Making the Choice to Apply Early Decision

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The Early Decision Deadline is right around the corner, 15 days away to be exact. So, how do you make the decision on whether or not you should apply Early? What are the pros and cons of going through this process? And, of course, why make that commitment to Hopkins? Hopefully the answers to some of these questions will help point you in the right direction!

-How do you make the decision as to whether or not you should apply Early to Johns Hopkins?

                I think my colleague John Birney says it best—Early Decision is when we admit “our cheerleaders.” By cheerleaders, he doesn’t mean actual cheerleaders, rather students who love this place—they already own their Hopkins sweatshirt, go crazy when people call it John Hopkins, and are counting down the days till orientation. However, more than that, these students have really done their homework. They know about our academic programs and want to attend an institution where they can combine a liberal arts education with an emphasis on research. They know about student and campus life, and are excited about the prospect of going to school in the city of Baltimore. Perhaps most importantly, they know that Johns Hopkins is a FIT for them, and that it goes two ways—they’ve done the research to know that they’re a good fit for our campus community, and they know that they have a lot to offer us. So, if Johns Hopkins is your number one choice—if you feel strongly that we’re the school for you and you’re the kind of student who knows you can make an impact here, in and outside of the classroom—and you are willing to make the commitment, then Early Decision is the way to go.

                You should NOT apply ED just to play the “number game.” Yes, it’s true—there are fewer students who apply ED and our acceptance rate is higher during this time. However, that does not mean our standards and what we are looking for in our students is any different. We still conduct a holistic review and focus on all aspects of the applicant, both inside and outside the classroom, and the profiles of students admitted Early Decision are nearly identical to our Regular Decision admitted students.

 

-What are the pros of applying ED?

The deadline is sooner, so you will have your decision sooner. Since applications are due on November 1, we let students know of their decision by December 15. The turn-around here is much quicker than the Regular Decision process because we have fewer applicants. If you are admitted in ED, you’ve found your home and can focus on the rest of your senior year (yes, we will do a final transcript check!) If you are deferred or denied, you still have time to apply to other institutions.

We are looking at a smaller applicant pool. While we are still looking for the same qualities in our prospective students, there are far fewer applicants in ED. Last year, we had 1,300+ applicants in the Early Decision pool versus 19,000+ applicants in the Regular Decision pool.

You are making a statement. As we evaluate applicants, we are looking for students who are going to embrace being a Blue Jay and take advantage of all aspects of both academic and campus life. By signing the Early Decision Agreement, you are telling us that you are that person and clearly interested in being a part of our community.

-What are the cons of applying ED?

You cannot compare financial aid packages from different institutions. The reality is that you need to make sure that this is a feasible option for you. Fill out the financial aid calculator, talk to the Financial Aid Office, and look at your financing options.  If you don’t feel comfortable or want to see what other schools have to offer, your best bet is to apply Regular Decision so you can see what all schools have to offer. (This doesn’t mean that Financial Aid is limited for Early Decision admitted students—your aid package would be the same in December as it would be in April if nothing else has changed.)

The agreement is binding. Therefore, you cannot change your mind. Many students have visited campus, had contact with students and faculty members, knew someone that went to JHU, etc. If you have not had the opportunity to do this, are you sure you want to make that commitment?

It is a commitment. By applying ED to Johns Hopkins, you may not apply ED to any other university, and you’re agreeing that, if you’re admitted to Johns Hopkins, you’ll immediately remove your Early Action or Regular Decision applications from any other schools to which you’ve applied.

It offers less time to show senior-year improvement. Maybe you struggled in a class last semester, or you’re just getting back on track after a slight academic decline.  Because all of your transcripts and information for ED needs to be submitted by November 1, you have less of an opportunity to show any improvements that happen in between November and January, when Regular Decision applications would be due. Some students will benefit from having the additional time to show an upward trend during their senior year through their mid-year grades.

 

For more details about applying ED and a list of FAQ, visit http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/faq_early.html.

 

-Why would a student commit to Johns Hopkins in particular?

Well, I think it is best to hear from the students themselves! Here are some statements from current students as to why they chose to apply ED and how they knew they wanted Hopkins to be their home for the next four years.

 

Ashley Adams
Hometown: Montclair, New Jersey
High School: Immaculate Heart Academy
Major: Psychology

As a high school junior, my parents couldn’t keep me from making the three hour drive to Hopkins at every chance I had. Sure, I used the excuse that I was going to visit my older brother, a Hopkins freshman at the time, but I was mainly interested in learning more and more about the school at which I could already envision myself. During these visits I spoke with so many current students, attended classes, and absorbed so much about the daily (and night!) life of a Hopkins student that by the time I was ready to apply, there was no doubt in my mind– I had found the school with the best balance between stimulating academic opportunities and the ability to have a fun-filled college experience. I applied Early Decision that November, and could tell you with confidence, even then, that Hopkins was the place where my unique interests were going to grow and be fostered while being surrounded by an inspiring community of peers.

