Brown University Top Questions

What is your overall opinion of this school?

Alex

After spending a semester on campus I can say that applying ED was one of the better decisions I've made in the past few years. Providence and its east side is a great place for a college. Anyone checking the school out should stop for Indian or Pizza on Thayer. Providence could be a bit more lively. However, it is very easily navigated and is a very mellow city.

Ash

Brown was an incredible and life-changing place to go to school. I loved the inspiring, smart, funny & diverse people I met, the physical beauty of the school, the fun & funky neighborhoods of Providence, the RISD connection, the seasons, the Brown Band, the Rhode Island accents... everything!

Jonathon

Brown is amazing! Class sizes are great and course options are diverse and interesting. The only thing i would change about Brown is location. Providence is kind of boring and isolated from other places.

Tristan

Liberal education to the max. find yourslelf.

Tristan

The best thing about Brown is the open curriculum since I can choose my own path.

Jacquelyn

I like the size of the campus, the intellectual atmosphere, the open curriculum, meeting students from various backgrounds.

Emily

I love living in a "city" that is very managable and welcoming to students. Thayer St. is extremely college-friendly, the environment on campus is aweseome. Everyone here is happy, they are so glad to be here and I've never heard anyone say they would want to be at another school. There is a great mix of different types of people and types of social scenes to be a part of. I love it!

Emily

very academically supportive, its not very competetive between peers, everyone encourages each other. the grading system and new curriculum allow for great flexibility. brown is great in that it has a campus but is also within a city, you can quickly hop downtown and be in a city enviroment with other college students or you can stay on campus where there is a small frat/sorority life and other house parties and campus events. you essentially get the best of both worlds. there is a great political body, activism is pretty rampant but not too offensive. everyone ive talked to that goes to brown is so glad they made that choice, everyone, no matter your likes/disklikes personality goals etc , is happy here. good party scene but there are definitely other alternatives. the police are great, they dont really care about drinking.partying.pot to the extent that they would punish you, a verbal warning is probably the worst you would receive. i love brown!

Alex

Brown is the perfect size. Providence is a great college town, not too big but big enough so there is also something to do.

Andrea

I would change the weather. The weather is a large downer and if it was better it would make numerous things better

Tristan

Brown is a good size student number-wise and campus size-wise. Providence is a nice small city with plenty to do if you're in the know. The campus goes through some lulls in weekend activity but for the most part there is always something to do.

Dylan

Brown is an "independent" institution. The New Curriculum encourages maturity and freedom of thought on campus. Sometimes, this indpendence can make the campus seem a bit disconnected and less homogenous. But that's a small price to pay for the freedom Brown students enjoy.

Audrey

The best thing about Brown is the way that you get to design your own schedule, so if you're unhappy it's your own fault. I would change the way the university handles funding and space requisition for student groups as well as the student categories. The school size is just right, I feel that it is the perfect balance between an urban setting, campus setting, and small university size. Brown's administration has a lot more bureaucracy than its liberal stereotype lets on. There isn't much school pride, and most students are apathetic toward student governments and athletic teams.

Blake

The best, most defining quality of Brown is the freedom that the students have due to the open curriculum. It really sets Brown apart from all other schools, cause students can really design their own academic plan because they dont have to worry about so many requirements.

Dylan

Best thing about Brown - when you go out drinking "if you're 21," getting ass is kind of like shooting fish in a barrel. I spend most of my time in FRAT. One experience I'll always remember - I don't remember, but I remember not remembering. One thing I'd change - I would like larger breasts. Oh, wait, about Brown? Uhh. Yeh no, just the larger breasts.

Gene

Brown is the best. Sex Power God no Core Curriculum, being better than everyone else, Providence is awesome, there is no school pride, perfect size and people love brown.

Devin

Brown's great because it's really laid back and you can make your education whatever you want.

Blake

In terms of size, Brown is just right. The campus is small enough to give you a sense of familiarity, but it is also large enough to meet new people on a daily basis. If I could change anything about Brown, it would be its lack of interaction with the greater Providence community. It's a great college town -- Brown, RISD, and J&W are all pretty close, but Brown quite isolated from them. Venturing downtown from "College Hill", where the university is located, is almost like entering an alternate universe. And visits downtown too often consist of trips to the mall.

