For freshman Michael McCartin, walking around the Homewood Campus is not something he takes for granted.
"I'll be walking around Keyser Quad, and there are times when I can't believe I go here," McCartin said.
Unlike the 3,550 students who were offered admission in late March, McCartin was placed on the waitlist for the Class of 2015.
By May 1, his deposit was in to McGill University. But McCartin was still thinking about Hopkins.
"From the location, to the culture, the heritage, the academics, the athletics and the opportunities, Hopkins seemed like the ideal environment for higher education while also having a great college experience," he said.
Displeased with his waitlist spot, he decided he had to convince Hopkins to let him in.
With the help of a friend who had a recording studio, McCartin wrote and produced a rap for the admissions office.
The video, now public on YouTube, consists of McCartin rapping about various locations on campus and how he would benefit from and contribute to Hopkins.
The lyrics took two weeks to write, and the video took an hour to film.
Highlights include: Wake up in AMR/Grab a quick shower/Gotta study at Milton S. Eisenhower/Shaffer, Gilman, Ames or Mattin/All about Johns Hopkins I'm rapping.
When students are waitlisted, they are given the opportunity to submit a supplementary essay or recommendation. As a rule, videos are strongly discouraged.
McCartin submitted an essay, a recommendation and a video to plead his case.
"It was a risk worth taking," McCartin said. "I wanted to distinguish myself. I had everything to gain, and really nothing to lose."
On June 22, he received a call from Daniel Creasy, a senior admissions officer at Hopkins.
McCartin had been accepted to his dream school.
"When I told my parents I got in, they were in disbelief," he said. "At that time, it was all McGill. We had paid the deposit. I had the sweatshirt. My student visa was in the mail."
Creasy informed him that he was one of only a few students who were admitted off the waitlist.
"I was so happy," McCartin said. "I had to go to work and I couldn't focus all day."
McCartin, who is from a suburb of Boston, does not come from a musical background.
He has no experience in singing or theater.
He's an undecided major who was a swim captain in high school.
While he has created raps for school projects in the past, he credits the success of his video to his experience in public speaking.
Each year, McCartin participates in a colonial reenactment of the Battle of Lexington.
He's also a tour guide for his town.
"I have no problem just going up to people and talking to them," he said. "I'm very good at public speaking."
Fast forward to August: with his McGill sweatshirt exchanged for Hopkins paraphernalia, McCartin has become somewhat of a campus celebrity among the freshman class.
Many of McCartin's classmates were familiar with the video before arriving on campus.
"They say, 'Oh you're the kid with the rap!'" he said. "I've also been called the 'Homewood guy.'"
However, McCartin is not without his critics. The most-liked YouTube comment offers the following advice: "Don't ever show this to anyone if you want to get laid at Hopkins."
But McCartin is not at all worried.
"If anything, the comment made me more legitimate of a rapper, now that I have a hater," he said. "I don't care. Haters gonna hate."