 

Ian Han
Hometown: La Jolla, California
High School: La Jolla Country Day
Majors: Film and Media Studies and Public Health
Minors: Entrepreneurship and Management

Early Decision might not be for everybody but it was the clear choice for me. After meeting my admissions counselor at my high school, the wonderful Shannon Miller, and a remarkable tour of the Homewood campus, I knew Hopkins was a fit. Not only could I see myself there for the next four years, but I could see myself succeeding on campus. I had gone on so many college tours and trips that they all started to blur together. Hopkins was the one that stuck out. A huge part of my connection to Hopkins came from speaking to a few faculty members. I sat down with one professor who was so passionate about her subject; she was physically excited while talking about it. I met another one who literally wrote the gold standard textbook in his subject. The fact that you are learning directly from professors who are enthusiastic and committed to their subject is infectious.

 

Aniqua Tasnim
Hometown:  Rockville, Maryland
High School: Wootton High School
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: English

I applied ED because as soon as I stepped on campus, everything felt right. The expanses of grass and the beautiful brick buildings, the coziness and simultaneously openness of the campus, and all the people that smiled at me as they walked by—I knew instantly that I wanted to spend the next four years here. Then, when I met current students at the overnight, it was really inspiring to meet so many people that were so excited about what they do here at Hopkins and that enthusiasm was really infectious.

 

Andrea Fields
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
High School: Saint Ann’s School
Majors: Biology and Writing Seminars

Applying early to Hopkins for me was honestly like one of those sappy romance movies where the main character meets the man of her dreams and just automatically falls in love; that’s how I felt when I came to Hopkins.  I didn’t think I wanted to apply at first because I’d heard some stereotypes of the school being competitive but after I came and visited the summer before my senior year and did a little more research I realized it was literally the perfect place for me.  On the train ride home I decided I was going to apply early and it was probably one of the best decisions I’ve made.  I had this weird feeling that this was the place I belonged and even after I visited a ton of other schools, no other place felt nearly as right.  After a little over a year of being here, I know I’ve made the right choice and any stereotype I had heard before visiting is completely wrong.  I can’t think of any other place that has as strong academics, as amazing people who have become my best friends, and as great opportunities, like being able to tell prospective students on tours all about what an incredible university Johns Hopkins is.  Now, whenever my tours ask me how I knew I wanted to come to Hopkins I always give the same response: “No pressure, but after I came on my tour, I literally fell in love.”

 

Brittany Tusing
Hometown: Edensburg, Pennsylvania
High School: Central Cambria High School
Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology
Minor: French Cultural Studies

I spent the first half of my life in Europe, going to International schools and travelling everywhere I could’ve imagined. I was actually sick of going to London, which seems crazy now. When I was 9, my parents decided to move our family closer to their parents in western Pennsylvania, to a town nobody has ever heard of. Most of my new friends thought Belgium was a city in Germany. Though I have learned to appreciate the small-town atmosphere, familiarity, and safety my little Ebensburg provides, until college it was stifling. Most of the high school graduates in my town who go to college (around 60%) stay in the western Pennsylvania area, so it was a really big deal to me to apply to such a prestigious school. But when I visited Hopkins, I was immediately brought back to my international school days, where I felt comfort in the amount of diversity and opportunity I saw. So after my tour of Hopkins, my Dad and I sat in a restaurant on St. Paul Street. I couldn’t remember what the campus looked like or any of the figures the tour guide had provided, but all I could think about was how I had no idea what I would do if I didn’t get in.

 

Kimmy Hilson
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
High School: McDonogh School
Major: Sociology
Minor: Entrepreneurship and Management

When I visited Hopkins the summer before my senior year, I immediately knew that JHU and Baltimore was where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life — I loved everything about it. Growing up in Baltimore, I had always had great affection towards the city…but since I’ve been at Hopkins and exploring Baltimore on my own (with friends, too), I’ve really seen firsthand all of the charm of “Charm City.” The ability to play sports in college was also something that was extremely important to me, especially since I had played a team sport for nearly my entire life. Because all sports (minus lacrosse!) at JHU are division 3 sports, I was able to pursue additional interests off of the field. The well-rounded college experience that I have had at Hopkins has been amazing, and applying ED was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!

