Hopkins Insider

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

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!

Top Ten Tips for Parents of High School Juniors

Admissions Counselor: Sherryl Fletcher

Territory: Illinois, Michigan, Ohio

Johns Hopkins Start Date: September 1996

Links to Previous Profiles: February 14, 2008; January 14, 2006

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A group of college admissions professionals, many of whom have invested 25 or more years in the profession of college admissions, have guided their own children or grandchildren through the college search process. During the time of advising a son, a daughter, or a grandchild, many often turn to one another for some advice on how to do their very best work of counseling their own family members. A collection of our suggestions follow.

Tip #1: Listen for what your high school junior enjoys in and outside of the classroom and incorporate those themes into college visits, college nights or college website conversations.

Tip #2: Encourage your junior to build a partnership with their guidance counselor or college adviser throughout their junior year. 

Tip #3: As the difficulty of the junior year coursework increases, support your junior with suggested time management and organizational skills.  Encourage your junior to continue to set their own agenda each day and each week to meet deadlines.

Tip #4: Support your junior as they develop a level of engagement in classroom discussions. Encourage thoughtful participation and conversations with teachers.

Tip #5: Take note of extracurricular activities for which your junior has a passion. Investigate opportunities where he or she can expand those talents in the summer months.

Tip #6: Let your junior decide which college campuses he or she would like to visit.

Tip #7: When discussing college visits, offer to be the travel planner. Step aside from that role once you are on campus and become the observer and collector of materials. 

Tip #8: While on a college campus, chat with the Admissions staff or student staff members who manage the lobby desk. They are full of ideas to personalize your visit after your junior attends an Information Session and a Tour. If you can join the Information Session and Tour, please do so.

Tip #9: If there is an option to select a tour guide for the campus tour following their introduction of themselves to the group, let your junior select the tour guide. Follow their instincts.

Tip #10: Listen to your junior’s thoughts as you drive away from a campus visit. Limit your questions to one or two!

(Sherryl A. Fletcher is the Senior Associate Director for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Johns Hopkins University. She has served at two universities throughout her 26 year career in undergraduate admissions, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Johns Hopkins University. She is the mother of a high school junior, Cameron, and a college sophomore, Christopher.)

Top 10: Things To Do In Baltimore

Admissions Counselor: Matthew D'Agostino

Territory: Pennsylvania and Virginia

Johns Hopkins Start Date: Started at Hopkins in the summer of 2002, working at the Center for Social Concern -- moved over to Admissions in August 2007.

Links to Previous Profile: February 18, 2008

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Let me preface this by saying that this list is why I love Baltimore. When I first arrived here from New Orleans, I didn’t like the city. I’d never been East, and I didn’t know where the city life was. Here are some things that I have grown to love, and they represent Baltimore’s quirkiness.

1. Night of 100 Elvises: If you want to spend all night surrounded by Elvis impersonators, or would like to be one of them, prepare to See The Light! (And pass me that donut…) Great food, strange people, it’s like Rocky Horror Picture show was Leave It To Beaver—everything else is tame.

2. American Visionary Art Museum: Incredible. This is a museum of artists who were not trained as artist—they just had to create. Damn the rules, this stuff rocks. The wood sculpture in the permanent collection, the only art piece made by a mental asylum resident from a tree felled by lightning, still gives me chills. The rolling exhibits are something to watch out for. 

3. The American Brewery Building: Long dilapidated, it was the most visible remnant of Baltimore’s great beer-making history. German used to be the second official and legal language of Baltimore in the 19th Century, and with the language came the beer. (Prohibition put it out of business.) Now being renovated to house a social services non-profit, you can still go to the site, lay down your flowers, and pray for a better future for Baltimore’s swill. Right now, the venerable and tasty Brewer’s Art is the only respectable brewpub in town, but most of you aren’t old enough to visit.

4. Greenmount Cementery: Do yourself a favor, and take a tour. It will knock your socks off. Eerie, beautiful, old, it’s a great place to bring a date when you are too nervous to make good conversation on your own. 

5. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore: A fantastically large party, the Zoomerang is an incredible feast with live music, a million people, lots of zoo animal (penguins, birds, turtles, etc.) ambassadors and it supports the zoo! Yes, you have to pay to get in, but you won’t go to a better party, and it’s big enough to just sit down eat a little, dance a little, visit a little, until the wee hours.

6. Patterson Park’s Pagoda: This is a great, and even romantic, place for a picnic. Back when orientalism was a fad among the bourgeoisie, this little tower was built to look over this park near Fell’s Point. 

7. Creative Alliance: Near Patterson Park, the Creative Alliance is where art shows, music, talks, etc. go on all year. This is a great place to hear interesting things, meet strange Baltimore people, and enjoy the art scene. 

8. The Charles Theatre: Near Penn Station, so you can take the JHU shuttle to it, essentially, this is Baltimore’s main art house theatre. It’s next to a Tapas restaurant, and is part of the film culture of Baltimore. And while I am on the cinema theme, you must see a John Waters film in a Baltimore Theatre. DO NOT TRY IT AT HOME. Either the Charles or the Senator, north of campus nearer to Towson, are the only places you are allowed to see his films. You will enjoy them properly this way, with an interactive Baltimore audience that most likely will include some members of the cast and crew. 

9. Artscape: Huge, multi-day, art party that takes over the Mount Royal area around the Maryland Institute College of Art. Those posters they sell on the mall on campus—don’t even think about it. Buy something from a real, local artist, or commission an art work. Great bands play there, too, and you’ll want to clear your schedule for the whole thing, including days to catch up on sleep. 

10. Normals Used Bookstore: At 31st street near Greenmount (walking distance from Homewood). Now I have never asked them point-blank, but Normals (I am sure of this) gets their name from Erving Goffman’s (sociologists out there know this) book, Stigma. The “Normals” are those that control the social order in such a way that can label different people as less than themselves, or “stigmatize” them. Needless to say, Normals is changing the standard of normal. With a great book selection, a live-in cat, an experimental music space next door, and a huge vinyl record collection, find your philosophy books and classic textbooks here, and stay for a while. 

