A series of questions and answers previously posted to JHU_Sydney's thread accidentally were removed. Here they are now:


Posted by KateBellile on July 3, 2011

Hello Sydney! My name is Kate, and I'm also from Wisconsin, Appleton to be exact. I visited Hopkins last summer and I absolutely loved it, and I really want to go there, but I am concerned about all the traveling that would require. Do you find that you get to go home as much as you would like?
Thanks!
~Kate

Appleton! Last year I went to see the Hopkins baseball team play there. :)

Now, I find I go home as much as I need to. I was worried about it at first, which I feel is normal for most kids moving across the country. But I went home Thanksgiving, December/January, and Spring Break. My parents also came up for stuff like parent's weekend and mother's day (my dad's present to her was to see me lol). Three times may not seem like a lot, but honestly, if you want, you can stay home for nearly a month and a half in December/January, and there is SOOOO much going on, time really flies!

In my opinion, I am glad I chose to go to college far away. I feel like I learned a lot about myself, and at the same time, had the comfort of being able to transfer near home if ABSOLUTELY necessary. But really, nobody who comes to the Hop wants to leave it. :)

Feel free to keep the questions coming!

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Posted by Eric on July 12, 2011

Hey Sydney!

My name is Eric, and I'm a rising high school senior from Taipei American School in Taiwan. I'm interested in studying Biomedical Engineering as a major, and Johns Hopkins immediately comes to my mind. I was wondering what the courses are like under the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Also, have you thought about what you are going to do with your BME degree after JHU?

The BME program just sounds amazing here, and I can't wait to hear more about it from your reply!

Thanks!
- Eric

Hey Eric!

The BME courses in general are very hands-on. I mean, the first class you take as a freshman, modeling and design, is an almost entirely interactive class with small groups of five working on individual projects and reporting the unique data. And second semester, I took a class called design team where I got to work on a REAL project, aiming for a patent. Our team was sponsored by a Hopkins hospital doctor, and to make something for him was so incredibly rewarding as well as the only way to really know what engineering is like. It really amazed me that I was able to gain this experience as a freshman.

I'm actually pre-med, but I chose engineering because I'm really interested in orthopedics as well as computer-integrated surgery, both of which share many characteristics of engineering.

Feel free to keep the questions coming. 

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Posted by akallen40 on July 18, 2011

Sydney,

My son will be a freshman in BME this year. His dorm is Wolman. We are trying to decide which meal plan would suit him best. He doesn't think that it'll be a problem to walk to Fresh Food Cafe a few times per day, so he wants the anytime plan with the least number of dining dollars. Do you have an opinion on this?

Thanks!

Hi!

My personal opinion is that the 14 meals per week is a better deal when living in Wolman or McCoy (I lived in McCoy which is right next to Wolman), though some disagree. I don't eat like a teenage boy, but I sleep like one, and not once could I muster the energy to go to breakfast at FFC. The only times were when I went to brunch on weekends, but even then, FFC doesn't open until 10 on weekends so most kids only ate there twice a day those days. Also, with the extra dining dollars, I was able to grab Einstein's Bagels for breakfast, which is actually attached to Wolman, and it has bagels, oatmeal, parfaits, etc.

That being said, meal swipes can also be used to get a meal in a minute, which is attached to wolman, and you can use a meal swipe to get a cereal cup, pre-packaged sandwich, etc. So he doesn't necessarily need the dining dollars even if he is lazy in the morning like I am.

So overall, I have to say that I liked my meal plan option (14 meals + 250 dollars per semester). Most kids in my dorm grabbed Chipotle once a week, cooked some, used our dining dollars at the nearby nolan's, and got sushi with our dining dollars at charmar (attached to Wolman) on a regular basis. I didn't even usually use my full 14. I felt like my plan allowed me to have more variety, but I also probably don't eat as much as your son, so he may need quantity over quality.

You should also note that during the first month or so, he has the option of switching meal plans, so if he starts with unlimited, then realizes that he likes mornings as much as I do (note the sarcasm), he can switch.

