Brown University Top Questions

Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

King

To a certain extent. Yes, there are plenty of those who talk about socieconomic inequality and other societal issues. Yes there are stoners and yes there is a sizable LGBTQ community. However, as with most stereotypes, these do not hold true for many students. As far as the stoner stereotype, I for one can say that this is not true for me and my friends and you will find plenty of Brown students who aren't into cannabis-related activities. Also there are students who won't give a hoot about third world issues and there will be students who will err on the side of conservative values and argue against your leftist ideologies.

Jonathan

Brown is so diverse that yes, you will find those people here (although they won't major in basketweaving, that would never get through the independent concentration review process). But there are so many different kinds of people here that most will find their niche. Also, Economics and Biology are the most popular concentrations at Brown, and they're certainly not useless.

Rory

Yeah there is quite a mix of people at brown.

Jimmy

Yes and no. Yes, you will find people, a fair number of people that fit those stereotypes. At the same time, there's a healthy balance of blue blooded republicans on their way to investment banking jobs at the world's most successful companies, even with the economy in the shitter. You'll find liberals chasing those jobs, too for that matter. Ok, yes, the naked party is fun if you get invited, but yes, the point of it is to embrace the human form rather than gawk at unrealistic media-driven portrayals of what the naked body should look like. On the flip side, there is Starf*ck and Sex Power God made famous by Republican news pundits to feed your debaucherous instincts. Yes, there is a lot of weed, but in my opinion, only in a very small portion of the population. Yes, we're the most diverse and most gay friendly of the Ivies, and that's something of which we are very proud. The stereotypes exist because of our Ivy League status--we're left of the Ivy average, but that's not saying much: For example, the diversity of Brown's student population still does not represent the US population. We could use even more diversity - it's white-washed compared to where I come from. Yes, we are gay friendly, but I've never seen a single gay couple holding hands on the main green, compared to the face-sucking by straight counterparts. And far too many students still end up with high-paying consulting or investment banking jobs than donate their lives to Teach For America/Americorps/Peace Corps etc.

Brett

motivated students

Brett

Brett

no distribution requirments

Brett

DIY liberal iIndie kids epitomize brown. maybe.

Brett

can we even be boiled down to a stereotype?

Brett

Brown students are just SO creative

Brett

fact - brown students are a little weird

Harper

To an extent, yes. Stereotypes about any school and their students always must hold some truth (i.e. Princeton has admits too many students with legacy. True story.) But not all Brown students are hippies, and the "liberal" environment on campus is simply due to the fact that the students come from very different backgrounds and we all have a very *liberal* view of seeing how the world works. We are liberal in the sense that we want to look forward and do something that will make things better. There are some pretty politically conservative students on campus.

Taylor

We are extremely liberal for the most part, but beyond that none of the stereotypes are valid.

Steph

yes, qualified. Most students fall somewhere on the liberal scale, and many are inclined to try things like vegetarianism, Buddhist meditation, and political protests. But we also tend to be pretty laid-back, never pushy about whatever ideas we have. Brown students are unique in that we place a high value on creativity, on intellectual independence, and on passion for learning and being.

Harper

yeah, for the most part

Emily

Some- rich, hipster, involved

alex

To a large degree, yes.

Alex

The truth is that, of course there are the hippy kids and the rich kids. But there are also the artists, the science major the english lovers, the kids who live in the librabry, the athletes, ect. There are people from all over the world but its more than that still. every person i have met thus far at brown is complex. People have their intricacies and i dont thinks it fair to describe a person with one word. Maybe it seems like a dichotomy to the outside world but at brown you come to learn failrly quickly that the "hippy" kids can be jocks and the jocks can be sensitive. So, yes, stereotypes are accurate but they are never complete. At Brown, you learn to delve deeper, to appreciate the completness of other people

Alex

There isn't that much activism, but Brown is a hard place to be if you're Republican. Brown is, in fact, the cool Ivy. People are really laid back, but you still have to pass classes and major in something.

