Should I Go To Johns Hopkins University

Should I Go To Johns Hopkins University The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Abir is a New York City tutor specializing in Chemistry tutoring, ISEE prep tutoring, SSAT prep tutoring, Writing tutoring, and more. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2011 with a Bachelors degree in Behavioral Biology. Check out his review of his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Abir: Johns Hopkins is situated perfectly in the northern part of Baltimore right at the border between urban downtown Baltimore and suburban neighborhoods. As such, I felt very safe on campus because of the numerous attentive security personnel. There are multiple public transportation options, such as the Baltimore MTA and Circulator to travel to the Inner Harbor or the College Town Shuttle to visit the incredible indoor mall in Towson. However, the buses are not always punctual and I didnt truly appreciate Baltimore for the charming city it is until I had my own car. However, having a car is not a necessity; all of Johns Hopkins campuses, including the Medical Institute, School of Public Health, and Peabody are available via the free JHMI shuttle. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Abir: In my experience, the faculty at Johns Hopkins is easily approachable and available for study questions as well as informal career advising. If a student shows preparation and thought with regard to their academic and career work, the faculty will show a vested interest in your success. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Abir: Dorm life at Hopkins can be an amazing experience. There are numerous new housing options such as the recently erected Charles Common. The dining options during freshman and sophomore years are not numerous, but all the venues make a concerted effort to provide the most diverse options possible. Options include the Fresh Food Caf, a cafeteria style option primarily for freshmen and sophomores; Levering Hall, a great lunch spot that offers hand-made sandwiches, Mexican food, a salad bar, and a grill; and the Charles Street Market, which serves as a small grocery store with options for hand-made Boars Head sandwiches and its own Einstein Brothers Bagels. There are numerous opportunities for socialization, which typically begin and end with Greek-sponsored events. However, the city of Baltimore itself provides excellent opportunities for off-campus fun as well. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Abir: Johns Hopkins prides itself in its focus on the sciences, particularly health and engineering, as well as creative writing. Approximately 90% of the student body focuses on a health or biology-related major or an engineering major. I studied Behavioral Biology, a relatively new and small major. I focused on Behavioral Biology because I was able to tailor it to my personal interests in behavior and neuroscience well because of it was a nascent major. The university did a great job supporting my interests; this is not surprising, considering the number of premedical students at Johns Hopkins. If you are planning to be a doctor, an engineer, a researcher, or a writer, I would highly recommend Johns Hopkins to all. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Abir: It was not difficult at all to meet people and make friends. Freshman year is chock-full of events that foster meaningful socialization, and most people find a solid friend group by the end of the year. Having said that, many students are very academic and career-oriented and as a result, it can be difficult to find a diverse array of friends in terms of academic and career goals. Greek life plays a significant role in campus social life, but it can be easily avoided, if you choose. It is all a matter of preference and differs from student-to-student. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Abir: The Career Center at Hopkins is unparalleled. There are numerous job fairs and any motivated student will find exactly what they seek. The close proximity of Washington, D.C. provides numerous career opportunities ranging from research to corporate positions. Other student support services, such as pre-health advising, are exceedingly helpful, though often very intense. It will harden you as a student and potential applicant for any and all graduate programs, ultimately grooming you to be the best you can be. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Abir: In my experience, the library at Johns Hopkins is the best in the world. They have a serious commitment to consistently improve it year after year. With the addition of the new Brody Learning Commons and the recent renovation of Gilman Hall, there is no shortage of places to study, all found in a wide range of environments. This is absolutely one of the best advantages of attending Johns Hopkins. The student union is lacking, mostly because there is none that exists; however, the student body does an excellent job of providing events and various places to meet and socialize. All study and dorm areas are almost always easily available and spacious, though some of the hot spots can get overrun during exam season. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Abir: I cannot stress enough how much I love Baltimore. There are several amazing places to eat and visit from the Inner Harbor to the surrounding neighborhoods. Baltimore truly lives up to its name as the Charm City with its own unique charm and attraction you just have to know where to go. Additionally, Washington, D.C. is a short car trip or train ride away and you can travel virtually anywhere via the DC Metro. Most students live on or near campus, but whether or not a student goes to the downtown area or stays around campus varies on an individual basis. Most students, however, do visit the downtown area regularly. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Abir: The student body consists of approximately 5,000 undergraduates. This is a great number because you still get the small class sizes in certain classes, but there are great enough numbers of students to allow for a great amount of diversity within each class. I was generally pleased with the class size, though I would have preferred if some of the basic classes had less students. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Abir: Nearly all of my most memorable experiences at Hopkins have been with the Johns Hopkins Tutorial Project, a volunteer organization which pairs Hopkins students as tutors with elementary and middle school students from the local community. Working every day to make a difference in another students life while utilizing my academic skills was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. This is a great representation of the incredible array of volunteer opportunities available at Johns Hopkins. Check out Abirs tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

