Johns Hopkins University Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Isabella

Isabella, senior year is going to be great, have no worries about that. Work on your people skills a bit more as it will help to make and keep all the new friends you will make. Your prioritizing has never been too much of a problem so keep it up because it is a necessary skill in college. With no parents or professors to constantly keep you on your toes, it?s up to you to make sure you don?t fall behind. Learn that there is going to be a lot of help in college so know how to ask for it when needed. Think of studying for the AP tests like studying for each mid-term. You won?t know EXACTLY what?s on the test, so study efficiently the material you know is the most important. And always remember to know when you?re overloaded. You?ll actually be a lot busier with more things in high school than in college, but always know when to take a breather. Most importantly, start healthy eating habits now as to avoid the freshmen fifteen; trust me, it will hit you like a ton of bricks.

Michelle

Get your study habits down pat fast . Study a little everyday and don't procrastinate.

Jessica

Just try and have an idea of what it is you want to do in the future, because your school choice plays a huge role in your future, whether it be going to graduate schools, or job placement.

Michelle

I would give myself two pieces of advice: join intramural sports and learn to study a little at a time. One of my biggests regrets socially is not joining an intramural sport and getting involved in a fun, healthy social activity. What I miss most about high school is being a part of a soccer team and having teammates. Not only would being a part of a soccer team be fun, but it would also give me a really good outlet when schoolwork gets stressful and it would help keep me in shape. I would also tell my high school self to develop good study habits early on. From three years of college, I've finally learned that going over the material for each class one hour per day is extremely effective for learning and studying. Too many exams were desperately crammed for the few days before an exam and the grades on those exams reflect that.

Tyler

Ironically, I think about this question all the time and I'm fairly certain the adivce I would give myself would be to avoid "senioritis" at all costs. Instead of slacking off my senior year by being an office aid and taking only the two or three classes that I neded in order to graduate, I now realize how beneficial it would have been for me to take classes that would have challenged me to continue working hard. If I had took a heavier course load during my final year of high school, then perhaps I would have done better in my first semester of college.

Tiana

I would have stayed home

Lauren

Don't be worried about, everything. Seriously. Your grades are fine. Your extracurriculars are fine. Stop freaking out! Instead, you should feel incredibly excited. College isn't a series of exams that decides your future, but it isn't all Animal House -worthy shenannigans either. In between what you're going to learn in the classroom, about yourself, about the world, there's going to be just enough time to enjoy some of the best years of your life with the closest friends you'll ever meet. (P.S. learn to do laundry and separate your darks from your whites. Your clothes were a nice shade of blue-gray the whole first semester)

Jose

Make sure you visit the area where the school is located. Be aware of the kinds of things you like and dislike about the area. Feeling confortable in your environment is very important for academic success.

Tiffany

I think it is important to disregard the name of the school beccause it comes down to whether the school's environment is right for the student, not the ranking of the school. Try to contact people from your school or a relative who went or are currently going to the schools that you are looking at. It always helps to get an inside opinion, other than what the admissions people are trying to tell you. It is also important that the student be open to new experiences that may be completely different from what he or she has experienced in the past. College will be a different experience for everyone, and it's important that it be approached with an accepting manner.

JEWEL

Before matriculating at any college or university, be sure to know as much about the campus as you possibly can. Visit its website, consult friends who attend the school, and most importantly, visit the school for yourself. That way you will gain an unbiased opinion. Be sure to visit overnight and preferably during a time when the college is not having mass visitations. In this way, you will see first-hand what the true spirit of the school is like. In order to gain the most of any college experience, become immediately involved in as many campus activities as your schedule will allow that you like, usually around three-four. These will allow you to meet college friends and enrich your academics. Once you have a core set of activities with which you are involved, be sure to attend all meetings, outings and events. Be outspoken and helpful, and try to be elected to higher positions within the group. This will give you real-world leadership experience. Aside from activities, get to know at least one professor very well each semester, and become fast friends with your academic advisor, who will offer invaluable advice about your major?s best classes.