Feel free to ask me more questions! Can't wait to meet all the new BMEs next year! 

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Posted by vaishnavi5 on July 27, 2011

Hey Sydney!

I am a rising senior, and I would really like to be able to come to JHU. Right now, I am either considering majoring in BME or neuroscience.

Here are a couple of my questions.

I noticed that you had a Java class. Does it help to have prior comp. sci. knowledge at all? Do the students use computer programs a lot in biomedical engineering?
After completing some time at JHU, what was it that appealed to you most about BME? Has your perspective of biomed changed any since you first arrived?
What types of classes prepared you best when you arrived to JHU?

Thank you so much! It really helps a lot! 

Hi! I'm glad to hear you are considering BME. I love it. :)

I think it helps to have prior knowledge in any class before taking it, whether it be programming or math or science or history. That being said, when it comes to programming, I knew absolutely nothing. And I survived. There are a lot of free resources at JHU when it comes to getting help. In almost every type of engineering (with the exception of ChemBE) there is some programming involved. BME, depending on the track you take, can have lots of programming or minimal amounts of programming. Either way, some programming will be involved.

Since coming to JHU, the thing I like the most about BME is how hands-on it is. I mean, first semester, you already start off with hands-on projects, and for the last project, they even let you pick the topic (my group analyzed how much work is done to send texts on different cellphones...we won and our poster is actually being hung up in the BME building!). Then second semester, I got to work for a real sponsor/client to make and patent a product for them in a group of ten with upperclassmen leading the way. I feel like in a year I have had more exposure to my major than I would have in four years at some other schools. The fact that engineering is so interactive is what made me choose it.

My perspective of BME has not changed since coming to Hopkins, but I sort of feel like I knew what I was getting my self into. Some kids focus on the "biomedical" part rather than the "engineering" before coming to Hopkins. Just a warning: math and technology are involved, which happen to be two of my favorite things. :)

As far as preparing for BME, any science or math courses are good preparation. Programming skills may help, but most kids come in without any.

Feel free to ask more questions! :)

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Posted by dorykong on July 30, 2011

Hello Sydney!

I am Dory from China, and I love to come to JHU. But the fact is that not much Chinese students actually go to JHU because the competition is very furious, and JHU is just like a mystery for us. Anyway, I will definitely have a try this year.
I am also a "science-philic" girl who loves BME and especially Biophysics.
I am very interested in some specific research programmes available to freshman or sophomore that you find interesting. Is that possible for some freshmen to involve into some research at JHU?
I highly value the "hands-on" conception about science, and I have the same sort of questions as that of the last student: are most BME projects based on computer, or IT?

Thank you very much for helping me out~

Hi Dory! I'm glad to hear you are applying! I actually have quite a few friends from Shanghai and Hong Kong. :)

Research at JHU is always an option, no matter whether you are a freshman or senior. Between all the research going on at the Homewood Campus and the Hopkins Hospital, the opportunities are everywhere. It is literally as easy as emailing some professors who run the labs and expressing your interest, and seeing who needs help. I have many friends who started research as a freshman. :)

Hands-on versus computer based projects depend a lot on your track. As a BME, you can follow four tracks: biological systems engineering, computational biology, sensors/microsystems/instrumentation, or cell/tissue/biomaterials. All of them involve some computer-based projects, but a track like computational will stress them a lot more. Other tracks will also require programming, but may be a more hands on.

No matter the track, you all start out as freshmen with very hands-on projects. My first semester we made lots of things to grasp the basics on engineering, and then second semester I worked to design a real project in a group of upperclassmen, so I'd say at Hopkins, hands-on engineering is a very large component. I really appreciate the opportunities I've been given in that respect.

Feel free to ask me any more questions! I loveeeeee answering them! :)

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Posted by dorykong on August 4, 2011

Hi Sydney!