 

Michelle Edelson
Hometown: New York, New York
High School: Hunter College High School
Major: Psychology
Minor: Entrepreneurship & Management

I decided to apply Early Decision because of the sense of community I felt during my very first visit to Hopkins in the spring of my junior year. After walking around campus for less than a day, I immediately felt the sense of belonging I always wanted to find in a college or university. It didn’t take long for me and my mom to realize Hopkins was the perfect school for me. My fall senior year visit only confirmed my choice to apply ED after interviewing and staying overnight and having the opportunity to interact with current students. Aside for the student body and the community aspect of Hopkins, what really sold me on the university is the amazing opportunities that Hopkins offers to its students, which I have definitely taken advantage of since I arrived freshman fall. Now two years after I applied, I look back at my process and confidently say that apply Early Decision to Hopkins was the greatest decision of my life and that I have never been happier!

 

Alessandra Bautze
Hometown: Arlington, Massachusetts
High School: Arlington High School
Majors: Writing Seminars and Film and Media Studies

I was drawn to Johns Hopkins for many reasons, particularly the strength of the Writing Seminars program. I visited JHU in the spring of my sophomore year of high school and then returned in October of my senior year for a special Open House and Overnight Visit program for students considering Early Decision. I took a 6 AM flight down from Boston, went to an interview that afternoon, and spent the night in Charles Commons, hosted by a current student. Applying Early Decision to Hopkins was definitely the right decision for me. It allowed me to demonstrate my passionate interest in the school. I will never forget December 15, 2009 when I received my acceptance e-mail. My dream had come true. As a junior who has found a community of like-minded individuals, and a true home at Homewood, I am still living the dream. The experiences I have had and the people I have met here have helped shape me into the person I am today. And it all started with a dream.  If you feel in your heart that you are meant to be a Blue Jay, then there’s no reason not to apply Early Decision

As these testimonials show, there are many factors that go into a student’s choice whether or not to apply ED and it becomes a personal choice based on what’s best for you. If you think  Johns Hopkins could be your home for the next four years and ED might be a good option, talk it over with your family and college counselor, or spend some time looking at our ED FAQ. We hope this has been a helpful discussion for you!

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.

Would you like $10K to do your own research?

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As I write the title of this blog I realize that it is eerily similar to the subject line of emails that typically end up in my SPAM folder. Trust me, this is not SPAM, and in fact if you are a current undergraduate applicant to Johns Hopkins University or planning to apply in the future this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on. The $10,000 for conducting your own research that I am referring to is the Woodrow Wilson Undergraduate Research Fellowship that freshmen applicants to Johns Hopkins University are eligible to apply for. Details on applying can be found here: http://apply.jhu.edu/wilson/wilson_form_2011.html.

The Woodrow Wilson fellowship is one of the unique opportunities at Johns Hopkins University that I always enjoy speaking to prospective students and families about for a number of reasons. First, people often have never heard of it. Second, the idea of funding research, especially for first-year students, represents the vision of the university so well. And third, the various Wilson projects are some of the best stories to tell about Hopkins students and their achievements. Just in the past few years, Wilson research fellows have:

• Written, produced and directed a full-length play that enjoyed a successful run in Chicago.
• Investigated female circumcision and obstetric fistula in Africa
• Researched the potential uses of adult neural stem cells
• Traced the iconography of an unclassified tile from the Archaeological Museum
• Explored the viability of high speed rail systems in the U.S.
• Studied gene expression in Down syndrome
• Filmed a documentary about the Jewish community of Malta
• Analyzed the rise of megachurches in the U.S. and the U.K.
• Investigated the causes of childhood blindness
• Explored the history of Baroque music and original Baroque instruments
• Studied the best practices of organ donation around the world
• Compared maternal and neonatal health in the U.S. and India

What might you have in mind? The specifics: the fellowship is a $10,000 stipend over four years to spend on research costs, which may include travel, equipment, and use of archives or laboratories. Students are assigned a faculty mentor to help as they select a topic, create an action plan, and pursue their research project. Fellows may choose to work within one field or undertake projects in diverse areas of study. In their senior year, Fellows publicly present their work to the Johns Hopkins community.