11. Waverly Farmer's Market: And as we used to say in New Orleans—for a little Lagniappe (it means extra)—“this one goes to 11.” After you visit Normals, or before, go to the Waverly Farmer's market one block north on 32nd Street. It’s the only market open EVERY Saturday of year until noon. Get local and organic produce, meat, eggs, milk, flowers, etc. there and support farmers. And if you need to counteract that healthy living, just drop by Pete’s Grille for tasty diner breakfast food and lunch, there on the corner of Greenmount and 32nd. This is the perfect place to go to after a late night, and always its better with friends. 

If you do all the things on this list, you most likely will never leave Baltimore.

Top 10: Things to Do When Visiting Campus

Admissions Counselor: Mark Butt

Territory: Delaware, New Jersey, and select International regions including Canada

Johns Hopkins Start Date: August 2006

Links to Previous Profiles: February 25, 2008; February 19, 2007

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Top 10: Things To Do When Visiting Campus

One of my most favorite things to do is to visit college campuses in the U.S. and across the globe.  I love the ranges of architecture that can be found through different colleges, the unique histories behind each college and simply the collegiate atmosphere.  On most campuses, you can walk around and think why buildings were built the way they were and recognize architecture from all different decades.  However, I've found that unless you know someone at a specific college, then it's hard to know the idiosyncrasies of each individual campus - what to do, where to go.  Visiting can allow you to get a feel for a campus, the people, the atmosphere and the geography - all of which are important when trying to find your home for the next four years. 

So, in order to facilitate your trip to Johns Hopkins University this spring, I've compiled a list of Top 10 things to do when you visit the Hopkins campus this spring.  This, I feel, will give you a great overview of the university and will really show you what Hopkins is all about as a university, a community, a family and a place of highly concentrated human capital.  I look forward to seeing you this spring!  

10) Baltimore Museum of Art - Are you an art fanatic like me? I recently visited the megasize, provocative, and playful work of acclaimed Austrian artist Franz West at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA). The BMA is home to an internationally renowned collection of 19th-century, modern, and contemporary art. Founded in 1914 with a single painting, the BMA today has 90,000 (!) works of art—including the largest holding of works by Henri Matisse in the world. Throughout the Museum, visitors will find an outstanding selection of European and American fine and decorative arts, 15th- through 19th-century prints and drawings, contemporary art by established and emerging contemporary artists, and objects from Africa, Asia, the Ancient Americas, and Pacific Islands.  It's located right next to Mason Hall (Visitor's Center) and .... it's FREE!  

9) Information Session - The On-Campus Information sessions happen twice daily at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.  They are an hour long and give you a comprehensive overview of the university, information about unique features of Johns Hopkins, the admissions process and Q&A at the end. It is a great venue to learn a lot about the University.  

8) Wander Around Charles Village - The campus bookstore is a great place to relax, pick up a book or a coffee and people watch.  If you like to people watch like I do, this is a great place because it's on a busy intersection and you can watch Hopkins people wander around, chat and curl up with a new book and warm beverage.  Who doesn't like that?!  Also, there are wonderful places to eat so take a chance to wander up and down St. Paul street and North Charles.  Given the neighborhood's strong and dedicated activist community, economic and social diversity, and memorable character enhanced by designs from the renowned Olmsted Brothers firm, American Planning Association named Charles Village as one of 10 Great Neighborhoods in America for 2008.  You can have a big ol' Chipotle burrito too if you like.

7) Homewood House - Johns Hopkins is quite a historical place and the campus is actually an old estate.  Acquired by The Johns Hopkins University in 1902, Homewood House stands today as one of the nation's best surviving examples of Federal Period architecture. It is a widely-copied prototype and is the source for both the architectural vocabulary and the name of The Johns Hopkins University's Homewood campus. Restored by the University and opened as a museum in 1987, Homewood provides a year-round calendar of tours, exhibitions, lectures, and educational programs.  It's right on campus and you can access information here: http://www.museums.jhu.edu/homewood/ 

6) Visit the Inner Harbor - Baltimore is one of the best reasons to come to Hopkins.  The Inner Harbor is about 15 minutes from campus and is a densely populated commercial district located on the water.  The harbor is within walking distance of Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium and has a water taxi that connects the Inner Harbor to Fells Point.  You can find great shopping, a world class aquarium and outstanding food!

5) Campus Tour - Campus tours are conducted by real-life Hopkins students who give you their personal perspective on life here at Hopkins.  You'll venture around campus learning about Hopkins and hearing student anecdotes about their experiences here.  They begin in Mason Hall at 11am and 2pm daily.  Oh - and wear comfortable shoes!

4) Prospective Student Interview - Interviews happen four times daily, Monday through Friday and in our process they are open to students in their Junior year starting in February all the way until Thanksgiving of their Senior year of high school.  Our interview process is quite informal as we have a set of great Hopkins upperclassmen who will sit down with you for 30-45 minutes and discuss your opportunities and give you a chance to hear about their experiences.  It is one of the best places to get answers to your questions and get a great sense of what is here for you.  The one-on-one opportunity is not to be missed.  

3) Sit in on a Class - At the front desk in Mason Hall, we have a master set of classes that are available for students to sit in on.  They can be advanced, intermediate or introductory courses.  I always encourage students to sit in on some of the classes as they can give you a great idea of the intellectual vitality that is happening on campus.  Maybe the professor will even call on you... :)

2) Eat at FFC - Eating at the Fresh Food Cafe (FFC) will give you a chance to sample an on-campus dining facility.  Located in the Freshman Quad, lunch and dinner are served daily and can give you a good idea of what students eat while on campus.  Don't be shy... it's all-you-can-eat, just remember you have to walk back the car after!   

1) Lacrosse Game - Hopkins Lacrosse is naturally one of the best teams around, always has been, and always will be!  That said, definitely see if you and your family can schedule your campus tour on a game day.  Not only is it a great opportunity to watch a Lacrosse game, but it's a great place to see all the Hopkins spirit in full swing!  Even if you don't know anything about Lacrosse, you'll learn pretty quickly that it's a HUGE part of the Hopkins experience that is not to be missed.  Thunder Sticks anyone?!  

