How To Use the Hopkins Forums

How to register for the forums
To post on the Hopkins Forums, you will need to register. Here's how:

• Click the "Register" link located at the top right of this page, next to where it says "Welcome Guest."
• Agree to the terms of agreement, fill out the required information, and submit your registration.
• Check your email for a validation email. You'll need to click on a link that's in this email to activate your account. You won't be able to post on the boards until your account is activated
• You're now able to ask questions, contribute to discussions and meet everyone on the board. Before you start posting, please review our Forum Guidelines.

How to search the forums
Want to see if your question has already been asked (and answered) already, so as to avoid posting a repeat question? Here's how:

• Click the link that says "Search" with the magnifying glass next to it, located at the top right of every page of the forums.
• Type several keywords that suggest your topic, separated by commas. See below for an example.
• Hit the "Enter" key
• The search, which is powered like Google, works just like the typical search engine. Read the topic titles and short blurbs to see if any look relevant to your questions.
  

Example:
Say you want to learn about your opportunities to study abroad in Europe, primarily Spain. You want to know when you should begin preparing to apply for the program, what information you need to know, and when you can expect to study there (Intersession, summer, a full semester, etc.). Here are some tips:

1) Start broad. Try searching "study abroad, Spain."
2) Review the topics that the search produced that seem relevant. You may find most of your questions have already been answered!
3) If some of your questions still aren't answered, you can revise your search on that exact page and add more specific terms. Remember: AND, OR, and vague words such as those are not necessary to include.
4) If some of your questions STILL aren't answered, use the search to find a topic that is most related to what you wish to ask. Then, add a reply to that topic asking your questions. There's no need to start a whole new topic if a discussion already exists on a related question.

How to reply to a thread
Found an interesting discussion you want to add to or ask a related question? Here's how:

• Click the "Reply" button at the top or bottom of the thread you want to reply to.
• Type your message in the box.
• Want to change the font, use color or add links? Click the code bottons above the textbox.
• Click the "Add Reply" button at the bottom of the page
• That's it. Now want for responses.

How to start your own thread
Want to start a discussion in a new thread? Got a brand new question to ask? Here's how:

• Find the subforum that you want to ask your question in. There are different areas of the Hopkins Forums for academic questions, students life questions, admissions questions, as well as forums for transfer applicants and parents.
• Click the "New Topic" button located above all the existing threads.
• Choose a title for your thread – make it descriptive so people will want to read it.
• Write your post in the box. Make sure it meets the requirements in the Forums Guidelines and does not violate our terms of agreement.
• Want to change the font, use color or add links? Click the code bottons above the textbox, as you would in Microsoft Word or other text editing programs.
• Click the "Post New Topic" button at the bottom of the page.
• Voila! Your new thread is online for everyone to see.
  

How to subscribe to a thread
If you've started a thread, asked a question on an existing thread, or are just interested in seeing other replies to a thread, you have the option of subscribing to that topic. When you subscribe, you'll be emailed when someone else replies! This way, you'll be sure to see when your question is answered. Here's how:

• Make sure you're logged in.
• View the thread you want to subscribe to.
• Go to the very first post in the thread.
• At the top of the first post in the right corner, you'll see a set of buttons to the right. Click the one that says "Notify"
• Click "Ok" when the confirmation window appears
• Now you're subscribed!
• To unsubscribe, do follow the same process except the "Notify" button will now say "Unnotify". Click this and confirm to stop receiving emails about that thread.