The Woodrow Wilson Fellowship website has extensive information about the program and the accomplishments of past fellows: http://krieger.jhu.edu/woodrowwilson/. I encourage checking out the following pages:

• Woodrow Wilson Fellows in the News: http://krieger.jhu.edu/woodrowwilson/news/
• A selection of completed projects over the past few years: http://krieger.jhu.edu/woodrowwilson/completed/
• Completed posters from the Class of 2011 Fellows: http://krieger.jhu.edu/woodrowwilson/completedposters/

This is truly a unique opportunity and one not replicated at other colleges and universities. Don’t take my word for it though. I asked a few current Fellows I know well to speak on what the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship means to them and their connection to Johns Hopkins University:

Tess Thomas – Sophomore (Class of 2014) – History major
I think I would have ended up at Hopkins even if I hadn’t been offered the Woodrow Wilson Research Fellowship, but it certainly made my decision an easy one. Who could pass up the allure of $10,000 to be spent on any project of your choosing? Additionally, the fact that this fellowship is not limited to student studying the natural sciences confirmed for me the university’s commitment to the humanities.  I couldn’t believe that as an intended history major I had been offered this amazing opportunity. I am planning to use my funding to study the effects of the 2012 Olympics on British nationalism. My research is taking me to London this upcoming summer—a trip that is completely covered by the Wilson Fellowship. The WWP has allowed me to combine two life-long dreams of mine: studying abroad and attending an Olympic Games.

Noah Guiberson – Sophomore (Class of 2014) – Biology, Neuroscience majors
For my Wilson, I am currently working with a post-doc at the School of Medicine, doing research in neuroprotection and studying the mechanism and consequences of a particular microRNA’s over-expression and knockout. What we’ve found thus far is that when the gene is over-expressed, excitotoxic cell death in a hippocampal stroke model is diminished by as much as half compared to the control. Another interest that I intend to pursue as a Wilson Fellow is the use of optogenetic techniques in the treatment of cancer, and the development of tumor-specific delivery mechanisms. The Wilson Fellowship provides me with the funding I need to conduct my research, as well as the mentorship and administrative support I need in order to conduct it most effectively.

Ruthie Chen – Freshman (Class of 2015) – English, Spanish majors
The Woodrow Wilson Fellowship definitely played a significant role in my decision to attend Hopkins. After meeting some senior Fellows at SOHOP in April and hearing about their current research endeavors, I realized that this fellowship was truly unique in the breadth and variety of opportunities that are so readily available to us. I was particularly struck by the passion and sense of academic and personal fulfillment that each Fellow shared. From tracking an archaeological tile to Tunisia to studying the international reception of The Great Gatsby in various European countries, the research projects are so intensely varied and intriguing that, as a freshman, I’m still a little overwhelmed by how many different avenues I can pursue in my next four years as a Wilson Fellow.

If you want even more information about the Woodrow Wilson Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, here are additional links:

• JHU Gazette article from this past spring about 2011 Woodrow Wilson fellows presenting their findings: http://gazette.jhu.edu/2011/04/25/at-journey%E2%80%99s-end/
• Former Hopkins Interactive student blogger JHU_MichelleB and 2008 graduate details the finale of her Woodrow Wilson fellowship: http://hopkins.typepad.com/michelleb/2008/04/woodrow-wilson.html
• A 2010 graduate of the Krieger School of Arts & Sciences and current student at the School of Advanced International Studies, Nicole Overley discusses her Wilson project researching “the comparative impacts of monopolistic versus competitive religious ‘economies’ in the US and the UK:” http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/guest/2011/04/my-five-years-at-hopkins-from-homewood-to-sais/
• Class of 2011 Biology graduate Neha Deshpande discusses her Wilson research and Intersession experiences in India: http://blogs.hopkins-interactive.com/guest/2010/04/best-of-the-guest-blog-vi-intersession-in-india/

Don’t miss out on your chance to get a lot of money to establish yourself as a bona fide researcher.

Summer in Baltimore: So Many Options for Hopkins Students

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After final exams and graduation in May, students head home to take a break from the school year. Some will vacation and visit friends, while others will work. Some will volunteer, while others will study abroad.  For a few short weeks, campus is quiet. The quads are bare, the dining halls are empty, and only a handful of guests come to the visitor center for information sessions and tours. Then, with the start of June, things really pick up. While we have many high school students on campus taking classes through our various Summer Programs or the Center for Talented Youth (CTY), participating in Engineering Innovation, or attending one of our athletic camps, we also have many current undergraduates that return for a variety of different reasons. Whether it is to take a class, work, participate in an internship, or just hang around, there are many things to do both at Johns Hopkins and in Baltimore for the summer.

Since I am in charge of student workers in the office and also oversee the tour guides, I get to chat with a lot of students about all of the great opportunities available to them. Here are some students who are really taking advantage of their summers:

Jessie – Class of 2013 – studying Behavioral Biology from Phoenix, AZ
Currently, Jessie is tackling the second summer session of Organic Chemistry. Since she heard the course was a pretty difficult one, she decided to take it in now so she could really focus on the topic. While it can be a bit intense because it is so fast paced, she is happy that she can get it out of the way and not have to worry about it during the school year. On top of taking Orgo, she has also been working in admissions, giving tours, and conducting interviews for our office. When I asked Jessie what she liked about being in Baltimore during the summer, she said:

“One of my favorite things about being in Baltimore is the food! The restaurant scene here is awesome, and it’s so fun trying new restaurants and learning about great deals on great food. My friends and I recently discovered RA Sushi happy hour and we’re able to get really good sushi for pretty cheap (The Las Vegas Roll is probably the best sushi ever!). Plus going downtown is fun because you’re able to get off campus and explore more places around Baltimore like the Inner Harbor, Harbor East, and Fell’s Point. Restaurant Week is coming up soon and I’m excited about being able to try even more great restaurants.”