Sheneice

Always contact the college of choice ahead of time, to find out if there are any open houses taking place, and try to visit the school during those times. While visiting try to sit in on classes that maybe taking place those days. Converse with deparment heads, professors, and current students to get a fill of the academic and social atmosphere.

Allison

I stongly suggest making a visit to the school. Take everything into account. Distance, finance, academic competitiveness. Talking to the financial advisors and your future teachers will be very beneficial to your choice. Also read up as much as you can. Make sure that you have a plan to pay for school and that it is not too far fetched. Also, make sure you love what you are going to school for and that you feel that you couldn't be happier anywhere else. Then you will know that you have made the right decision.

Vanessa

Make sure that you visit the University and ask to spend a night with a host student in their dorm. It is very helpful to live in the life of a college student at that particular University so that you can see how it really is. Also, try and attend some classes so you can see the different teaching styles and the academic rigor of the classes. Also, make sure that you are comfortable with the surrounding areas of the University. Make sure that you feel safe and that you have proper stores ( grocery, pharmacy, etc. ) for your convenience.

Kaitlin

When deciding which college is best for you, don't be afraid to choose a school that is a little out of your comfort zone, whether that be due to distance, culture, or academics. College is about more than a higher education. It is about challenging yourself in order to discover who you really are and all that you are capable of. If a school appeals to you, don't let the fact that it is too far away from home or has a cut throat reputation hinder you from going there. These challenges only make you stronger and allow you to uncover qualities and abilities that you never knew you had. Once you have chosen which college is best for you, make sure to get involved in everything it offers, whether that be volunteering, clubs, sports, or travel abroad. You won't have another time in your life where you will have as many resources and opportunities in front of you, so take full advantage of them. And don't be afraid to be the first one to introduce yourself. College is where lifelong firendships are made, and you don't want miss out.

mary

It sounds cheesy, but it's true- follow your heart. Honestly, most students don't know exactly WHY they chose the university they're attending- they just know it "felt right." If you are lucky enough to know what you'd like to study, make sure the schools you're interested in are strong in those areas. Don't talk yourself into thinking it's "okay" that a school doesn't have a strong program in an area of interest. Also, don't overlook daily facilities like housing and dining halls. Even the most academically-focused person has to eat and sleep every day, and no matter how intellectually-renowed a school may be, no amount of knowledge is worth 4 years of bad cafeterias and hard mattresses! Make sure you know what's most and least important to you- academics, culture, social life. Every school has strengths and weaknesses, and finding one that concurs with your personal priorites can help make the most of your college experience! It sounds simple on paper, but the quest for the perfect college is windy and confusing. The most you can do is stay positive and enjoy the ride!

Lacey

dont rush your decision because it is one you will have to live with for the next 4 years of your life.

David

If you know what you want to go to school for, apply to schools that are well known for their programs in the area you want to study. Don't apply to a school because your friends are going there or you heard they throw crazy parties at that school. Apply to a school that you know you will do your best at and succeed. It is important to visit a school and try to sit in on a few classes before deciding you want to attend because it is extremely important that you like the school/campus and area, know some of the professors and their teaching styles, and also feel comfortable with the students. Just because a school is expensive does not mean that it will be better for you. Listen to schools others may recommend to you, but if you visit the school and know you don't like it, you may want to consider another school or apply to the school as a backup. Also, do not judge a school if you have heard a friend didn't like it, who knows, you may fall in love with the school and end up there. Good luck.

Kelly

First, students must take the time to do their research about each prospective school that they are looking to attend. Campus visits are strongly recommended--sometimes decisions about attending a school can be made in the first five minutes of visiting a campus. If you know anyone who attends any schools that you are looking at, make sure to use them as a resource. See if you can visit them, sit in a class, see the dorms, and use them to answer questions--don't be afraid of asking too many! People want you to have a positive college experience--it's the best years of your life! Secondly, if you are looking to play a sport in college, remember that you are at school to go to school. Choose the school based on the academics--not because of a coach or a team. Third, if you know what you want to major in, google it. Schools will pop up that you may not have considered--take the time to look at all of these schools and their respective programs. Finally, have fun with it! Explore schools from different regions of the country--you never know what you may find!