10 Common Italian Stereotypes That Are Actually True

10 Common Italian Stereotypes That Are Actually True Brooke Neuman Italy, the land of contemporary fashion, historical art and men who adore their mothers, hand-gesturing enthusiasts, and gatherings about Dante? Actually, yes! While most Italian stereotypes are inaccuratefor example, all Italians are not mobsters and the men dont look like Super Mariothere are  a handful of stereotypes that hold some small kernel of truth. Below are the  10 most common Italian stereotypes that are actually true. 10 Common Italian Stereotypes 1. Italians Cant Live Without Pasta Italians live for foodin particular pasta. In fact, Italians consume the most pasta in the world, averaging 60 pounds a year for every man, woman, and child in the country. While most Americans cook dry pasta out of a box, Italians make pasta with precision from scratch. This dedication to quality plus the fact that Italians are the top consumers of pasta, makes Italy the champion of pasta. 2. Italians  Talk With Their Hands What if you could  communicate with someone only through hand gestures? Well, in Italy, you can! Italians use hand gestures to  enliven conversations, strengthen their point, and communicate on a non-verbal level. Theres a running joke in Italy that you can understand a conversation thats out of hearing range just from watching  someones  hand gestures. This endearing habit makes Italians some of the most expressive and passionate  speakers in the world. 3. Italians are All About La  Famiglia Family is so important in Italy that youll find that many Italians either live close to their parents or in the same house. In fact, its common for adults in their  20s and 30s to live with their parents. The  ties that bind families together are undeniably strong. Families often gather weekly for a meal or  stay in close contact. And yes, mamma rules the roost. 4. Italians are Habitually Late Everything in Italy happens on its own timeline, including work and appointments. If you comment on someones tardiness, most Italians will tell you that they just wanted to stop for  a coffee or smoke a cigarette before arriving, and that they were in fact on timeItalian time! This relaxed mindset can also be seen on the streets, as most people walk at a relatively leisurely pace. While habitual lateness is viewed as a negative thing in the United States, in Italy it is a reflection of taking life slowly and appreciating the moment. 5. Italians are Die-hard Football  Fans Juventus, Milan, Interâ€"these are just a few of the most famous names youll hear being thrown around when Italians are discussing football. Italians take soccer very seriously, and when theres a game on, all attention is directed toward it. Italians cant get enough of football because its a  chance for them to unite with their local team and express their regional pride. Since Italy was first composed of individual regions, Italians mostly identify with their regional culture rather than with Italy as a whole. 6. Italians Love a Good Cappuccino Breakfast in Italy is sacred. Unlike a  typical American breakfast, which includes eggs, bacon, and toast, an authentic Italian breakfast usually includes a cornetto (similar to a croissant) and a cappuccino. The quality of cappuccino in Italy, and coffee in general, is taken very seriously as well. Italians love the mix of coffee, milk and foam, and its an art in itself. Italians will travel blocks to find the best cappuccino. 7. Italians are Obsessed with Fashion Like coffee, fashion is wildly popular in Italy. Just look at all of the famous designers that hail from Italy, including Prada, Armani, Versacethe list goes on. Italians feel an obligation to fare la bella figura, or appear nicely in all respects, and fashion is a big component of that. While everything doesnt have to be designer, Italians like to wear high-quality fabrics.  Individualism is also valued in Italy, and men arent afraid to wear bright colors. In fact, dont be surprised if you  see men wearing orange, blue, or pink pants. 8. Italians Arent Scared of Public Affection Italians are no strangers to affection. In fact, its very common to see lovers embracing and kissing one another in public. Whats more, dont be  surprised to see two male friends expressing affection by walking closely together, perhaps with one arm across the others back for a few moments as they talk  and stroll. The warmth and outgoing nature of Italian culture encourages the expression of emotions, whether its crying, screaming, or showing affection. This is one of the reasons why Italians greet one another with the  classic kissing of the cheeks. 9. Italians Love  the  Opera A nation riveted by Puccini, Rossini and Bellini, Italians love the opera. Hordes of people  attend outdoor performances in amphitheaters, and its not surprising to find people discussing their favorite opera composer or the last performance they saw. Italians are very well-versed in opera and have strong opinions about the art form. Opera is similar to soccer in terms of  its widespread appreciation, attendance, and passion. It also showcases the beauty of the Italian language, which is another reason why it is beloved throughout Italy. 10. Italians Cant Get Enough of Dantes Divine Comedy Ask any Italian to recite the Divine Comedy and chances are they will be able to recite at least  some, if not a substantial amount. Italians are required to dedicate a significant amount of time studying each part of the Divine Comedyâ€"Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. Dante is idolized in Italy for writing in the most purest form of Italian, the Tuscan dialect.  The famed poet  is so popular youll  find societies devoted to studying the  medieval text. Well, there you have it. Can you think of any more Italian stereotypes we should add to the list? Do you agree or disagree with some of them? Let us know in the comments below! Post Author:  Nadia B. Nadia B. teaches Italian in New York, NY. She graduated summa cum laude from New York University, with a double degree in Italian Language and Literature and Classical Music Performance.  Learn more about Nadia here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher