Trojanman

Improved Over Time.

When I first got to Hopkins, I couldn't stand the food at Fresh Food Cafe. I used to joke about its ironic name. Since then, the quality of food has improved. However, Fresh Food is still pretty lousy. Nolan's, located in Charles Commons, is a better bet when it comes to getting a good meal. The food is usually good there, but varies depending on the day. I would recommend their burgers.

Lacrosse.

Lacrosse is the big sport at Hopkins. We're division I lax and III everything else. Most of the other varsity programs are under-funded and largely overlooked. This is unfortunate for a student who is interested in sports aside from Lacrosse.

Despite this, Lacrosse games are a popular attraction for students, and a good way to come together with fellow students.

Athletic facilities are good, for both atheletes and non-atheletes. The gym contains a large track, many basketball and racquetball courts, a fitness room, a climbing wall, a weight room, the exclusive varsity weight room and pool, rooms for practicing martial arts, and other great features. It's a good gym.

Colder Than I Expected

Being from New York, I expected Baltimore to be a bit warmer. I was surprised to find that it's actually colder down there than it is in NY. Summers are hot and very humid, while winters are icy and bitter.

Options

Off-campus dining is good, and offers some options. However, this is an expensive option. The lack of traditional fast food is a common complaint among students. The closest thing to it we have is Chipotle and Subway. For quality take-out, there is the deli and a few Asian places, which. There are also a few restaraunts around campus, which are fun for a date but not so easy on the wallet.

In short, the Charles Village area offers a number of options for food, but many of these options are expensive.

Frats Are for Freshmen

The fraternities dominate the social scene among Freshmen at Hopkins. However, most students tend to leave this scene as they get older, and find their groups of friends, or turn 21 and take to the bars. That is, unless they decide to join one of the Greek organizations. Most frat parties are pretty lame, featuring an overcrowded, hot, sweaty room, and beer-stained floors. It's great if you like loud stupid people and beer pong.

One interesting thing is that each fraternity or sorority has a "type" of person that tends to be attracted to it. We have a rich kid frat, a stoner frat, a creepy guy frat, a nerd frat, and a plain no-one-notices-you kind of guy frat, among others.

Inside Scoop

A few facts you should know about Hopkins:

* Many of your classes will be taught and graded by grad students. The quality of instruction of undergrad programs at Hopkins is pretty poor. I would say overall that Hopkins is overrated. Professors are more concerned with their research than with their students, and education suffers because of it. They let the grad students do the work.

* Poor social scene - of the small percentage of kids who actually leave the library and like to party, most of them are surprisingly dull and dim-witted. I expected to have smarter peers when I first arrived at Hopkins.

* Get to know Baltimore - People talk about Baltimore as if it were a huge slum with no cultural attractions. This is far from true. Explore the city, while avoiding the bad nighborhoods, and you should find something fun to do. Baltimore has a great club scene, and a great art and music scene as well. There's something for everyone. Most Hopkins kids stay within the Charles Village area, which is a fairly boring area compared to some of the downtown areas. This prevents them from discovering the interesting people and places that Baltimore has to offer.