Jessie has also managed to make it to Philadelphia for the 4^th of July with her sister and to Washington, DC, where she has not only obtained her visa for her study abroad program next semester in Madrid, but also visited Georgetown Cupcake which is featured in the show “DC Cupcakes”!

Corey – Class of 2012 – studying Political Science from Cedar Grove, NJ
While Corey did not take classes like Jessie this summer, he has certainly taken advantage of several job opportunities. Similar to Jessie, he has been an office intern, giving tours and interviews and assisting with daily office tasks. In addition, at the beginning of this week, he started a four-week internship in Washington, DC, working for Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama. Since he can take the train from Baltimore to DC, he will be living in Baltimore and commuting each day to his new job.  Through this internship, he is hoping to make some great connections that will help him after graduation as he looks for a job and eventually heads to law school (he hopes to go to school in Alabama where some of his family is from!) In addition to working, Corey is also a soccer player at Hopkins. To keep in shape, he says,:

“As an athlete with a season in the fall, most of my summer is dedicated to training hard for the season. I run and lift six days a week with some of my fellow teammates who are also living in Baltimore for the summer. Our main goal is to pass our fitness test on the first night of preseason, which happens to take place at midnight. In order to pass, I have to complete a 300 yard shuttle (10 yards back…20 back…30 back…40 back…50 back) in 58 seconds with a two minute rest, ten times. We try to play some pickup games as much as possible on Homewood Field when our schedules allow it. The start of preseason is coming up soon (August 19th), but we all are doing our best to get better every day so we can take part in the NCAA tournament again.”

Richard – Class of 2013 – studying Public Health from Accra, Ghana
As one of our international students, Richard decided to not to go home this summer, and has stayed on campus to work and learn more about the city. As a tour guide, he walks around families every morning at 11am (if you visit at this time, Richard may be your guide!) Also on campus, he has been working with WJHU radio to paint, move furniture, and fix up the studio for the fall semester. During the school year, he actually has his own show! To learn more about the city, Richard has gone to concerts with friends and joined the Baltimore Beach Volleyball League in the Inner Harbor. He plays 2 vs. 2 on Thursdays with some of his friends who play on his club team here at Hopkins. For the 4^th of July, he headed out on the Chesapeake Bay to see the fireworks. He said:

“The highlight of my summer by a long shot was watching my first 4^th of July fireworks show in front of the Chesapeake. The largest fireworks show up until that point was one at Spring Fair and although that one was great, it wasn’t even in the same league as the 30-minute extravaganza I witnessed on the Bay.”

As you can see, summers at Johns Hopkins can be full of new experiences. Students really do make the most of their time on campus and in the city!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Advice From Recent College Search Survivors

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Posted by Admissions_Daniel

Those of you who have frequented this blog for a while now probably know that one of the things I am most passionate about is the students who volunteer for me. I am the staff adviser to the Student Admissions Advisory Board (SAAB), a group of 28 current students ranging from freshmen to seniors and covering a wide range of academic interests and extracurricular pursuits. These students are admissions volunteers who spend many hours weekly managing and providing the vast majority of the content to the Hopkins Interactive Web site. As the site describes, Hopkins Interactive and SAAB are:

Hopkins Interactive is a social media Web site designed to enable prospective and admitted students to Johns Hopkins to connect with the University by offering them open, uncensored information about student life on campus and in Baltimore. How, you may ask, can we do this? The content featured on the Hopkins Interactive site is entirely created by current Johns Hopkins students’ specifically the members of the Student Admissions Advisory Board (SAAB). These student volunteers represent the student voice of Johns Hopkins and are open and excited to share their experiences with interested, applying, admitted, and enrolling students. Through blogs, message boards, Twitter, Facebook, videos, an Insider’s Guide publication, and an ever-growing list of other projects, the SAAB students strive to provide a clear picture of Hopkins by dispelling myths, answering questions, and providing direction to further resources.

