Convince my teenager to consider Johns Hopkins/Baltimore
Feb 18th, 2008, 08:30 AM
#24
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First of all, if you guys have the right to highjack a thread asking about sights to see in Baltimore and turn it into the book you wish you could write on college admissions but no one asked you, I have the right to call you on your nonsense.
Second, the OP has left the thread for the time being, so you don't know if she's bothered or not. Maybe she's not. I am.
I clicked on the thread because I like Baltimore and assumed the discussion might be about, hey, Baltimore!
Second, the OP has left the thread for the time being, so you don't know if she's bothered or not. Maybe she's not. I am.
I clicked on the thread because I like Baltimore and assumed the discussion might be about, hey, Baltimore!
Feb 18th, 2008, 08:34 AM
#25
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Y'know, the title of this post is what prompted most of the posts here: "convince my teenager..." That's a red flag for just about anyone who's been through the college-search -- including both students and parents. Actually it's a red flag for a teen or a parent of a teen -- "convincing" isn't a trouble-free concept.
Cindyeo hasn't been back today and perhaps she got put off by the advice-givers, but it's not nuts for posters to have responded to how she framed her question.
Cindyeo -- we really don't know enough about what she's comparing the campus and the city to. It may not be just Baltimore but ANY city.
Cindyeo hasn't been back today and perhaps she got put off by the advice-givers, but it's not nuts for posters to have responded to how she framed her question.
Cindyeo -- we really don't know enough about what she's comparing the campus and the city to. It may not be just Baltimore but ANY city.
Feb 18th, 2008, 08:39 AM
#26
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cindyeo wrote " and she does want a mid sized university in a city setting."
I'm having trouble thinking of any mid-sized university in a city setting that doesn't have sketchy areas around it. Can you give us an idea of what it is about Baltimore that she didn't like -- and what cities, universities she does like?
(NewbE, there's a whole thread on Baltimore you seem to have missed.)
I'm having trouble thinking of any mid-sized university in a city setting that doesn't have sketchy areas around it. Can you give us an idea of what it is about Baltimore that she didn't like -- and what cities, universities she does like?
(NewbE, there's a whole thread on Baltimore you seem to have missed.)
Feb 18th, 2008, 09:41 AM
#28
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Be careful showing her the tourist side or "better parts" of Baltimore. If those areas are not where she will spend time as a student, then they are irrelevant.
For example, the "main line" area of Philadelphia is lovely, but I never went there as a Penn student.
If she's just a junior and you've already shown her JH once, why go back for another weekend? Won't she think you are pushing this school on her? If she didn't like it that much, show her some other mid-sized university in a city. There are so many others, Rice, Emory, Penn, Univ. of Chicago, Washington U., etc. Visit some other schools and perhaps she will reconsider JH. Remember that she is going to the school , not you. It really doesn't matter if you love it, if she doesn't.
For example, the "main line" area of Philadelphia is lovely, but I never went there as a Penn student.
If she's just a junior and you've already shown her JH once, why go back for another weekend? Won't she think you are pushing this school on her? If she didn't like it that much, show her some other mid-sized university in a city. There are so many others, Rice, Emory, Penn, Univ. of Chicago, Washington U., etc. Visit some other schools and perhaps she will reconsider JH. Remember that she is going to the school , not you. It really doesn't matter if you love it, if she doesn't.
Feb 18th, 2008, 10:03 AM
#29
I agree with padams. You do want to get insight from students themselves. When we were in DC we were amazed at the numbers of college aged kids on Connecticut Ave, far from GWU and Georgetown but near the cheaper restaurants and bars. Many college web sites have live chats with students. She really does need to do this herself so she can "own" the process.
I'm sorry if you were turned off by some of the advice given here.
Many of us have recently been through the college search process or are smack dab in the middle of it. I don't think anyone sounded judgemental, just helpful. I found some of the info helpful myself. I might suggest that DD look at Vanderbilt. She (and I) didn't like Elon at all as much as we thought LOL.
I'm sorry if you were turned off by some of the advice given here.
Many of us have recently been through the college search process or are smack dab in the middle of it. I don't think anyone sounded judgemental, just helpful. I found some of the info helpful myself. I might suggest that DD look at Vanderbilt. She (and I) didn't like Elon at all as much as we thought LOL.
Feb 19th, 2008, 09:49 AM
#31
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Please, if the OP didn't CARE if her daughter attended Johns Hopkins then what would BE the point of returning to see the "better" parts?
So, how anyone can say this isn't a "push"...OK..perhaps just a big ole NUDGE I'm not sure.
So, how anyone can say this isn't a "push"...OK..perhaps just a big ole NUDGE I'm not sure.
Feb 19th, 2008, 10:27 AM
#32
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It sounds like the OP just wants her daughter to give this excellent college a fair shot. Doesn't sound like she's going to ram it down her throat, but sounds like she just wants her to have all the info and make a fair assessment based on all the info.
Mar 6th, 2008, 02:12 PM
#33
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Sorry...I know this is off the travel topic....
After reading Linda8 comment about campus safety in the city it really got me thinking.....I have always been comfortable with the idea of my college student in a city, because the security seems so much better than the small schools we visited and I believe much crime on campus is student on student so being out of the city does not really protect your child....but Linda8...you have to do what you are comfortable with. My daughter would never be happy at a rural or suburban campus so we are doing the city thing.
