Johns Hopkins

John’s Hopkins is known as a pre-med powerhouse and for good reason.  It has one of the top research hospitals in the country, the number one undergraduate bio-medial engineering program in the country and the number one school for public health studies.  What doesn’t always get the same attention is its top rated international studies program, dynamic Writing Seminar, french program, highly respected school of engineering and its special relationship with the Peabody Conservatory for music.  

Perhaps because of the reputation for pre-med Hopkins is also often considered highly competitive.  Students however are quick to clarify that this does not mean cut-throat.  Rather, the school is filled with some of the brightest students in the country who are passionate about their interests and want to learn.  They have a clear vision of what they want but they also take the time to help each other.  Help is also offered by teacher assistants who don’t teach the classes but are available to support the students through the learning process.  

Hopkins does not have a core curriculum but rather has distribution requirements which are easily fulfilled.  Students can declare their majors after freshman year. This adds to dynamic of attracting students with clear passions who know what they want.  This is not a school that provides a lot of hand holding.  On the other hand, it does provide a lot of opportunity for those who are ready.  Even freshman are provided great research opportunities.  Hopkins takes pride in providing learning and living classes, learning takes place in the classroom and living takes place through the robotics labs, the operating room and other opportunities.  They say for every one hour of class, students have 2 - 3 hours of work outside the classroom.

Howard University

Some consider Howard University the nation’s pre-eminent black university and with good reason.  Howard has connections all over the country and works hard to bring the fruits of those relationships to its campuses and students. These benefits translate into grants, internships, jobs and more.  In addition, the school strives to make sure their students learn and succeed.   Many students profess that their week is dominated by studying and the weekend is for their social life.  Some academic areas are seen as more rigorous than others.  African American Studies , Business and Dentistry are all noted for their strong programs.  The most popular major is biology.  

Students are also seen as driven with a focus on career goals, academics, political activism, and community service.  Some students do feel the pressure.  Having confidence and self-esteem helps.  

Not surprisingly, a majority of the students are African American.  Diversity  comes from the strong international community within the student population including people from Spain, England, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Nigeria.....  Nationally,  the top three draws for Howard students are 1. Maryland, 2. New York and 3. California.  Housing can be difficult after freshman year.  The higher the grade point average the better your lottery number with regard to housing.            

Catholic University

Catholic University is the national university of the Catholic church and the only university established by the US Catholic bishops. As such, it has a core curriculum that stresses both philosophy and theology.  Other academic issues worth noting is the school’s highly regarded architecture program.  It is the only catholic college to have an architecture program and also arguably the best architecture program in DC. The nursing school is also highly noted and provides its students with internships and other opportunities in over 20 hospitals.  Lastly, the school of music is well recognized and viewed as a great option for students who would like to continue pursuing their interest in music but are not ready to make a commitment to a conservatory.  

Like other schools in the nation’s capital, CU’s DC location is a huge advantage for it’s students, providing them great opportunities and internships.  Job postings are reviewed in accordance with Catholic teachings. 

DC also plays a large role in students social lives.  It is not unusual for students to go out to the city every weekend. There is a metro stop right by the school which allows students easy access throughout the city.  

Being the national university of the catholic diocese, it should not be surprising that 80% of the students are catholic.  Many students tend to come from the mid-atlantic area, attended Catholic high school and are fairly conservative.  The conservative nature of the institution is also reflected in the school’s policies.  The school maintains quiet hours in the dorms and no guests are allowed after midnight.

George Washington University

Like schools in DC, GWs strength lies in its location.  Great internships, great speakers, great instructors, great job opportunities....  Unlike other colleges and universities in the area, GW is more integrated both literally and figuratively. GW's main campus is in the heart of DC, an area called Foggy Bottom.  While the Foggy Bottom campus consists of a specific set of streets (19th - 24th St and E St. to Pennsylvania and New Hampshire Ave.) when walking through the area you wouldn't necessarily know you are walking through a university campus.  GW has a second location, Mount Vernon, for a more traditional green experience.  Many classes are held at mount Vernon but it is a secondary campus and does not provide all that the main campus does.  You could not spend all four years only on the mount Vernon campus but you could spend four years on the Foggy Bottom campus.

