Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - September/October 2011 - (Page 42)

students review The Students Review series is intended to aid prospective college students in their search by offering insiders’ views of selected colleges and universities, as expressed by current undergraduates or recent graduates who have high academic ability. Note that the number of reviewers is small. Consider their personal perspectives as only one factor as you gather information and impressions from many sources. Our reviewers include 42 individuals who major(ed) in anthropology (1), biology (3), chemistry (1), cognitive science (1), commerce (1), comparative literature (1), computer science (4), economics (6), English (3), finance (1), foreign affairs (4), French (2), global development studies (1), government (2), history (4), math (5), media studies (1), philosophy (3), physics (4), political philosophy, policy, & law (3), psychology (5), Russian studies (1), and systems engineering (1). (The number of majors exceeds 42 because several reviewers completed double majors.) Reviewers’ comments appear within quotation marks. BEN GrEENBErG PHOTOGrAPHY (WWW.BENGrEENBErG.COM) The University of Virginia resource. Studying abroad was probably the second best decision I have ever made.” Social Life The vibrant extracurricular life and strong sense of history make the UVa experience distinctive. of the school’s greatest assets is the “One friendly attitude that pervades the student body; there is a strong sense of community. UVa’s Southern hospitality fosters a cordial atmosphere—decorum definitely counts around here. The University has a conservative, traditional, Southern feel to it, but many kinds of people can find a niche. The school boasts a very strong Greek community, tons of student-run activities, a strong intercollegiate athletic program, and one of the best intramural programs in the country.” University has a strong history of “The self-governance. Our student-run Honor System is a model for other honor systems across the country, and the Student Council participates in much of the decision-making around the University. We support a daily newspaper, a weekly magazine, and at least ten other completely student-run publications. The Jefferson Society, the oldest organization at UVa, hosts a Friday night lecture series, after which discussion and debate continue until the early hours of the morning.” “Charlottesville is a beautiful town nestled in the Blue Ridge foothills, in horse country, only an hour or two from Richmond and Washington, DC. The surrounding area offers many places to go hiking, camping, or rock climbing.” me, the quality of life at UVa is the “For school’s greatest selling point. There are over 300 student organizations, including many religious and community service groups. The largest organization on Grounds, Madison House, is dedicated to supplying volunteers to the local area. There are also an abundance of student-run service trips during spring and winter breaks through an organization called Alternative Spring Break. You can also lead your own trip if you like!” a member of the Greek system, I “As recognize its problems: noise, an abundance Quality of Academic Instruction for Undergraduates Perhaps no other university can boast such a distinguished origin. Founded by Thomas Jefferson, who designed the Grounds (the campus) and the original buildings, UVa continues to promote the values of learning, self-governance, and public service that inspired Jefferson. “What I liked best academically about UVa is the emphasis placed on teaching undergraduates. While research and scholarship are acknowledged to be important, the administration has made it clear that faculty are expected to teach undergraduates and teach them well. Some of my first-year classes were large, but even then, I found the faculty to be very approachable and eager to interact with curious students. All my professors taught with great enthusiasm, truly demonstrating a love of teaching. The faculty is definitely one of the school’s best attributes.” academic experience at UVa “My was tremendous. The faculty is very undergraduate-friendly and keenly interested in cultivating the cream of the undergraduate crop. I wrote a thesis with a nationally-renowned scholar who dedicated a few hours a week to my project. Graduatelevel courses are also open to qualified undergrads. I took four graduate seminar courses that met entirely in the living rooms of distinguished Government and Foreign Affairs faculty members.” top 10% of students accepted into “The the College of Arts & Sciences are given the title of Echols Scholar, which removes them from all distribution requirements. Using this privilege, Echols Scholars can really pursue their own interests, creating a curriculum that fits them uniquely.” “While the quality of instruction varies, every department has some outstanding teachers. UVa’s best undergraduate programs include those in the schools of Architecture, Commerce, and Education and the departments of Computer Science, English, Foreign Affairs, History, Government, Religious Studies, and Spanish. UVa also has a large internship program; during their fourth year, students can earn four credits per semester working in their field of choice.” have been taught by fantastic professors; “I I have always felt able to approach them and ask for help, and they have always given it. The International Studies Office is also a great 42 imagine Sept/Oct 2011 http://WWW.BENGREENBERG.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - September/October 2011

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - September/October 2011
Contents
Big Picture
In My Own Words
Physics Is…
Making the Team
Nuclear by Nature
Physics: The Next Generation
Telescopic Views
Exploring the Mysterious Lives of Stars
Around the Universe in Three Weeks
Selected Opportunities & Resources
Book Buddies
Meeting the (Economics) Challenge
Off the Shelf
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options
One Step Ahead
Planning Ahead for College
Students Review
Creative Minds Imagine
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - September/October 2011