Ashley

I have really learned to make the best of what I have. The lessons I have learned along with the education I am obtained is priceless. Make sure you pick a school that challenges you; pushes you to work. If you do this, you will achieve a feeling of accomplishment that is irreplaceable. I have spend countless hours in the library, sacrificed parts of my social life, and am will be knee-deep in loans when I leave. But it something I feel is totally worth it. I work hard and play hard and when I let loose, it is well deserved and I feel great. The feeling of such achievement...to be pushed as hard as I am, is unexplainable when I feel the intrinsic value of such a feat. My dad passed away 3 years ago and ever since I have had money issues, along with my own emotional hang ups. To push through and conquer, to make him proud, along with making myself feel like I am worth something is the best feeling in the world. Experience everything, let yourself feel every defeat, and let yourself fullly enjoy every success.

Ahra

Research. Visit. Don't believe in everything that the tourist says. Stop a student and ask them yourself.

Emily

The two most important objectives when searching for a college should be terrific networking opportunities and a comfortable atmosphere. If a student is not excited and happy in her college environment, she will never have a strong enough drive to truly succeed in college. Additionally, volunteer experience and internships are very important for whatever comes after her time as an undergraduate. This makes networking incredibly important to a student's future. Choose a school that is well-known and is universally respected, so that all of the student's hard work is not in vain.

Vanessa

Consider the size of the college and the financial aid package.

Anne

get involved around campus, you won't regret it.

Therese

Be open minded. It's not about the big name, it's about what's best for you and what's the right fit.

John

The one thing I can say is branch out, try new things, and find a passion in life that drives you. Too many students at this school and others across the country are so focused on the end goal of a particular career that they forget to enjoy college. Yes, college is expensive, and students should strive to achieve a great GPA mixed with internship or research experience. Yet, college is expensive, and part of the cost is for broadening personal horizons. Invest in a social life, make interesting friends, join unique clubs, and take unfamiliar classes. Devote a good deal of time to beefing up your resume and pursuing your dream job, but save some time to learn about yourself. Attending a university is not only about learning new skills and facts to use in the career world, it is also about receiving an education. And an education is just as much about the experiences you have and maturity you achieve as the facts you learn in the classroom. So if you are pre-law, take that class on the brain. If you are pre-med, take painting. Work hard, yet have fun and leave college with no regrets.

Hannah

The college entrance process was terrifying for me because I felt powerless--I knew that in order to attend any school, I would need a large scholarship, which made me feel disadvantaged. My general advice, then, would be to encourage especially the students themselves to really take control of the process. I think it was really important for me to be the executive decision maker; I researched schools, organized the visits, planned my tests, and did all the applications myself. This isn't to say that you shouldn't accept help from your parents, but this is a really important decision about the rest of your life, and to be able to put the work makes you more knowledgable and thus more comfortable with what's happening. When it comes to making the actual decision, I would again speak to students instead of parents. I think that it's extremely important to strip your decision of all outside forces--what name looks the best on your resume, what your parents want---none of those things are going to matter much in the end. If you are empowered enough to make the right decision for yourself, it will be respected.

So

Make sure that the college is a right fit for what the student wants to do. Names are not important.

Eunice

If life was like a game, then college is like hitting the restart button. You get a chance to do everthing over again- make new friends, have a crazy new hair style, become a goth girl, etc. You can be a new you! and the best thing about it is, that you get to choose who you're going to be. People say that college was the funnest time of their lives, and i can see why. Definitely do everything you wanted to do in high school but you were too shy to do (like joining a math club.. idk). Make the most of your time there, and have fun with it! However, your likelihood of enjoying college life heavily depends on you finding the right school for you. Definitely take advantage of the campus tours, and shadowing programs. Having a personal experience at a school that you might attend for the next 4 years (or more; hopefully not!) is important. Talk to random students on campus; ask them if they like it there. Dont believe everything that the tour guide or admissions people tell you. Afterall, they're gettig paid by the school.!

