the ample resources we have put together for our admitted students, all referenced in your admit notification e-mails and admit packets. The Admitted Student Web site has tons of information and we strongly encourage you to visit for one of our SOHOP programs. (Maybe you can even ride the SOHOP express) Also, the Hopkins Interactive students are using all the social media tools they can to connect with you—check out the Facebook group, the #whyhopkins tweets, the YouTube videos, and obviously all the blogs. Don’t let your questions go unanswered.

The theme of April will be WHY HOPKINS and we hope we can help you all answer that question and you will join the JHU Class of 2016.

April in Admissions: A Tale of Two Roles

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The month of April in the world of Undergraduate Admissions is by far the busiest month of the year. It is a time when we must wear two different professional hats. Following the release of Regular Decision notifications at the end of March, one hat that we wear is communicating with applicants, primarily high school seniors. I call this “Wearing the Yield Hat,” as the vast majority of communication is with admitted students helping them to determine whether Johns Hopkins is where they will spend their next four years.

At the same time, we have to be “Wearing the Recruitment Hat,” as the volume of visitors who are potential future applicants is enormous. These high school juniors, and sometimes even younger, flock to campus during their schools’ spring breaks to take their first look at campus. As they begin their college searches they also begin to ask general questions to the university e-mail account or social media outlets.

Recruiting juniors: Box of recruitment materials waiting for the next college fair.

Admitted Students: Materials prepped for SOHOP.

Though interacting with admitted seniors is quite different than speaking with prospective students just starting the college search process, the same general question is on everyone’s mind, “Why Hopkins?” For admitted students the question is the all-important one: why should I choose to enroll at Hopkins and commit my education to this institution? We know these students have a great many options, and for us it is about helping them to see if Johns Hopkins is the right fit. For the prospects, the question is a bit less crucial and is more about whether or not Johns Hopkins fits certain criteria the student has laid out to determine to which schools they will apply later in the fall. Whether it is helping a student choose to enroll at Hopkins or answering questions that help a student decide to apply to Hopkins, April is a great month to be in Admissions.

Recruiting Juniors: Daily campus tours of juniors on spring break.

Admitted Students: Special check-in and events in Mason Hall.

As I examine my schedule for the rest of the month, this grand dichotomy is even more evident. Tomorrow night I am attending a college fair in Timonium, Maryland, where close to 1,500 students and parents of the Baltimore County private schools will ask any and every question there is to know about Hopkins. Then, on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, my colleagues and I will welcome over 500 admitted students and more than 1,500 visitors to campus for our first SOHOP event. Next week will be spent helping with on-campus visit programs where every day we have concurrent information sessions happening in Mason Hall, one for admits and one for prospects. And in the final week of April, we will hold our second SOHOP event and I will make my way up to New England to attend a series of college fairs and hold a Spring Explore Hopkins event.

SOHOP Preparations take over Mason Hall

Once the calendar turns to May, and the May 1 response deadline passes for admitted students, things will finally begin to calm down. May is a time to reflect, take long vacations, and unwind a bit. There are still items on the to-do list, but the non-stop pace turns into a more normal 9-5 schedule and maybe even only four work days a week instead of seven.

If you are one of the many people my colleagues and I will interact with in the month of April, we hope we can help you determine “Why Hopkins” is right for you.

Even the Admissions site if conflicted: Explore Hopkins for Juniors

OR Even the Admissions site if conflicted: Decision Release for Seniors

A Post for the Class of 2015 Admits – Congratulations!

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Whew! To be honest, this is the only word that has been running through my mind the last few days. At the most random of times the last couple of days I have had to just sit back and catch my breath. The whirlwind of activity that takes place just before the release of decisions coupled with the hectic nature of the month of Admissions committee meetings and the prior three months of application review leads to absolute exhaustion. But then you get to drop the letters off at the post office and click send on the e-mail notifications and the exhaustion transforms into a state of reflection.

This year, more than any year before, this period of post-decision contemplation has been more calm and restrained. Maybe it just has to do with the weather, as winter is holding on a bit too long in Baltimore. Or maybe it has to do with how difficult decision making was this year. Or maybe it just has to do with my need to sleep straight for 48 hours. Whatever the reason, I do know one thing … starting next week my mood will be sheer excitement. There are a ton of April events on the horizon and the chance to meet admitted students over the next few weeks (and the hope for the trees to blossom) does make me smile from ear-to-ear.

Admitted students: Make every effort to visit during a SOHOP program.

As we said on Tuesday in your e-mail notification, CONGRATULATIONS. You have been admitted to the strongest class in Johns Hopkins history. Each and every one of you should feel a great sense of accomplishment and honor. You need to know that, by offering you a spot in the Johns Hopkins community, we are saying loud and clear that we think you fit. We think you will make a difference at Johns Hopkins and we can provide you with the challenge and excitement you are looking for. After months of getting to know you all through your applications, we eagerly wait until the time when you and the Early Decision admitted students arrive on campus this coming fall. Great things are going to be expected from the JHU Class of 2015.

There will be much time to celebrate over the coming weeks, but for many of you a tough decision lies ahead. Let me give you the best advice I can … CHOOSE HOPKINS. Make it simple. You can’t go wrong. For some of you it will be that simple; but I also know that many of you will need to weigh your options and determine which of your admitted schools will make the best fit for you.

Choose Hopkins

For those of you who are undecided, the question is how you will make this big decision. What is the right choice? These questions are justified, but in the end it is you and you alone who has to make the choice. Choosing which college or university to attend is one of those life-altering decisions where you must weigh all the factors, big and small. This choice not only impacts the next four years—it will leave an eternal mark on you as the school becomes your alma mater and an important line on your resume.