As they say in their information sessions, GW is not for someone looking for a traditional college experience.  Rather it's for someone ready for real life experiences.  For someone searching for an adult lifestyle, GW students have it.  They are balancing the responsibilities of the classroom with internships and other opportunities living in a dynamic city offers.  GW also stresses that their instructors bring real world experiences with them into the classroom.  Many combine their teaching responsibilities with jobs at the Washington Post, NIH, the State Department.... Classes also take students to the National Zoo, the National Portrait Gallery and the Kenney Center to name a few.  

GW has several colleges within the university.  Undergraduates can take classes in the:

• Columbian College of Arts and Sciences which also includes the School of Media and Public Affairs and the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration 
• School of Engineering and Applied Science
• School of Business
• Elliott School of International Affairs
• School of Public Health and Services
• School of Nursing

American University

Located in a beautiful residential area of Washington DC, one of the primary strengths of AU is that it is in the nation’s capital.  Because of its location, AU can offer its students great internships, one of the best career services in the country and a classroom that extends to capital hill.  Its not unusual for a student to have a class assignment that requires  students to go to Congress and listen to hearings regarding various issues.  Furthermore, because of its location, AU is able to attract strong speakers to campus.  Not surprisingly students at AU tend to be politically active.  Its also a diverse student body with representation throughout the country and world.  What might be surprising about AU is that although a city school, it has a gorgeous 89 acre campus and is designated a national aborteum.  It was also ranked 13th for “Best Quality of Life” in by Princeton Review in 2009.  AU is a mid-sized test optional school with 5 colleges within the universtiy (arts & sciences, business schools, communications, international service and public affairs). At AU students are described as active learners, passionately involved and contributing to their communities.  

MIZZOU

A top research university, one of the top 3 journalism schools in the country and a nationally ranked agriculture program... are we talking about our own state university?  Yes, we are and there’s more that might surprise you.  The philosophy of a MIZZOU education is very hands on wether its the student run local tv news program, the 7,000 circulation local daily newspaper, bed and breakfast, restaurant or the many internships, labs and scholarly opportunities.  Students can participate in research as early as freshman year. 

It is a big (1, 358 acre) beautiful school located in a charming town in the center of the state.  Because it’s only 2 hours away, St Louis remains Mizzou’s most popular hometown for its students. With 32,00 students Mizzou could be considered its own bustling  metropolis but the school smartly has made it easier for students to find their way by creating “Freshman Interest Groups” (FIGs).  These freshman groups  are comprised of 15 -20 students  who all have  similar interests, live in the same dorm and share 3 classes.  This means from day one you have people to eat meals with and a built in study group.  There are also “Learning Communities” for students freshman - senior year.  Their role is very similar to the FIGs. who have similar interests.  Last but not least, MIZZOU is relatively kind on the pocketbook, voted a best value by US News and World Report.

Vanderbilt University

What makes Vanderbilt special?  Well, there’s more than one answer to that questions.  First, the music culture of the city of Nashville infiltrates and flourishes within the university.  Not only is there the highly respected Blair School of Music but music permeates the social life.  There’s the Quake music festival in the Fall and the Rights of Spring 2 day out door music festival right before finals. And these are not country music extravaganza’s.  2/3’s of the music in Nashville is not country.    Sony recording studios are literally right next door.

A second distinction and more important to many, is the fact that the school is one of very few in the U.S.  that is a need blind, no loan school.  What does that mean in english?  The school accepts students without considering their financial position at all and then guarantees financial aid through grants and scholarships, not loans, meaning the financial aid received beyond the parents contribution (EFC) does not have to be repaid.

In addition, the school has a strong commitment to community service.  Over 2/3’s of the student body participate in community service.  A popular activity is Alternative Spring Break where students spend their spring break doing volunteer work nationally and internationally.   Over 50% of the student body participates in this at least once.

A final distinction is their commitment to research, particularly undergraduate research.  Last year the school received over $57 million in research grants involving 120 centers, institutes & laboratories.  They rank 20th in federal research and development funding.  

These strengths only begin to scratch the surface as to what makes Vanderbilt special.  There’s so much more to this little oasis in a metropolitan city.