Felipe

Yes, I would say so. In my experience, it's amazing how shocked you are to find that some of your closest friends make three, four, FIVE times as much as your parents do, if not more. It's widely known that there are some heirs and heiresses around Brown, but never do you see them flaunting it and or using it as a tool to garner friends or attention. Likewise, people aren't pursuing them constantly. The stereotype of being rich and snobby doesn't apply to Brown's students, as much as my knowledge goes, and I'm glad for that. Likewise, almost everyone I know is committed to some sort of organization in or around the Brown campus, and even away from it, in some manner. Attending such a university with people who truly want to lend a helping hand seriously boosts up ones self esteem and really lends that "ummph!" that might be in you, letting you realize that, "yes, in fact, you CAN do something."

Michelle

I would say they're all accurate, although not everyone uses drugs (and I believe there is a small group of Republicans on campus).

Tate

1) It's college. There is pot. Probably no more/less than at most places, but the administration is not very strict about it. It's pretty safe to say you won't get caught. Then again, almost half the people on my freshman hall neither smoke nor drink. 2) Brown is VERY liberal. Conservatives are a quiet minority. Read this article for more: http://media.www.browndailyherald.com/media/storage/paper472/news/2005/02/08/CampusNews/U.Grads.In.Politics.Shake.Liberal.Stereotype-855934.shtml 3) Brown students are very well dressed. We're not your standard preppies with the polo-khaki combo, though. Trendy labels abound. About 1/2 the campus can afford this, though. The other half is on some form of financial aid through Brown

Harper

Sure, there a myriad of students who could fall into stereotypical social labels based on their wardrobe, values, and political views; however no matter who you are, how you dress and what you believe in, you will undoubtedly find your social niche. Most importantly, students at Brown don't really label each other. Fact: Brown is as chill as wintertime in Providence. Fiction: Slacking off is absolutely acceptable. Although Brown's curriculum is extremely flexible, I'd say that students put effort in all of their classes. I feel like students at Brown want to learn, so they put 100 percent in their studies, even if they're partying on the weekend. Although it's easy to take your pass/fail class with less determination to get all the work done, I wouldn't call completely stress free. Classes definitely require a lot of work and time. I feel like at Brown you learn to budget your time - there's a definite balance between work and play - you just have to manage that yourself.

Dani

Well, while I have met some "hippies", more than I've ever met before (but then again, I'm from Texas), that is not even close to an accurate description of the general student body. I would agree that there is a huge trend towrads the left on most poltical issues, and that Brown students are typically very socially conscious and aware, but I have met more than one or two conservatives during my frist year (not that they aren't socially conscious as well....). There really is everything at Brown - from the grungy types to the hipsters, from the label-wearing Manhattan girls to the jocks on the athletic teams, and literally everything in between. What we do noticeably lack, though, are superficially judgemental people. (OK fine I'm sure we even have some of those, but you can probably go by all fours years and never have it be an issue...). But there definitely ARE grades and deadlines, and people do put effort into their work. However there is less academic pressure than at other schools I think, and everyone is much, much more relaxed about their work and extracurriculars. While Brown students talk about every issue imaginable, we don't spend much time talking about our school or activity work we have to do. Unless its midterms or finals period, Brown students invest themselves in many other issues that don't involve a desk or a computer. The weight has significatnly lifted off my shoulders since graduating from high school. Plus, the classes are amazing... most people actually enjoy the work they do... we have a healthy relationship with our mile-long essays.

Rich

Not really. We are all those things in many ways, but as with anywhere, you find all personality types, interests, and backgrounds. Definitely a liberal leaning though.

jess

absolutely.

Jenna

No they are not! Brown is a liberal campus and most people are accepting of others. Everyone is really friendly. There are some "hippies", but most of the student population does not smoke pot 24/7.

Victoria

I m sorry I am not informed enough to answer this question. If I do not know about them, they might not exist.

Brett

Entirely. Though you get a spread of people at Brown, many are paradoxically elitist while being hyper-liberal at the same time. Many seem to subscribe to appealing ideas that seem libertarian or culturally tolerant while simultaneously being cliquish and intolerant. A good example is how many of the students here can be viscous when faced with more moderate approaches that are merely more pragmatic frameworks for similar behavioral codes.

Reese

Not always. There are alot of fuckin' hipsters here though.