If I can provide any advice it would be to first do your own self-analysis and decide what it is you want and need in the college you attend. Then you need to do your own research on each school you have been admitted to and consider the big questions of fit. I am a big fan of creating pro / con lists and using a weighted system to help determine what it is you are searching for and where you will be most comfortable. I strongly encourage you to avoid focusing on statistics and rankings, as these are quite superficial and do not help get down to the personal decision level. I also warn you of weighting other opinions more than your own. And finally, in my experience, the gut decision is typically the right one. For more advice I recommend this blog I wrote last year: Time to Make the Big Decision.

I am going to sign off now and let you celebrate some more. Don’t forget to utilize the ample resources we have put together for our admitted students, all referenced in your admit notification e-mails and admit packets. The Admitted Student Web site has tons of information and we strongly encourage you to visit for one of our SOHOP programs. (Maybe you can even ride the SOHOP express) Also, the Hopkins Interactive students are using all the social media tools they can to connect with you—check out the Facebook group, the #whyhopkins tweets, the YouTube videos, and obviously all the blogs. Don’t let your questions go unanswered.

The theme of April will be WHY HOPKINS and we hope we can help you all answer that question and you will join the JHU Class of 2015.

An Ode to the Class of 2014

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So it is the middle of July and I am sitting in the lobby of Mason Hall all alone. You may ask, why am I alone? Well, because it is a Saturday. You then may ask, what am I doing at work on a Saturday in the summer? Well, because today was my day to run the Hopkins Preview event for visiting prospective students. You may then finally ask, why don’t I just go home after the event is over? And my response is why are you asking questions of a blog? Just kidding. I am actually currently waiting for our 20 or so tours to get back and want to be available in case any of our visitors have final questions.

As I sit here in the quiet confines of Mason Hall I am pondering the calendar, the events of the last couple of months, and what lies ahead. See for me in my twelfth year of adhering to the abnormal calendar of college admissions, my summers have always been split into two. The first half of the summer begins pretty much right after we have finalized the enrolling freshman class in early May and runs through the middle of July. I take a lot of vacation during this time and when I am in the office I tend to procrastinate a bit too much. So far this summer I have taken two extended vacations to see family, one to Paradise Island in the Bahamas and then a second time to the Florida Space Coast. I also have spent many hours in the office watching sports on ESPN3.com … the World Cup, U.S. Open golf, Wimbledon, and now the British Open. And oh yeah, I do occasionally get some actual work done.

Vacation in Paradise

The second half of the summer is when I plan, and for this year that period will begin in earnest next week. I will plan my fall travel in New England. I will plan the consortium travel I will be doing in New England with representatives from Northwestern University, the University of Virginia, and the University of California, Berkeley. I will work with colleagues from UVa and MIT on an educational session regarding the use of social media in college admissions which we will collectively present at the NACAC National Conference in St. Louis. I will work with returning members of the Student Admissions Advisory Board (SAAB) planning the big projects for Hopkins Interactive in the coming year. And I will work on some other exciting projects that I will keep under wraps until the big reveal in the coming months. Basically, during the second half of the summer I only take a couple of mini-vacations, I cut the procrastinating by 75%, and get organized and prepared for the coming admissions and recruitment cycle.

The true representation of the break in my two summers is when I realize I have to turn the proverbial page and close the book on the Johns Hopkins Class of 2014 as it relates to topics on this blog. For the last 12-18 months the primary audience I have directed blog entries to has been the prospective, admitted, and ultimately enrolling members of the JHU Class of 2014. But as the admissions calendar turns to a new cycle, it is time the blog goes in a new direction and begins to address new audience, namely the prospective students for the JHU Class of 2015 and beyond.

But before the next phase of the Hopkins Insider begins, I have one more entry that I want to dedicate to the Class of 2014. This entry does not look back, does not report statistics, and does not provide any important updates. Rather this blog is in the style of an advice blog, my favorite kind of entry to compose. Below I present to all students entering college as the Class of 2014, whether it is at Hopkins or somewhere else, AdmissionsDaniel’s top ten bucket list items to get the most out of one’s college years.

– To be continued –

Composing a bucket list

——————————————————————————————————————————————–

O.K. truth be told, I started writing this blog this past Saturday but then got distracted as the tours got back and I had a ton of questions to answer. Then I went home and fell asleep. Then I went to see Inception on Sunday and well my mind has been filled with theories on that film for the past few days. Now it is Thursday evening and I just finished enjoying So You Think You Can Dance. I am not tired for some reason, so I decided to finish this blog.

So where was I? Oh right, my bucket list of advice items to get the most out of one’s college years. It is over 13 years since I graduated college and for nearly all those years I have been witness to thousands of students going through the motions of the undergraduate experience. Though in no way do I consider myself an expert on this topic, I do feel that my experiences and observations do make me somewhat knowledgeable on this subject. So without further adieu, here is my advice to the incoming members of the Class of 2014, to help make the next four years of your life the most enjoyable, dynamic, memorable, and worthwhile.

1. Be Worldly
No matter what your future plans entail, gaining international experiences will benefit you. Every student I have known that has studied abroad raves about the experience and are better students for it. With the chance to study during the traditional academic year, as well as during summer and winter breaks, there are no excuses for not gaining a world perspective to your undergraduate education. And don’t stop with just studying abroad. Everyone should strongly consider pursuing foreign language classes, as well as cultural studies courses.

2. Explore a New Subject Every Semester
The biggest mistake I made in my undergraduate years was failing to explore the vast majority of subjects, majors, and classes offered to me. If I could go back and do it all over again I would make it a rule that I took one class every semester from a brand new subject area. Just look at the variety of classes offered to you: Cognitive Science, Biophysics, Anthropology, English, Applied Mathematics, East Asian Studies, Sociology, and so on. There is true value in an interdisciplinary approach to your education and truth be told, your undergraduate years is really the only time in your educational history you will have the chance to explore. Who knows, you may find a new field of interest and something you may end up minoring or majoring in.