Hopkins Interactive and SAAB have grown exponentially since their launch five years ago, and the greatest successes I have seen in my 12 years in higher education all relate to these projects. If you don’t know about Hopkins Interactive and the amazing work the SAAB students do, you really need to check out their student blogs, their message boards, their unique videos (including Hopkins Cribs), their tweets, their insider’s guide publication, and the one-of-a-kind Academics Blog. You can also meet all 28 students, review their profiles, and ask them direct questions here: http://apply.jhu.edu/studentlife/meet.html.

The reason I bring up the great work of SAAB and my affinity of all things Hopkins Interactive related is this: about a month ago, the SAABers started an interesting project that I wanted to share with you. Every Wednesday from 6:00–7:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room of Mason Hall, the 28 SAAB students and I gather to discuss projects and brainstorm new ideas. I look forward to these 90 minutes each week as I am always amazed at the creative outcomes of these discussions. Back in October, the idea to have each of the SAAB bloggers write about their experiences with the college search arose. The idea expanded to not only include a look back on each of their experiences with the college application process and how they ended up at Johns Hopkins, but that each blogger could also provide some advice to the prospective students who would follow in their footsteps.

To me this was a brilliant idea for two main reasons. First, the college search and admissions process has changed so dramatically over the years that in reality current college students could probably provide better advice on navigating the process than Admissions counselors like myself. My college search was nearly 20 years ago when there was no such thing as the Internet, no Common Application, and U.S. News & World Report was known for articles on, well U.S. and international news. (I know, shocking!) The second reason is that nowadays teenagers often find more value in the opinions of their peers than authority figures. It does shock me a bit how this generation questions nearly everything an official might say, but anonymous remarks on a “confidential” web site carry much more weight and importance. For these reasons, and for the fact that I thought it would be fun for the SAAB students to write the entries and enjoyable for me to read them, I approved this common blog project.

Just last weekend the last of the entries were posted, and I thought I would share them with you. With just one month to go until the Regular Decision application deadline, and only about two weeks left until the release of Early Decision notifications, I hope you enjoy reading the thoughts and advice of some dedicated and talented Johns Hopkins students.

SENIORS
Mandy S.: “How Hopkins Happened”
– A public health senior from Cary, NC, reflects on her college admission process, with the unique perspective of both applying to law schools and working in the Johns Hopkins Admissions office.

Josh G: “May the Force be with you”
– A film and media studies senior from Park Ridge, NJ, discusses what the college admission process is similar to as well as what it is not related to.

Lauren C: “Applying to Hopkins: The Interview”
– A Writing Seminars and film and media studies double major from Westmont, NJ, considers the college interview from both her experiences applying to schools, as well as from the perspective as a student interviewer for the Admissions Office.

Jessica: “Revert, Run Away, Repeat”
– A public health studies senior from Tenafly, NJ, shares her thought process about applying to college and offers advice to keep you calm during your application process.

JUNIORS
Peter C: “Want you to see everything, want you to see all of the lights”
– A mechanical engineering junior from Wakefield, MA, discusses his unlikely path to Johns Hopkins (including applications to art schools!). Hopkins might not have been his first choice, but he’s very happy with the choice he made.

Dominique D: “Off the Wall”
– A public health studies junior from Baltimore, MD, explains why she chose the schools she was interested in, how she dealt with applying to them, and what led her to Hopkins.

Lauren B: “How Did I End Up Here? Reflections on the College Process.”
– A public health studies and economics double major from Summit, NJ, looks back on her application process and the support she received along the way.

Wafa K: “There is Only One Way to Learn. It is Through Action”
– A neuroscience and history of science and technology double major from Alexandria, VA, discusses her own experience applying to college, and offers advice for those going through the process now. (And of course, she relates the topic to her passion for football (a.k.a. soccer).

SOPHOMORES
Sarah S.: “Memorable Quotes from the College Search”
– A biology and Spanish double major from Ambler, PA, describes her rules for choosing a school, based on memorable quotes from her college search process.

Cate W.: “From ATP Synthase to Z”
– A chemical and biomolecular engineering sophomore from Minneapolis, MN, writes about applying as a ChemBE – not BME – with the added perspective of having taken college classes as a high school senior.

Miranda B.: “How did I get here?”
– A political science sophomore from Culver City, CA, tells us how she applied as an early decision applicant to Hopkins and offers her own bits of advice for you to keep in mind.

Tyler D.: “14 Year Old Me”
– A sociology sophomore from Ocean City, NJ, gives us a glimpse at her fourteen-year-old self and shows how much her goals and priorities have changed since beginning the college application process.

Becca K.: “The College Quest”
– A history of art sophomore from Dallas, TX, reflects on her search for the perfect fit and exactly what she wanted in a college.

FRESHMEN
Lucie F: “JHU_Lucie’s Road to JHU”
– A writing seminars freshman from Scarsdale, NY, writes about how her high school prepared her for college, and the many schools she looked at before eventually choosing Hopkins.