Thank you very much for your thorough advices~I am Dory again~:)

Other than some research work, I am also interested in JHU club activities. Often there are too many clubs that dazzle my mind. Could you tell about some really famous clubs in JHU? Actually I love Japanese animation and piano-playing, so I will be excited to find some clubs focus on that~
I am also curious about the difference between a high shool club and a club in university-I just have no conception about the latter.

In fact I have heard that at JHU, students can take the chance to do some voluntary work in hospital even they are not studying medicine-is that true? How often do students do their voluntary work and usually for what kind of work?

Thank you very much Sydney, and sorry that I am just so excited that I have asked so many questions once a time...:)

Hi Dory!

As far as activities go, Hopkins has options for everybody! Check out the activities website here:http://johnshopkins.collegiatelink.net/organizations! I know for piano there are lots of different musical things to do, especially because Hopkins has the Peabody Conservatory, a school for serious musicians that we have the option of taking lessons at! I'm not going to lie; I'm too sure about Japanese animation clubs, but Hopkins is really nice in the fact it is pretty easy to start a club yourself! This year I know a cheerleading club was started, so it is possible to create a club!

As far as "famous" clubs, I'd have to go with Octopodes, which is an a capella group that is actually on a tv competition of some sort (or so facebook tells me...lol). I love Vocal Chords, Mental Notes, and All-Nighters, too. :) Another really popular club is the the Baltimore Tutorial project, which is where Hopkins students tutor little adorable kids...right on campus!

And there are volunteering opportunities at the hospital, definitely! You generally just go through the hospital itself (not necessarily through our school) and apply to be an adult volunteer! Since the hospital is so easily accessible, there are many ways to get involved, not only at the hospital, but the community itself. :)

And everybody, keep the questions coming!

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Posted by kristina11 on August 15, 2011

Hey Sydney! I'm a freshman BME, and I was wondering if you could tell me more about the modeling and design class. Also, I heard that teachers are really chill if you are wait listed into their class, and you talk to them about it. I was wait listed into the BME class section, and I was wondering if the previous statement still applies. One of my friends said that there are 5 people to a group, but last year he knew people that had 6 to a group? Could you clarify/ elaborate? Thanks! (:

Hey Kristina!

BME Modeling and Design was definitely one of my favorite classes. You are in groups of four or five working on projects together for the whole semester, so it really let you meet close friends early on. There is a lot of freedom in the class, as well as a lot of hands on activity. If you have any more questions about the content itself, feel free to ask more questions. I don't want to babble (I tend to write a lot lol). :)

You can email the professor and ask, though it may be hard to get in off the waitlist for a small section such as this. You share your advisor with your group of five, so they may want to keep it spaced out. Also, I knew a couple groups of four from last year, but no groups of six (there may have been one like your friend said, but I doubt there was more than one). They really try to keep it to a maximum of five since they are all group projects and want to keep the workload the same for each student. If there are no sections that fit into your schedule other than the one that is waitlisted, you can email the professor and then they will most likely allow it (professors are very understanding in that respect). If you do want to contact the professor, I would contact them now though.

That being said, lots of classes are Hopkins are pretty "chill" as far as getting in off the waitlist, especially the bigger classes. I have had lots of friends show up the first day of a waitlisted class and brought a slip to the professor to be signed so they could add it. Professors are really cool! Just the smaller the class, the harder it is to squeeze people in.

Feel free to ask more questions! And you are going to have some fun years as a BME; trust me. :)

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Posted by bwolin on September 4, 2011

Hi Syndey-
I am a senior at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago and applying to JHU. I'm interested in becoming a biomedical engineer however, most of my life I wanted to be a pre-med so I'm similar to you in the way that I think I may pursue both in a way! What is your advice for admissions- I hear the BME program is very selective. Thanks!

Brianna

Hey Brianna!

In all honesty, I am not involved in the admissions process, so I can't really give you any advice in that respect. I'm still wondering how I got in! Hopkins is such a great place; I've made the best friends I could ever have (I'm in the middle of girl talk with my suitemate right now! lol), and it is such a great atmosphere. It's amazing to think that I could have been so lucky.

