Johns Hopkins University Snapshot

Written by Dan White

Dan White

Hometown

Glen Rock, NJ

Major

International Studies and Economics

Grad Year

2012

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Students who love Hopkins and students who hate it both recognize that JHU isn’t the school for everyone. Many students believe that classes at JHU are just as hard as Ivy League schools, but they complain that Hopkins’ professors grade much harder. Many students wish that Hopkins offered grade inflation, as other top schools do, since even people who work hard sometimes end up with low grades. This influences some students to put studying above any social activity in hopes of being one of few people in a class who receives an “A.” Hopkins offers a variety of social programming, but no one forces students to participate, and there’s no one holding your hand and leading you to fun activities. Even though students complain, most say that they’ve enjoyed being challenged by their experiences at Hopkins.

Hopkins presents a well-rounded experience for most students, but not every student takes advantage of the academic, social, and extracurricular opportunities. Some students wish that Hopkins encouraged students to get involved in all aspects of University life, but once you realize that it doesn’t, you can make your own choices about how you want to spend your time. The school’s academic reputation and its state-of-the-art facilities are strong points at Hopkins. Campus housing and food have been improved considerably in the past two years with the construction of a new cafeteria and a new upperclassmen dorm.