Reddit mentions of JSI Special 4/4 Violin String Set: Gold Label Ball-End E & Dominant A, D, and G Strings - Medium Gauge

PICKING OUT A VIOLIN?

• Avoid your local music store if possible. Instead, you want to find a luthier - someone who specialises in string instruments like the violin. Such a store is known as a luthiery, but it's not a common term, so just look for your local violin shop. If there isn't one, your local music store may have an in-house string expert on their staff who will be able to provide assistance. Ordering online can be a crapshoot, and in general should be your last resort. Once you have more experience, you'll find that being able to play on the instrument in question before buying it is the ideal test for finding the right violin.
  
  
• If you've got a teacher, they can be of great help in selecting a violin. Often an experienced teacher will have a particular model, brand, or even luthier that they can recommend to you. They may have extra violins of their own that they're willing to lend, or have other students looking to sell their current outfits for cheap. On top of that, once you've got your violin, a teacher will be able to help ensure that your violin is set up right.
  
  
• If you're not 100% sure of your commitment, renting is definitely the best way to go. Once you're decided you're sticking to it and want something better, some stores may offer rent-to-own or financing plans that can put some of the pricier intermediate-level instruments into your price range. But remember - expensive does not mean better! Once again, the best indicator is to try it before you buy it, and you may find that you prefer the tone of a particular cheaper violin to that of the pricier ones.
  
  
• As a general rule of thumb - if it's hot pink, electric blue, or some other colour that isn't, well, wood - it's crap. As far as I know, the sole exception to this rule is Luis and Clark's line of carbon fibre instruments, but if you're ready to drop five grand on a violin, then you probably don't need any of this advice.
  
  
• Once you've got your violin, changing the strings is highly recommended unless you bought it from a store that already set it up for you. Changing strings isn't rocket science, but you may want to let your teacher or luthier walk you through it the first time. Some strings are quite expensive which will make you think they're good (they are), but remember - in the end, the tone of your instrument is primarily determined by, well, your instrument. If you've only got a $200 Chinese factory violin, save the evahs for when you upgrade, and go for the tonicas instead. However, if you've been playing for a while on a cheap, but decent violin and you find yourself wanting a better sound without the associated price tag, a new set of strings just might breathe new life into your instrument.
  
  
• What strings are good? Honestly, this isn't a question that can be answered easily, because the same set of strings will sound different on two different violins. In fact, some violinists may even have strings from four different sets on their violin! Once you're good enough, you'll be able to experiment with different sets and combinations on your own instrument to find what works best for it. However, if you're just looking to upgrade from your super-sensitive reds, most would agree that this set, the Thomastik Dominant A, D, G + the Pirastro Gold Label E, is the standard to which all other strings are measured.
  
  
• Not sure what a ball end or a loop end is? Generally, you'll want ball end strings, except when it comes to your E string, where you'll need to check your fine tuner. Does it look like a mini tuning fork? Get a ball end E. If it looks like a little hook instead, you'll need the loop end.

The set of Dominants with Pirastro E is standard, but you want to pay careful attention. You want one of these two:

https://www.amazon.com/JSI-Special-Violin-String-Set/dp/B000V6E01I/ref=sr_1_7?crid=ZT52RD2Z3UFF&keywords=dominant+violin+strings+4+4+set&qid=1564428453&s=gateway&sprefix=dominant%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-7

https://www.amazon.com/JSI-Special-Violin-String-Set/dp/B000V6FY8Q/ref=sr_1_3?crid=ZT52RD2Z3UFF&keywords=dominant+violin+strings+4+4+set&qid=1564428453&s=gateway&sprefix=dominant%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-3

But which one you pick is going to depend on whether your E-string is a ball end or loop end. You should be able to easily tell by looking at how the E-string hooks into the fine tuner. Like people are saying, by the time an A-string breaks, it's long past time to change strings anyway.

Be careful taking the advice of people who like more premium strings. That's a question only you can answer after trying many different setups (some of which can cost up to double the ones linked above).

Dominant + Pirastro Gold Label E combo

Pirastro Tonica (cheaper but still great)

I am somewhat confused as to how you could already be a college sophomore and have never bought new strings -- idk, maybe your teacher always bought them? It's just a bit unusual -- but that's a question for some other time :)

For my entire life I've been using Dominants for G, D, and A, with a Pirastro Gold E.

Most violins' tailpieces, including mine, are set up to take ball-end E strings: https://www.amazon.com/JSI-Special-Violin-String-Set/dp/B000V6E01I/

But if yours is set up for a loop-end E string, they also make those: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V6FY8Q

The G, D, and A strings are always ball-end so you don't have to worry about those, if for whatever reason you move to buying strings separately rather than as a set. The Dominants+Gold E set is sold that way because many professionals use that combination, but many others have their own individual taste, sometimes even by mixing and matching strings form different makers.

To know which type of E string your tailpiece is set up to accept, this article could help: http://blog.sharmusic.com/blog/bid/81287/Do-You-Need-a-Loop-or-a-Ball-End-for-Your-E-string