Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
October 23, 2025 October 23, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Magazine

COURTESY OF JOHN CINTRON Cintron sitting at his workspace on the 9th floor lab, part of the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute.

Your roadmap to PhD success: freshman year advice for aspiring researchers

By JOHN CINTRON | August 19, 2024

First off, welcome to the Nest! As a freshman, you’re probably not even sure what you want to pursue yet or you might simply be feeling overwhelmed by all the possibilities you can take with your life and career path. As someone who’s tried it all — Pre-Med, Economics, Consulting, Marketing, Filmmaking, Engineering and much more — I can safely say that acquiring a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the end goal that I intend to achieve.

COURTESY OF CONRAD LOUIS CHARLES The Peabody Jazz Ensemble is led by renowned trumpeter Sean Jones, the Richard and Elizabeth Case Chair in Jazz Studies.

A guide to the arts at Hopkins

By TIMOTHY MCSHEA | August 19, 2024

It’s no secret that Hopkins is well-known to most for its STEM fields: How often have you heard Hopkins and the humanities discussed in the same conversation off-campus? And yet, back in 1966, preluding the height of literary theory which would explode in the 70s and 80s, Johns Hopkins University hosted prominent thinkers like Claude Lévi-Strauss, Jacques Derrida, Paul de Man, Roland Barthes and Jacques Lacan for an international symposium.

COURTESY OF JULIA MENDES QUEIROZ Look around you — everyone is the “new kid” at school. 

Making friends 101

By JULIA MENDES QUEIROZ | August 19, 2024

Making friends in college can be one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of freshman year. The importance of college friendships is often emphasized by parents, family members, social media and more. It can be somewhat daunting to think of how influential these connections will be on your college experience, but don’t let “finding your people" stress you out too much. Here are three things to keep in mind as you kick off your first semester.

COURTESY OF LANA SWINDLE Swindle reflects that her first year seminar felt comfortable and engaging.

Familiar faces

By LANA SWINDLE | August 19, 2024

When I first heard about the First Year Seminar (FYS) program, I was not very excited. I viewed it as a class that unnecessarily took up three credits in my schedule, which I wanted to fill with a course from my major. Such was the case before I had perused any of the options.

COURTESY OF YANA MULANI Mulani recommends fun activities on campus to break a mundane routine. 

Making Homewood Campus your home

By YANA MULANI | August 19, 2024

I had a pretty fixed routine as a freshman: class, lunch at Hopkins Cafe (then FFC), more class, dinner (also at FFC) and hanging out with my friends in McCoy. Although I credit this routine with helping me settle in at Hopkins, sticking to the same thing day in and day out could get mundane. From picnics on the quad to student plays to a bouldering cave, the Homewood Campus has so much to offer!

COURTESY OF YUYU HUANG Me before course registration: hovering over the register button a minute before 7:00 A.M., fingers crossed.

Hacking your course registration

By YUYU HUANG | August 19, 2024

I remember the summer before college when I was still scoping out my future through "A College Day in My Life" videos. I followed a YouTuber’s advice to make a four-year course schedule ahead of time. I spent hours researching classes, making a (seemingly) seamless schedule and imagining my life was all set — which now seems like a bit of a pipe dream. I've been humbled by the difficulty of some classes and the evolution of my interests — I’ve changed majors three times!

COURTESY OF NEIL MAHTO Located in Mt. Vernon, the top of the Washington Monument provides a view of the many neighborhoods in Baltimore.

A guide to Baltimore’s neighborhoods

By NEIL MAHTO | August 19, 2024

While much of your time at Hopkins may be spent in classrooms and office hours, the city of Baltimore is an underrated facet of the Hopkins experience. Luckily, you’ll have four years to discover the charm of the city. I highly recommend breaking the “Hopkins Bubble” and leaving campus when you can to engage with the rest of the city. This is a guide to many of the neighborhoods across the city to jumpstart your adventure through Baltimore.

COURTESY OF SARA KAUFMAN Kaufman describes some of her favorite places to visit to escape the Hopkins Bubble.

What's the Hopkins Bubble, and how do I burst it?

By SARA KAUFMAN | August 19, 2024

Students have a habit of joining Hopkins, becoming engrossed in on-campus activities, and not leaving — that is the Hopkins Bubble. We tend to lose sight of the fact that we live just 45 minutes away from our nation's capital, in a city rich with art and culture, and in a state filled with gorgeous parks and hidden gems.

COURTESY OF Noël Da The Hutzler Reading Room, located inside Gilman Hall, is home to several humanities resources and one of Da’s favorite spots to study.

Humanities at Hopkins: An introduction

By NOËL DA | August 19, 2024

Welcome to your first year at Johns Hopkins! As you probably already know — or else, will soon discover — this place has a bit of a reputation for being the “doctor school.” Whether this is true for you or whether you plan on studying something else, you may be interested in getting a fuller picture of Hopkins. While it can feel like the humanities occupy a much less visible corner of our school, in reality, it is just as colorful and vast as its science and engineering counterparts.

COURTESY OF JOSEPH RAINBOLT The Hopkins ice rink is constructed each winter and is a great way to unwind!

