Jimmy talks to us about what it’s like being a pre-med student at the university that is known for its research and medical programs. 

Part 1 is here

Transcription

Kamila
Hey college kids. Welcome back to my podcast. Who cares about college? This is part two of my interview with Jimmy so if you have not checked out part one, make sure to do that. subscribe and also check out my blog, a college kid.com. But other than that, hope you enjoy the episode

Okay, so let’s, I guess we can get onto the college portion now. So you’re in Hopkins, and you’re meeting these kinds of people. And if you take out the people who are legacy students, and then take out the people who have a lot of money and can just like kind of get into the schools because of that, if you take those people out and look at the people who aren’t really like really rich or or legacy student, what do you think, like distinguishes a top tier student like that gets into these really selective schools from other students? Like, do you think it’s, again, a game of chance? Or do you think it’s something else that top tier students have?

Jimmy
One thing I know, at Hopkins, like they, I didn’t know this actually, until after I got in, but we like they really don’t consider legacy at all. Like, it’s just not a factor in the application process. So I don’t really know how that like, necessarily plays in. But I guess from like, the people that I’ve met, I think they’re all just like, very interesting people in the set. And like, also, they’re just like, people that are like, more than just a number on a card. And I think that like, I was like, I guess, like looking back, I’m like, I think I I think that like I kind of tailored my application in a direction. Because I think that like a lot of the people that I’ve met are just like, very passionate about, like, very random things, and have been involved in very cool things and just like are able to put their time like, wholeheartedly 110% Like, something that they’re interested in, and you know, have these like, really interesting passions, and, you know, like, it’s like, I think, not to say that, like, not every student is like, passions and stuff like that. But I think that like, just, you know, putting yourself out there and like, you know, being super passionate to the point where you can like, be successful and like something really nice or cool. I definitely something I’ve noticed for a lot of my friends is like I have a friend who’s like a, like a she was like an Olympic trial level ping pong player. Friend, like my roommate who I said it was, like, really involved in like classic competitions. So just like very, very passionate people, I would say.

Kamila
Yeah, yeah, that is kind of what you find. Okay, so coming into high school. You were valedictorian? Whoo, look at that. And you had all these like, perfect. That’s what they say. So and you have like, all these perfect scores, and you obviously did really well in high school in terms of grades. You had cool extracurriculars as well. Coming into Hopkins, did you kind of feel like, oh, wow, there are people who are just as smart as me around me like, I’m not at the top. Maybe you are, I don’t know. I’m not like at the top top anymore. Like people are just as smart as me now. So did you kind of have that? Weird? Like, whoa, there?

Jimmy
Yeah. Because I mean, I think that like you go from like being the big fish in the small pond to like, all of a sudden, there’s a lot of big fish around. And honestly, like it definitely okay, like, there’s like two sides of it. In one sense. It’s like, Wow, I feel very dumb. Because like, all these people here, like, I think my first exam, I’m pretty sure how he taught this to my first like calc three exam, the average is 60. And I remember like, that was I got like a, I don’t even remember what I got, but it wasn’t good. And I remember like I was, oh, so this is college. Like, you’re just the average Joe here. But time it was kind of nice. Because it’s like, oh, like, you know, the pressure is off you like you’re doing your own thing at school. Like there are all these people around you that are going to push you to be smart, like pushing somebody harder, push you to work harder, and not really in a competitive way more of like in a you know, you see all these people out there doing great things being successful. You’re like, I want to do that. So yeah, it’s you know, it was a good aspects and bad aspects because it’s like, the definitely I don’t really like I think that one thing that was really nice, like, I don’t really feel like, you know, eyes are on me here. Like, I feel like I’m some other Hopkins student, which is very nice. But it definitely came with some, you know, like, damn, this is this is tough. This is like it. There’s people that like, do this stuff in their sleep. So

Kamila
yeah, like Ali Ali talked about that specific exam. She was like, I got 50% on it. I was like, Wait, there. Yeah, that’s it. Can you kind of describe the transition? So obviously, there’s the initial shock. It’s like, what the hell? Like, it’s actually harder. So can you describe the difference between high school and college and I asked Ali the same question. She gave me an interesting answer, like what is it that makes college harder? At least for you in your case?

