College Connections: Kyuna Lee (‘22) at Johns Hopkins University

Eddy Kang, Co-Editor-in-Chief

A series by Allison Jones (‘22), former Co-Editor-in-Chief

From developing surgical procedures to correct congenital heart defects in 1944 to spearheading the New Horizons mission to Pluto in 2015, John Hopkins University stands as a bastion of scientific development and innovation. JHU is a private research university based in northern Baltimore, MD which houses 5,318 undergraduates from 51 different countries, spanning 140 acres. Hopkins has a student faculty ratio of 7:1, an average class size of 23, and a total of 51 majors. According to Hopkins’ first president,, Daniel Coit Gilman, Hopkins’ mission is “to educate its students and cultivate their capacity for lifelong learning, to foster independent and original research, and to bring the benefits of discovery to the world.”

Johns Hopkins was founded in 1876 as the nation’s first research university, while its Peabody Institute of Music became the nation's first academy of music. Hopkins ranks #9 in the nation on U.S. News’ “2023-2024 Best National Universities” list. Although Hopkins has a strong reputation for STEM, it also exhibits prowess in the humanities, with the Peabody Institute ranking #5 for “2023 Best Colleges for Music in America” according to Niche. With an acceptance rate of 6.5% for the Class of 2026, Hopkins has established itself as one of the most selective colleges in the nation. 

Kyuna Lee (‘22) discusses her Hopkins experience as a rising sophomore, reflecting on her Casady education, detailing her first-year involvement, and imparting valuable advice. 

What is your major/minor and what do you plan on doing after graduation?

Kyuna: My major is Molecular and Cellular Biology on a Pre-med track, and [for] my minor, I’m still contemplating, but I think I’m interested in business. I really like Marketing. The plan after graduation is probably medical school. 

What is your favorite Casady memory?

Kyuna: I would probably have to say the orchestra trip. It was a while ago, [...] four years ago, which is crazy. It was freshman year, and we went to Ireland. It was such an amazing opportunity. I tell people “Oh, you know, I went to Ireland once with my school,”, and people say “That's insane! Why are you going to Europe with your school?” So, I think it’s a really amazing opportunity that Casady has, and it was a bonding experience with my friends. There were so many new, amazing things that I got to see.  

In what ways did Casady prepare you for your education at Hopkins?

Kyuna: One of the most prominent things that I appreciate about Casady is its liberal arts education. [Hopkins] isn't liberal arts at all. It’s very STEM-focused. There aren’t a lot of high schools that take the liberal arts approach that Casady does, and graduating from Casady has made me very well-rounded. In the parts where I was lacking, such as the English and History areas, it was a challenge for me throughout high school, and because it was a challenge, it’s made me grow so much. In English, the fact that we were doing Harkness discussions everyday, as well as the fact that Casady heavily emphasizes essay writing, helped me a lot in college, especially when writing essays. That’s something I will not take for granted. 

Why did you choose Johns Hopkins?

Kyuna: A lot of reasons. Obviously, you don’t choose college for just one reason. One reason is, like I mentioned, Hopkins is very STEM-focused, and being a Pre-med, there are amazing opportunities there. Amazing advising. So, that was one of the factors that drew me towards Hopkins in the first place. [...] The research is also what drew me. When [tour guides] take you on [campus] tours, they say “Hopkins has the most research funding in the world,”* and that just went in one ear and out the other when they were talking about it. But, it’s truly amazing how much research is happening at Hopkins, and there are so many great opportunities presented to students. Right now, one of my favorite things is the people, and how motivated and driven they are. I really appreciate the opportunity to be able to bounce ideas off of them and relate to them in areas that I’m studying. Those are just a few reasons why I chose Hopkins. 

*JHU boasts $3.1 billion in annual research funding.

What has been the most surprising part of attending Johns Hopkins?

Kyuna: I don’t think the most surprising thing is Hopkins-specific for me. It’s mostly the very radical lifestyle change from living with your parents to essentially living alone or with your friends for several months. It’s a growing experience, because you’re thrown into a new environment. You have to learn how to adapt. There were lots of surprising moments along that theme. For me, I don't know if that’s necessarily Hopkins-specific, but I think Hopkins-specific people have made that experience easier for me. 

What kind of student organizations are you involved in?

Kyuna: I’m part of the Korean American Students Association,* which has been amazing, since Oklahoma doesn’t have many Korean Americans. It’s been great meeting people who have been through similar experiences and come from a similar background. I’m also part of a Biology club that’s been so educational and helpful. It’s such an amazing biology-focused community. I want to say that’s it for now, but I’m definitely going to be more focused on clubs** next [academic] year, because this year, I was really focused on adjusting.

*JHU is one of the 3 most diverse universities in the nation, according to U.S. News.

**JHU supports over 450 student-run organizations.

Are you involved in research? If so, what kind?

