Guide to JHU - FAQ

The university is a big place. How will my son or daughter know where to go?
It does take a while to learn the ropes, but every new student is assigned two advisors, a resident advisor (RA) and a student advisor (SA), who are prepared to lead the way. As undergraduates who work with Residential Life and Orientation, the RAs and SAs are well-informed, easy to approach, and easy to find. If they can’t answer a question, they know who can.

What happens if my son or daughter has an emergency when offices are closed?
The Student Health and Wellness Center, the Counseling and Student Development Center, Campus Security, and Plant Operations maintenance services all have staff on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the academic year. All these services can be reached through Residential Life staff and through the campus operator.

My son or daughter always earned high grades. What should I do if s/he does not do as well here?
Remember that, for the first time, your son or daughter may be in classes with his or her intellectual peers. College in general, and Hopkins in particular, is more academically rigorous than secondary school. Concentrate on helping your son or daughter do his/her best work whatever grades that brings.

Some areas to explore:

	Does your student know how to study? Some students have earned high grades in the past without ever developing solid study skills, and now, for the first time, they need them.
	Does your student know how to manage time well? Freshmen often need some practice at balancing academics, eating, sleeping, socializing, and participating in campus activities.
	Are non-academic issues distracting your student? Homesickness, family concerns, and health problems are a few of the issues that can have a negative impact on academics.
	Does your student need tutoring? Some students can find some courses especially challenging, either due to the difficulty of the material or because the course (or most of the other students in it) are several steps ahead of the preparation level of the challenged student.
	Is your student motivated? Is s/he in courses and/or a major that he or she truly enjoys and is good at? Does your son or daughter’s chosen area of study match his or her intellectual strengths and personal desires? The first years of a university education should be a time to explore options and to make adjustments, major or minor, in educational and career goals.

You can be an enormous source of support to your son or daughter by discussing in a non-emotional way issues such as the ones outlined above. You also can assist by strongly encouraging your son or daughter to use the resources available in the academic advising offices and in the Counseling and Student Development Center. All of these offices are ready to help with individual counseling, tutoring, and study skill and time management information and courses.

When are undergraduates expected to vacate housing during the academic year?
Housing contracts vary by building. Refer to the Calendar or to Housing for housing and dining opening and closing dates.

Families who live a long distance from Baltimore may find it difficult to make return trips home at Thanksgiving and Spring Break. You may want to consider vacation housing, which is open during those two periods and is available through the Housing Office. Students who reside in the Bradford and Homewood apartments are not affected by vacation close-downs.

Detailed information regarding housing and food service close-downs is sent to students at the appropriate times throughout the year. Be certain that your student consults his or her exam schedule before booking flights home for mid-year break and at the end of the academic year. Some exams are given during the last week of class rather than on the scheduled day. Your student is free to leave after his or her last exam or academic obligation; in many cases this will be a day or more before the formal end of the semester.

Under what conditions would my student be released from the housing contract?
The room and board contract you signed and submitted with your room holding deposit to the AMR II Housing Office is a binding agreement between you and the university. It is in effect for the entire academic year. Release from the contract is permitted only under the conditions of academic withdrawal or dismissal.

Are parking facilities available for students?
Parking is available for resident upperclass students at the San Martin garage for $70/month. Freshman and sophomores residing in University housing currently are excluded from purchasing on-campus parking. All freshmen are prohibited from bringing cars on campus.

When is Parents Weekend?
Family Weekend at Johns Hopkins is a three-day weekend of lectures, social and athletic events, parent workshops, and student performances. The weekend is designed to give parents the opportunity to interact with their student and to learn more about life at Johns Hopkins. See the Family Weekend site for more details.

What plans does Hopkins have for campus improvements while my student is at Hopkins?
We believe that life outside the classroom is as important as students’ academic life, and that the quality of student housing, recreational, and social facilities has an impact on students’ overall experience at Homewood. Over the past 10 years, many improvements have been made to the campus in order to enhance students’ living and recreational opportunities. In the past few years the Homewood Apartments were renovated, a local church was acquired and converted into an interfaith center, an arts center and a recreation center were completed, new student housing and dining facilities were completed and major improvements to campus walkways, lighting and landscaping were undertaken.

Where will my son or daughter live after freshman year? How soon do we need to start thinking about sophomore or upperclassman housing?

The university has a strong commitment to the value of on-campus living in fostering a sense of community among students; therefore, there is a two-year residency requirement for incoming students. The university’s long-term goal is to provide housing for all students who wish to live in university housing.

Students are offered a variety of housing alternatives. Most freshman are housed in the Alumni Memorial Residences (AMRs) and Wolman Hall, where a high level of interaction characterizes this collegiate environment. In the spring, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors may participate in a lottery for housing in McCoy Hall, Charles Commons, or the Bradford or Homewood Apartments. Housing is guaranteed for sophomores, but not for upperclassmen. An array of non-university-owned apartments and row houses in the greater Homewood area also are available for leasing by juniors and seniors.

Your son or daughter will receive detailed information on university housing options early Spring semester. The Housing and Residential Life staffs will be working to assist students with the housing selection process. The Off-Campus Housing Office assists students seeking rentals in the Charles Village area. Sophomores and juniors should watch for information about the "On Your Own Fair" in March. This fair gives students the opportunity to talk with local landlords to get information on living off campus. The Hopkins News-Letter prints a free "Housing Guide" each spring listing (and critiquing) housing in the Charles Village and Tuscany-Canterbury areas.

What if my student should require housing during the summer?
Summer housing is available for Summer Session students between early June and the first week in August. Specific information about availability and cost can be picked up in the Wolman Housing Office in mid-April.