Brown: The Big Picture
Brown University gives its students pure freedom within the college experience. Virtually all classes are open to all students (if they can take the time to send an email to the professor expressing their interest), and thanks to Brown's New Curriculum, the academic options for students in any concentration (which is what Brown calls majors) are limitless. The student body at Brown is awesome, and people are very sociable, down-to-earth, and nicer than the average person. The party scene is strong at Brown, especially because cops do not regularly enter dormitory buildings anymore, thanks to SSDP. Providence is a unique little city, and it can be fun at times, but NYC and Boston are easily accessible. The weather sucks, in general, with lots of rain, snow, and mud during the winter, but spring and fall can be gorgeous. Athletics at Brown are strong, but games are rarely well attended.
But really all I can say is that I love Brown. Most everyone here does.
Brown Academic Life
The New Curriculum rules - students only have to take required classes for their concentrations, and the rest is completely up to them. Students are serious about their studies here, and the classes, especially in the sciences, can be challenging and competitive. However, the academic atmosphere is not overly stressful. To quote a visiting friend from UCSB, "Brown kids study hard, and party hard." The profs here are really intelligent and motivated, across the board, and most classes are very rewarding. Best class? Neuro 1: Introductory Neuroscience. A Brown education is geared toward learning for its own sake - with a lack of requirements, students have to choose each of their classes on their own, inspiring them to choose what truly interests them.
Brown's Student Body
Most students are really wealthy, but luckily, because they're at Brown, they rarely flaunt it. (Although you will meet exceptions and get oh so angry, but that's life.) Everyone is liberal, but few people are over-the-top with their activism. Real activism is healthy on campus, but not as strong as expected. There are jocks, geeks, punks, LOTS of preps (especially if you come from a public high school), but all students are united by the fact that 1) all Brown students are actually nerds, and actually care about studying even if they pretend not to; and 2) most Brown students are nice, down-to-earth, genuine people. Additionally, there is a sizable gay community at Brown, although sometimes it is hard to distinguish from some of the more flamboyant preps.
Brown Student Activities + Social Life
Many people find freshman year to be the best opportunity for making new friends. Brown Band and BOLT are just two activities I'm involved in that have helped me network at Brown - activities are the best way to make new friends, especially because your freshman "unit" will not exist, even in spirit, beyond freshman year. People party as much or as little as they want, especially because the university isn't out to turn over its students to the cops. If you have a bad drinking night and get taken away by EMS, you won't get in trouble, even if you are underage (the first time). Most people like to drink with their close friends on the weekends, although the frats, sororities, and program houses throw large parties every weekend. Brown has a sizable population of stoners, too, and the administration generally looks the other way when it comes to pot. Spring Weekend at Brown is simply epic: everyone comes out for the concerts, drinks and smokes openly in public, and gets to have a good time before Reading Week begins. Social life at Brown, for most people, is very enjoyable.
Brown Naked Truth
I love Brown, and I am grateful every day for the freedom I have as a student here.
