Choosing which schools I wanted to apply to ended up being one of the most difficult parts of my college application process. Costs add up quickly, so I wanted to make sure I did my research before I applied to any schools. Like most people, I was familiar with Hopkins’ status and reputation, but first I had to make sure it was the right fit for me.
Here are some of the factors I took into account:
the east coast
One of the first things I had to consider before applying was Hopkins’ location. Not only is Baltimore far from Texas, but it’s in an area of the U.S. I had never been to before. Part of me was scared to live so far away from my family, but another part of me was curious to see what the East Coast was like. I knew living in the city would be a huge change from my rural home, and I didn’t really know what to expect. Most of the people in my town stay for generations. And if they leave, it’s usually to go to a different part of Texas. Hardly any of my friends planned on going out of state for college, so I knew the safe choice was to stay.
Ultimately, I didn’t want to let fear guide me. This may have been my only chance to live on the East Coast, so I decided a temporary change would be a fun experience. I was still extremely hesitant to leave, but my family reassured me if I didn’t like it or missed them too much, I could always come home. Their unwavering support allowed me to keep an open mind and see what the East Coast has to offer. I’ve had a blast living here, and I’m so glad I took the leap.
financial aid
The most important factor I had to contemplate was affordability. I hardly let this impact the schools I applied to, but it definitely influenced my final decision. At first, I didn’t think I would be able to afford a private school like Hopkins. When I read my acceptance letter to my family, we were elated. Everyone was filled with surprise, happiness, and awe. We all started to tear up because we knew attending Hopkins was a life-changing opportunity. I’ll never forget the silence that followed when my mom lowered her voice and asked about my financial aid offer. I had wrongly believed Hopkins wouldn’t be a realistic school to attend. Not only was it affordable, but it was also one of my cheapest options. Thankfully I didn’t initially rule out Hopkins because I assumed it would be too expensive.
academic freedom & research
Although my favorite subject has always been science, writing was a close second. I looked for a school where I could take classes that fit both areas and my other interests like Spanish. Hopkins ended up being the perfect place for this! I was excited to major in neuroscience and minor in Spanish for the professions. I have always wanted to be fluent in Spanish, especially since Texas has such a large Spanish-speaking population. I didn’t expect this plan to change, but once I saw that Hopkins offered American Sign Language (ASL), I knew I couldn’t pass up that opportunity. Although I still want to learn Spanish, I’ve had a blast taking a class I couldn’t find at other schools.
Something else that stood out to me was the countless research opportunities here. If students email enough people, they’re just about guaranteed to find a lab that aligns with their interests. I was lucky to join my lab when my ASL teacher told my class it was recruiting. Other academic factors I noted before applying were the numerous study abroad opportunities and the ease with which students can change majors and double/triple major.
different types of Support
I wanted to make sure whichever school I chose would have ample resources to support me not just through my classes, but also through the adjustment period of coming to college, and with advising for my next steps after graduating. I was pleased to find out Hopkins has plenty of tutoring programs, which I knew I’d take advantage of. These have ended up being extremely useful for some of my larger introductory classes like chemistry and calculus 2.
Hopkins also has a one-week orientation for first-year students right before classes start so they can adjust. Here, we’re matched with a First-Year Mentor (FYM) who shows us around campus, helps us make friends, and gives us advice about being a student at Hopkins. Knowing this calmed my nerves about moving so far away and encouraged me to apply here. Pre-professional advising has also assisted me a lot with understanding where I need to be as a premed student, and the Life Design Lab has worked with me to tweak my resumé, prepare for life after college, and teach me networking skills. With so many different support resources, Hopkins had everything I was searching for in this category.
Campus climate
Lastly, I was looking for a welcoming environment where students would help one another when they needed it. I wanted to study with friends like I did in high school, but also have time for fun outings and hobbies. This was hard to gauge before I applied and even before I chose Hopkins. I’ve found Homewood campus has been great in finding a sense of community, and one of my favorite things to do when I meet someone new is ask where they’re from. It’s always fun hearing their unique answers and learning about their hometown.
I was able to tour the campus before I made my college decision, and that ultimately sealed the deal. I happened to visit during Spring Fair, which meant bouncy castles and food trucks lining the quads. Eating crab Mac & cheese and free donuts definitely left me with a good taste of Hopkins, but I knew it was the right fit when a random student saw me with my dad and struck up a quick conversation. She told me the neuroscience community is great and I’d really love it at Hopkins.
I’m so glad I did my research before I applied to Hopkins. It helped me realize this school was the perfect match for me and knowing that strengthened my application when it came time to apply. It also calmed my nerves when I enrolled and later when I came to Baltimore. I know I made the right choice by attending Hopkins!