Jimmy
I would say like college is just like, first of all, everything is a lot higher stakes. Like tests. Not like, they’re not just like totally like total points anymore, like tests are like 20 to 30% of your final grade.

Kamila
Yeah, that’s what freaks me out.

Jimmy
And you, like, eventually you learn to get to the point where you’re like, Alright, I’m gonna go into this and this, like, however the next hour goes will dictate my GPA and, you know, whatever you got got it, you just kind of learn to accept it. But yeah, so like, I guess like homework, you know, it’s not daily anymore, it’s like, you have problems, that’s a weekly that may take like, 10 to 12 hours, and you just kind of have to learn to get through them. So like, definitely, there’s a lot more riding on everything you do. But you also have a lot more time to kind of like, you know, figure out life a little bit more and like, say, oh, like, like, I like, I need to put a lot of hours into this class. So like, you know, that it’s just yeah, definitely like, because a lot more is riding on it, it’s, it’s a lot more stressful. Um, and, you know, honestly, like, this isn’t even from an academic perspective, but just from a life perspective is I think that like, the way I would describe colleges, compared to high school is like, the highs are definitely higher, the loans are a lot lower as well, you know, like, it’s, there are times when you’ll be like, I mean, August, where I was in the library at like, 5am, being like, Oh, my God, like, I can’t believe I still have so much more to study for this exam at nine. And you feel like, easily, it’s so stressful, but then, you know, you get through it. And then you have like, you know, you’re being in college. It’s also just like, so fun when you get to have, you know, get to be an independent person that like, the highs are definitely a lot higher, too. But you know, there’s, there’s definitely some times where you’re like, I’m not a functioning adult, like why am I not in my parents house? Like having them feed me? And where I need to be all like, I don’t know, it’s definitely definitely like scary to be on your own a little bit. So yeah, that’s it. That’s how best that’s like categorize it. high highs and low lows,

Kamila
so did High School with the AP IB honors classes, they’re supposedly to prepare you for the rigor of college. But do you think high school actually did anything in preparing you for college? Yeah,

Jimmy
I definitely think that like taking AP classes was pretty beneficial just because they kind of, I think it helped a lot with like, the speed of college where like, they’d like column stills I have, like, college courses are a lot faster than I was expecting. But I think that like, especially compared to like friends, like my friends are like more in AP classes, like, I think that’s a much harsher transition. Just because like AP exams, at least you are AP content, like it’s a lot like, like, it’s much faster, much more like, it’s a lot more workload. And I think that like having a pretty like, AP heavy course load helped me because I was like, alright, the academics aren’t like, obviously, you know, the exams are hard and like, like a, I guess, like, Problem Sets are hard, they take a lot longer, but at least it’s kind of like, Oh, I know that, you know, I’m gonna have to put a lot of time into this. I know how to study. Like, I know, I think that like, that’s one thing is like AP tests, or AP, like classes, like, you learn to be a better student, and then which I think was helpful. You know, because I think that like, at least in my high school, like a lot of like, the regular and even the honors classes, like, we just like a lot of the teachers and most like, some of the students just didn’t take them as seriously. And like, I’ve met the, the, like, the students that are like, really, like, want to succeed in those classes. Like, it’s kind of tough for them. Because, you know, they’re not like, not everyone in the class is like the same goals. But like, whereas in AP classes, like everyone is really, like, everyone knows that it’s the real deal. So I think that was a pretty helpful is just having that like, very intense. You’re not like tense culture in high school, but like, It prepared me for the intense culture here.

Kamila
Yeah. And Allie mentioned one thing it was that when she got to college, it was not about like, how do you do this? Like, let’s say you have a math equations, like know how you apply, but like, why is it that way? Why is it like structured that way? So like she said, when it came to college, there be times where they would spend like, multiple lessons on figuring out like, why is this math formula the way it is, instead of just plugging in numbers? So did you find that like college was a much more in depth and explore the why of stuff instead of like, just how to do it?

