Getting Ready for PreCollege!

Happy Friday everyone!

I've finally gotten through all my studying, and took my Macro final this morning. Hopefully I did as well as I liked, but I'm feeling fairly confident about the results. (Keeping my fingers crossed) In the meantime, I'm back in the office getting ready for the event we've been waiting for all year, Orientation!

Time to get organized!

 Today I'll be helping to tie up some loose ends and get together everything we need for this Sunday's Summer University orientation. We'll be setting up at Wolman Hall in time for our first arrivals at 12:30 PM and we can't wait. (Hopefully the weather will be good) It's sure to be a great day. Apart from Check-In and the Academic Info Sessions, there will also be Campus Tours and I'll be one of the tour guides. I hope everyone's excited for an amazing Summer at Hopkins.
See you on Sunday!

Finals Again!? My Favorite Places to Study on Campus

After having just finished my spring semester finals, I have finals again?! Thankfully, I'll only be taking one exam for this round as opposed to five scattered around two weeks. (Two weeks that I ended up spending in my PJs and half asleep while attempting to study...)

One of the great things about the Homewood Campus is that there are so many places that you can study if you ever need a change of scenery. You definitely don't need to stay cooped up in your room or in a cubicle on D Level in MSE library. Here's a list of my favorite places.

Brody Learning Commons - Quiet Reading Room
The quiet reading room can be found on Q level of the BLC, straight ahead once you pass through the turnstiles by the Daily Grind. I really enjoy this space because it provides you with the silence of C or D level of the library while having an abundance of natural light, comfortable seating, and enough room to spread out a little. You never need to worry about your devices having no power because there are outlets built into every table. You can even go to the circulation desk in MSE to borrow charging cables if you've forgotten yours.

View of the Quiet Reading Room at the BLC, from JHU's Facebook albums

If you ever need to take a break from your work, you can check out "The Archaeology of Knowledge". This is a collection of Hopkins-related artifacts located in display cases and drawers which can be perused by anyone in Brody.

You'll definitely find some interesting things here.

Brody Learning Commons - Atrium Floor on B-Level
If you're one of those people who can't focus in dead silence, then B-Level in Brody is the perfect place to be. There's a lot of comfortable seating and places to work, including individual chairs with side desks and longer tables with stools for group work. The Atrium is a really nice space because of all the open space and natural lighting provided by a whole window wall. It's a great place to be if you just want to hear the chatter amongst all the students and feel like you're in what is very plausibly, the new central hub of the school. The Atrium is the perfect place to catch up with friends on a school night.

So yes, this happened. Harlem Shake, Hopkins edition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TikJdWYwNCQ

Brody Learning Commons - Any Group Study Room
The group study rooms in Brody are one of my favorite features. If you and a group of friends ever want to get away from the hustle and bustle on B-Level, you can easily reserve a study room online with your JHED login. You can reserve a time slot for a specific room exactly 24 hours before your intended start time. The competition for a room is intense during the school year, luckily during the summer there are way fewer people to compete with. Check out this website to reserve a room. http://rooms.library.jhu.edu/

All you need to access the study room is your J-Card, swiping it at the reader on the door. Each room is complete with a projector and speakers, with plenty of space to work.

These rooms are dotted all around Brody and all of them have ample space to write. The white glossy walls are dry erase safe and most of the windows are too. You can get more markers from the information desk if you ever need more! A cool feature in the rooms is TeamSpot, which is what allows you to connect your laptop to the room, to project your screen to the group or easily exchange files. I've personally spent many a productive night in these study rooms (and maybe some not productive ones...those projectors are really great for watching movies with friends)

Gilman Hall - The Hut
The Hutzler Reading Room (aka The Hut) is a room located in the back of Gilman Hall. It is an extension of the Sheridan Libraries, having the same printing amenities and housing some of its collections. It has maintained its original integrity even after the renovation completed in 2010, and still uses the same stained glass windows. The Hut provides a quiet atmosphere and always has copies of the latest Hopkins undergraduate journals. Located in the Hut are the Learning Den (group tutoring) and the Writing Center.