Paul's Rookie Blog

Guest author entry time again. After the popularity of my colleague Jameel's recent guest entry, I returned to the office after the new year to another colleague clamoring to write a blog. So once again I turn over the Hopkins Insider blog to another resident of Mason Hall. Just one caveat ... if after the end of this blog you are asking yourself what does this have to do with college admissions to Johns Hopkins University -- well it doesn't. Think of this as an entry to take your mind off the stresses of applying to college, and a chance to meet another of one the interesting "characters" I get to work with. Enjoy!!!

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Ok.  Let me introduce myself.  My name is Paul Jacobus and I work for Johns Hopkins University as the Director of Operations for Mason Hall.  Mason Hall is the new Visitor’s Center for Johns Hopkins University and it houses the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.  Most of you that are taking the time to read this have probably already been in the building or it will be one of the first stops you make after you arrive on Campus. 

I have been working at JHU for the past 9 years.  I started as an Intern for the Department of Athletics and Recreation in August of 1999.  I was fortunate enough to move up in the ranks and when I left in September of 2007, my title was Assistant AD for Facilities and Recreation.  The University was building a brand new Visitor’s Center and they needed someone to run it and as luck would have it, I got the job.  So here I am.  A little over a year in my current position and I have decided that I would like to share with all of you, a little secret….

I watch too much TV.  I know many of you may think the same thing, but seriously, you don’t compare to me.  Not in the slightest.  Most people schedule their television watching around their daily or nightly activities.  Not me.  I am the opposite. I plan out my TV watching weeks in advance.  I schedule it on my Calendar so I don’t forget. 

One of my new favorite pastimes is to program my DVRs.  I have two standard 40 hour dual tuner DVRs along with a TiVo.  I can record 5 shows at once and if that isn’t enough, there is always On Demand.  Seriously, it is a sickness.  And when I commit to a show, I literally watch every episode.  Not live of course, but at some point, I’ll get to it. 

Don’t get me wrong, I do other things.  I watch movies.  I have a Playstation and a Wii.  I read.  I eat.  I work. I do family things with my wife and five year old mini-me son, Paul.  I just tend to do all of those things during the day and into the evening. At about 9:30pm it’s go time.  It’s me time. 

I can usually do about 3 shows a night, and I’m not talking about half hour sitcoms, I’m talking about hour long dramas and lots of them.  Recently, my brother bought me a book for Christmas (not this one but a couple of years back).  After about six months he happened to ask me what I thought about it.  I said that I was sorry but I just didn’t have the time to read it yet.  He was miffed and asked what I meant when I said I didn’t have the time.  My answer was simple ... I watch too much TV.

Now that that has been established, it’s time to find out what floats my boat … what I watch religiously … what I look forward to year after year and what has my interest peaked for the future.  When I am done, you will have some deep insight into what is me.  Perhaps a pattern forms.  You may agree with everything I say … most of you will not.  Maybe you have a suggestion for me (other than “get a life” or “go jump in a lake”).  In any case, replies are welcome and dialogue is key.

As an aside, I understand that this topic in the grand scheme of things really is not important ... but honestly who wants to read more of Admissions_Daniel's thoughts on Admissions. Now the application deadline is past, you need to take a break and think about television. I am your distraction.

Anyone who has a DVR or TiVo knows that there are certain shows that you need to watch live … there are certain ones that have to be watched as soon as you can get to them and then there are some that seem to hang around a little too long but you will get to them eventually. The rest of my “blog” will be patterned in this manner with the hang arounds going first and finishing off with the must see lives and the reality bites.

Hang Arounds – Shows that I like to watch but that tend to build up episodes on my DVR but are eventually watched nonetheless.

CSI (the original) – Sorry to see Gil Grissim leaving but Sara leaving was ok.
CSI Miami – Love me some David Caruso.
CSI New York – Gary Sinese is ok. Least favorite of the CSIs.
Numbers – Like the characters, actors and the stories.  The math is a little fuzzy.
Life – Admissions_Daniel got me watching this. Pretty solid. Girl is not unattractive.

As Soon As you Cans – These are shows that really are some of my favorites and I feel the need to watch them as soon as I can.

Prison Break – hope this is not its last year.  Coming on strong.
Heroes – This is a Love it or Hate it show.  I am intelligent and choose to Love it.
House – Creasy got me into this one as well.  It grew on me.
Criminal Minds – tends to be a little more intense then some others.  Like it a lot.
NCIS – Chemistry is what makes this show great.  That and good writing.
Friday Night Lights – Looking forward to it coming back to regular TV.
Smallville – Its about Superman, Lois Lane, the Justice League…enough said.
Supernatural – Winchester brothers fight demons, shape shifters and even angels.
Fringe – Kind of weird X-Files/Alias hybrid.  I liked both.  I like this.
Burn Notice – Maggie Kennedy, Assoc. Dir. of Admissions got me into this.
Leverage – Same with this one.  Its like a new “Oceans 11” every week.

Must See Lives - These are the shows that I have to watch live or at least on the same date that they air… not only because I feel the need but also because there is no doubt that I will have the episode ruined for me because someone at work or on the radio will be talking about it…

LOST  - Best. Show. Ever.  Cannot wait till January 21st
24 – Second. Best. Show. Ever. Cannot wait till January 11th
Dexter – Routing for a serial killer is disturbing yet satisfying at the same time.
Entourage – Love me some Ari Gold.  And Turtle.

Reality Bites – Yeah – I watch Reality or “Celebreality” shows too… I am embarrassed by some of these. But in an effort to gain trust… in full disclosure I give you…

Survivor – Someone I know bets on this…makes it interesting
Big Brother – Chilltown in the House baby!
Amazing Race – Scenery is nice.  Couples fight.  What else can you ask for?
Rock of Love (Bus) – Its like a car accident… you just can’t turn away.
The Ultimate Fighter – MMA fighters living in same house.  Hilarity ensues.
American Idol – I admitingly love this stupid show.  Sanjya included.
The Biggest Loser – This show inspires people.  Not me, but other people.

