Brown University Top Questions

Brown is a very flexible place -- there are no required courses (only those required for your major), so you can explore a wide variety of academic disciplines.

Size and location. It is neither overwhelmingly large nor frustratingly small. Moreover, it is sandwiched between the two most exciting and vibrant cities in America: Boston and New York City, the former being only an hour train ride away and the latter being a 3 hour bus trip from Providence.

Size and location. It is neither overwhelmingly large nor frustratingly small. It is located in between what are perhaps the best cities in the U.S., Boston and NYC, the former being only an hour train ride away and the latter being a 3 hour bus trip from Providence.

The open curriculum. You can take any classes you want and take any as pass/fail. This is a great opportunity to explore your interests. Plus you aren't tied down by requirements.

The best thing is th freedom to live your life as an adult.

The school spirit. It's not something that necessarily binds students in an explicit go-to-football-games manner, but more so in the way students are genuinely happy to go to Brown and do what they love doing.

The open curriculum gave me the opportunity to explore my academic interests to the fullest. Before coming to brown i thought i knew what i wanted to do but that was based on a high school limited education and on teachings from my parents. At Brown i was able to explore for myself what i like to learn and figure out what i want to do for the rest of my life. The amount of freedom and autonomy i have in creating my education plan is the best part of being at Brown.

The open curriculum really gives Brown a unique feel. Everyone in each class has chosen to be there, and therefore puts forth enthusiastic participation. This is accentuated by the high level of academic thinking here, so each discussion group is extremely insightful. The open curriculum also allows students to explore areas of interest that they never would have thought to take before. One of my favorite classes, Violence in the Media, was a class I took outside both of my concentrations. Thus Brown allows students to gain a breadth of classes without forcing the students, creating a more positive environment.

The best thing about Brown University is the open curriculum that allows me to experiment with different classes outside of my major while simultaneously working at my own pace towards a degree in something I enjoy. All the while, there are numerous resources to help guide me and keep me from being overwhelmed.

My school is extremely diverse. I am immersed in an environment where there are opinions incessantly discussed from young adults representing many countries around the world. Also, I adore other cultures, and at Brown, I really get a chance to experience and witness cultures and traditions that I haven't gotten to see living in the United States.

Once upon a time, there was a magical kingdom of knowledge where students from all over the world gathered to learn. It was a place of new ideas, of creating traditions instead of being imprisoned by them, of carving a path instead of following the trail. Students were made the masters of their own education, without general requirements and mandatory classes. The kingdom was built upon a simple, yet beautiful wisdom: Education is not a set of facts to be memorized; it is a never-ending journey. What is this magical kingdom of knowledge? Why, Brown University!

When people ask me about my school most times I find myself smiling upon my reply. One amazing thing about my school, Brown University, is it allows me to take whichever classes appeal to me. While many of my friends complain about being stuck in dull general education classes I boast (in moderation, of course) about my incredible class schedule. The freedom, academically and socially, that I have experienced at Brown so far is truly something remarkable, and if first semester foreshadows the rest of my time at school then words fail to describe my excitement for the journey.

The best thing about Brown, I would say, is that it is the most liberal of the existing Ivy League institution. The university does not have restrictions on classes and required distributional courses. You can graduate as long as you complete your concentration requirement and have enough credits. Therefore, after completing the classes that are relevant to your major, you are free to take any course you want to take. For instance, a student can graduate without taking any humanities courses if his or her major is economics.

The freedom to choose whatever classes I want to take, as long as I fulfill my concentration requirements which are also pretty flexible.

The best thing about Brown is the Brown experience: it's young, it's fun, it's intellectual, it's friendly, it's diverse, it's discovery-oriented. It's just a great place to learn and grow as a person.

I think that there's a very good balance of academic and social life at Brown. When you ask people how they're doing, the answer is inevitably "really busy" -- both with class work and whatever crazy extracurricular thing they're into -- but somehow, that constant state of business doesn't seem to hinder people's social lives. We share a mutual sense of guilt that we should be working, but we all know how unhealthy that is.

The large amount of racial/ethnic diversity, the international students, the open-minded campus culture, the open curriculum, the types of courses that are offered, the offbeat social scene.

The Department of Modern Culture and Media is a quirky academic beacon at the school. The department has an emphasis on critical theory and types of media. Some consider it pretentious, but the department has opened my eyes to the importance of cultural studies without lessening the importance of any other field. My worldview has literally changed due to a few of the MCM courses I have taken; it has given me a progressive, forward-looking perspective--one that can cope and embrace cultural, political, and technological change.

What all students at Brown have in common is passion. It's not something you see many other places. Everyone cares about something, everyone deeply cares, though the things they are passionate vary widely. It's incredibly refreshing.

The ecouragement and support you receive from teachers and fellow students gives you motivation to succeed at Brown University. Everyone is friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand. There are support services for any problem that you may encounter in your years at Brown. Brown University is fully equipped with the best faculty that will help prepare you for the future.

The best thing about Brown is the self-directed, non-cut throat academic environment. Brown truly emphasizes learning in its purest sense?students are free to explore all of their academic interests through the open curriculum without feeling trapped in one area of study. Professors are also largely passionate about their fields and LOVE spending time with undergrads. Whether you're arranging time outside of class for help on a paper, showing up to office hours to learn more about your professor's personal research or meeting them on Thayer street for a coffee, you're guaranteed great conversation.

It is an alternative approach to education. You sort of choose your own path; there is a lot of freedom.

Since there are no requirements, the student body is comprised of very interesting, engaging, and self-motivated people who choose to come to Brown and take the classes they do because they enjoy it, not because of its reputation.

Being able to take whatever classes you want outside of your major. You are free to pursue what interests you from an early stage in your academic career.

academic freedom

The best thing about Brown University is the diversity and intellectual power in every classroom. People are able to co-exist in a way unlike any i had ever experienced. The options which are available with the reputations and quality of the professors exceeds all expectations. I went to Brown for the Neuroscience program, which far surpassed all expectations.

the diverse student body...im from a small rural midwestern town and i learned a ton from friends with totally different backgrounds.

The best thing about Brown is the free spirited, but still caring nature of its student body. Brown students are mature students. They realize that education is an individual responsibility, and do not seek to compete with each other. It's reassuring to be in a place where your classmates can be just your friends, and not rivals - we all respect each other. In my years at Brown, I was never once asked what my SAT score was.

The students and professors are incredibly smart, focused, and academic. The school also attracts phenomenal guest speakers and resources.

The best thing about Brown is definately the community. Everyone is amazing and they really make it the place that it is.

the variety of experiences offered/ available. you can find almost anything at the university or in providence