Matt

The best thing about Brown is that people are engaged with what they're learning- they can choose all the classes they take, and they seem genuinely excited and interested in most of them. I would change the dining hall food, it can be pretty bad. School is just right. I don't feel lost in a crowd, and there is a good balance of large 100+ classes and small 20 or less classes. People react differently when I say I go to Brown. A couple interviewers have seemed impressed by the fact, while others haven't even mentioned it. Most people in general seem impressed by the Brown name, although some haven't heard of it/ask where it is Providence is just the right size for a college. Students can definitely have an impact on campus, and in fact a major Top 40 radio station in Providence is run by Brown students. Thayer St (basically on campus) has a lot of stuff for college students, as does the mall and downtown. The only problem is that stores like grocery stores and Target are not close to campus. There is little school spirit. People are proud that they go to Brown, but they are not into school athletics at all.

Adam

Currently, a lot of students are complaining about Brown's new online registration system, called Banner. The complaints are well justified, although on the whole, we are adapting.

Amy

Best thing about Brown? The curriculum-freedom of choice=nation's happiest students (polls agree!) I would change the study abroad policy because it's very expensive for people to go abroad now. School size is just right and people are generally impressed when they hear I go to Brown (if they know what and where it is ;) I'm a student-athlete so I split my days between the gym and the libraries usually. Spend another 30 hours a week at my job and at the BDH. Providence provides a decent setting entertainment, but there's 3 other colleges in the same radius, so it's not a college town in a sense that it's Brown's college town. Not a lot of athletic school pride. Big deal when they switched to online registration, from paper, because students thought it would take away from our freedom to shop classes, but it's been a smooth transition.

Vincent

The best thing about Brown, the fact that it is the happiest place on earth. The people are chill. The one thing that I would change is the tuition because like a ll the other Ivys, tuition is crazy. The school size is just right and when people hear that I go to Brown, most of them don't know about it but if they do they are impressed. It is not really a college town but a vibrant Providence community. Brown admin is really cool and they run the school well. The biggest recent controversy on the campus is that somebody threw a firebomb in the Hillel building here and it could have possibly been a hate crime. The pride in the school is good except at sporting events. Brown is the most unique and beautiful place that I've ever been in. The most frequent student complaints are that the food at the Ratty (a local dining hall) could be better.

Emmerson

school is too small. i spend most of my time in my dorm. this is NOT a college town. there is really no school pride.

Debbie

no core classes is the best thing. one thing i'd change is the advising (it's horrible, especially for transfers, i think). just right size. some people don't know about brown at all, others say WOW. most of my time on campus on the main green or in dorms (when i lived in them). thayer st feels like our college town-and it's just right. not enough school pride-especially with sports. i'll always remember senior week and campus dances.

Rachel

Brown's campus is gorgeous. Even on gross rainy days the beauty of the buildings and landscape shine through. I love that campus sits on college hill so that we are a contained area, but we are also a part of Providence and we can get to downtown or to most other areas easily. We are a 15 minute walk from the mall, and a 10 minute walk to the train and bus stations. The size of Brown is great. There are enough students that I'm always meeting new people, but it is small enough that I know people pretty much everywhere I go. I spend most of my time on Wriston because it is where I live! The Scili is an obvious second home. Spring Weekend is the quintessential Brown activity. There are awesome bands and good weather and a feeling of relaxation and togetherness.

Ed

I think that Brown needs a dean / vice president of common sense. We seem to waste a lot of our small endowment on superfluous positions, appointments and "improvements." It is a small school where you will recognize many people walking around Thayer street and all around campus. There are few bars that people go to and many people tend to stay on college hill and not explore too much. On the weekends there's a variety of house, bar and fraternity parties to choose from. Our "big" sports (basketball / football) aren't phenomenal, and the stands aren't packed because of it. For me, I was looking for a bigger school, didn't know too much about Brown when choosing it, and think that I would have done better personally in a medium to larger school. This is a great place for someone looking for a smaller sized school.

David

best thing- people. there are so many and they're all different. there's lots of real cultural diversity, primarily because of the amount of international students. school size is just right. when i tell people i go to brown, people in providence are impressed, people who are used to being around ivy league students are somewhat impressed, harvard people are not impressed, and other college students range from being indifferent to impressed. most of my time on campus is spent in the sciences library (sci li). it's a small city, so it's not really a college town. brown's admin. is great. they like to communicate with students a lot of their decisions and give us lots of options with our life here at brown. biggest recent contraversy? not sure... no outward school pride. i think most people are really glad about going here, though. we just don't tell others about it too much. the normal person at brown is VERY different from the normal american in prob. more ways than most colleges. reading Isaiah 53 in the Bible and seeing that it was all about Jesus even though it was in the Old Testament! i did that when i was a freshman at one of the college hill for Christ weekly meetings. the food's not that great and the staff isn't doing what people want them to.