Whew… Maybe I am the biggest loser.  Probably not.  Fact is, I am extremely intelligent, incredibly good looking, unbelievably talented and an all around great guy.  I work for Johns Hopkins University.  There is no place I’d rather be and there are no other people that I’d rather be “blogging” to about TV, movies, Pop Culture and sure… about Hopkins too. 

The fact is, this is a great place to work.  This is a great place to live and Hopkins is the best place to go to school.  This is also a site that you will continue to frequent if not for its great Johns Hopkins content, then just to continue to read about the adventures of the people in Mason Hall.  You will laugh. You will cry.  You will like.  You will dislike. You will learn. You will share.  You will be faced with a lot of hard decisions in the coming months. As difficult as it may seem, make the choice that is right for you. 

Good luck to you all…. 
Hope to see you soon…
And don't forget to come visit and know that I am the man behind the building...

Paul

Reflections on the Holiday Season and the Crazy College Admission Process

Every once and a while I have invited others to pen a Guest Entry to the Hopkins Insider Blog. Past guest entries have been written by Mom, my colleague Mark Butt, and a few students. To read all these past entries just click the "Guest Entries" listing in the Categories list on the left.

Today's guest author is a good friend, an amazing colleague, and someone trying blogging for the first time. I hope you enjoy the ramblings of Associate Director of Admissions, Jameel Freeman. (Check out Jameel's Admissions profile to learn more about the man, the myth, the legend.)
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So I have been meaning to try my hand at blogging and forgive me in advance for any grammatical errors and omissions. My name is Jameel Freeman, Associate Director of Admissions and I am the regional representative for students residing in Maryland, DC and West Virginia. I first have to show some love to my MD, DC and WV prospective students and current Blue Jays. Let’s keep showing the world how the best students roll!

Now of course I’m kidding, we have wonderful students from all over the world; I just have a special fondness for the kids in my region! As with my colleagues, I have many other responsibilities here in Admissions but I’m really proud to serve as the Maryland representative, the home state of Johns Hopkins and much of my family.

I wanted to write a blog because it’s a great time of year to do so and I was encouraged by my colleague Daniel Creasy who directs our Hopkins Interactive website. The holidays are here and no matter what you choose to celebrate (or not!) from now until the middle of January, we will all most likely be spending time with our families. This is a great time for apple pie, UNLIMITED ESPN, College Football Bowl games (Go UNC Tar Heels!), NFL, more cake and pie, visiting that mean relative nobody wants to visit, NBA, college basketball, NHL, and yes, MORE PIE. As you can see sports and pie dominate much of my outside life and I’m very proud of it! Thank goodness the gym isn’t too far from my house!

As we move to close out 2008, let me first wish all service men and women a fast and safe return home to the States or their native country. Let us also remember those whom we have lost through death and gained through life. Finally, let us not forget those families who are facing financial difficulty due to unfortunate economic circumstances nationally and globally.

It also brings about the time of year where I get to know my colleagues extremely well as we work to admit another class of wonderful scholars to Johns Hopkins University. We will spend long days and nights from now until May (we aren’t quite done on April 1!) reviewing applicants, meeting in committee, looking at data, planning programs, eating a lot of (unhealthy) food, speaking on panels, etc. You would think that one would go crazy seeing all of these responsibilities, knowing that our social lives are pretty much non-existent until May but honestly we look forward to it. This time of year is why we are in Admissions; it’s what we were meant to do. To see the academic and extra curricular accomplishments that you students have witnessed thus far in your life is enriching. We read and discuss, praise (and shake our heads!), and try to understand what makes each of you so different and unique. It’s the reason I’ve been in higher education going on 10 years and the reason I plan to stay…unless ESPN finally hires me as a SportsCenter anchor!

Now I understand that this time of year brings nervous energy, excitement and anxiety to many applicants. Whether you applied Early Decision or Regular Decision, you are most likely nervous about the outcome that can determine the rest of your adult lives……….no pressure right? :0) With that being said, remember that we ALL have been through this. From our own personal experiences with the application process to your teachers, family,  and friends experiences through the admission process, we have all been there. The restlessness, not being able to sleep, the excitement, it’s totally normal. Regardless of the outcome of your decision, you’ll find that this is the beginning of a series of exciting moments in your life and in the end it all works out. You will find the school that will prepare you for excellence and for those attending Hopkins we love that we have the opportunity to assist with your goals. So try and relax, eat some cake and pie, watch a game or two if you like, and stay focused seniors as you move towards the process of completing your applications!

This time of year also brings on reflections for me and my time in college. I was thinking the other day how great college was for me. The great thing about being a high school student is that many of you are totally unaware of the fun and excitement that awaits you. In my opinion, your college years are hands down the best years of your life, especially if you pick the right school and you make your experience truly amazing. I had the time of my life because it was totally what I made of it. Now what school that may be lies with you and your own personal preferences and research. No school is going to be perfect and it’s up to you to make the most out of your experience at whatever school you choose. I know that many feel like there is only ONE school in the world for you and in reality, that’s probably not true. There are probably a few (at the very least) schools that are great for you, you just have to investigate! I always say this because admissions decisions will vary and many of you will get great offers of admission to your top schools and unfortunately many may not get in everywhere they hoped to. Here again, we’ve all been through it at some point in our lives and it all works out. Just remember it’s what you make of it!

College for many symbolizes growth; academically, socially and professionally. The friends you make, the faculty you interact with, the games and clubs you attend/join, the late night pizza runs you embark on, it’s all growth. You’ll grow from a young adult to an adult, you’ll gain a great education (hopefully!) and you will start to see that college wasn’t totally an academic education but more so a personal education of whom you are and what you have become. I’d say it’s 60% academic education and 40% personal education (but don’t tell your parents that-although they probably already know!). So you should be excited, the best is yet to come for you and I’m happy that by even reading this blog many of you are considering Hopkins!

For the new students arriving via early decision, I look forward to seeing you on campus. The longer I am here and the more I discover about Hopkins, the more my not so secret love affair grows with it. I suspect many of you who have applied Early Decision have found some of these things out already! I’m so proud to be a member of the Hopkins family, we are a pretty awesome group of faculty, staff and students and we welcome you with open arms to our community (no singing songs or holding hands in a circle--unless you really want to!). So as you go about your winter break, remember these simple things students: 1) The college admissions process is crazy at times but a means to a worthwhile end. 2)  Life is what we make of it and enriched by those we choose to share it with (even if it’s the mean relatives we visit!) and 3) When everything else fails, there is always ESPN, cake and apple pie! Enjoy your winter break students and welcome Early Decision Class of 2013 candidates to the Hopkins Family.

