Math program at JHU

[watermelon19]

Hi! I've received an offer from JHU's math program, but I am not very clear about the strength of the program. Could anyone tell me something about JHU's mathematics and make a comparison with its rival schools? Thanks.

Best wishes,

[BongRips69]

Here are some rankings if you're into that sort of thing:

http://www.stat.tamu.edu/~jnewton/nrc_rankings/area31.html

http://www.ams.org/employment/groups_des.html

More pertinent questions would probably be: are they doing research in which you're interested, where have past students gone afterwards, do you like the location, etc. For instance, Baltimore is not the safest city on the planet and security is very prominent on campus. It was sort of weird when I visited (applied mathematics, separate department)... and I've even been to Baltimore before.

[origin415]

The NRC rankings are from 1995, the US News are from 2008: http://grad-schools....ograms/rankings

I would also ask your professors.

Make sure they are doing the research you want, JHU has a very small department so its important to make sure they have at least one professor who you would like as an advisor.

Edited March 5, 2010 by origin415

[watermelon19]

Thanks for your reply. I don't care much about rankings. I know Baltimore is not a very safe city, yet I've heard that the JHU campus is secured by enhanced police force and other safety measures. Could anyone talk about the city in more details?

Here are some rankings if you're into that sort of thing:

http://www.stat.tamu...ngs/area31.html

http://www.ams.org/e...groups_des.html

More pertinent questions would probably be: are they doing research in which you're interested, where have past students gone afterwards, do you like the location, etc. For instance, Baltimore is not the safest city on the planet and security is very prominent on campus. It was sort of weird when I visited (applied mathematics, separate department)... and I've even been to Baltimore before.

[watermelon19]

Thanks for your reply. Currently I choose Algebraic Geometry and Number Theory as my future study area. I would like to hear comments on JHU's AG and NT research group. Could you please share what you kow about it?

The NRC rankings are from 1995, the US News are from 2008: http://grad-schools....ograms/rankings

I would also ask your professors.

Make sure they are doing the research you want, JHU has a very small department so its important to make sure they have at least one professor who you would like as an advisor.

[mbs191]

To the poster about the "security" at JHU - - - I'm a MS student here at the Homewood Campus (not in Math) and the campus here is absolutely beautiful and safe. Yes, there are some problems like any campus in the world - but I love this area of the city - you can walk to anything you want and there's running/biking trails, other colleges nearby, great apts, etc. Just thought I'd throw that out there!

[BongRips69]

Yeah, I'm not trying to be too negative. The overall point is there are many factors that should draw you to a school besides comparison to "rival schools"... as if mathematics is akin to some battleground.

I just thought it was weird that the security aspect pervaded many of my discussions with graduate students as I toured campus and asked about housing in the area. I didn't experience this elsewhere.

[ilikemoney]

I live in the neighborhood of JHU (Charles village) and have for 3 years. It's safe and those who make a big fuss are full of it. You're not going to be experiencing the wire at Hopkins.

[watermelon19]

Thanks for your reply. I apologize for using the word "rival" and have no intention at all of suggesting mathematical battle between universities.

Yeah, I'm not trying to be too negative. The overall point is there are many factors that should draw you to a school besides comparison to "rival schools"... as if mathematics is akin to some battleground.

I just thought it was weird that the security aspect pervaded many of my discussions with graduate students as I toured campus and asked about housing in the area. I didn't experience this elsewhere.

[watermelon19]

I am so assured. Thank you so much!

To the poster about the "security" at JHU - - - I'm a MS student here at the Homewood Campus (not in Math) and the campus here is absolutely beautiful and safe. Yes, there are some problems like any campus in the world - but I love this area of the city - you can walk to anything you want and there's running/biking trails, other colleges nearby, great apts, etc. Just thought I'd throw that out there!

[watermelon19]

Thank you for your reply! Could you tell me what do you mean by "experiencing the wire"?

I live in the neighborhood of JHU (Charles village) and have for 3 years. It's safe and those who make a big fuss are full of it. You're not going to be experiencing the wire at Hopkins.

[ilikemoney]

The famous tv show about Baltimore, the drug trade, and so forth. Hopkins is far from that. It borders one of the wealthiest places in all Maryland. I really wouldn't worry.

[robben]

yes on campus it's very safe but off campus it isn't. it's definitely not the richest area of maryland but there's quite a few private schools on one side of the campus. it's not exactly like the wire but it's not far off, that doesn't mean you'll get to experience any of it. I recall that at the beginning of this year, some kid killed an intruder with a samurai sword. don't let this discourage you though just don't stray too far off after 2 am.

[kdilks]

I just thought it was weird that the security aspect pervaded many of my discussions with graduate students as I toured campus and asked about housing in the area. I didn't experience this elsewhere.