Jimmy
Yeah, like, I think that like you really like in college, there’s definitely like, a lot more of a, they definitely okay, there’s, in one sense, there’s some things where you can definitely skirt by without like really understanding what you’re doing, especially when you’re wrestlers give back test. So if you have access to back tests, use them. But then yeah, like, you definitely are expected to understand how things work and why things work. Like it’s not just like, oh, you can like a lot of things you really can’t get away with just like breezing through it not understanding it. You have to kind of understand at a deeper level. And, you know, I think that’s one thing that I really liked about Hopkins is that it’s like I would say like, and I’m sure this is like, like general college thing, but just like collaborative studying something I didn’t really do in high school, and studying with other people is so useful for me because, like being able to like explain it to someone is so different than understanding it yourself. So I think that like, that’s like something is like hearing some explain like why like hearing someone explained it as if they were the professor is a very different type of understanding than just like, being able to understand what a professor puts on the slide. So I would say that was definitely like a big change. But also like, again, like studying other people did help with that, because, you know, sometimes they’re explaining it to me, the times I’m explaining it to them. So that’s like, very beneficial.

Kamila
Interesting, because when I do collaborative studying, I always get off track, and we like talk about some random stuff. Oh,

Jimmy
for sure. That happens all the time, too. But, you know, when you’re when it’s crunch time, I feel that was help. Yeah.

Kamila
Okay. Interesting. And how did you adjust? So there’s the academic APS did help you. But high school is very structured, you kind of know what you’re doing. People tell you what you’re supposed to be doing. You take class, ABC, you do these extracurriculars you do your homework and such. And of course, you have like set blocks of time to do all that stuff. Coming into college, it’s much more loose, you’re entirely responsible. So did you find that shift difficult? Or did you like having the ability to choose your own schedule? Like, how was it for you bad or good?

Jimmy
I would say overall, it was good. I mean, there’s definitely a lot of challenges to it. Like, just, you know, I mean, luckily, like, I guess, I don’t know if this is likely or unlikely. But like, as an engineer, like your courses are very, like, select out for you. So there’s not really much like, moot, like choosing, they’re like wiggle room. So like, the course load in that sense wasn’t really difficult. But then, like time management, it’s just a really, you think you have it in high school until you get to college. And like, it’s just sometimes just like, you get really overwhelmed with work. And so and then like, yeah, I guess just like, realizing that, like, your friends are like going to be studying for exams, and you have to be studying for exams. And you also have to, like, you want to have some time. So it’s like, I’d say it’s a lot. It’s a huge balancing act. Just being able to kind of choose all these things, get involved in the things you want to but also be able to, like maintain your grades and your mental health and your physical health. Like it’s a tough balancing act, for sure.

Kamila
And how long did it take for you to adjust to that and kind of get into a routine of, oh, this is what I’m going to like, I guess, yeah, kind of get yourself into a routine, like, how am I going to do this? How do I work best?

Jimmy
Yeah, I think that, um, I think one thing that was really helpful is like having things do weekly. Because that, I think that like, that just makes it like for a much easier like schedule, like, oh, on this days, I’m going to work on problems that on that day, I’m gonna work on that problem set. And like, these days, I have this club meeting. Like that, like helped definitely the transition, I would say just like the first, like, the whole first semester, like, you’re, it’s all an adjustment period, like, life is completely changing, you’re living on your own, you’re like, Oh, you can do whatever you want to do, which is a good and bad thing. You know, you have to like, make sure you’re not, you know, like hanging out too much partying too much all that stuff. And also that you Don’t overextend yourself. So I would say like, definitely, like, the first semester is just a huge adjustment period. Like I didn’t really, I got involved in like, some things. But I would say like, most of my involvement really started like, the spring semester, just because like, I was at a point where I was like, you know, like, I don’t really know, I, I’m not, it’s not even that, I don’t know, if I could have handled it. But it’s like, not that I couldn’t have handled it, but I just wasn’t really confident in my ability, like, like, I don’t know, if I wanted to, like get involved in a lot of things, because I’d have a lot going on with life. You know, like, I just seen it college is definitely like a, it’s a it’s a, it’s a very new process. So there’s just a lot of change going out a lot of new people in your life, a lot of new things. So definitely the whole first semester is a lot of learning.

Kamila
And, okay, so you’ve actually brought up something I want to go into, which is involvement. And this can go over many things. And I was interviewing, I just interviewed a girl who goes to Duke, and she said, getting involved in college is much different than getting involved in high school in high school. You got into extracurriculars in such Yes, because you enjoyed them. But a lot of them were like put on your resume and you kind of sculpt sculpted them to look good. But in college, it’s less about like impressing recruiters and just doing more about what you’re passionate about. Nobody really like, I don’t know, like a sorority. If you’re like President of a sorority. Nobody puts that on their like, application. So was that kind of the same for you? Did you just get involved with things because you’re really passionate about them?

