Marina G.
Class of 2014
Ask Marina a Question!Read my blog: The Scenic Route—Marina G.
Hometown: Ithaca, NY
Major: Public Health Studies
Current residence: Charles Commons
Current residence: Building A—Check out my Cribs video
Campus involvement: Student Admissions Advisory Board, WJHU Radio, Women's Pre-Health Leadership Society, Blue Key Society, Alpha Phi Sorority, Hopkins Emergency Response Teaching Unit
Why I chose Johns Hopkins: My decision to attend Hopkins was completely about fit. From the moment I walked on campus, everything just felt exactly the way I'd imagined I would feel when I found the "right" university. I loved the way the people in admissions seemed like they actually cared about what I had to say; I loved the campus and the surrounding area; and, most importantly, I loved how strong yet flexible the academic programs were.
Favorite Class: My favorite class is Introduction to Physiological Psychology with Linda Gorman. While it's called a psychology class, it's actually one of the introductory courses neuroscience majors have the option of taking and is very scientific and specific. This is my hardest class by far; not only does Professor Gorman get so excited that she flies through slides, but there is also an incredible wealth of material and all of it is quite complicated! However, I love having such an animated professor and everything we learn is ridiculously interesting and really pertinent to my future goal of becoming a neurologist or neurosurgeon.
The biggest difference between high school and Johns Hopkins that I've experienced: I went to a very large public high school in upstate New York. While I had really close relationships with a lot of the teachers, I have never been in classes with teachers quite so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the material as they are at Hopkins. My Biological Anthropology professor, for example, will take tangents during lectures to discuss his primate research in South America and Africa. My physics professor, despite teaching a 300-person lecture, is incredibly approachable and personally puts on much smaller review sessions for students before exams. It's so incredible that these extremely intelligent, busy, and revered people are willing to put so much time and attention into even their beginner students and are so excited to have the opportunity to share their knowledge with us.
Why I'm glad I chose Johns Hopkins: I'm glad I chose Hopkins because, as corny as it sounds, it's exactly how I'd imagined and hoped it would be. When I was doing my (extensive) college research, I reached the conclusion that Hopkins would be a perfect fit for me academically, socially, pre-professionally, and emotionally. And although I'm still a freshman, I am so incredibly happy here and feel so well placed that I can't imagine fitting so well anywhere else.
My favorite character from a movie/book/television series: Nancy Botwin from Weeds. She's so sassy and independent the way few women, even in modern media, are. While her life decisions aren't ones I would necessarily make, I love her sardonic humor and ability to talk her way out of pretty much any situation.
Favorite place on the Homewood campus: My favorite place on the Homewood campus is the Breezeway. One of the reasons I came to Hopkins, as shallow as it sounds, is because of how gorgeous the campus is, and there are few views better than from here, the main walkway between the "upper" and "lower" parts of campus. There are always different groups advertising fun events or trying to solicit new members, and at least a few times a week someone is giving away free stuff (candy, lanyards, T-shirts, etc.). The entire Breezeway is a bustle of activity at all hours since practically every student has to walk through it half a dozen times per day, and I love that it's such a central location of our campus.
Three unusual things about myself:
- I was voted "Most Likely To Pull A Kanye At Graduation" for my senior superlative for my high school's yearbook.
- I'm the first person in my family born in the United States.
- I'm a vegan.