Nick G: “What’s a commonapp?”
– A computer science freshman from Woodbridge, CT, discusses his experience with the Common Application, and urges everyone not to procrastinate like he did!

Trisha L: “THE College Application – Don’t Get Scared!!”
– A neuroscience freshman from Lower Gwynedd, PA, discusses her application process, and what led her to apply Early Decision to Hopkins.

Allysa D: “The Upside Down Capital Y”
– A global environmental change and sustainability freshman from Cream Ridge, NJ, compares experiences visiting schools as a five year old, and as a high school senior, and reflects on why she personally chose Hopkins.

Tess T: “How Hopkins Happened”
– A history freshman from Ridgewood, NJ, details her search for the perfect school for her, and how Hopkins, the last school she visited, ended up being that place.

Marina G.: “College Town Hopping”
– A public health studies and writing seminars freshman from Ithaca, NY, chronicles her path to Hopkins from her college-town hometown and offers her advice of the most important things to remember as you apply.

Noah G.: “Homewood Bound: How I got here, and why I came.”
– A biology and neuroscience freshman from Houston, TX, had narrowed his schools down to the “Super Six” and tells us about his search process from the perspective of a soccer recruit.

Sydney R.: “Just Like An Awkward Middle-Schooler”
– A biomedical engineering freshman from Elm Grove, WI, likens the college application process to the awkwardness of middle school and reminds you to be yourself and resist the blonde highlights.

Kate T.: “Paint your Pots, Kids”
– A chemical and biomolecular engineering freshman from Redding, CT, puts everything into perspective through ceramics and the “layers of glaze” that make you unique.

Blue Jay or Blue Devil?

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I thought a great blog topic this week would be a reflection on week one of my fall travel.  This trip has been a whirlwind tour of North Carolina, including college fairs, Explore Hopkins presentations, and high school visits in Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Cary, Durham, and Raleigh. I met hundreds of prospective students, parents, and guidance counselors, and the same questions kept popping up:

“Why should I go Johns Hopkins when I have so many schools in my own backyard? Why should I pick Johns Hopkins over Duke, UNC, or NC State?”

Now, this wasn’t the first time I have heard questions like this. A few years ago I recruited in Texas, which has an abundance of colleges and universities. Currently, I am the California counselor where University of California schools, the Claremont-McKenna schools, and Stanford are all great options. So, why would you leave home? Why travel hours by plane to attend Johns Hopkins? In some cases, why would you pass up in-state tuition?

In my opinion here’s why: 

1. Experience Something New—While I know this may be the most obvious, it’s true. College is a time for learning, growing, and exploring. It is a time to try something new, go somewhere you’ve never been, put yourself out there to see what you can do.
2. Small Size—For a university, the undergraduate population at Johns Hopkins is small. With about 4,900 undergraduates, opportunities are abundant for all, whether it is in the classroom, in the community, or in the city, there are ways to get involved and make a difference.
3. Location—One of the things I love most about Hopkins is its location. Even though we are a city school located in the Charles Village neighborhood of Baltimore, our campus has a very traditional feel. With 140 acres of green grass and brick pathways, many know that Hopkins is the place for them as soon as they step onto campus. It really is beautiful! In addition, by being in a city, students have access to everything Baltimore has to offer—great dining (trust me, this is an extremely important to college students), museums (the Baltimore Museum of Art is right on campus), the Inner Harbor, internships and jobs, the National Aquarium, the Science Center, and Camden Yards (students can get Orioles tickets for just $8). Oh, and did I mention we are just 45 minutes from Washington DC, 1.5 hours from Philadelphia, and 3 hours from New York City?
4. Research Opportunities—Johns Hopkins is America’s first research institution. We encourage students to go beyond the classroom to learn through hands on experiences, exploration, and discovery. With about 70 percent of our undergraduates participating in research, this is not something that is only done at the graduate level. Did you know that since 1979, Johns Hopkins has won more federal research and development funding than any other university? At Hopkins, you can create your own project, join on with a faculty member, conduct research at another Hopkins institution, or do research abroad. The opportunities are endless! Some examples: one of our students worked with faculty members to improve surgery for osteoporosis patients and won the 2010 Wharton Business Plan Competition, another student is learning how to remove common drugs and chemicals from our water supply, another student investigated the history of guitar music, and another traveled to Israel to study the countries defense forces. Just think, you could be like these students one day.
5. One Johns Hopkins—While as an undergraduate you will be a member of either our Kreiger School of Arts and Sciences or our Whiting School of Engineering, you will also have access to other Johns Hopkins Institutions. Want to take lessons from distinguished faculty at the Peabody Music Conservatory? Interested in taking classes at the Bloomberg School of Public Health? Excited about conducting research projects at our School of Medicine or School of Nursing? Want to learn about national security through work with organizations at the Applied Physics Laboratory? What about a 5-year BA/MA program with our School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C.? You can do all of this at our university!
6. Faculty/Student Relationship—With 96% of classes taught by faculty members, there are a lot of opportunities for students to interact with professors. Hopkins undergraduates have to chance to work closely with faculty members at the top of their fields. Current faculty include three Nobel Prize Winners, published professors,  a Kennedy Center Honors Winner, seven MacArthur Fellows, ten National Academy of Engineering Members, and 45 American Academy of Arts and Science Fellows … and this is just to name a few!
7. Involvement in Community—At Hopkins we believe that giving back to the community is of the utmost importance. As our first president Daniel Coit Gilman stated, it is the goal of Johns Hopkins scholars to spread knowledge to the world. Whether through academia or volunteer work, Hopkins students are enthusiastic about giving back. From the Baltimore Tutorial Project (Baltimore City’s largest 1 on 1 tutorial program which is run by Hopkins students), to the 4K for Cancer (students bike ride cross country to raise money for cancer), to the President’s Day of Service (where over 1,000 students participated in 35 local community service projects), Hopkins students are looking to make a difference.
8. Campus Activities—What students do outside of the classroom is just as important to them as what they do inside the classroom. In fact, one of the great things about Hopkins students is how involved they are in campus activities, the city of Baltimore, and world organizations. With over 360 clubs and organizations on campus, we have it all: performing arts groups, community service organizations, student publications, fraternities and sororities, cultural and ethnic groups, club, intramural, and varsity sports. If it turns out we don’t have something you are interested in doing, it is easy to start your own group on campus.