3. Journal Your Experiences
I know suggesting to a college student to add another writing assignment to their daily agenda may seem a bit sadistic. However, take my advice; you will truly appreciate keeping a journal of your college years to reflect on in 10, 20, 30 plus years. These will be some of the best years of your life and they will go by so quickly. More importantly, your beliefs and opinions will change frequently during these years, and jotting down your thoughts regularly will be both cathartic and stimulating. Oh yeah, and I recommend this be a private journal, one in which you are honest with your emotions. This is not an assignment of tracking your Facebook statuses or some live blog journal that anyone can access. This is for your eyes only – an experiment in learning more about yourself during the most self-educating time of your life.

Write down your thoughts

4. Do Not Judge a Book by Its Cover
This relates to so many things. Don’t be so quick to judge the faculty, the classes, and the academic challenges. Don’t be so quick to judge your peers, your acquaintances, and your roommates. Don’t be so quick to judge extracurricular activities, campus events, and city-wide opportunities. Having an open-mind and spending time experiencing all that crosses your path before making ultimate decisions will benefit you greatly. You may think that Economics is the most boring subject matter ever, and then later realize that the knowledge gained in Econ classes is applicable to so many other fields. You may think the Quidditch team is filled with socially-awkward geeks, and then find your best friends while chasing the Snitch. You may think that Baltimore is too dangerous a city to explore, and then have the time of your life in Fell’s Point during the Halloween parade. Take chances.

5. Get Involved and Give Back
Allow me to let you in a little secret; college is not just about learning in a classroom. Shhhhhhh. Don’t share this with others. A good part of your “learning” during college happens outside the classroom and occurs in your extracurricular life. Don’t lock yourself in the library for four years; you absolutely will be wasting the chance of a lifetime if you do so. Get involved. Pursue your passions or develop new ones. Try out for the Freshman One Acts. Write an editorial for the JHU News-letter. Join an intramural team. Go to a concert at Peabody. Attend events put on by the HOP. Consider rushing, or find another social network through any of the 300+ activities available to you. And while pursuing your passions, don’t forget to give back to the Homewood and Baltimore communities that you will be taking so much from. Stop by the Center for Social Concern and learn of the myriad of ways you can get involved with service. There is something for everyone … don’t be lazy because you will absolutely regret it.

6. Have Fun, Your Way
In high school you are educated about peer pressure and to avoid it every turn. Well in college there is just an assumption that you have learned to not fall into the patterns of others and establish clique mentalities. However, it can be easy to just fall into a crowd and ignore you own personal proclivities. Don’t do that. Make sure you don’t do that. It is your college experience, and live it by doing what you personally want. Explore the things that you find most interesting. Pursue you own passions. And at every turn remember to HAVE FUN. Having fun should be a core principle of your entire collegiate experience.

7. Use All the Resources Available to You
As an incoming freshman you are probably super excited to use all the resources and take advantage of the opportunities available to you. But as you progress through your first year and on to subsequent years you will begin to forget about everything that is out there for you. It is natural to forget, but I advise you to fight it as much as possible. Make sure to remind yourself to use the Career Center, the Study Abroad office, your Academic Advisor, faculty office hours, the Counseling Center, the Office of Student Life, the Center for Social Concern, the Interfaith Center, the Athletic facilities, and everything else in between. If need be, hide post-it note reminders in your day planner or add them to your bulletin board to remind you to continue to explore the avenues in front of you.

To Do List

8. Don’t Fall Into Routines
This is another easy thing to do after the excitement of the start of your freshman year wears off. Once you are knee deep in your classes and activities, it is easy to fall into a daily routine and forget to explore new things. I challenge you to make a pact with yourself to try something new at least once a month, and continue this throughout all four years of college. Something new can be anything and everything: go to the general body meeting of a new club, go hear a speaker, explore a new restaurant, go to a concert or theater production, go to a sporting event that doesn’t turn out many fans, try a new route for your jog, go to an interesting professor’s office hours, volunteer, skip to class rather than walk. Just keep changing things up.

9. Be Flexible
Of all the items on this list this is the one I wish someone had told me before I went to college. When I arrived in college I knew I had enjoyed studying history and that my interest was in political science. So that is what I studied, every semester, every chance I had. Even in my sophomore year when I realized I really didn’t enjoy the subject matter, I still stuck with it. I stuck with it all the way through graduation. And now my entire professional career has been in education though I took zero education classes. I loved a sociology class I took as a freshman but I never pursued any more classes in that subject. I enjoyed film and architecture electives but only took a handful. Basically, my academic plan was a linear Point A to Point B strategy. No diversions. No flexibility. And oh was that a bad decision. Be open to new avenues, new directions, new concepts, and new options. Do not close any doors. You may start at Point A and end up Point B ultimately, but your path should have numerous twist and turns.

10. Accept the Fact That You Will Makes Mistakes
OK, yes you are all perfect, you are all amazing, you are all brilliant, and you all will never have missteps in college. Yeah right! Some of that may have been true as you dominated your way through high school, but everyone, and yes I mean EVERYONE, will make mistakes and possible even fail at something (or multiple things) while in college. Be ready for this, and realize that rebounding from a mistake or a failure makes you ultimately a much stronger individual. You will get a bad grade occasionally, you will argue with your roommates, you will have conflicts with a faculty member, you will miss a deadline, and you will face struggles. It is accepting these difficulties, embracing the experiences, and coming back stronger that will define you.

Can't wait for JHU 2014 picture

I could elaborate so much more on each of these points, and probably come up with ten more ideas. However, I want to keep these thoughts a bit unfinished so you all can interpret them your own way. Make your own bucket list and stick to it over the years. Add new items as you move along and enjoy fully crossing off items as you complete them. Simply put, make the most of these years … don’t form regrets by letting time fly by, because it will.