Jimmy
Yeah, I would say for the most part, like, I mean, they’re really like, from an academic side. Like I knew that I wanted to research at some point. And like, it’s funny. Before college, I was like, I want to do research from like, the first day I stepped foot on campus. And I was still pretty early in that I did start my freshman spring. Like I knew that I was like, Yo, I don’t know if I’m ready to like really commit myself to the so like extracurricular things. It was definitely more like, oh, I want to get into this at some point. But yeah, like I just really did that. Like I’m interested in doing that. I wanted to do so like I am in a fraternity. I actually have the fraternity president. So yeah, that’s something that I’m just doing because like, I like being a part of it. Like, I think it’s something cool. Um, I yeah, like I worked at the Rec Center. I like our gym just because, like, I had friends that work there. And they were like, oh, it’s cool job, you get to sit and do your homework. So yeah, just like doing things that like kinda like you want to do with your life like my, yeah, just don’t really just doing things for yourself, like, whatever everyone has. And it’s funny enough, I would say like, most of my extracurriculars, I don’t really think I have a lot of overlap with a lot with all my friends in terms of extracurriculars. Like other than, like, my fraternity, but like, there’s a lot of like, it’s kind of like you just do with stuff that you’re interested in. Like I think in, in high school, there’s a lot more of like doing things because you’re do them, like get involved in clubs, cuz your friends are in them. But I think it’s very much the opposite. I think that clubs are a way you make friends. And like I like some of my friends that I hang out with now, like, I don’t really do necessarily all the same clubs as them. But you know, they’re on different very different things. Because it’s like what they’re interested in, if it’s not what I’m interested in, like, you know, in college, it’s a lot more about managing your time and you you have to like kind of choose like what like what you put your time into his a lot bit like I’d say that’s where like the higher stakes sense of things comes up is that you really have to budget your time well, so you’re not going to do things just for no reason, like everything you’re going to want to be involved in has a purpose. And usually that purpose is because you love doing it. They don’t if you don’t like doing it, it’s not something you want to put your time into.

Kamila
And another part of college, and this is kind of for every college, but specifically for a school like Hopkins, it’s well known the professors are very well connected. So did you know that you wanted to like form connections, like I should get to know my professors, I should try to like reach out to as many people as possible because this because high school, it’s like extracurriculars and such that prepare you for college, but it’s like kind of your connections and experience that prepare you for the workforce. So did you know that coming into college?

Jimmy
Um, yeah, knowing that, like, you should definitely like talk to your professors and like, get to know them. But like, I think that as a freshman and sophomore, it’s pretty tough to do. Because, you know, a lot of your my classes even through last year were like, big lectures, and, you know, like, with a 300 person lecture, like, unless you’re like going to office hours every week, which definitely some people do, like build those relationships that way, like, you’re going to be talking to the TAs a lot. Like, I think it’s a lot, honestly, like, I found it still pretty difficult to like, get to know my professors very well, unless I’m involved with them not, not through classes, like, one of my letter recommendations that I have is through my research advisor. And he’s like, he’s technically a professor, but they don’t have him for a class. So I was like, Yeah, you have to think a lot more about your network. But it’s, it’s definitely I don’t know, I don’t know if this is just a me thing. But I haven’t really felt like, professors, like meeting professors through classes, like the easiest way to do that. Because, you know, especially in a school like Hopkins, like, what, what is going to set me as me like a student, apart from like, every other student, you know, like, there’s, there’s a couple of my professors that like, I would say, know my name, but like, even then, like, being granted, university is not as conducive to getting to know your professors. But yeah, like, I think a lot of my friends probably still, like, know who I am. So yeah, so you kind of have to, like, think about that from more than just a class perspective. Because, again, like most of the adults that I’ve like, really worked with are not through my courses.

Kamila
Okay, so if you don’t network through your professors, obviously, you mentioned research. So can you give us a little bit about a little bit into that? And like, how you form connections through there if it’s not directly through professors?