A Transfer Student's Tale: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Back in the fall, the Hopkins Insider blog had a few guest authors that shared their own personal entries. We had my Mom providing advice to parents as well as Tabitha, an international freshmen student, writing about the transition to Hopkins as an international student. I find guest authors to be a great part of the Hopkins Insider blog, because I can call on others connected to the whole admissions process who can provide their own words and expertise in areas that I am less familiar.

So today I turn to my next guest author, Tanya Lukasik, who has become in many ways my transfer admissions guru. I first connected with Tanya more than a year and a half ago through this blog, where she infamously pressured me to write more information for transfer applicants. Since that is not one of the areas I directly work with it was not one of my natural inclinations to write Transfer topics. Well, Tanya has continued to push me, and since she has become an expert in a lot of these areas I turn the Hopkins Insider blog over to her today. Enjoy!

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Following in a rather time-honored Hopkins Interactive tradition, I have listed a song title to highlight the general theme of my blog entry, the decision to embark on the transfer admissions journey, as well as to pay homage to a musical gem with significant contextual and symbolic meaning -- a classic song brought to us by no other than the ‘ultimate’ eighties band, The Clash. (Cue strum of the imaginary electric air guitar)

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Taking a moment to briefly introduce myself, my name is Tanya M. Lukasik, and I am a junior student enrolled at Johns Hopkins, double majoring in Psychological and Brain Sciences as well as Public Health, with a Pre-Medical concentration. I am interested in pursuing a career in psychiatric medicine, specifically child and adolescent psychiatry, and am originally from Long Island, New York.  I am a member of the Student Admissions Advisory Board and undeniably bring a rather unique perspective to our student admissions team, as I am a TRANSFER student -- one of the few brave souls who made the courageous decision to “go,” rather than “stay” at their previous institutions and happily ended up at Hopkins. I can state with pride and relief that I successfully survived the battle of transfer admissions, a mysterious, rather unknown undergraduate realm plagued by lengthy applications and incredibly frightening acceptance statistics; remarkably, I came out standing, unscathed, and am here to report on my transfer tales.

In an effort to reach out to the on-edge applicants who have recently submitted their transfer application(s), (the Hopkins deadline was March 15!), as well as to address the concerns of the upcoming waves of prospective transfer students, Admissions_Daniel has graciously given me the opportunity (and honor) to utilize this blog entry to offer my advice regarding the monumental decision many students, (and maybe several readers) will ponder and possibly encounter during their academic collegiate journey: the decision to transfer.“Should You Stay, or Should You Go?”

Please explain in detail why you wish to transfer to Johns Hopkins University?

Just 13 measly words! Reviewing this Johns Hopkins Application Supplement essay prompt during the summer of 2006, these thirteen words simplistically invoked such a complex, introspective personal inquiry and required an in-depth explanation highlighting why I wanted to specifically leave the ‘comfort’ of my home institution, and venture into the collegiate unknown.

What were my reasons, my motivations, my plans and my goals, and what was potentially lacking at my current university that could be offered and solved at Johns Hopkins? What was precipitating my desire to leave New York and travel to a new environment within the city of Baltimore, a campus full of new faces, new professors, and new challenges? Maybe I could sum it up with the words of the Clash front man, “If I go there will be trouble…And if I stay it will be double.” Nah, I don’t think the Admissions Committee would like that response….

“Once upon a time….” I was a sophomore at a local state university, unhappy with my overall academic experience which left me searching for a new and improved college environment, a greater scholastic challenge, and a more well-rounded undergraduate education. The limited course selections, a restrictive core curriculum, academic advising frustrations, an intellectually uninspiring campus, (rumor has it the academic buildings were designed by a prison architect), and my daily, exhausting commute, served as the perfect combination of ingredients leading to an undergraduate transfer.  Furthermore, I was interested in obtaining a top-notch pre-medical education, complete with individualized attention from professors, accessible teaching assistants, small class sizes, an abundance of science laboratories, and access to ample research and clinical opportunities, something that my current institution unfortunately could not offer.

Other valid reasons that may lead to the consideration of transferring to a new institution include:

1. Institution Size (Too small, too big? Not just right…)
2. Class Size and Types (Availability of discussions, seminars, and tutorials? Student-Teacher Ratio?)
3. Major Selection (Want to major in Neuroscience, Political Science, Public Health, Education, Classics, Basket-weaving?)
4. Course Selection and Level of Difficulty (Flexibility of Curriculum? Is it too easy, too difficult?)
5. Campus (Close to a city? Lack of pretty scenery? Safety?)
6. Student Life (Lack of a social scene, or too much partying? Campus organizations, Extracurriculars.)
7. Quality of Faculty (Is there interaction? Too involved in research? Bueller, Bueller?)
8. Off Campus Opportunities? (Research, hospitals, courts, proximity to metropolitan areas?)
9. Housing Issues (Want a chance to live on campus, or alternatively, off campus?)
10. Special Programs Offered (Want to study abroad, shadow a physician, or enroll in a class at the School of Public Health?)

Assuming the role of Sherlock Holmes, transfer student style, I went into my exploratory search looking for an institution that would meet my specific, personalized criteria. I visited numerous undergraduate admissions web sites, reviewed transfer requirements and application deadlines, and requested admissions material from universities I was interested in potentially attending during the upcoming fall.  My mailman became pretty agitated during this period, as bulky, rather heavy view books and packages from numerous colleges were sent to my home address. (Sorry Mr. McFeely!)

After narrowing down my institutional search to about ten contenders, (warning: applying to five or more schools will increase your risk for a future clinically insane diagnosis), I contacted admissions representatives with specific questions, visited admissions-based message board forums to discuss student life, (Shameless Plug: apply.jhu.edu/forums), made plans to visit five universities, took notes and snapped pictures during my campus tours, and finally, the organizational nerd that I am, I ranked my transfer university selections utilizing a “Pro-Con” List.