The Hutzler Reading Room in Gilman Hall

Levering Hall - Lobby Area/Pura Vida Cafe and the Student Lounge
Levering Hall is like the quasi-Student Union on campus. It features spaces for large events like the Glass Pavilion or the Great Hall, and many other spaces like the food court and Arellano Theater.
The lobby of Levering Hall features comfortable seating with ample lighting, and is only a stone's throw away from Pura Vida, a cafe run by JHU Dining. It's the perfect place to stop by between classes to get a coffee, and sit down with some light work. However, there are some exciting changes. This week, Pura Vida will be closing at the end of the week for renovations. As a result of the new dining vendor on campus, the cafe will be reopening as the Chesapeake Bay Roasting Company on Monday, 7/8. There is also a student lounge that is located a little further into the building, to the left of the Great Hall.

Levering Hall Lobby

Hopefully all of you are excited to start your summer at Johns Hopkins. Of all these places, you're sure to find the perfect fit for your studying needs. In the meantime, I have to study for my final. Wish me luck! I hope to see you all at orientation on the new few Sundays!

Where to Eat Around Campus

One of the great things about the Homewood Campus is its location in the Charles Village neighborhood of Baltimore. There's plenty of places to choose from if you ever need a break from dining hall food.

Niwana
If you're looking for decent Asian food in the area, Niwana is your best bet. Their menu contains a good selection of Korean and Japanese food that is sure to satisfy. Some of my favorites include Agedashi Tofu, Bibimbap, and Sushi. It's conveniently located across 33rd Street from Charles Commons.



The Salmon Teriyaki Bento I got last time was pretty tasty too.

Tamber's
Tambers is a diner located across St. Paul Street from Wolman Hall and Hopkins Inn, but it's probably unlike any other diner you've been to.

Along with the usual diner staples you might be used to like BLTs or Spaghetti and Meatballs, Tamber's serves a variety of Indian dishes. Some of my favorites are the Chicken Curry, Lamb Saag, and Chicken Vindaloo. You can also order Samosas and hot Naan to go with your meal. But even if you're not in the mood for Indian, the rest of the menu items are pretty good too. (I really like the cheese fries!)


The Chicken Tikka Masala is the perfect blend of creaminess, tartness, and spiciness. It hits the spot every time.

Just below the Village Lofts, you'll find a block full of shops and places to grab a bite.

Subway
It's open 24/7, enough said.

And the cookies are delicious

University Market "Uni Mini"
Also open 24/7, you can drinks, ramen, candy, snacks, and even breakfast sandwiches and other food made to order. Personally, I like to make 10 PM runs to Uni Mini for Mozzarella Sticks.

Potbelly
The newest addition to Charles Village, Potbelly has been a hit with most people around campus. The sandwiches never fail to satisfy, especially if you get their signature hot peppers. If you're feeling indulgent, definitely get the smoothies and milkshakes.

Chipotle
You can never go wrong with Chipotle. You have your choice of Bowl, Burrito, or Tacos and whichever way you choose, you can't go wrong. A tip, if you get Vegetarian, you can get guacamole for no extra charge. Also, if you get a bowl, you can ask for taco shells or a tortilla on the side for no extra charge.

Ajumma
Ajumma is a good place to chill out with some friends and get quick stir-fried Korean and Japanese food over rice. like Bulgogi, Chicken Teriyaki, or Beef Sukiyaki. They also have fried dumplings or Bibimbap (Rice with mixed veggies and meat). If you're in a hurry, you might want to try their Bulgogi sandwich.

Carma's
While I've never been to Carma's Café, I've heard awesome things about it and the menu looks promising. It's right across the street from Ajumma so I'm definitely going to try it out this summer. However, I have had their Pink Dalmation cookies and you definitely won't be disappointed with them.

Vacarro's
If you ever find yourself down by the Inner Harbor, you can catch a bus and head over to Little Italy not too far away. Vacarro's is a great Italian pastry shop that has these unforgettable desserts. Some of my favorites are on their special $5.95 menu.

How does nutella cheesecake sound? It even comes with Baci gelato. Tastes like Ferrero Rocher in ice cream form.

A Year Ago Today

Sometimes, it's hard to believe that just a year ago today, I walked across a stage to pick up this piece of paper. This paper symbolized so many challenges, accomplishments and good memories. In a way it brought a sense of relief, having finished a chapter of my life, and at the same time it made me feel so much more anxious about the future. 

I wonder what I was thinking about...