Sunday Blogging Re-Cap: Posts for the Class of 2014 Applicants

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As my Easter Sunday comes to an end, I thought it would be helpful to look back at the week that was. It was a very busy week, especially for posts on the Hopkins Insider blog. If you missed anything, here are links to those past entries:

A Post for the Admits — Congratulations!!!

A Post for the Wait-Listed Applicant

A Post for the Denied Applicant

There were a number of entries also that reflected on the process of releasing decisions, that have a ton of helpful information still and some great pictures:

The Light Approaches and it is Bright

Breaking News: RD Notification Release Explained

And finally, if you didn’t hear about the great April Fool’s Day prank played by Johns Hopkins University, check it out here:

I am headed up to Boston for a couple of days and then will be busy throughout the second half of the week with getting ready for a ton of Admitted Student programming. Follow me on Twitter ( @AdmissionDaniel ) for updates, and I will be back to blogging by the end of the week. I’ll finish the blog as I normally do after noteworthy weeks – with updated pictures of this blog’s mascots; my dog Soze and my niece Lilly and nephew Cooper.

A Post For the Admits – Congratulations!!!

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Currently I am sitting at my desk in Mason Hall on Friday afternoon trying to catch my breath. For the last fifteen minutes I have just been sitting, relaxing, and staring out my window onto the Decker Quad. There are a ton of people outside enjoying the beautiful 80 degree weather; students sunbathing, students playing Frisbee, and droves of prospective students  and parents walking around. The need to catch my breath is both from the whirlwind of activity that has taken place since the release of decision on Wednesday, as well as the close to 1000 visitors we had on campus … JUST TODAY!

Mason Hall on a beautiful spring day.

I finally have a chance to contemplate all that has taken place in the short-term (decision release week) and the long-term (the complete Class of 2014 admissions cycle) and as usual the only phrase I can muster up is … WHEW! This is the first time I really have slowed down all week (all year?) and it is pretty amazing all that has transpired since the completion of the Early Decision class on December 15, 2009 and the release of RD notifications on March 31, 2010. There is a ton of April events on the horizon and a lot of correspondence to still go through, but right now all I can really think about is the approaching weekend full of beautiful weather, a Hopkins v. UNC Lacrosse game, and a very relaxing pace.  

Soze happy for the Class of 2014.

As promised, I will end the week with an entry dedicated to the students who on Wednesday evening opened their “Congratulations” e-mail and who will soon be in receipt of the coolest admit packet in the entire country (no bias here!). To each and every one of you let me echo I word you probably have heard a record amount of times in the last few days, yet are not getting tired of it … CONGRATULATIONS!!! |

You have been admitted to the strongest class in Johns Hopkins history. Each and every one of you should feel a great sense of accomplishment and honor. You should know that by offering you a spot in the Johns Hopkins community we are saying loud and clear we think you fit. We think you will make a difference at Johns Hopkins and that we can provide you with the challenge and excitement you are looking for. After months of getting to know you all through your applications, we eagerly wait until the time when you and the Early Decision admits arrive on campus this coming fall. Great things are going to be expected from the JHU Class of 2014.

Lilly and Cooper (my niece and nephew) excited for the JHU Class of 2014.

One of the great curiosities following the release of decisions is always about the admissions statistics. Well, Dean Latting shared them with the staff yesterday and let me know that I could share some of the data with the blogging world. So drum roll time …

• Record applicant pool = 18,455. Increase of 2,331, or 14%, over last year. This is the eigth straight record applicant pool for Johns Hopkins.
• The admit rate this year is 20.4%. This is down from 26.7% last year, and a record low for Johns Hopkins. The previous low was 24.3% in 2007.
• The admitted freshman class represents 49 U.S. States (sorry South Dakota). As well, admitted students reside in 58 nations around the world.
• All of our principle academic measures for the admitted class of 2014 are either higher or the same as last year.

Now many you have a very tough decision to make. Let me make it simple for you … CHOOSE HOPKINS. For some of you that is actually what you will do and it will be that simple. For many of you though you now have a month to weigh your options and determine which of your admitted schools will make the best fit for you.

This year the Admissions staff and more significantly the students of Hopkins Interactive have put together a ton of resources to help you determine WHY HOPKINS. So continue to, celebrate your amazing accomplishments and use the following resources to learn more about Hopkins and connect with our current students:

– Tons of information at our:
Admitted Student Web Site: http://apply.jhu.edu/admitted/main.html

– Check out our brand new site just for the Class of 2014:

– Don’t forget to register for a visit:
Spring Admitted Student Welcome Open Houses: http://apply.jhu.edu/admitted/visit/openhouses.html

– Follow all our new student blog posts – many directed at you all:
Hopkins Insider Twitter: http://twitter.com/HopkinsInsider

– Check out the new home page and amazing resource of:
Hopkins Interactive: http://www.hopkins-interactive.com

– Ask questions of current students and meet future classmates:
Admitted Students (Class of 2014) Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=355097536344

– Also ask questions and review numerous discussion about life at Hopkins:
Hopkins Forums – Admitted Student Thread: http://tinyurl.com/JHU2014forums

WE ARE HERE TO HELP!

As a sign-off, enjoy this student created video dedicated to the admitted Class of 2014:

Why Hopkins: current students’ perspectives from Hopkins Interactive on Vimeo.

WHY HOPKINS: Advice from Admissions Daniel

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Greetings blog readers. I am currently in quaint Andover, Massachusetts on what might be the most perfect weather day possible. The temperature is in the mid-70s, the sky is a perfect blue with only a few lonely clouds, and there is a nice constant, gentle breeze. No humidity, no threat of awful rain and thunderstorms, and no complaints about being too cold, too hot, or too anything. I am actually typing this entry while sitting on one of the many quads at Phillips Academy … it reminds me of my college days. I am here to attend a college fair to recruit students for the Classes of 2014 and beyond, but my purpose in writing this blog entry is to one last time try to help the admitted Class of 2013.