Jimmy
Yeah, I guess it’s not not that. I think it’s more than it’s not directly through classes. Oh, yeah. Classes. Yeah. Because like, I think like some of my like, for, like, for my research disability, like I had just reached out to like a couple of professors on the like, on the med campus about getting involved in research, because like, Hopkins has like a separate medical visit where the hospital is. So that’s kind of how I built that relationship. And then like, there’s, there’s been like, certain extracurriculars I’ve been involved in, like, we have these like, it’s called the design team. It’s like an academic team of like, undergraduates. And when we work with, we have like a faculty advisor. So like, working with them one on one, that’s like a much more impactful experience and like working with my research, one on one, it’s gonna get much more impactful experience than like, doing well on a class you know, honestly, like, what that’s one thing that I I’ve always found kind of paradoxical is like, if you’re doing well in a class, like you’re probably not going to be like interacting with the professor at all. You’re really going to be you’re going to be like not going to office hours and not seeking extra help and not emailing them. Even though you think that that’s how you’re going to build the relationship. So honestly, like, that was one thing I was really surprised by is that like, a lot The relationship you’re gonna build are not necessarily through, like the classes that you do well. And it’s really gonna be the classes where you interact with the professor a lot. And not again, not classes, but like the situations and settings where you interact with your professors a lot.

Kamila
Yeah. And I want to get more into research. Because I mean, that’s what Hopkins is basically known for. And are you on the pre med track? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, Hopkins is like the best medical as well. So go, like, can you just explain how like, well, Hopkins prepares their medical students, because it’s what they’re known for. They’re also known for their research. So can you talk a little bit about kind of like the resources that you have access to? Just because you’re a Johns Hopkins student who’s on the pre med track? Like, do you get to go to Johns Hopkins Hospital? And like, work there? Is it like, easy for you to get those connections?

Jimmy
Yeah, so first, I will say it’s funny. I actually didn’t want to be pre med until after I got to Hopkins. So but so I ended up. It was kinda like a self fulfilling prophecy in the sense that, like, everyone, now it’s funny, like now that everyone, I always get that, like, Oh, are you pretty mad that like, I should have figured, oh, I wasn’t at first. But, um, yeah, I would say that, like, definitely, there’s a lot of really cool experiences that I’ve gotten from being a Hopkins student, specifically. Um, I mean, my research is like, on like, I go to like, it’s like, the summer after my freshman year, I was like, going to the hospital every day, working full time in my research lab. So that was like, a really cool experience. And, you know, my lab is, we, I haven’t like, published anything yet through my lab. But like, I’m hoping to get a couple papers by the end of my college experience. And you know, just having like, like, these professors are all like, super high achieving, they’re all like my PI. He was, um, he was a, like, really successful at MIT. And then he has, like, a bunch of, I don’t know, if you don’t like the publication nature, it’s like a really big, like, scientific journal. But like, he like he’s like, has all these accolades. And like, he’s been on the cover of nature twice, or like his artwork for his papers. So it’s like, just like getting into, like, the faculty being of such high caliber, that in itself was a huge benefit. Um, and then, I think it’s just like, having the Hopkins Hospital is just such a great resource, especially for like, from the pre med perspective, because if you want to do medical things, and like, things like that, that field, they’re totally available. So what I was talking about earlier, was like, design team. And this is I guess, this is this is physically in my major department. But we it’s basically a team of undergraduates, and you work, you have a faculty sponsor, and then a clinical sponsor through the Johns Hopkins Hospital System, and you work to they basically give you the doctor says, Hey, I have a problem that I want to solve. And then you say, like, it’s a team of engineers, and we work the entire year to fix it. So I was on a design team, my freshman spring, and I joined one this past spring, I guess that was, and I’m on it now. And that’s been like, really an amazing experience, because I had to shadow brain surgeries my freshman year, got to work with, you know, we’re, I think our clinical sponsor, I don’t remember exactly her title, but she was either the chief or the director of neurosurgery. So that was just like, really cool. And, you know, you just got to you get to work. Like, it’s funny, like, during our meetings this semester, I’ll be on Zoom calls with like to like pre like a, on my projects on the eye surgery now. And I’ll be on like a zoom call with like, two pretty successful like, like one of the training doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital for the ophthalmology unit, which is they have like a really, really expensive ophthalmology unit. And like, I’ll just be sitting like, zooming these two clinicians, they’re just like, making jokes about like, surgery and like, stuff. And I’m like, like, wow, like, this is pretty sick. Like, yeah, sometimes it’s like, really cool to think that, like, I’m just sitting in my room on Zoom talking to like, doctors that are cutting people’s eyes open and writing papers about it. And so that’s like, a really cool experience that I don’t think that I think that like Hopkins specifically really, really has a lot of benefit to, you know, research and just really getting that hands on, hands on stuff.