Important Areas to Also Consider

During the Application Phase: Meeting eligibility requirements, the time of year, your class status, your academic and professional resume, your readiness to research and visit schools, collect recommendation letters, handle transfer credits and acceptance anxiety.

During the Acceptance Phase: Are you willing to potentially move to a new campus; are you ready to meet new people coming in as a glorified freshman; are you okay with the prospect that you might graduate later than anticipated; affordability and feasibility; housing; improving your study habits; bottom line, are you ready for a totally new educational experience?

The Final Decision – Should You Stay or Should You Go?

After I received all of my acceptances during the Summer of 2007, final things that ultimately swayed my decision regarding where to transfer were:

1) My initial “PRO/CON” List analysis
2) Transfer credit processing and the acceptance of credit
3) Tuition and off campus housing costs
4) Meetings with Academic Advisors = The time they reserved to meet with me, as well as their tone, warmth, and professionalism
5) And finally, which school had imaginary trumpets blaring when I arrived…  (Please read my first guest blog, to understand)

In conclusion, the decision to transfer to a new institution is something that should not be taken lightly.  It is a process that requires the applicant to make an important personal, reflective inquiry regarding their past and their future, as well as a process that involves a tremendous amount of research, time, effort, and commitment, all boiling down to the original question, “should you stay or should you go?” I hope my transfer-related advice has served to provide some helpful assistance and to close, I’m happy to report: I’m incredibly pleased and grateful that I decided “to go…”

Applying to Hopkins from Abroad

Let me begin by wishing you all a very Happy Holidays. I hope you enjoyed the Hopkins by the Numbers quiz in my last entry. Well I am officially on holiday vacation, enjoying a week and a half of time away from the office and Baltimore. Yes, I am spending some quality time with the family, Lilly, Soze, and a stack of applications. No complaints though ... I have finally embraced the holiday spirit.

While I enjoy my time away, I turn the Hopkins Insider over to our third guest author. First there was Admissions Mark, then there was my Mom, and now I introduce you to Tabitha Moses. Tabitha is a current freshman at Hopkins, having just completed her first semester. (Read her recent Guest Blog entry.) The reason I have invited her to be a Hopkins Insider Guest Author is that she is an international student at Hopkins and can provide a unique perspective on applying to Hopkins from abroad and being an international student in Baltimore. So sit back, relax, pick-up a candy cane, and enjoy Tabitha's entry. Cheers!

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This is a blog I have wanted to write since I started applying to college here in the United States, and realized that there wasn’t really anything like it online.

Applying to college can be a difficult time (even somewhat annoying), and what makes it even worse is when you’re an international student and you have no idea what you’re doing and what the colleges want. So this is what I am here to do; I am writing a blog telling people about how I struggled my way through the application process, and how it is to be an international student here at Johns Hopkins.

I just want to begin by saying that I am only talking from my perspective as an international student; I am from England, and have gone to school there all my life and I went to a school that had only ever sent one other girl to a university in the U.S. I know that there are many other different experiences that people can have as an international applicant, and I can’t begin to describe all of them; but I do hope to touch on some of the issues that you will face in applying to U.S. schools from abroad.

First off, the question I am always asked – why go to university abroad? There are, of course, many different answers to this question, and I can only give my reasons. I have wanted to be a doctor from a young age, but I have also had many other diverse interests. For me, if I had gone to university in the U.K., I would currently be in medical school, studying only medicine. I wanted to come to the States so that I could major in something else I was interested in, before moving on to studying medicine. The idea of looking through the course catalog before each semester really excited me (yes, I realize that makes me sound like a nerd, but it’s the truth!) This past semester I took science, philosophy and psychology courses, and next semester I will be taking math, and writing courses as well. I love the fact that I can take this wide a range of courses and still be pre-med.

Then, there is the next question, why Johns Hopkins? I find this a bit more difficult of a question because I find that there are some things that are more instinctual than anything else. When I came to Hopkins it just felt right, like the place I wanted to be. As everyone knows, Hopkins is known for its medical school, and this drew me to look at the school. Another thing I liked was that, as well as all the pre-med stuff, Hopkins has strength in many other departments, like the Humanities, and I wanted to go to a school with people with a diverse range of interests, not just all pre-med.

Something I learned from applying overseas is that it is always best to see the colleges if possible. In general, even if it’s in your own country it is good to visit the campus, but especially if it’s another country it is good to see the school. This is the area in which you may be spending the next four years of your life. I know this to be especially true because I had a friend who had been thinking of applying to the schools in the U.S., but when she came over to visit colleges, she realized that she didn’t want to live in the States.

Okay, so you’ve decided you want to apply to the USA, now comes the interesting part – the applications! My first piece of advice is to start early, and I mean really early. Remember applying to schools abroad is often much, much different then applying to schools in your home country. For most schools in the States you need to take standardized exams like the SAT, the ACT, and possibly SAT II subject exams. Also, if English is not your first language then you need to take the TOEFL exam. (Thankfully, I did not have to be concerned with that issue.) Leave enough time to take these exams; most people take the SAT or ACT multiple times to try and score the best. I took my first SAT in December of my junior year, and I found that I ended up being a bit rushed for time in taking everything I wanted to. Just make sure you have an idea of what you’re doing, and don’t do what I did … I decided it would be a good idea to take my subject tests right in the middle of my AS level exams, it was a lot of extra pressure that I didn’t need.

Also, don’t think that just because you’re taking the subject for IB or A level that you’ll have learned the material for the subject tests. Have a look at some of the study guides for them to give yourself a feel for what you need to know. I know that I had to teach myself a ton of the stuff on the biology and chemistry subject tests, even though I was taking A levels in both of those subjects.

Filling in the application – that’s an interesting task. There are a few things to keep in mind when writing the application, which are generally useful for anyone, whether or not they’re an international student. Don’t try to impress the people reading the application, just be yourself. Write about what you’ve been doing, answer the questions truthfully, and don’t try to sound like who you think you should be.