But it's exciting to hear you are considering BME! I love it. Engineering isn't generally considered one of the normal pre-med majors, but a good portion of BMEs are pre-meds because even though it is challenging, it is just so rewarding. I feel like I'll be a better doctor because of the experiences I've had as a Hopkins BME, from speaking in front of very important people, to the in-depth study of how everything works from both physical and biological aspects.

Ask me anything else you might have! I always love when I hear from kids from the midwest! :)

Hi Yarelix!

No, you won't be at a disadvantage. Yes, many kids have a lot of their AP credits out of the way, but they design the program assuming you have no AP credits. If you check the link below, it has a hypothetical 4 year plan that shows how you can do it without the credits.

http://www.bme.jhu.edu/academics/ugrad/docs/BME-Undergrad-Curriculum-Overview.pdf

I took Physics at the Hop without having anything other than honors, and I feel like all entry level courses are fair, no matter where you come from. :)

Feel free to ask me anything else!

Sydney :)

Merry Christmas! :)

So, let me tackle those questions:

1. I do not believe there is a limit to how many AP credits you can receive, but the most common/helpful ones for BME majors are AP Chem, AP Physics C, AP Calculus, and possibly Java (I'm not 100% on the last one's relevance to our requirements, but I think it counts for our programming requirement). All those classes are classes that you get to skip as a freshman if you have AP credit for them. I AP'ed out of Chem, Calculus, and got some credits transferred from a local college for other math classes, and it helped me lessen my course load as a freshman. That being said, I know a lot of kids who either re-took the classes or didn't have the credits, so don't worry too hard!

Check out this link for other classes you can get credit for, even though they aren't major requirements: http://apply.jhu.edu/apply/apib.html

2. Yes! Systems is my track. I'm pre-med, but I didn't choose the systems track because of it. I chose systems because it allowed me to take a lot of math and materials science classes (It's safe to say it is the most flexible of all the tracks). Ironically, I sort of feel it isn't as "biology" based as, say, the cell/tissue/biomat track even though systems is technically Systems Biology. All of the pre-med requirements except for orgo II and orgo lab are actually required for all of the tracks, so don't pick your focus area based on pre-med. I'd recommend figuring it out after freshman year, or even after sophomore! (You don't really need to know your track until junior year.)

3. In all honestly, it is probably a tie for the closeness to buildings. For instance, AMRs will we right next to bloomberg for physics and ffc for meals, but it will be much farther away from the engineering quad for math. The walk to remsen for chemistry is approx. the same from either dorm. I highly recommend just choosing whichever dorm you want to live in most; trust me, it will matter much more than the walk, especially since you can get across the whole campus by foot in 15 minutes. But do note: you cannot apply to AMR II without applying to AMR I, unless they changed it from my year. So if you are putting the AMRs as your first choice, they can put you in either dorm.

Keep the questions coming, guys! :)

I was reading the Hopkins Forums about AP credits and I have another question.
Are there any departmental placement exams for the incoming freshmen ( in departments like Physics , Chem, Bio etc) like there are for languages like Latin to help freshmen determine which course they should take? ( I read about this in the forum)
I'm asking this because I will graduate in March and unless the AP credits help, I don't want to sit to study all over again for the AP's !
Thank you again !

Hi,
    I have a couple of questions (again!):
1. I guess I will take the AP's this year, so keeping in mind that I will major in BME, the AP Physics C ( E&M) exam would be the correct choice, but would taking the AP Physics C ( Mechanics ) test be of any use?
2. I am still confused between Wolman and AMR II, could you enlighten me on a couple of differences between the two ? ( apart from the fact that wolman has a kitchenette )
Thanks again!

Hey Sydney!

I'm also from the small village of Elm Grove, Wisconsin! I'm sure our paths have crossed in the past, but apparently we didn't meet formally, yet. So, nice to meet you, Sydney, I'm Hannah!