Kamila
And with that research, did you find it because I’m sure in Johns Hopkins, I mean, again, research like research and medical gods. So like, did you find it very easy for you to get this stuff? Or did you need to kind of like, push yourself out there and kind of go ask people, where can I get this opportunity? Where can I do this? Who can I ask to do this? Was it given to you or did you search for it?

Jimmy
Um, so I wouldn’t say it’s given to you because you definitely have to, like seek it out. But I remember on my like, on my tour of Hopkins when I was when I was a high school student, that my tour guide said like there’s a there’s a myth that there’s more undergraduate research positions, and there are undergraduates at Hopkins. And that was like one thing I really liked that I really, that really drew me to Hopkins. And it’s funny because I honestly feel like that might be true at this point. Because I emailed like I, my freshman, I want to say winter break my freshman year. I was like, Okay, I think I want to start getting involved in research. So I picked out like maybe like eight different PI’s that have interesting research. What are you guys? Oh, sorry. That’s principal investigator. So that just means like the head of the lab. Okay. Yeah. So I picked out picked API’s that I thought were really, they had really cool research. I wasn’t great. I’ll email a couple of them. And one of them email you back. He’s Oh, like, like, if you want to come in and talk about my research, like, I think I emailed him asking him to, like, talk about his research. And he’s like, Yeah, sure, like, come in whenever like, well, you can sit down for like, an hour and talk. And then when I left, he’s like, so early, at the end of the meeting, he’s like, alright, so just let me know, if you want to join. I was like, That’s it. Yeah, I think I’d send in my resume, but I doubt he even looked at it. It was just really, he was the, if you’re interested in it, and you want to make a commitment to the lab. And you know, you’re you’re looking to, like, evolve like I, you know, he he also is like, I like him, he’s a great pi, he’s very much focused on like mentorship, which I think was really beneficial. But like, literally my like, one of my first three emails ended up being like the my, my research advisor for the past, like, two and a half years. So it was definitely like, super easy, which is really, really nice.

Kamila
Yeah. And so are you, I’m sure, with this research and such since you are a pre med, presumably going on to like pursue higher education? Are you relying on the connections you make through research to help you with maybe a postgraduate degree and go into the workforce?

Jimmy
Um, yeah, I mean, I definitely think that like having a connection is definitely going to be useful. I think that for med school specifically, I think, like, research is more helpful in the sense of getting publications, because that’s like a really big aspect of med school admissions. But like connections, I guess, I think connections are much more important for like going into like industry and jobs and stuff directly out of college, like it, definitely, you know, there’s it, there’s definitely gonna be, I’m sure, there will be times when like, I’m going to be applying to schools. And if like my, again, my PI went to, he was a postdoc at a postdoctoral student at MIT. So like, if I’m sure if I apply to MIT, he’ll probably know a couple people there. So yeah, the connections are definitely very going to be very useful. But I think that like, at least as a pre med student research is a little bit more helpful for just resume building.

Kamila
Yeah, I’ve heard like, if you want to go to postgraduate which is usually like more like, you know, your doctor degree, you need research, like, other people look for internships, while like, pre med people look for research opportunities. And one thing I forgot to talk about, which I used to talk about in the beginning, when we come to like, actual college experience is more the kind of friends and social aspects. So I mean, New Jersey is kind of close, but it’s not like you’re living with your family. So you’re coming to Hopkins and it’s like, brand new for you. So along with the adjustment to the rigor How did you adjust to having kind of nobody there? And how did you kind of make friends socialize in form, like a concrete group of friends? Because you, you know, you bounce around between few groups and few people?