Graduating high school felt like such a significant moment at the time, and in many ways, it always will be. I think in the heat of the moment, most of us just wanted to be finished, and move on to our new lives as college students. By the time I had realized how much I actually missed my high school years, they were already long gone. 

Where did the time go...

My advice to all you Pre-College students, don't do anything only for the sake of college admissions. If anything, do what you do because you think it will add some kind of value to your life or just because you truly enjoy it. Life goes by too fast to worry so much about something that is ultimately not in your control. Savor every moment you have while you're still technically a kid. One day you might look back and regret not taking that risk, or going after something while it was still within reach. Make every moment count because one day the people who you spent four or maybe even twelve years with, who probably shaped the person you are today, won't be at your side anymore. The good memories can bridge the gap between you all. Whether you're in Baltimore or 300 miles away, wherever you are, just remember to make the most of every moment. One day the people you know may move on, the streets you knew may change, and even the places you hang out might not look the same anymore.


Our old high school hangout got a whole new look while I was gone. 

A Day In The [Summer] Life of Austin K

8:00 AM: Time to wake up for class! This summer is the first time since being at Hopkins that I've had a class at 9:00 AM. My high school used to start at 7:40 AM, and took 30 minutes to get to. There's just somthing about being in college that makes waking up so much harder... 

Maybe one of these days I won't need to set 4+ alarms and then hide it on the other side of the room.

8:30 AM: Just enough time to grab a bowl of cereal for breakfast! Then it's off to class.

9:00 AM: Made it to class right on time, before the instructor too! We're going over practice problems to prep for our midterm on Wednesday.

10:15 AM: Time for a 15-minute break. I decided to take notes by hand instead of on my laptop like I usually do. Helps to stay awake and not get distracted by the internet.

Hopefully I can decipher this later...

11:10 AM: Now that we've gone over the practive problem set, I'm feeling pretty good about the midterm. I'll just need to go over my notes one more time to make sure I've covered everything.

11:20 AM: Having lunch in the Brody cafe, The Daily Grind. Taking the time to check e-mails, Facebook, and catch up on school news. www.hub.jhu.edu is a great website for news covering the entire University. In just the last month, two major changes have taken place. JHU has updated its visual identity to give all its school a sense of cohesiveness and the new designs definintely have my seal of approval. http://identity.jhu.edu/
Also, after being independent for over 100 years, the Men's Lacrosse Team at Hopkins has announced that it will join the Big Ten Conference as a Lacrosse Affiiliate in 2015. Hopefully this announcement will cause a renewal in school spirit. Go Hop!

Q Level entrance to the Brody Learning Commons, where The Daily Grind is located. The frozen drinks are really good for cooling off from the summer heat.

12:15 PM: Time to get to work at Summer Programs. I start off by replying to e-mails and processing any new forms that you all have sent in. I've already answered a few phone calls too!

Ready to take your calls and any other questions you might have!

3:00 PM: After talking to many of our excited Pre-College students and their parents, I just want to point everyone to the enrolled students section on our website. The information there is up to date and being updated as more details are finalized. Click on "For Enrolled Students" under the program you are attending, either Discover Hopkins or Summer University (http://jhu.edu/summer/precollege/index.html). You can check out information about Move-In Day, and find out more about your RAs for the summer!

5:00 PM: Time to head home. I'll be back bright and early tomorrow morning!

6:00 PM: After getting settled down, I made myself some dinner and it tasted pretty good if I do say so myself.

Spaghetti with Vodka Sauce! I decided to play around with Photoshop Express on my phone for the first time. Haha maybe I'll go back to Instagram.

8:23 PM: Sitting in front of the TV and surfing the channels. Moving into my apartment this summer was the first time I got to watch TV since my parents cancelled our family's cable service back in my sophomore year of high school. There's so many shows I used to watch, now in reruns, it's making me a little bit nostalgic.

9:57 PM: I'm finally getting around to reading all those random articles on the internet that I didn't have time for before. BuzzFeed and Thought Catalog are a student's worst nightmare, every click brings new distractions.

11:30 PM: Time to go to bed, I don't have class tomorrow so I'll be heading into the office first thing in the morning. Good night!