A month ago many of you who received the great news of your admission to Hopkins on March 27th. Some of you have made the easy and great decision to become a Johns Hopkins blue jay (Woo hoo!), while others have decided on going somewhere else (why are you still reading this blog then ???). But there is a third group of you out there … and those are the ones who are admitted yet undecided. The ones who are struggling with the ultimate decision of what college to attend It is this group that I write to currently. With the May 1st response deadline only days away, if you fall into this last group, you must be at the stage of pulling your hair out. I hope I can help.

Actually, I hope I have helped a bit so far. Since the release of decisions, I have posted a few blog entries under the title: WHY HOPKINS. If you have yet to read through these entries, I encourage you to do so, especially the one I posted last week that shared thoughts from current students. I also hope that you had the chance to visit campus for one of the Admitted Student Open Houses. And/Or I hope you have been using the Hopkins Forums and the Admitted Student Facebook Groupto learn as much as you can about JHU. Despite all of these resources, I know that some of your are still not ready to make that final decision.

For those of you who have yet to sign the bottom line of an enrollment form I know you don’t need to be reminded that May 1st – College Decision Day – is at the end of the week. You are probably feeling an overwhelming mix of anxiety, confusion, and hopefully a tinge of excitement too. Not sure if you should choose Johns Hopkins over any of the other elite schools you have been admitted to. Trying to imagine what your four years will be like in Baltimore or at University X, Institution Y, or College Z. Attempting to predict the “value” of the education you will get at each school. For many, this is the first major decision you will make in life, and though in the end it will not determine your future completely, it does matter. I commend you for taking your time and focusing your energies, but I also will ve quite parental and let you know it is time to make a decision. And they say “getting in” is the hardest part!

So how do you choose? How do you make this big decision? What is the right choice? All these questions are justified, but in the end it is you and you alone who has to make the choice. Choosing which college / university to attend is one of those life-altering decisions where you must weigh all the factors, big and small. This decision-making process challenges your ability to self analyze your personal priorities and preferences while forcing you to attempt to predict the next four years of your life. And not only does this choice impact those next four years, it will leave an eternal mark on you as the school becomes your alma mater and an important line on your resume.

I get that this last paragraph did not help and probably added to your level of stress, so let me see if I can be of assistance throughout the rest of this post. I have ten plus years of experience watching students just like all of you struggle with which school will be the right one. As well, way back when, I also struggled with making the Big Decision. It can be a daunting task but if you approach the decision-making process with an organized mind and game plan, you will find clarity and the right choice. Over the years, my advice for the admitted yet undecided falls into four categories:

I. Self-analysis and Research

The first thing you must do when approaching a Big Decision is to determine what is it you want/need and then research all the aspects behind the decision. You may have done one before, or avoided it like a plague these past few years, but a self-analysis can be quite helpful before deciding which college to attend. It is a good idea to re-consider those big questions you asked before, and it you didn’t do one, now is definitely the time. Ask yourself the big questions, and be honest with yourself when it comes to the answers:

• What kind of a school do I want to attend for four years? Location, atmosphere?
• What kind of student body am I looking for? Do I think I will mesh well with the current students?
• What kind of academic opportunities will be available to me as an undergraduate, and what am I actually looking for?
• Same question, but relate it to extracurricular opportunities. Which is more important to me – academics or social life or a mix of both?
• What about the professors? Are they accessible? Can I see myself learning from them? Do I want to learn from them?
• Will I be proud in four years to call myself an alumnus of the school?
• Will I / Can I make a difference?

If you visited your final choice schools it is probably easier to answer these questions with the certain schools in mind. If you didn’t visit, hopefully you did a lot of surfing on each school’s Web sites to gather as much information as possible. You may also want to create a ranking system for each question you ask of yourself and how each school measures up as well.

II. Pro / Con Lists

I can not emphasize this step enough. Make PRO/CON lists for each school you are considering. For some of you the thought of lists may be laughable, but take my word for it — they actually work. It is time for you to really start thinking about FIT. Write down the name of each school you are considering, then draw two columns under each school’s  name — one with a “+” and one with a “-”. Now start listing the strengths and weaknesses.

Not only is this the time where you can catalog your personal opinions about each school’s strengths and weaknesses, it also becomes a study in what characteristics you find most important. If you did a self-analysis, now is the perfect time to match your thoughts of what you want to your opinions about what each school has to offer. Location, size, friendliness, professors, extracurricular offerings, cost, academic opportunities, etc. — list everything from the most important detail to the most minute. Nothing is too ridiculous to be included on these lists, and actually the best thing is to keep these lists private so they remain lists of your own thoughts. Consider it a personal brain dump that in the end will bring clarity, focus, and the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. All in all, this is your compare and contrast system, and as I said it can really work.

III. Do Not Focus on Statistics and Rankings

Rankings and statistics can be helpful as you first start thinking about colleges and as you decide where to apply. In all honesty though, rankings are superficial at best when deciding which school to ultimately attend.

Seriously, statistical analysis should be kept to the process of choosing which schools to apply to. Throw US News out the window; ignore the numbers that can actually be manipulated to prove any point you want; avoid side-by-side number comparisons of schools. It is time to focus on the intangibles. The schools you have been admitted to are all fantastic and they will all offer you amazing opportunities if you have the initiative and drive (which you probably do). Numbers can not predict whether you will be happy for the next four years, whether you will be challenged, whether you will be stimulated. The top schools are all top schools – it now comes down to FIT, and a percentage, formula, or statistics can not determine FIT.

