Johns Hopkins University

I was a head TA for Applied EQ for a couple years. The class is smaller than gen chem, so you get more individual help. The cohort is more competent and engaged, making discussions more productive. It's more open-ended with an independent project and sunscreen lab, which prepares you for research. It also rehashes gen chem 1 concepts from an advanced perspective, solidifying your understanding. Both professors I had were passionate and great instructors. If you enjoy chemistry, I highly recommend it.

I find the quizzes pretty easy as long as I study, and the support here is amazing—office hours, pilot program, and more. You'd have to try hard to do badly.

As a recent JHU graduate in BME and CS, I think the admissions process really values a genuine love for learning. My essays were about tinkering with cardboard, not directly related to my major, but they showed initiative and persistence. The best students I met were those who took harder classes and research out of pure interest. I didn't have standout ECs (just tutoring and orchestra), but the essays mattered most.

I wouldn't recommend taking ACER just for gen chem credits if you already have AP credit. Taking orgo and biochem directly won't hurt for most med school pre-reqs. There might be rare exceptions, but it's not something to stress over. The real thing to consider is whether you're ready for the workload of orgo. If you have the diligence and time management, go for it. Otherwise, it might be worth taking more time to adjust.

The MS in Finance at Hopkins is heavy on quantitative work, which really helps with financial modeling and derivatives—stuff most MBA grads don't fully understand. It gives you a leg up in IB roles. If you're motivated, Hopkins opens a lot of doors. I'd definitely recommend getting an internship while you're here, and you can always pivot to the MBA track later if you want.

I chose Johns Hopkins over Georgia Tech for CS, and I'm glad I did. The Life Design Lab isn't amazing, but the name and network really carry weight—I landed a FAANG internship, and most of my CS friends have top placements too. Hopkins also has a strong startup scene with the Pava Center funding student projects. Small class sizes and proximity to DC and the Northeast sealed the deal for me.

Calc 1 was pretty straightforward – effort equals success. Chem 1 takes more time than most people think, but if you had AP chem and AP physics in high school, you'll be fine. I'm glad I got through it all.

I took physics for bio majors, which is definitely easier than the regular track and more common for MolCell students. The second semester was harder, but it taught a lot of material relevant to biology. That made it worthwhile despite the challenge.

I'd say the physics course choice here is doable but not ideal. People claim one is easier than the other, but honestly the main difference is how problems are framed, not the workload. Also, note that engineers usually take physics in their first year, while KSAS students take it later, which can affect the social dynamic in class.

I'm a current student here. They recently changed the curriculum so certain majors have to take different core classes. My advice is to pick a major that supports your extracurriculars, but don't pick one that forces you to take unrelated classes. When you get in, if you can't switch out in semester one, you'll waste your first semester on random classes. A quick Google search for first-year requirements is a good start to see if your two majors overlap.