Living at Hopkins

This summer, our Pre-College residents will be staying in Wolman Hall and the Hopkins Inn, two of the many residence hall options available to undergraduate students here at Hopkins. Both are great places to live, socialize, relax, and study with your friends.

Each floor gets 1 or 2 RAs, Resident Advisor's, there to make sure you're enjoying your new living environment, helping to resolve and conflicts, and planning activities to make sure you're having an overall good time this summer outside of your classes.

Your RAs are sure to be planning activities throughout the summer including anything from a picture scavenger hunt, water balloon fights, tie-dye, or even trips to the mall! There's also Saturday trips for the whole program to places like Washington, DC.

Found posted in the Wolman 3 East elevator lobby, Summer 2011
What is this even? I don't even know. Why didn't I go? Wondering if there was a choice of backseat or frontseat...

Wolman Hall
Wolman Hall features suite style living. Each suite includes two bedrooms (singles, doubles or triples), a bathroom, and a kitchenette with sink, stovetop, and mini-fridge. On each floor, there is also a common lounge equipped with couches, tables and stools, as well as a TV for optimal floor bonding space, as well as a place to do light homework with a group.

Another cool feature of Wolman Hall is that the common spaces for the building received a major renovation in 2012, increasing the amount of usable space for students. Now, Wolman Hall's first floor and terrace levels include a full common kitchen, a multi-purpose room, a movie theater, a full-sevice mailroom, fitness room, study spaces, a computer cluster, laundry room, as well as a video game lounge.
Read more about the renovated spaces here: http://gazette.jhu.edu/2012/03/12/the-big-reveal-homewood-style/

My mom and I during DH Session 1 Check-In in 2011, Right in front of Wolman Hall

Hopkins Inn
As a result of the expanding student body at Hopkins, the Hopkins Inn, (located just around the corner from Wolman Hall) was added to the one of the many housing options for students. Hopkins Inn features suite style living, with adjoined double and single rooms sharing a private bathroom. This is another great place to live and learn, with common spaces including a TV room, study lounge, common kitchen, exercise room, and laundry.

Hopkins Inn Entrance

Some of the other residence halls on campus include AMRs (Alumni Memorial Residences), Buildings A & B, McCoy Hall, Charles Commons, Rogers House, Bradford Apartments, and the Homewood Apartments.
All of these buildings feature different living arrangements, from traditional hallway style to full apartments.
You can read more about them at the Johns Hopkins Housing and Dining Services website.



Wolman 3 East - Summer 2011, SU and DH 1
There's me in the upper right!

What We Do Here at OSIP

A lot of people, even Hopkins students, aren't quite sure who we are. We even get the occasional call asking if our office is CTY (Center for Talented Youth).

Our office is located at 3505 North Charles Street, just a short walk from the dorms where Pre-College students will be staying! The building is just a block away from Wolman Hall and across North Charles Street from the AMR Tennis Courts, the same building as the Undergraduate Public Health Studies Program.

Stop by if you have any questions, or just to say hi!

The Office of Summer and Intersession Programs (OSIP) coordinates the undergraduate courses for both Intersession (a one month term between Winter Break and Spring Semester) as well as the Summer terms. During the Summer, there are so many programs being held on the Johns Hopkins campus, but OSIP is responsible for coordinating the summer courses, visiting undergraduates from other universities, as of course the Pre-College Programs, Discover Hopkins and Summer University. From academics to student life, we're the ones who are making sure that you all have a fun and worthwhile Summer.
For Summer University students, the staff in our office will function as academic advisors, making this the place to come if you're facing any problems academically.

For those of you hoping to one day be Hopkins undergrads, our office also coordinates Intersession, which is a three-week term which begins after Winter Break and ends before Spring Semester. The term is optional so some people choose to take an extended Winter Break, but many students come back to live in the dorms and take 1 or 2 credit courses on a Satisfactory/Unsatifactory grading scale. A lot of these classes are very different from what's offered regularly in the Fall and Spring, including many unique lab courses, Humanities, and Science courses. We even have a special 1-week program at the end of the term, called B'More where Freshmen can take courses discussing topics like Urban Planning or Sustainability. B'More courses even go on field trips to explore Baltimore in depth. (It's kind of like Discover Hopkins in the Winter!)

Make sure to stop by office while you're here. We'd love to meet you, get to know you, and make sure that you're having a successful summer at Hopkins!