I applied to JH and set up an interview to show my interest and, with hope, give myself an edge against other prospective students. It's this Saturday, and I'm really nervous.. Did you have an interview? If so (and if not) do you have any helpful hints?

Thanks!

Hannah

Hey, my name is Colleen and I am a sophomore in high school. I am doing JHU in my school's annual honors english college fair. I was just wondering about a few things and thought you would b a great person to ask.
1) What do you like most about Johns Hopkin's? Least?
2)What are the social highlights of the year? 
3) and, finally, what are the pros and cons of living on campus or off campus?
These are the only questions that I could come up with that I couldn't find anywhere else on the forums.
Thanks for your time! And if you have any recommendations for me that could help make my project as authentic as possible, please let me know.
Hope to hear from you soon!

Hi Sydney,


I'm also an incoming BME for this Fall.  I don't have a laptop of my own yet, and wanted to buy one but of course have it compatible for everything I do for Hopkins.  So, the famous question has arisen...Mac or PC? Just wondering what you've seen works best for people, if you knew any specific models that were great, and if I had any technology questions, who in the department I could talk to.


Thanks!


Dan

Hi Sydney!

Is it really difficult to learn computer programming? I've had zero experience with it, and I'm nervous that I'll be behind everyone else. Also, if I want to do things like stem cell research, genetics, and oncology, should I major in BME or just bio? And lastly, do you know anyone who's double majoring or major/minoring in BME and a language (French)? I definitely want to continue in French in college, but I don't know if it'll be too much to combine it with BME, especially since the fields are so different. I'd also really like to do some sort of study abroad program in France, but I don't know if that'll be possible with a BME major. And I'm also worried that doing BME/French instead of BME/some other science won't be as helpful with getting a job or finding good research opportunities.

Thank you!

Hi Sidney! My name is Miguel and I'm from Lisbon, Portugal. I am a rising senior and visited JHU this summer, and absolutely loved it. I'm thinking of applying to BME, but I'm still not sure  - all I know is that my passion are the sciences, and biology in particular. I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me:


For BME and when applying to JHU in general, is applying ED preferred? In other words, I know both ED and RD applicants are considered equally, but for such a specialized major as BME, where you apply separately, is it recommended that you apply ED? If I may ask, did you?

What made you choose the BME program at JHU over other BME programs at other universities? I know it's the undisputed #1 in the nation and everything, but what other factors played a part in your decision to choose Hopkins?


I know there's like four different "tracks" you can follow as a JHU major, but could you tell me specifically what they are? Also, are most of your classmates in the BME program premeds as well? What other career paths do they have in mind, and which are made available by majoring in BME?

How feasible is to major in BME and still minor in something else? Is the workload too much ( I'm asking you because you said you're minoring in math )? What about a hypothetical double major, such as BME and Neuroscience or any other biology-related major?

Thank you in advance for your help, and congrats on an awesome forum and blog! :)

Hi Sydney, how do you find BME so far? I heard it's a weed-out major, is it true? How intensive the coursework & workload?

And the classes Biological Models & Simulation and Systems & Control sound interesting, I want to have a look at their syllabi. Where can I find the syllabus for those classes? Or can you attach the syllabi?
Thanks =)

Hey, Sydney!

My name is Sofi, I am a senior from Miami, Fl. and I am very interested in the Johns Hopkins BME program. I have heard it is an incredible program though very competitive (I have even heard it described as "cutthroat"). I did not get this feeling when I visited the school in July and asked the student tour guides, but then again, I visited when classes weren't in session. I was wondering if you ever felt that the BME program was too high stakes competition wise? I was also wondering what your track within the major is. I'm interested in orthopedics as well and actually hope to become a surgeon some day! (: I know BME is a demanding major, but is it possible to double major in a subject completely unrelated to the sciences?

Next week, I'll be visiting Hopkins overnight and being interviewed!!!!  I am so excited for my stay, and I was wondering if you can recommend any classes for me to visit on Wednesday afternoon?

I hope to hear from you soon!

-Sofi