Tondeleyo

Find an institution that actually cares that you are there. A place that will support, nuture, encourage and challenge your academic and personal growth and development.

Grace

Students and parents should not over-stress during the application process. All that the student has done up until the application time is what the student is capable of; therefore, he/she will get into the school that is suited for him/her. Also, it is a smart move for the student to have an idea of what he/she wants to study. They say college is the time for discovery, and that you have plenty of time to pick a major, but I do not think so. Majors have many requirements, but the core curriculum for some colleges. In order to get ahead, the student should stick to one major/minor by fall of sophomore year in order to apply for the right internships or jobs necessary and build experience for the next step.

Brendan

Make sure that you like the school you pick and that you feel comfortable there. DO NOT get sucked into rankings and prestige of the schoool.

Ashley

There is a colleg out there for everyone. You should starting thinking about college by your junior year in high school. Make a list of all the things that you want out of the experience- academics, social, setting, etc.- and try to match that with various schools. Take visits and then make a list of all the things you liked and didn't like. I think that when you find the right school you get a tingly sensation and you know that is where you want to be. Once you get accepted and are on campus, don't limit yourself to things you already have done. Try everything! It is a great way to meet people and have a wonderful time. Go to sporting events, plays, and speeches. Join a musical, political, or special interest group. How much you enjoy college is a direct result of how much you are willing to put yourself out there.

Kimberly

Make sure you choose the school that you feel is right for you, not the one that your friends or parents think is right.

Chris

Find a school that appeals to you both academically and location/weather wise.

Carlos

Location is key because an excellent surrounding environment creates a safe and worthwhile college experience. Visiting campuses and learning about where you plan to spend the next 4 years of your life is so important. Every city has their culture and it would be a shame to not enjoy walking the streets of your home. College is about expression and taking risks to find out exactly who you are and what you will become. Go far away from home (or don't), just make sure you wake up each morning and love the city your in at this critical stage in life.

Jennifer

Life is what you make of it, and college is no different. Make sure that whatever school you accept has all the resources you need to be happy, and if you're not happy well ... you can always transfer. Life is too short to be miserable and college is too expensive to waste. So know yourself well, get to know your school well, and remember that there's nothing productive in stressing out. Everyone has a different experience as well. I know plenty of people who are unhappy at my school, but they don't make an effort to be otherwise. Don't be one of those. I'm convinced that more than half of life is discovering who you are and what you're about, and you're never going to figure that out if you're hiding out in the library letting some test or assignment control your life. That being said, with the right attitude, you can benefit equally from any school you attend, regardless of rankings or class size or location.

Keith

I would suggest you talk to current students more and ask questions about the general level of happiness on campus. Try talking to students at the coffee place on your trip to see the campus and ask them if they are happy and if they wish they had made a different choice. If the majority say they are unhappy then keep looking.

Patrick

The most important considerations in choosing a school are not only its ability to prepare you for your desired path in life (naturally), but also its capacity to help you finish maturing into the adult you are meant to be. The easy part is finding one that provides you with the caliber and type of education you want, simply because that is the primary and most advertised role of any school. However, after four years of a school that places total emphasis on the pursuit of a higher GPA, and reams of details to memory, I find that the second role of college is greatly overlooked, even though it is every bit as important. No matter how open-minded and flexible your community at home may be, it is not until the unbounded freedom of college that who you really are tends to develop. You need to find the time at school, while not sacrificing academics, to connect with people, to explore the interests that will appear, and to generally live life. Leave the serious worries for after graduation, and learn to appreciate your true character today.