Anyway, just read an interesting article in Reader's Digest on Campus Safety and Johns Hopkins was number one!! along with many city campus' in the top 20. Check it out at rd.com and put campus safety survey in the search.
After reading Linda8 comment about campus safety in the city it really got me thinking.....I have always been comfortable with the idea of my college student in a city, because the security seems so much better than the small schools we visited and I believe much crime on campus is student on student so being out of the city does not really protect your child....but Linda8...you have to do what you are comfortable with. My daughter would never be happy at a rural or suburban campus so we are doing the city thing.
Anyway, just read an interesting article in Reader's Digest on Campus Safety and Johns Hopkins was number one!! along with many city campus' in the top 20. Check it out at rd.com and put campus safety survey in the search.
Mar 6th, 2008, 02:26 PM
#34
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Come on, guys, Cindy is not trying to force her daughter, just to influence, and show me a parent who is not guilty in that 
And her daughter is a junior, not a senior who must decide right now. They all have another year to think it over.
And her daughter is a junior, not a senior who must decide right now. They all have another year to think it over.
Mar 6th, 2008, 02:31 PM
#35
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Why is it so important that YOU love the school? It is for her....if she feels forced and doesn't like it, it is not worth the price you might pay in her eyes. I have a child who went to Michigan and I wanted her to go somewhere else...am glad I kept my mouth shut
Mar 6th, 2008, 02:35 PM
#36
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Just to clarify....Johns Hopkins was number one for safest!!
Cindyeo....I hope you have a great visit to Baltimore in April and good luck with your college travels. We have seen a lot of great places we may never have visited otherwise. My husband just had my daughter in Madison, Wisconsin. I don't think she'll end up there, but my husband wants to go back and spend a weekend. They loved it at 6 degrees so it must be really lovely in the Spring.
Cindyeo....I hope you have a great visit to Baltimore in April and good luck with your college travels. We have seen a lot of great places we may never have visited otherwise. My husband just had my daughter in Madison, Wisconsin. I don't think she'll end up there, but my husband wants to go back and spend a weekend. They loved it at 6 degrees so it must be really lovely in the Spring.
Mar 6th, 2008, 02:45 PM
#37
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Regarding school safety statistics. They are very misleading - and this is from the perspective of a parent of a son who is a student at a city I consider above-average in dangerousness. (Savannah)
When the bill was passed requiring colleges to report crime statistics, the loophole for urban campus makes these numbers questionable. As was explained to us at freshman orientation, the statistics refer to crime ON college property. For urban schools, that means mostly inside buildings - as streets are public. There is usually less green space than at suburban or rural schools.
Also, since at city colleges, many students commute or live off-campus, these apartments are not included in statistics, in contrast to dorms that are.
Northeastern University (Boston) was also high on the safety list. This is laughable as the college is in an area of the city one would consider less safe than other areas of Boston.
Not trying to hijack thread, but commenting on person who noted that John Hopkins rated #1 in safety.
When the bill was passed requiring colleges to report crime statistics, the loophole for urban campus makes these numbers questionable. As was explained to us at freshman orientation, the statistics refer to crime ON college property. For urban schools, that means mostly inside buildings - as streets are public. There is usually less green space than at suburban or rural schools.
Also, since at city colleges, many students commute or live off-campus, these apartments are not included in statistics, in contrast to dorms that are.
Northeastern University (Boston) was also high on the safety list. This is laughable as the college is in an area of the city one would consider less safe than other areas of Boston.
Not trying to hijack thread, but commenting on person who noted that John Hopkins rated #1 in safety.
Mar 6th, 2008, 03:09 PM
#38
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It was not strictly about crime...also fire safety, emergency preparedness, safety education for incoming students, etc....and I agree that you have to take all of it with a grain of salt. Anyway...I was not trying to start a discussion on college crime....Just trying to follow up on cindyeo "convince my teenager to consider Johns Hopkins/Baltimore".
Mar 6th, 2008, 03:17 PM
#39
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This may be a bit off the subject (what's the subject?), but have many of you known of kids who go to the college they choose (and love when they visit) only to find they absolutely hate it once they actually attend? I don't know if this was unusual or not, but my son is in his 2nd semester of college and he has 5 good friends (and a few people he knows but isn't really friendly with) who were THRILLED to be going to the college of their choice only to absolutely hate it before the end of the Fall semester. They've all transferred to other colleges for the current semester. Was it a matter of having unrealistic expectations of their initial college choice that weren't fulfilled?
My son wasn't thrilled with his choice either, but I think that was his own fault since I think the main reason he chose it was just that it was far from home. He also changed schools for this semester, but for a different reason than his friends. He actually went back to his school for the spring, but got a last-minute opportunity to go to a college out-of-state to play sports, so he went without even visiting the school or the state.
Just curious...
My son wasn't thrilled with his choice either, but I think that was his own fault since I think the main reason he chose it was just that it was far from home. He also changed schools for this semester, but for a different reason than his friends. He actually went back to his school for the spring, but got a last-minute opportunity to go to a college out-of-state to play sports, so he went without even visiting the school or the state.
Just curious...
Mar 6th, 2008, 06:41 PM
#40
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Hi jlaughs, oh yes, several young people in my family insisted they knew which school they wanted to go. All out of state of course as they too wanted to get far from home. Without even giving it much thought I can think of five offhand that hated their choice within several months. And a couple more that made good decisions and loved their choices.