Another interesting point is the grammar, and spelling, in your application. Try to make sure you use correct American grammar, and spelling, it’s surprising how many of these things are different. Also, something I was worried about, was whether admissions would take into account the fact that I hadn’t gone to an American high school, so I didn’t have some of the same opportunities that domestic students had: no chance at AP, or honors classes, and a lot of the groups, like student government, didn’t exist in my school. Don’t worry though, admissions do take all of these things into account, they look up your school, and see the opportunities you did have; you won’t be penalized for not doing something you weren’t able to.

Once you have finished the application make sure to talk to your high school counselor about what is necessary, especially if your school has not sent many children to American universities. I found in my school I had to get all the papers, and go to all of my teachers separately to explain to them what I would like them to do. Also, it would be nice to fill out envelopes to give to your teachers with the evaluations they need to fill in. Personally, I had to buy the stamps to mail each envelope; I found that one envelope with all the necessary papers cost about 3.10 to send, but some schools may do it for you. I found that with my teachers they were unsure as to how to fill out the application, so I gave them the number of the admissions office, in case they had any questions. I had to spend quite a lot of my time with my teachers explaining the application, and getting everything sorted out, so make sure you leave enough time to get everything sorted in time.

I hope that my random thoughts have helped, and in terms of the application, or anything else you might want to know, feel free to contact me and ask about anything. You can reach me on my personal message board thread: Ask JHU_Tabitha.

The Return of Admissions Mark

Life is still a bit Busy, Hectic, Crazed for me. So, since you all enjoyed his first guest entry back in September, I have asked my colleague Mark Butt to return to tell you all about his second round of recruitment travel this Fall. Enjoy!!!

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One of the most exhilarating times of the year for admissions counselors is travel season.  We at Hopkins set out to comb the planet and seek out the top students who are interested in pursuing higher education here.  That said, I’ve returned safe and sound to Baltimore after four weeks of travel.

Chinese writer and inventor Lin Yutang once said “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.”  I can most definitely attest to these sentiments.  This was my second overseas trip for Hopkins and in two weeks I was able to visit five beautiful countries in Europe.  Needless to say I was taking part in what I like to call the newest Olympic event:  Power Sight-Seeing.  This is where the traveler will make concerted efforts to visit as many locations as possible in the shortest amount of time.

In my time overseas I was traveling with my colleague Martha from Swarthmore.  And let me tell you, we had a blast.  Traveling with a colleague makes the adventures that much more fun!  It’s twice as much brain-power first of all when making efforts to navigate quickly in foreign countries which includes, but is not limited to finding hotels, catching flights, locating taxi stands, paying bills and locating schools and fairs!  We were able to visit high schools and attend three International College Fairs run by the Fulbright Commission in London, Paris and Istanbul.  In total I met over 700 prospective students who were interested in coming to Hopkins for either this coming fall or the following year. 

Like most things, familiarity is your best friend.  New locations are challenging in the sense that it takes a while to understand how to move effectively between schools, calculating appointments times and using domestic public transportation.  Traffic is almost impossible to estimate.  I never could have told you it was going to take three hours to land in Istanbul and then get to our hotel which on the map, looked close.  However, traffic was another story on Saturday night in Istanbul – you know it’s bad when the driver turns off the car!  That said, we were on time for 98% of our visits which was a pleasant surprise – and much better than anticipated. 

Perhaps some of the more notable moments of the two weeks were the following:

• Realizing I packed too many suits and having to carry them for two weeks.  Never again.
• Finding an evening to see Fiddler on the Roof at the Savoy in London.
  Strategically navigating the London tube despite the Circle & District line shutting down.  I also got stuck in the jam-packed lift at Gloucester Rd. 
• Finding myself drawn into French game shows (Des Chiffres et des Lettres) which I recognized from growing up in Canada watching TV5. 
  Having our dare-devil driver in Italy take us 100 mph on the Rome Autostrada on the way to the airport!
• The re-kindling of my love for authentic Turkish cuisine.  Menemen, anyone? 

After returning from my European adventures which I was covering for my colleague Rachel, I still had a week left of my own domestic travel in New Jersey and Delaware.  My last Explore Hopkins took place at the Crowne Plaza Cherry Hill which had about 250 people attend.  The presentation and visits were great and I was able to see some familiar faces of students and counselors.  One of the best parts of the week was having three current JHU students and one alumna attend the Explore Hopkins presentation with me!  I always love having Hopkins students and alumni at the events because once again, it’s way more fun than just hearing me talk about Hopkins being such an outstanding place. 

As for now, I have but one trip left over American Thanksgiving which is to Madrid for the ECIS Conference and fair.  Now approaches the Early Decision reading season.  This means our new building, Mason Hall, has already started to see the increase in mail volume flowing into our office.  To all the prospective students, you should receive a blue card in the mail indicating your application is complete.  We will contact students if they are incomplete during the process so my best advice is to sit tight, continue working on your other applications for Regular Decision and enjoy your final autumn of high school.   

Advice to Parents ... from Admissions Daniel's Mom

As I am pre-occupied with the emotional roller coaster that has become rooting on my New York Mets this weekend, I thought it is a perfect time for the Hopkins Insider blog to turn to its second Guest Author. This time you all get to enjoy the journalistic stylings of a very important person in my life ... my Mom.

Yes, Admissions Daniel's mother has penned a blog entry. This past summer, "Admissions Mom Rachel" joined me during a series of summer college fairs in New England. This was her second time shadowing me as I performed the recruiting aspects of my job and this year she was much more involved then just helping me keep the college fair tables stocked with materials and keeping me company while stuck in New England traffic. This year we actually chatted a lot about the big issues of my profession and while sitting in traffic our collective light bulbs went on. What a great idea to have my Mom write a blog entry for the parents out there ... sharing her thoughts and her advice. So with out further adieu, I turn this blog over to Mom. Enjoy!

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Greetings readers of my son's blog. My name is Rachel and I am Admissions Daniel's mother. This past summer I accompanied my son on one of his recruitment trips to New England. This was the second year I went with him, and what an amazing experience. Besides getting to see my son perform, I also had the chance to be a witness once again to the college search process in action for so many students and their parents. My first conclusion; things have really changed in the last 15 years since my children were looking at colleges.