Cameron

Go for the best college you're interested in. If you're going to go there, put the work in, and pay to do it you might as well shoot for that top-teir education that will help you get the job you really want once you're done. If you're torn between two choices, whether it's what school to go to or what major to choose, don't worry, it's not the end of the world. Make your choice and know that if it ends up that you would really rather go with the other option, or maybe go with an option you didn't think of before, you can. You can change schools, majors, career paths. Make sure that whatever you're doing, wharever you're going, you're happy doing it. If you're miserable while you're getting to where you're going, you'll probably be miserable once you get there. Try to think about what you really enjoy doing, and pick a school that will help you learn how to do that better. Try new things, figure out what you really like, and always try your hardest.

Heba

Choosing the right college is a difficult process. Perhaps the most important consideration is practical matters such as affordability, availability of desired majors, location, etc. After taking these factors into account, school visits, etc. can help decide which school is right for a student. I found speaking to current students to be a good way of learning more about a college.

Alex

Don't apply to too many schools; take advantage of open house and visit prospective schools early. Once you've narrowed down your choices, apply early and never look back. Good luck!

Yuan-Ping

You would be surprised where you would fit in during your four years away from home. Sure, do some research about the college, find out about the area, the professors, and the lifestyle. But all that can only give you so much before getting there. Many times the buzz around a college is a world away from reality. Remember, the thousands of other students choosing any particular college have many of the same fears and hopes as you do. It is the collective effort of how each student deals with those fears and realizes those hopes that make the college experience the one that everyone wants. Talk to actual students from the college and get their perspective on how they would rate their experience. And after that, take a leap of faith and show up to your first day with the best you have to offer.

Yan

When choosing the right college, I suggest students visit each school and stay overnight with a current student to get a better feel for the school. Attend a class, eat on campus, walk around campus, and possibly talk to other students/professors. It seems like a lot of work, but compared to the four years a student will spend at the school, this is a smart way. Also, keep in mind that the ranking of the school, however important, should not be the deciding factor. I chose Hopkins over a full ride scholarship to my state school. I certainly don't regret the decision, but certain things would have been different if I chose my state school. I would have the funds to study abroad, and would most certainly take four years to get my degree (I rushed through it in three). But at Hopkins, I studied with very distinguished professors, researched in one of the best medical schools in the country, and I do believe the students I was surrounded with motivated me to reach higher. Everything is give or take, the most important thing is to be active and search for activities at school to get involved in!

Taylor

Explore all possibilities - research, compare, set up interviews, don't rule out private colleges due to finances, visit a possible choice mutiple times, and get involved with sports, clubs, etc.

Julie

Definitely visit the campus prior to choosing the school you want to attend. Don't just take a walking tour. Try and do an overnight program that involves interacting with students who already go to the school so you can get an idea about the social atmosphere. Also, ask current students what they think about the academic side of their campus. Obviously, don't make your decision solely based on their opinions, but you'll at least have a better idea about what really goes on behind the classroom doors besides the facts and figures given on the college's website. Clearly, to make the most of your college experience, you should take classes you enjoy and join clubs to meet people who are into the same things as you.

Justin

When selecting a college, it's worth considering what your career ambitions are. If you are pre-professional of any kind, try your best to get into a top-tier university. If you are not sure what is you want to do, or are more concerned with things apart from receiving an education--such as building relationships and having fun--then just about any school will do. It's all about priorities when it comes to quality of life. You can spend your days in the library , or you can party your ass off. It's four years of your life, and you should be honest with yourself regarding your lifetime expectations. College may not determine everything, but it sure determines a lot. Good luck to you.

Eric

Don't get duped into what the administration tells you about their school. They spend a lot of money to make it look like a great place to be. Do what you want, don't let anybody tell you where you belong. Anywhere you go there will be plenty of stuff for you. Just remember, college is great and horrible at the same time. Much like life.

Samantha

Visiting is very important, but it might be a good idea to actually attend a class or two with a current student, to get a gauge of the work load and atmosphere of the school; the feel of a school can often make or break the experience.

Emily

Be yourself. Find somewhere that you feel comfortable.

Isatu

Make sure the college has all the needs that your child values. Make sure the school is easily adaptable and there are resources to help your child if they are struggling.