Obviously, you did not visit Chicago.

[ilikemoney]

yes on campus it's very safe but off campus it isn't. it's definitely not the richest area of maryland but there's quite a few private schools on one side of the campus. it's not exactly like the wire but it's not far off, that doesn't mean you'll get to experience any of it. I recall that at the beginning of this year, some kid killed an intruder with a samurai sword. don't let this discourage you though just don't stray too far off after 2 am.

Roland Park, north of campus, is certainly one of the richest areas in Maryland. And yes, the private schools are in that neighborhood. If you so chose, you could live in that area and you can rest assured that you'll be as safe as anywhere: it's basically a suburb, even if takes the name Baltimore. There's a reason in The Wire one of the characters says "This ain't Roland Park".

You would be fine at 2AM in certain parts. Other places you would not. This is true of any city. You just need to know the area, and it's not hard to figure out. No one denies crime is high in parts of Baltimore, but it is almost all connected to the drug trade. So unless you're wandering West Baltimore looking for a fix, you're probably going to be okay.

I've lived here for a while now, right in Charles Village, right next to Hopkins. I have not known a single person who has had any real problems. My point is that if safety is a reason at all for you to turn down JHU, you are really taking some bad advice. Come on guys -- you are all PhD applicants. Don't believe this N of 1 fallacy stuff. ("I heard someone got killed with a samurai sword." -- Hey, at least the good guys won!)

North central Baltimore, where Hopkins Homewood is, is a place I'd raise my kids without reservation.

[errrrr]

How is the applied math program at JHU?? Are they respected? Also, would it be better to go there if youre interested in Math bio/bioinformatics stuff?

[robben]

Roland Park, north of campus, is certainly one of the richest areas in Maryland. And yes, the private schools are in that neighborhood. If you so chose, you could live in that area and you can rest assured that you'll be as safe as anywhere: it's basically a suburb, even if takes the name Baltimore. There's a reason in The Wire one of the characters says "This ain't Roland Park".

You would be fine at 2AM in certain parts. Other places you would not. This is true of any city. You just need to know the area, and it's not hard to figure out. No one denies crime is high in parts of Baltimore, but it is almost all connected to the drug trade. So unless you're wandering West Baltimore looking for a fix, you're probably going to be okay.

I've lived here for a while now, right in Charles Village, right next to Hopkins. I have not known a single person who has had any real problems. My point is that if safety is a reason at all for you to turn down JHU, you are really taking some bad advice. Come on guys -- you are all PhD applicants. Don't believe this N of 1 fallacy stuff. ("I heard someone got killed with a samurai sword." -- Hey, at least the good guys won!)

North central Baltimore, where Hopkins Homewood is, is a place I'd raise my kids without reservation.

roland park is very very small and it's definitely the richest in baltimore city yes, in maryland? I doubt it. looking at the concentration of schools, it would have to montgomery or somewhere along the potomac.

I could be wrong but this neighborhood is definitely one of the worst for a college campus, that being said I don't think it should affect a decision for math phd, zelditch minicozzi and a few others are 2nd to none in their fields.

[ilikemoney]

roland park is very very small and it's definitely the richest in baltimore city yes, in maryland? I doubt it. looking at the concentration of schools, it would have to montgomery or somewhere along the potomac.

I could be wrong but this neighborhood is definitely one of the worst for a college campus, that being said I don't think it should affect a decision for math phd, zelditch minicozzi and a few others are 2nd to none in their fields.

I said one of the richest -- not the richest. But some of those homes in Roland Park, being located in the city, are of extremely high value -- more so than a lot of the places in MoCo (due to location). That's all besides the point, however. The point was: Is Hopkins safe?

I have to ask -- did you attend Hopkins? Have you spent any time in Baltimore? Or is this just from limited experience?

When I think of a shitty college town, I think of College Park. I lived in College Park, and it is a total shit hole compared to Charles Village.

JHU isn't like UNC or Madison (the former of which I have spent a good amount of time, the latter of which I grew up in and have family). Those are cities that revolve around the university. If you're looking for that in JHU or Charles Village, you certainly won't get it. It's not a college town. But if you are looking for a university in a city with a thriving cultural scene, good places to eat and drink, a rich culture, all with a cost of living that can't be beat -- then Baltimore is great. Come visit and see for yourself.

Sorry to sound like an evangelist for the city. But I don't want someone to turn down a terrific school and neighborhood because of one person's vague comments about how it's "definitely one of the worst."

[robben]

yea i lived in there and i dont think he should turn down JHU math because of location, some world class faculty and a very supportive department. definitely never told him to turn it down.

from my own experiences it hasn't been that safe. not talking about culture someone said the wire and i was reminded of a personal experience, that's all. i don't think he is concerned either he merely wants to know about strength of program and it's strong.