As we drove around from college fair to college fair we chatted a lot about how things have changed and how chaos and stress seemingly have taken over on all fronts. However, as we chatted I also sensed a lot of clarity could be gained if students and more importantly parents, paused, took a deep breath, and patiently looked at the big picture from all sides. As we continued to chat, it was clear I had a lot to say and what better way to say my peace then taking over the Hopkins Insider blog.

(So this is blogging. Hmmm...No big deal.)

I write to the PARENTS out there. This is my advice to you all as you shadow your children as they proceed through their personal college searches. Hopefully you will find my advice helpful ... and most importantly keep reading my son's blog because I truly believe he is really good at what he does. He puts his heart and soul into what he does!

#1 - LET YOUR CHILD SPEAK

This may seems obvious, but after what I have witnessed it clearly isn't. You need to let your child speak for themselves. More importantly, encourage them to speak up and ask questions. As I watch my son do his job at the college fairs, he is much more engaged when the student is involved in the conversation. This doesn't mean that parents shouldn't ask questions, just don't dominate.

Remember, they are the ones going to college. I know it is tempting to live vicariously through your children, especially with all the opportunities available to them now, compared to what was available to us back then. But you need to let them make their own choices. Your role is to guide them, make suggestions, encourage them, at time prod them into action, and let them know what is financially available to them. Be their cheerleader, but also step back and let them grow. I guarantee, they will surprise you.

#2 - DON'T BUY INTO THE HYPE

There is so much information out there today about the college search process. However, in my opinion, so little of it is accurate or the truth.

Today's students have an abundance of information with the Internet, college guide books, guidance counselors, counselors for hire, their peers, the media ... I could go on. It seems everywhere you turn now there are stories about college admissions and finding the right college. Everyone now has an opinion. There really is a “Yin & Yang” feeling to all of this. On the one hand so much information opens up so many doors. But on the other hand you can drown in so much information.

I was shocked by how many questions and comments from both parents and students could be described as "college admissions gossip”. At times those questions seemed more prevalent. Instead the questions should have focused more on whether the college was the right fit for the student. Watching Daniel interact it seemed like lots of his time was spent dispelling myths.

Help your children to sort through all this information and decipher between factual information, personal opinions, and ridiculous myths. There are credible sources in the mix, it just takes some time and patience to ignore the hype.

#3 - GO BEYOND THE NUMBERS

If there is one thing I have seen watching Daniel read all those application year to year, it is that the numbers are just one of many factors. Your child will learn nothing about whether Hopkins is the right school for them (or other schools for that matter) by focusing on average SATs and GPAs.

Today's college bound students need to expand their searches and ultimately that will expand their horizons. If your child is considering Hopkins, he or she is probably quite gifted. One of the true pitfalls of looking at highly selective colleges is the strong tendency to focus on getting in. The gaming of the admissions process has unfortunately gotten out of hand, and is replacing what students should really be doing ... investigating the "right fit." It is a four year commitment, and how can some statistics determine fit?

Experiencing the college fairs, the students who got the most information from Daniel were the ones who wanted to discuss what was available to them such as the as the arts, sports, classes, clubs, research, etc. Those who asked questions about social life and academic fit seemed so much more adjusted, than those who focused on the numbers. There was an excitement, more confidence, and a more optimistic point of view of these students than those discussing “how to get in” questions. My advice is to make sure your son or daughter focuses their college search on questions of “fit” rather than how to gain admission.

At the same time I say this, I also understand how competitive it is to get in. So I advise way in advance of decision time, you should have a conversation about dealing with rejection. Remember again also to speak openly about the financial commitment that must be made by the whole family. Make sure they realize there is not just one school that fits, and in the end there are perfect schools for everyone.

Let me leave you with this final suggestion ... now is the time to watch in amazement as your child continues to mature and tackles this task with gusto. Your children have so much more than we did: more resources, more opportunity, more choice. Guide them and advise them, but cherish this time and this decision too. This is the time for you to LISTEN to your children, to have confidence in them, and begin to assist them with their futures. Continue to support and protect them, while at the same time enjoying the ride in the passenger seat.

And one final note ... if I was a parent of a college-bound child considering Johns Hopkins University, here are the types of questions I would have him or her asking Admissions Daniel. (Give this list to your children, it will help.)

1. You have to ask about Baltimore. Everyone has heard the rumors and concerns about life in Baltimore. I have visited many times and it is a great city that continues to improve. The Hopkins campus is beautiful, part of an extension of the city is Baltimore. Make sure to find out more about "Charm City."
2. Please ask about something other than medicine. Hopkins is so much more than medicine. I wasn't aware of their amazing programs in writing, international studies, engineering, etc. until I listened to Daniel speak about the place. Plus, you will make my son happy if you don't ask about the pre-med major.
3. Ask tons of questions about social life. Some of the best students who chatted with Daniel during the college fairs were a young lady who wanted to know more about the Hillel program and a young man who wanted to know about the baseball program. Ask whether Hopkins has your extracurricular passions. Ask about the campus, the students, and what people do for fun. Hopkins is not the place where fun comes to die, make sure you find out why that is just a myth.
4. Asking about what learning is like. Don't just ask if Hopkins has your intended major. Ask about how students learn, how they interact with faculty, how they work with each other. Statistics like class size, student to faculty ratio, number of students are all important, but you want anecdotes too. Each school has an overall academic philosophy and you need to see if that matches with the way you want to learn.
5. Ask about Hopkins Interactive. It is a great site, and more students should use all its features. (Sorry I had to put in a plug for my son.)

Well, I hope I have done the Hopkins Insider blog justice, and you all found my words insightful and helpful. Maybe Daniel will invite me back for another guest blogging stint ... I'll make sure to share baby pictures and any embarrassing stories of Daniel's childhood.

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Well, we hope you enjoyed this entry. Since I have had a few requests for an update on my niece Lilly (and my mom's granddaughter), here are some new pictures from the end of the summer and her first day of pre-pre-pre-school. She has learned so much already that she has moved to teaching Soze. Hopkins Class of 2028 here she comes!!!