Just yesterday I was speaking with a student struggling to make his college decision and he was asking questions about acceptance rates and rankings. He actually told me he was probably going to choose the school that was ranked higher than JHU by U.S. News because of that ranking. When I inquired more he told me he enjoyed his visit to JHU immensely, even more than his visit to the “higher ranked” school. I finally had to ask what was the other school, and lo and behold it was a school ranked one spot higher than Hopkins. I then shared my green versus red apple, not apple versus orange metaphor and I think I finally got him to understand that you don’t choose your college because of an arbitrary ranking that is created by the news media to make money.

IV. Input From Others (Be Aware)

If you listen to anything I write, please listen to this — make sure to avoid hearsay, conjecture, myths, rumors – they often are far from the truth: Can I say this any louder? Each and every individual sees each and every college differently. Do your own research, get information directly from the source, and avoid the biased comments and come up with your personal thoughts. There is no cardinal rule that says if you read it or heard it, it must be 100% true. You need to filter through everything. (I hope you hear that College Confidential students!) Consider everything — both overly positive and overly  negative comments — with a grain of salt. And ultimately, your own personal conclusions are the ones to believe.

At Hopkins, we deal with myths and conjecture about our school way too much. If you are a frequent visitor to our blogs, message boards, or just speak with our students you will see that we are not only sick of these myths but can dispel them at every turn. And this is not just true about myths at Hopkins, many other elite schools are haunted by ridiculous and untrue myths. Make your own opinions and stick to them.

Clearly you need to talk with others about this decision, and your family should be the top of the list. Your college counselor or respected teacher is another great source. Friends can be helpful, but their advice could also be worth nothing. Make sure to gather information from the school’s themselves, check out their message boards or Facebook group — gather as much information as possible. Just do me one favor, don’t rely on anonymous sources.  Do not get hung up on myths, stereotypes, or other hearsay — filter through the information along with your own personal conclusions.

If all else fails …

Still confused? Still can’t make the decision?

If all else fails, listen to your gut! In the end, know one thing … once you make your final selection you have found the RIGHT SCHOOL. It is one of the hidden truths of the admissions process, once you commit you begin to mold your choice into the perfect school for you.College is what you make of it – go out there and be successful.

Best of luck!
And choose Johns Hopkins … wink, wink.

Why Hopkins: Let’s Hear from the Students

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Earlier this week was our third and final Admitted Student Open House and thankfully Mother Nature finally delivered some nice weather. During the first Open House on April 7th we dealt with 40 mph winds and 40 degree weather — actual snowflakes were seen in the afternoon. Then for the second Open House on April 14 we experienced torrential rain, high winds, and once again temperatures in the 40s. Thankfully we did not complete a trifecta of horrid weather days on April 21, as we had mostly sunny skies, and high 60 degree weather for the final Open House. In total for the three programs, we had record crowds, and almost universally positive praise for how the programs when (despite the weather and the crowds).

With the Open Houses done, and the end to our re-visit programs for admitted students, there is now a countdown until the May 1 decision deadline. As it stands now many of the admits have made their decision — great decision for those choosing to be part of the JHU Class of 2013. However, some of you still have decisions to make. With just one week left, I thought I would continue the WHY HOPKINS theme. I have two final posts in mind, this one where you get to hear from current students, and one final entry where I provide some last minute advice (expect that entry later this weekend).

During the month of April, I am a huge advocate in connecting the newly admitted students with current JHU students. I am a firm believer that to decide whether Hopkins is right for you, learning about it directly from your peers is the best way to make a decision. Earlier this month I actually asked all the Hopkins Interactive students to dedicate one of their blogs to the admitted students of the Class of 2013, and respond in general to the WHY HOPKINS question.

So, for those of you still on the fence … read these entries and hopefully it helps make the big decision a bit easier. And for those of you who have already chosen to become a blue jay, I suggest reading the entries too as it will just make you even more excited for Orientation and Move-In at the end of August.

[The titles of the blogs link to the entry, and the student's name links to their profile page.]
{The pictures throughout the entry were taken during the final Open House.}

Congrats, Class of 2013: Brian
“No matter what, you owe it to yourself to at least come and check us out! You did all that work on your application, your teachers wrote your recommendations, and because you’re awesome, the Admissions team decided to admit you!”

Whoo 2013!:Dominique
“Anywho, congrats! You’re the lucky ones out of 16,016 applicants that were admitted…I’d feel very happy if I were you. I know the process of choosing a college is hard, but here are some things to remember in the process…”

Congrats and My Story: Esther
“For many of you there will be a variety of institutions that have offered their services as well and now is the time to choose. Now it is time for you to admit a college into your life. The tables have been reversed and it is your turn to choose.”

Decisions, Decisions: Jackie
“Of course my favorite part of Hopkins is the people I have met while going to school.  I really have had a great time and can’t believe I am almost a senior.  College goes by so fast, I really am not exaggerating.”

An Ode to Hopkins: Jessica
“Looking back, Hopkins has gone beyond any path that I thought it would help me path. I cannot tell you what it would be like for you to attend another school, but I can tell you what Hopkins had done for me that has gone beyond my expectations.”

Lucky Ones: Josh
“So I’ve turned this blog into more of a how-to/advice column the past few weeks.  Why stop now?  But here I’m going to help those of you out there who were recently given the good (and/or bad) news about college.”

Looking Back, Would I Pick Hopkins Again?: Julia
“I guess there’s two ways to think about this.  Am I looking at this from the perspective that there are schools to which I did not apply that I would have applied to if I could do this again?  Or am I looking at this as if I have to choose between the same schools I got into four years ago? “

Don’t Worry: Kate
“Do whatever you need to do to arrive at a decision by the end of the month regarding your college selection. However, you don’t need to fret about the outcome. You’ll be fine in the end.”

Congratulations to all the Accepted Students: Laura
“I remember getting my Admissions letter in the mail; lets just say it was a great day; It was sunny, I was driving home Saturday afternoon after going shopping with my mom and getting new shoes, Hopkins was the ONLY school I hadn’t heard back from (and at that point probably my first choice), opening the mailbox and having a big package from Hopkins waiting for me. I screamed. It was wonderful.”