Kyuna: I’m involved in research, and my research lab has been such an awesome, inviting community. I’m in a genetics lab right now, and I don’t want to dive too much into the nitty-gritty, but essentially, the work that I do is stem cell-focused. It’s been such a learning curve. I’ll try to explain this without going on a full-on 20-minute rant. The lab that I’m in focuses on specific diseases and we use DNA modification, CRISPR, to see the effects on this disease and the phenotypes. I think I’m going to leave it at that. [...] It’s been so amazing and really hands-on. Hopkins really encourages undergraduate research,* and I’m really glad. 

*80% of Hopkins undergraduates have participated in at least one research program.

How did you get involved with research?

Kyuna: There are a lot of ways [to get involved with research]. Hopkins has a website called “ForagerOne,” where there’s an entire roster of faculty. That’s usually where Hopkins students look first. You can narrow down your search with categories as well. For my research, I did [directly] email [a professor]. 

What sets Johns Hopkins apart from other universities?

Kyuna: I feel like that’s a difficult question, because all of the top colleges in America are amazing. They all offer so many opportunities, and wherever you go, you’re going to find passionate people. I think Hopkins is the place where I truly felt the most concrete community. I mentioned that a lot of people at Hopkins are STEM-driven, more so than other colleges. Because of that, I’m able to relate to my peers a lot more. I’m not saying that I wouldn’t have that if I went to any other college, but I think the community is bigger at Hopkins, as there’s so many people who are focused and so driven, want to do research, and are super passionate about this type of stuff. It’s really inspiring for me, being thrown into this atmosphere where everyone is so passionate about their work. When we have conversations, they’re so enlightened about [their areas of study]. Honestly, I feel like I can’t answer that question fully, because I haven’t experienced college life at any other university, but those are the things that I found really endearing about Hopkins. 

Is there a high level of competition or a cutthroat environment at Hopkins?

Kyuna: That’s a very funny question. I feel like Hopkins gets a very bad rap amongst other top colleges for being so cutthroat, and I have to say, I feel like [in] every conversation I have with a non-Hopkins student, they ask that question. I have to say, no. I have never experienced anything competitive, cutthroat, sabotaging, or anything like that. [The] friends that I’ve made and the community that I’ve built are so amazingly supportive. We’re always helping each other, always asking each other questions. For example, for next [academic] year, a friend and I have planned our schedules so that we can support each other. So, in my personal experience, I’ve never had an encounter with someone who is [overly] competitive, but I have to say, I bet there are people like that at Hopkins, and I can put money on the fact that there are people like that at every other college. [...] That’s not something I was necessarily worried about before going to college, and I don't think anyone else should be, because you’re going to surround yourself with people who you care about and care about you. 

What is your favorite activity to do in your spare time at Johns Hopkins?

Kyuna: Any spare time that I have during the day, I really try to do research or go to my job. It’s not work for me, because I’m so passionate about that type of stuff. After school, besides club meetings, [I hang] out with my friends. I did not expect how social college life would be. You’re essentially living with your friends 24/7, because you’re stuck in these dorms for 9 months. Really, [during] any spare time, I was either taking time for myself and unwinding after a long day or just hanging out with my friends. We mostly just hung out in common areas.* In my specific dorm, we have common rooms on each floor and each wing. That’s probably my favorite activity.

*JHU offers 6 undergraduate housing options.

What advice would you give to current high school students regarding the college admissions process?

Kyuna: I think the most important lesson that I took away from my whole application process was [related to] the essays. The supplemental essays and the Common App essays are questions that are designed to dig deep and talk about your passions and what you want to do with those passions. Before [applying to college], I didn’t really encounter any questions like that, and I never really reflected. When I was doing the Common App and supplements, I found that I really got to learn about myself, reflect on my passions, and make sure that I was doing the thing that I was interested in. Spend time with the application process and don’t put down what you think the college admissions officers might want to hear. Really focus on learning about yourself and trying to express yourself as best as you can through your writing. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Casady Community?

Kyuna: Everyday at Casady and everyday after has been [...] a learning curve. Try to appreciate that and try to take away as much as you can from those experiences, because they help with your self-growth and reflection. That’s something that’s helped me in life. 

Some interesting additional information about JHU:

The only U.S. president to earn a Ph.D., Woodrow Wilson, received his from JHU.

The Women’s Fund Committee endowed the JHU School of Medicine in 1892 on the condition that the school would accept women and men on equal basis. 

The “Lighting of the Quads” is an annual lighting ceremony that JHU students take part in every winter. The event features musical performances, food, crafts, fireworks, and light decorations.

U.S. News. has rated the Johns Hopkins Hospital #1 in the nation for 22 total years.

The Blue Jays, JHU’s men’s lacrosse team, have won 44 national championships (9 of those being in the NCAA) and compete in Division I of the NCAA. 

27 Nobel Prize winners were JHU faculty/students during their lives. 

JHU was named after Johns Hopkins, a philanthropist from the 19th century who championed public health and education, devoting $7 million dollars to the creation of JHU and the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Photo courtesy of Kyuna Lee (‘22)

Photo courtesy of Kyuna Lee (‘22)