As you can see, I think the answer is clear. Why be a Blue Devil when you can be a Blue Jay?

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Johns Hopkins University

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Editor’s Note: Today’s guest author is Shelly Placek. Shelly joined the Admissions staff about two years ago and plays one of the most vital roles in our office – writer/editor. The Admissions counseling staff could not recruit without Shelly, and all forms of correspondence from our office would suffer without her expertise. She is talented, she is professional, she is hysterical at times, and she jumped at the chance to write a guest blog entry. Enjoy.

When I was in fourth grade, I wrote a novel about a kid whose parents abandoned him at a grocery store. All six pages of it were awful—and not autobiographical, I promise—but it started an appreciation of language, writing, and the magic of telling a story that has carried throughout my undergraduate years and my career. Happily, that career has led me to Johns Hopkins University, where my job is to write and edit all of the publications, invitations, web site content, and other communications. If you’ve gotten our spiral-bound Viewbook or invitations to one of our many fantastic events, then you’ve seen some of the pieces our office produces.

I had a big task ahead of me when I started here nearly two years ago. As the new writer/editor for the Undergraduate Admissions Office, I needed to quickly learn about the school and its history, the students, the surrounding area, and a whole host of other things that would help me tell prospective students about this place. In a way, I was kind of like a prospective student—or  maybe more like a freshman—trying to find my way around the campus, looking for lunch spots, and hoping to make some new friends.

It wasn’t hard to be charmed from the first day. The campus is beautiful, the people are friendly, and there are more than enough lunch options within walking distance (never underestimate the power of lunch.) I attended information sessions and hopped on a tour to get oriented and by the end of my first week, I was convinced: I was ready to apply Early Decision to Hopkins! Oh, wait. I mean, I was ready to start sharing Johns Hopkins with our prospective students through our publications, Web site, and invitations. Soon enough, I was marveling at the recently renovated Gilman Hall, bundling up for an early season lacrosse game, and joining colleagues for Taco Tuesdays at PJ’s Pub.

All of those experiences helped me to better understand what Johns Hopkins was, and helped me communicate that to our prospective students. One of our publications, our annual Viewbook, is a big project in the winter/spring. It requires communicating with departments all across campus, as well as with my colleagues in the Admissions Office, and working closely with our amazing designers and photographers. It also allows me to meet more of our fabulous and ever-inspiring students. There are few things I enjoy as much as hearing what brought a student to Johns Hopkins and what kinds of activities he or she is getting into on campus.

I know that once you start getting mail from colleges, it seems like a never-ending stream of brochures plastered with smiling faces and tree-lined campuses. But take the time to look through each one and really get a feel for the place that is sending it. Here at Johns Hopkins, we don’t just look for smiling faces, although we find plenty of them; we’re hoping to bring you a sense of what living and learning at Johns Hopkins is really like, and give you stories told through our students, our professors, our campus, and our community.