Jimmy
Yeah, so that was so I definitely chose Hopkins because it was, like, close enough to home that I could go home if I needed to, but like, far enough that I didn’t feel like I was in my yard. So that’s, I did like that. And again, like, my experience is a little like different than most because it was great not being around siblings, just because there was like the, I would say like really the first time like, being like a, like completely an individual human being, and not being like reliant on other people. So that was like very, like a really cool experience. And then yeah, I think freshmen like, especially like the first like, Well, it’s funny, actually. So the first day of freshman year, I met like three of my like, my closest friends. I’m still friends with now like I met them in the courtyard of our dorm. And yeah, most of my friends like Ali lived, she was in my house. Like I met her on the first day. I met yeah, like I think I met all of them that first I don’t know, family the first day, maybe it was like my first because she lived in my house, which is just like my home. So just like crazy that I think a lot of my friends were like, purely from like, where I lived. They all like most of them. Especially my freshmen are the people I was really close with freshman year it was like they lived within a couple of rooms and on like, what like within my dorm because I think that at Hopkins like we have a couple different dorming options and my building is one of the two that’s like a traditional college dorm where you have a roommate, and then your communal bathrooms and like right outside the doors the hallway, whereas I think other dorms are like suites. So I was definitely in the more like traditional college experience very social dorm. So I became like, like, basically like most of the people in my hall, like very good friends with and you know, most of them I’m still really good friends with this day. But you know, it’s weird because you you really just meet so many different people. The first I mean, first semester first year for sure, but like the first month is crazy. How many Pete like, it’s so weird that like, I look back to like my first month of college, and it was just like so not to walk up be like, Oh, I’m Jimmy Nice to meet you. Oh, I’m like, whatever. Like you just went up, introduce yourself to people and like, I have never I have not been that social since I’ll tell you that. So it’s Yeah, I would say like, you just meet so many different people. I was again, I’m I think I’m very lucky to have found my friend group because, you know, I am still with them out. So I guess that’s a good sign. But yeah, I think just like getting like, it was a change for sure. You know, you you don’t have like that your your friend group is just like these people that you just met. So it’s definitely very weird. Because, you know, you’re used to like in high school, you’re used to being around these people that have no your entire life. And then all of a sudden, like, I think, like my third or fourth night because we have like our orientation week, we had like a sleepover and one of like, our friends dorms like I slept on the floor with like, to my, to my guy friends, like one of them. I don’t even talk to you anymore. And it’s like, it’s so weird to think that like, you kind of just jump right into it. And just like, you just gotta meet people, it’s all about meeting people. And like, I guess finding people that kind of share the same vibe as you or like, care about the same things as you and you know, people that really like that just, uh, you like being around that better person. And yeah, like, kind of share your values.

Kamila
Yeah, that’s interesting. And since I mean, again, at these top tier schools, any top tier school not just Johns Hopkins, you’re gonna have rich people, you know, it’s gonna be obvious there. So coming in did you kind of have a fear that oh my god, what is the people are so snobby? What if like, they don’t like me, or I don’t like them. Do you have that fear? Because you’re really lucky you met your best friends in college on like, the first like week?

Jimmy
Well, I It’s funny, I met them, but me and my son, me and my, like my best friends. He was my roommate last year, and he’s my roommate. Now. We actually hated each other the first day, so I guess I was I should have clarified that for, like meeting them the first day. But uh, yeah, I mean, I guess like, I was definitely concerned just like, like, coming to school like Hopkins like you just, and I guess college in general. You just don’t know. Like, if you’re gonna fit in, like, if you’re gonna be the, like you. It’s like, yeah, I guess like, I think every school has like, its own vibe, for sure. But it’s like, kind of just like fear like, well, I find my people well, I find people that aren’t like, you know, are they are is ever going to be snobby is everyone going to be like nerdy is everyone going to be like, super competitive, like, that was like a big fear of mine is that like, I wasn’t gonna find people that were passionate and like, like, hard working, but also were like fun people. Like, I think that was actually my biggest fear is that I was gonna, like, not have any fun my freshman fall, because I thought that I was just going to be in the library the entire semester. not have anyone to like that like to, you know, go out or hang out. And yeah, luckily, that was not the case, though.

