Brown University Top Questions

In general I think Brown kids tend to be diverse, but there are definitely stereotypes floating around. Because we're in the Ivy League, there's a perception that a lot of people here are snobby and rich. Of course, some people at Brown are snobs and some are rich as well, but for the most part this doesn't really hold. Most people are friendly and nice. Among the other Ivies and elite schools I think we have an easy-going reputation because of our open curriculum and lenient policies on alcohol. This is true to some extent--I feel like we're less academically pressured and tend to party more as a whole, but we also do value our learning experiences in the classroom.

One of the stereotypes of Brown students says that everyone is a hipster, which is not necessarily true. Although there are some around campus, all different kinds of people attend Brown. Another stereotype is that students at Brown are incredibly happy, which is definitely true. Everyone is really nice and generally easy-going. There is a place for everyone at Brown because everyone is very accepting.

It seems like the two major stereotypes are: dumb jocks and pretentious hipsters, and while sadly there are many of both of these at the University, thankfully there are also a wide range of other students with varying interests within this spectrum (including slightly less stupid jocks and only somewhat snooty hipsters).

It seems like the two major stereotypes are: dumb jocks and pretentious hipsters, and while sadly there are many of both of these at the University, thankfully there are also a wide range of other interests that fall between this spectrum (slightly less stupid jocks and only somewhat snooty hipsters

Brown lives up to the stereotype of living liberally. We have no requirements and we can take as many classes as we want for S/NC (the Brown version of pass/fail). While students are given the freedom of academics, they often choose wisely which classes they will take S/NC and what classes will be taken out of their requirement. Students do not abuse the liberal freedom that they are given. Often, students will use the S/NC option to take a class that is way out of their normal range of classes, but is something that interests them.

Some negative stereotypes of Brown students are that we are Hippies who smoke a lot of weed, and are "Holier than thou" in our attitude towards others and consider ourselves intellectually superior to others. Some positive stereotypes of Brown students are that we are very tolerant of others who have different perspectives than our own, and that we are well-rounded in our interests, and that students here support one another academically rather than blindly compete with one another. There are a lot of very liberal students at Brown who believe in sometimes uncommon ideas, and so this "hippie" stereotype is not completely wrong, but the weed culture is definitely overemphasized and I believe drugs exist with the same prevalence at Brown as other prestigious Universities with no more or less of a percentage of students participating. Generally, students at Brown are very well-rounded and are very bright, which can sometimes lead to them being viewed as condescending, but I don't think this is a fair characterization of students here. There is a very good support system amongst students, and helping others academically is socially expected at Brown.

The stereotype is probably intellectual liberal hipsters, which is honestly relatively true. Most of the Brown population is liberal and intellectual, and fashion on campus is relatively hipster. However, you can find pockets of people who are just about anything else, including die-hard Republicans.

People often think of Brown students as hippie activists and stoners. While there are probably a larger proportion of these students here than others, Brown is super diverse and so it's easy to find students who are not interested in activism and drugs. Despite the varying kinds of people, I think that generally most Brown students are liberal, open-minded, and interested in new perspectives and opinions outside their own.

People often think of Brown students as hippie activists and stoners. While there are probably a larger proportion of these students here than others, Brown is super diverse and so it's easy to find students who are not interested in activism and drugs. Despite the varying kinds of people, I think that generally most Brown students are liberal, open-minded, and interested in new perspectives and opinions outside their own.

Brown is said to be the "hippie" child of the Ivies. The stereotype is that students are very liberal, like to protest, and only study what they feel like studying. Brown is probably the most relaxed and least competitive school of all the Ivies, but that doesn't mean that students don't put their noses to the grindstone and take their studies seriously. For the most part, Brown is quite liberal, but it is also equally diverse in nationality, religion, etc. In general, Brown students are open-minded and are willing to have their ideas challenged through conversation.

The stereotypical Brown student is into postmodernism, drinking homemade tea out of jars, and smoking weed. You'd actually be surprised how many Brown students are concentrating (not majoring!) in either science or engineering -- there's a very prominent Pre-Med group here too. On the other hand, there is a significant 'liberal arts' influence/feel to the school. In other words, as a science student, you are "grounded" to some extent by having friends that are heavily invested in the liberal arts (and vice-versa). Brown students don't use more drugs than the average college student, but the school has a more relaxed (and student-friendly) atmosphere than the other ivy leagues, which probably gives it that reputation...

There is an assumption that most of the students at Brown are rich, hipsters, promiscuous, and arrogance, but this is not the truth. Yes, there are rich students, there are hipsters, there are students who are promiscuous and arrogance, and this is true at most East Coast, and especially the Ivy League, but it is incorrect to believe that this the image of the typical Brown students. I cannot give a typical description of what a Brown student looks like or do as we are not homogeneous in these categories. However, I would say that the large majority of the students at Brown shares the values of being self-motivated, open-minded, and critical (as in analytical) toward their experiences at Brown. And yes, Brown students tend to be very liberal in ideologies but they are tolerant and respectful towards others' ideologies. And unlike the lazy stereotype of the Brown student who takes every class "Pass/Fail", Brown students are quite responsible toward their education as they are given the opportunity (and burden) of creating their own educational experience.

There is an assumption that most of the students at Brown are rich, hipsters, promiscuous, and arrogance, but this is not the truth. Yes, there are rich students, there are hipsters, there are students who are promiscuous and arrogance, and this is true at most East Coast, and especially the Ivy League, but it is incorrect to believe that this the image of the typical Brown students. I cannot give a typical description of what a Brown student looks like or do as we are not homogeneous in these categories. However, I would say that the large majority of the students at Brown shares the values of being self-motivated, open-minded, and critical (as in analytical) toward their experiences at Brown. And yes, Brown students tend to be very liberal in ideologies but they are tolerant and respectful towards others' ideologies. And unlike the lazy stereotype of the Brown student who takes every class "Pass/Fail", Brown students are quite responsible toward their education as they are given the opportunity (and burden) of creating their own educational experience.