I heart Hopkins: Lauren B
“It made me think about my decision to come here. I think the most important thing is to just do whatever it is that will make you happy, and go to whatever school that may be. Concerned friends, parents, siblings, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc. are all very well and good, but at the end of the day, they won’t be the ones to attend Hopkins, you will (hopefully!).”

Remembering What Matters: Lauren C
“Choosing which college you attend is a big decision and this may sound cliche, but as long as you make sure you’re following your heart {and your budget!}, you will do fine.”

congrats to the class of 2013: Mandy
“I guess a good place to start would be why I first chose Johns Hopkins University.  After all, I am from North Carolina and there are many fine institutions close to home.  Part of it was that I wanted to get away from home.  Just a little bit.  A six-hour drive/one-hour flight is perfect for me.  I loved Baltimore.  And the Orioles.”

“Don’t worry, you were always out, Looking towards the future”: Peter
“Ok, well, I’m off to go enjoy the warm weather outside. I hope everyone enjoys themselves, and remember: Wherever you choose to attend, enjoy your time there. College is a life-changing thing (cliché, I know), so make the best out of your time at school, even if it wasn’t your dream school.”

So What Now?:Rohit
“Visiting college campuses sealed the deal, and so if you have the time, I would definitely recommend coming to visit now that you’re in. If you’re going to pledge yourself somewhere for the next 4 years, shouldn’t you visit first?”

Oh Hopkins, My Hopkins . . .: Roxi
“And it is from that perspective that I’m going to write. Not as someone who was super sure and hell bent on going to Hopkins, but as someone who had to discover for herself why Hopkins was ultimately the right choice and what it has afforded me.”

As We Go On . . .: Saznin
“I could enumerate all of the great things about Hopkins, but nothing is more convincing than coming here and experiencing it for yourself. I can only hope that it will make as strong of a good impression on you as it did on me.”

Where to Now?- Tanmay
“Right now, many of you all are in the same situation that I am in, trying to decided where to spend the next four (or in my case, at least 7) years of our lives. I was in the same situation as well four years ago, trying to decided what college I thought would be my best choice. “

Hopkins Galore - Wafa
“One of the most difficult decisions you will ever make is where you choose to attend college, but it also one of the most exciting. Choosing where you go to college is not just deciding where you want to study and learn, but live, grow, thrive and become the person that you want to be.”

In addition to these blog entries, I recommend the following message board threads from the Hopkins Forums:

Why I chose to attend Hopkins? Top five reasons

A Letter to Yourself – Before Coming to Hopkins, Looking back,what advice would you give?

Of All The Things You’ve Learned …

Why Hopkins: Because we LipDub, Of Course

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As promised in the last entry, the next few blog posts are all going to focus on the question … WHY HOPKINS? I hope many of the admitted students were able to answer that question after last Tuesday's first Spring Welcome Open House. The rest of you, I hope will be able to attend one of the other two Open Houses on either April 14 or April 21. And remember, to read Cheryl J.'s Top 10: Reasons to Attend a Spring Welcome Open Houseto pre-plan your visit day.

Today's WHY HOPKINS reason is a simple one … because the students and Admissions staff love to LipDub. Enough said … let the video play.

Special thanks to Vampire Weekend for the song "Campus" — go download it on iTunes right now. Thanks to our Director, Producer, and Mastermind Josh G. – Film and Media Studies sophomore.

For those unaware of what a LipDub is, read this Wikipedia article. Basically:

A lip dub is a type of video that combines lip synching and audio dubbing to make a music video. It is made by filming individuals or a group of people lip synching while listening to a song or any recorded audio then dubbing over it in post editing with the original audio of the song. There is often some form of mobile audio device used such as an iPod. Often, they look like simple music videos, although many involve a lot of preparation and are well produced. The most popular lip dubs are done in a single unedited shot that often travels through different rooms and situations in, say, an office building.

For us, our LipDub was just a way to have fun after the release of decision letters. We hope you enjoyed it, and got to see how clever and unique Hopkins students can be. (If you want to watch a truly amazing LipDub, click here.)

More meaningful WHY HOPKINS reasons to come soon.

Actually, let me finish by sharing with you one other video that shows Hopkins students having fun. Here is a video that just came to my attention of a greek life event last week:

Top 10: Reasons to Attend a Spring Welcome Open House Program (April 7, 14, or 21)

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Note from Admissions Daniel: Over the next few week, I will be posting Hopkins Insider blog entries with the common theme of “Why Hopkins!” I know not everyone visiting the blog right now is an admitted student to the Class of 2013, but for me and my colleagues that group of students is the primary focus for the month of April. So as the admitted students make the big decision, I hope the upcoming blogs can play some role in helping you all to make the right decision … which is obviously to come to Hopkins.

To start the “Why Hopkins” run I turn to an amazing colleague, our Special Events Planner Cheryl Janowsky, to pen a guest entry about our Spring Welcome Open House Programs for admitted students. With all sincerity, if you want to figure out whether Hopkins is the right place for you, attend one of these events.

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Admissions Staff Member:Cheryl Janowsky, Special Events Planner

Territory: As event planner for the office, my territory is anywhere and everywhere a Johns Hopkins University Undergraduate Admissions event may be held … on-campus for an Open House, or off-campus in your hometown.

Johns Hopkins Start Date: January 2003

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Congratulations again on your admittance into the Johns Hopkins University class of 2013! I’m sure by now you’ve carefully studied every detail on every piece of paper mailed to you in your admit packet. Chances are you and your families are already planning your trip to Baltimore this spring for one of our three Open House programs—Tuesday, April 7, 14, or 21. We are ready and waiting for your arrival! These full-day Open Houses are designed for you to experience the Johns Hopkins’ community firsthand, and to help you answer the question, “Is Johns Hopkins right for you?”  We hope after your visit, that you will say “YES!”