Kamila
That is very lucky. Okay, so we’re coming to basically an end here. And I want you to do, I’m sure you did know this already. But I want you to do two things. So one piece of advice for current high school students, it can be anything like to do better in high school or to prepare yourself, prepare yourself for college. And then another piece of advice for like, just one thing for college students right now, what would you tell them? Maybe they’re struggling? Maybe they’re like, they’re just unhappy? Because it’s like a sudden, quick change for them. So what would you what advice would you give for those two people for those two groups?

Jimmy
Sure. So I would say for high school students, definitely, like, I don’t want to say like, don’t stress because, you know, there’s so much to stress about in high school, and college admissions is such a stressful process. And, you know, I think that like part of it, it’s like, it’s a, it’s a very, like, reflective process, you know, you I feel like I’ve learned a lot about myself in the process, because you learn what you like, and what you don’t like, and kind of who you are, and what’s important to you. So, definitely don’t take that for granted. And also just like, you know, like, be like, Be your own, be a person don’t like don’t really think like, I don’t, I think that one thing that I like kind of fell into the trap of is like, you know, I think I put a lot of like pressure on myself to like, get into the top schools and like, push myself as hard as I possibly could. And at the end of the day, I think that like, you know, one of my biggest fears is like I like I think just like the fact that I retook the AC t when I got a 35 I like cringe at that so hard, because I’m like, I was so stressed about one point. And you know, I don’t think that like you really, I think that like colleges are looking at applications so much more holistically. And like, it’s not just about the numbers. It’s about like who you are as a person so that at the end of the day like you should you should just do things that you’re passionate about, do things that you like doing like, don’t, you know, like, don’t like really like, there’s like, I guess, like a lot of the stress and like pressure, like, at the end of the day, you want to find a school that fits you. And I think that like, if you do what you like, and you do what you love, like, that’s kind of part of the I that’s in an ideal world, the college applications process is going to choose people that are that are like, perfectly fit for the school. And like, obviously, that’s not the reality. But you know, I think that’s something you should strive for is go for a school that like fits your vibe fits your passion. And remember that like, don’t reduce yourself in the application process, like you are a full person, not just like a set of numbers on a piece of paper. Yeah, so that’s, that’s how that’s the best thing I would say, like a high school student. And then to a college student, I would say, kind of similar vein is like, don’t like, you don’t have to put like everyone’s college experience is going to be so so so different. And you know, like some people don’t find their friend group and bill for the first semester at all, some people find it the first day, some people are going to get involved in different clubs and then quit and then some people aren’t going to not get involved in the joint later, some people are gonna have to drop classes and fail classes. And you know, at the end of the day, it’s like, caught like, life is so much more than like, every little thing that happens to you in college, and you’re going to fail, and you’re going to have tough times. But you know, like, at the end of the day, like there’s no standard of what a college experience looks like. I think college is like really, even more so than like high school. It’s about like, finding who you are figuring out what you like, and what you’re passionate about. And just like being kind of true to yourself, and that, you know, like, your time and the things that you think matter and get involved in the things that you think matter and find people that meet that like kind of like help you become that better person that’s passionate and driven and hardworking. And, you know, Don’t stress it, that doesn’t come immediately. Because, you know, you have four years to figure that out. And it’ll it’ll happen it but it’ll it’ll happen eventually. And you know, at the end of the day, like there again, there’s no standard to compare yourself to. And you know, a lot of like, what you hear from other people is you only hear the successes when people talk about their college experience. And there’s so much failure, like literally so much failure in college, that it really gets you know, you anytime you feel like you’re like, oh my gosh, why is everyone else doing so much better than me? And like, I guarantee it is not that way. Like, you know, if you’re like struggling in a class, and you’re like why I’m the only one having a hard time I guarantee you’re not if you’re having a bad mental health period. Like I guarantee you’re not the only one. So definitely like comparison is like a very, it’s a trap that you fall into in college because at the end of the day, like live your own life. That’s what college is about is living your own life.

Kamila
Wise words spoken by a wise man, thank you very much. Thank you very much for coming today. Of course this is a great talk. Yeah, have a good night.

Jimmy
I have a good night.

Kamila
Bye bye. Hi. And that wraps up part two of my interview with Jimmy again if you have not checked out part one make sure to do that. subscribe and also check out my blog, a college kid calm. But other than that, I hope to see you in the next one.