You got this! A pre-med guide for incoming blue jays

By JOSEPH RAINBOLT | August 19, 2024

Hopkins was new and Hopkins was hard, but looking back, I emerged from my freshman year with a lot of success, and there’s no doubt that with some perseverance you will, too. This article is my very best attempt to transfer everything I learned to you so that you can learn from my mistakes and get off to a great start on your pre-med journey. 

COURTESY OF AYDEN MIN Min (lower right) shares how being part of a team offers support and motivation that carries over to tackling busy lifestyles and balancing mental health. 

Mental Health 101 (as things that happened during my freshman year)

By AYDEN MIN | August 19, 2024

When you spend 17 years in a small town where most of your neighbors’ cars were from before you were born, the opportunity to go into the big, wide world seems like your golden ticket to a new future. In my final year of high school, where I graduated on a lopsided soccer field (since our school wasn’t big enough for a football team), I couldn’t wait to move to a new city — a real, busy, alive city. Even if I was going to be across the country from the rest of my family, something in me knew that I was where I was meant to be. 

COURTESY OF KAITLIN TAN Tan’s freshman year dorm.

Finding your footing as a freshman

By KAITLIN TAN | August 19, 2024

Change is rarely easy, and the college transition is an extreme case. As a freshman first stepping onto campus, it can take a lot to simply be present. While it’s easy to anticipate the academic challenge that college might bring, it is also easy to overlook how freshman year likely is the furthest you’ve been from all of the people and places you consider home. But, even in that tangle of nerves and excitement, small intentional practices can help ease your transition to college. Here are a few pointers for finding your footing in your first year at Hopkins.

COURTESY OF SARA KAUFMAN Charm City Circulators wish riders "Happy Holidays" on Christmas Eve.

No car? No worries: A guide to navigating Baltimore

By TARINI BASIREDDY | August 19, 2024

So you’ve found an off-campus event you want to attend — perhaps an Orioles game at Camden Yards or the Sunday morning farmers market on Holliday Street — but you have no clue how to get there without a car. You’re not alone in facing this challenge. But don’t let long distances discourage you! Hopkins students have access to a number of public and university-sponsored transportation options that are both safe and convenient. 

COURTESY OF CATHY WANG Wang suggests some simple recipes to brighten up your freshman year.

Easy recipes for dorm room cooking

By CATHY WANG | August 19, 2024

Truth be told, I did not cook once throughout my freshman year. Committed to using up my meal swipes every week, I often chose to traverse across campus to Nolan’s for a piece of burned (or raw) chicken, when I could have cooked up something nice and normal for myself. To help you avoid making the same mistakes I did, here are four of my favorite recipes for dorm room cooking!

COURTESY OF SHIRLENE JOHN Huang shares some of her favorite restaurants in Baltimore.

A foodie's guide to must-visit restaurants in Baltimore

By ANNIE HUANG | August 19, 2024

While many Hopkins students may find themselves frequenting the familiar spots on St. Paul Street, there are hidden gems scattered throughout the city well worth exploring. A huge foodie myself, I kept a detailed diary of all the restaurants I have explored, either on a lone quest or with my buddies. It’s my pleasure to share some of my favorite restaurants, and I hope you enjoy them, as well!

COURTESY OF RITWIK RAJ Raj with his family on the Breezeway during New Student Orientation in 2021.

Hopkins lingo: A handbook

By RITWIK RAJ | August 19, 2024

A crucial step in your journey as a Blue Jay is becoming familiar with the wide range of lingo used by students at Hopkins. Here is your guide to some of the most frequently used abbreviations and acronyms on campus.

COURTESY OF BUSE KOLDAS Hailey Finkelstein (left) and Buse Koldas (right). Koldas gives recommendations to the incoming freshmen on how to build friendships with their roommates.

How to make the best out of having a roommate freshman year

By BUSE KOLDAS | August 19, 2024

As you're approaching the start of your freshman year, you might feel anxious thinking about your future roommate(s). I’ve been in your shoes — growing anxious whenever I came across a freshman roommate horror story and praying I’d secure a single. Instead, I’ve been blessed with a best friend that made me thank the universe for not answering my prayers. To make this your reality, here are a few things that will help you build a relationship with your roommate.

COURTESY OF YANA MULANI Mansour suggests the security escort program as a way to get around at night while still feeling safe. 

Hidden resources at Hopkins

By YASMINA MANSOUR | August 19, 2024

Despite our cutthroat reputation, our school offers a seemingly endless number of resource to ensure the success of every student — academically and personally. While a comprehensive guide would take ages to comb through, below are a few of my favorite “hidden” or lesser-known resources.

COURTESY OF FREDDY BRANSON Branson highlights the biggest lessons he has learned about moving away and becoming comfortable in a new home.

Finding a home away from home

By FREDDY BRANSON | August 19, 2024

After a year away from home, I can’t claim to have the solution for curing homesickness nor can I even say that there’s a way to always make it easy, but I do believe that my experience has taught me a number of important lessons on how to get through and deal with the issues that come with the distance.

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