As the special events planner here in Admissions, I have the insider’s scoop on what to expect during the Open Houses. When you get to campus, I encourage you and your family to carefully examine your program and attend as many events as possible throughout the day. There are plenty of options to choose—from student forums, to residence hall tours, to academic presentations with faculty. It’s up to you to pick and choose how you want to spend your day. I’ve pulled together a highlights list to give you a sample of what’s in store for you when you arrive on campus.

10. Meet the staff.
Chances are the person who will hand you your Welcome packet at the Open House registration already knows you—or at least recognizes your name and your hometown. We’ve followed your progress from an applicant to an admitted student. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions staff has answered your phone calls, read your application file, written the text for your invitation, and planned your visit to campus. We love seeing your faces on campus and we can’t wait to meet you this April.

9. Welcome presentation in Shriver Hall.
Arrive early. Registration officially starts at 9:00 a.m. After grabbing your muffin and coffee, make your way into the Auditorium because you don’t want to miss the opening program. This half hour prepares you for the rest of your day on campus. It’s the only time all visitors will be together in one location. After the Welcome, the rest of your jam-packed day is of your choosing. In addition to important announcements and a few words from Dean of Admissions John Latting, you might be lucky enough to get a glimpse our new president, Ronald J. Daniels.

8. Department visits by major.
Offered twice during the day, at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., these academic presentations will give you an overview of most majors and minors offered at Johns Hopkins. Whether you are interested in Writing Seminars, Public Health Studies, or Electrical & Computer Engineering, we’ve got you covered. Faculty will share details about each course of study and answer your questions. Here’s your chance to explore academic options you may not have originally considered.

7. Class Visits.
In case you haven’t learned enough about academics at Hopkins yet, you’ll have an opportunity to sit in on a class anytime throughout the day during the Open House. Selected courses will be open for auditing. For a complete schedule, consult the course visitation booklet that will be included in your welcome packet. If you do plan on attending a class, prepare to arrive at least five minutes before the posted start time of the class and introduce yourself to the professor. Then sit back, take notes, and learn with your future peers.

6. Lunch.
Yes, lunch is a highlight. Not just because you will be hungry from traipsing all across campus, but also because during lunch you have the opportunity to eat with current Johns Hopkins students. You and your family can sit down and have an informal chat. Ask candid questions and find out what you really want to know about life as a Johns Hopkins student. Lunch is offered from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., so you’ll have plenty of time to fit it into your schedule. You’ll get a meal pass when you register that will tell you what times are available.

5. Explore the Homewood campus and surrounding neighborhood.
Campus is alive and in full bloom. Spring is beautiful in Baltimore. Classes are in session. Students are “studying” out on the quads. There is flexibility with the Open House schedule that allows you the freedom to plan your own day. Check out the Recreation Center. Stop by the bookstore located in the Charles Commons. Grab a coffee from a local café. You will be able to spend the entire day on campus and start to picture yourself here come next fall. Feel free to ask staff their favorite places to visit on campus or in the neighborhood.

4. Student Life and Academic and Career Advising Forums.
There are two forums offered during the day, Student Life at 11:15 a.m. and Academic and Career Advising at 2:00 p.m. We’ve hand selected experts to sit on a panel to discuss what they know best. Current students will discuss housing, activities, freshman year…basically, any topic you want them to cover. You are the ones asking the questions. In the afternoon, directors from the Career Center, Academic Advising, and Pre-Professional Advising will help you understand how their offices guide you through the advising process at Johns Hopkins. They are the experts in their field—ask them about internship opportunities, jobs after graduation, getting into law school, double majoring, etc.

3. Housing Tours.
It’s possible that you are a regular follower of Hopkins Interactive. Which means that you seen plenty of the Hopkins’ students “cribs” online. However, nothing beats the real thing. One of the top highlights of the admitted student Open Houses are the Housing Tours. Even if you have already visited campus before, chances are, you haven’t seen a dorm room. You want to see for yourself where you might be sleeping and studying next year. We know. That’s why selected residence halls will be open for viewing throughout the day. Tour one, or tour all three! You’ll collect a special “JHU” sticker after each tour to keep track of your adventures.

2. Student Activities and Services Exposition.
The Expo is one of the last events scheduled for the Open House, but you don’t want to miss it. Trust me. Campus dining, study abroad, athletics and recreation…Animation club, Ultimate Frisbee club, Student Government, the Hopkins Symphony Orchestra. Representatives from over forty student groups and student services are gathered in one space to meet you, recruit you, and to answer all of your questions. This event is held at 3:15 p.m. in the Fresh Foods Café, the freshman dining hall. Even though you won’t get a chance to eat at Fresh Foods, we want you to see this amazing space. So you’ll definitely want to stick around until the end of the day and check out where you’ll be eating your meals when you come to campus next fall.

1. Meet the Bloggers.
You’ve seen their photos online. You’ve read their blogs. Now is your chance to meet the bloggers in person! Hopkins Interactive students will be available all day to discuss their personal experiences. In the morning, they’ll be handing out “A Blue Jay’s View: An Insider’s Guide to Johns Hopkins”. This is an awesome publication they’ve put together to help you prepare for your transition to becoming a Blue Jay. H.I. students will be available during the lunch hour at Levering Plaza to answer questions, help you if you are lost, give you some candy. At the end of the Open House, you’ll get your last chance to meet the bloggers. After the Expo, Hopkins Interactive students will be stationed on your path back to the parking garage at Mason Hall to bid you a final farewell. Not to worry, they’ll be back online as if you think of more questions once you get back home.

This is not a complete list; there are many aspects to the Open House program not highlighted here. We need to keep some surprise element for when you arrive! No matter which day you visit, April 7, 14, or 21, the Admissions staff is very excited to meet you and your families and help you to have the best visit possible!