Jerry

Yes and No. Brown is very diverse. People from all walks of life come here. I've seen studious kids who work their heads off all day and all night. I see people who are geniuses by day and party animals by night. I see others who seem pretty normal most of the time, but on weekend nights are dressed like they belong to the other sex. You name the demographic, you've got it.

Emily

we have some hippies, but really diverse student body. i think we are genrally less competive than other ivy league schools I have visited, and overall the students are very nice and happy. most students are liberal, but definitely not everyone.

Caitlin

It is true that there are alternative types of people here, but the great thing about Brown is that you can be whoever you want to be. There are hipsters, sure, and hippies too, but there are also CS nerds and shirtless jocks, and for the most part we all get along. (Obviously there are normal people too!) But really I can wear pretty much whatever I want to class and people won't think twice about it, whether I'm wearing heels, huge-ass sunglasses, and carrying a gucci purse, or a wrap around skirt, Birkenstocks and a dirty t-shirt. As for the awkwardness, yes I would say that the average Brown student is more awkward than most people, but we get over it and have fun anyway.

Eliza

It's true that Brown has a reputation for being slightly more liberal than other schools (specifically the curriculum), but that doesn't mean it's full of hippies. In fact, there are actually quite a few conservatives at Brown - and probably more of what I would consider to be the YUPPY type. In my experience, people don't smoke weed any more here than at your average school. I happen to be friends with a group of really nice, normal kids who don't smoke. But hey, if that's your thing, you can DEFINITELY find it. Lastly, I won't deny that Brown kids, on average, are a smart group. That doesn't mean they don't have fun (or do stupid things). Maybe there are a few more straight up book clubs than you might find at the average state school, but most kids just wanna have fun (while getting good grades, of course).

Kyle

yes

Rory

yep

Ben

In general, the campus is less ridiculously liberal than I expected. Everyone is, in fact, liberal, but the annoying people who want to shove their PETA garbage down your throat only come out once every few weeks and are easy to avoid. The other stereotypes are pretty accurate though - Brown students are open to anything and everything, and are really happy to be at Brown.

Michael

The people here are disappointingly more normal than people make it seem.

Gabi

Not at all. Brown is an extremely diverse campus and that applies even in terms of social groups--hippies are definitely not that predominant here.

Tate

Yes.

Gregory

Yes, to a degree. In general Brown students are liberal and out there. It's not surprising to find Brown students with ten different color hair or interested in some unique topic. Everyone I've met at Brown is interesting and everyone seems to have their own niche. For the most part everything is accepted. However, we have our preppy athletes and frat boys too, but they don't predominate Brown culture.

Tessie

These stereotypes do have a shred of truth to them, but for the most part, they are not true. I think it is much more casual socially than some of the other Ivy League schools, and we work as hard as ever, so definitely not just a rich kid's party school. And I think it is as liberal as you would expect any college campus to be (except for the strict and/or religious zealot ones), though I think it is awesome how much freedom the college allows us.

Maria

Some students smoke pot, but certainly not all us of do. Many students associate with the Democratic party, but there are some Republicans too. Many students where Birkenstocks, but they also where polo shirts and pearl earings. The students on campus are conscious of what's going on in the world and will speak up about things that they disapprove of, but most students don't make a big deal over little things.

alex

Yes

Natasha

Marijuana use isn't as stigmatized on this campus as it is on other Ivy League campuses, and I'd say we're generally more laid back than a lot of other schools. However, we do work very hard. And there are way more hipsters than hippies here. Forget bellbottoms and peace signs, here it's all about skinny jeans and vintage sunglasses.

Royce

to some extent, but not as much as people say

Andy

-all stereotypes are based off of some truth, but as blanket statements for the entire brown campus, they are inaccurate

Kristin

The stereotypes played on shows like "the OC" are false. My social group is nothing like that, and I have a very wide network of friends. Yes there are people like that, but I'd say its a much smaller proportion than people think. I think Brown students are successful at what they do and what groups and organizations they are proponents of. They are leaders and activists about their passions. Because they are so successful at doing what they care about I think it becomes a stereotype that the entire school is like that, (eg. protesting, action networks, sustainability, etc)

Alex

yes. it is all true.

Jonathon

Well these stereotypes do not tell the truth about the whole student body, there are several students who do have these qualities.