Patrick

Brown students are diverse and interesting. The school's size is perfect. People are generally impressed when I tell them I attend Brown. I spend most of my time on campus in the dorms. Providence is a great city. It's small enough so that the city doesn't dominate the school while being large enough to be able to provide things like good food and good live music. Also, the proximity to Boston makes seeing major musicians very easy. I haven't had much interaction with Brown's administration, though the little I have had has been fine. People complain about the food the most. On the whole, it is pretty abysmal. You can find better stuff by going to the smaller eateries on campus such as the VW dining hall, the Gate, the Ivy Room, and the Blue Room. The main dining hall, the Ratty, is really awful.

Meaghan

Brown is the bomb. I love the open curriculum... I'm a sophomore and still don't really know what I want, but I've been able to study some really interesting subjects along the way to my decision. I hate the ratty food... it's gross. The campus is nice; the student body is just the right size to provide amazing opportunities without getting lost. Providence is a great city... College Hill allows us to be part of the fun while still being our own separate campus. Probably the best thing about Brown is that the students love it. Ask anyone here , and they will tell you they love being here and are incredibly happy. This school really fosters that.

Evelyn

The best thing about Brown is the independence you have as a student. You are exposed to so many resources, and you have the ability to learn whatever you want through its open curriculum. One thing I would change is the location. Providence is very dull. It gets a little suffocating sometimes. The school is just right. I love the size. The town is too small. I surprisingly get a lot of respect from the other ivy leagues to the fact that I go to Brown. When I tell other people that I go here, they are shocked and suddenly think I'm brilliant. I spend most of my time in my room because it's too cold outside. It is definitely a college town. On College hill, it's definitely about Brown students. However, it becomes too much of a college town sometimes and not enough of an actual city. I greatly respect the Brown administration. They have accomplished amazing things, and are very approachable. I don't know what the biggest contraversy on campus was. I haven't even been here for a year. I think there is a lot of school pride. We aren't very good at sports, but students don't seem to mind. The students really love their school. What is somewhat unusual about Brown to me is that there seems to be alot of judgement. Since it's a small school, it gets kind of like high school sometimes. The good thing is that you get to know a lot of the students here, but the bad thing is you sometimes feel like you're always being watched. People are somewhat reserved. I will always remember the first two weeks of school. Everyone partied every night and it was so much fun. The complaints i most hear is "This town sucks" and "It's too cold outside".

Katie

I love this place. Brown was the perfect fit for me. I wanted a school in a city-ish area with no core curriculum. And, plus, the east coast is great. I like the amount of students here. It's enough to see familiar faces, but now know everyone. Controversy: SexPowerGod Brown is pretty damn unique. I consider all 24 hours in my day as counting toward tuition money. There are a million things around to compliment my academic work. Plus, I love the Classics and CompLit departments here. Brown is very undergraduate focuesd.

Molly

Best thing about Brown: open curriculum, size of the school. I really love Brown. I think the student body is awesome, the professors I ahve been able to work with have been great. I like Providence, and have had the occassion to get off College Hill a bit, but not as much as I probably should. Most people just stay around campus and Thayer St area which is dope, because its a nice fun area. Lots of restaurants and movie theaters. Probably not a great bar/club scene, but that's not what I am into. Brown administration is fine. I personally thing that alot of the student life, student activities stuff is silly, so I don't have to get in too seriously with that stuff. I live off campus and just generally do my own thing. Frequent student complaints are about the food and sometimes Providence (boring, bad weather etc).

kyle

The school is very nicely situated because it has its own campus, but is in the City of Providence and close to Boston. The best part is how relaxed the authorities are. Whereas some schools crack down on drinking and parties and even have undercover cops to catch students, which seems very dishonest to me, Brown authorities know that students drink and know that they are going to smoke no matter if they crack down or not and thus just try to make it as safe for them as possible.

Dawson

Brown has a pretty good sized campus. It is about the size of a small small city which is pretty nice. Students can walk anywhere they need to be which is great for exercise and in the fall and spring and at times in winter the scenery is amazing. You don't always see the same people every day which is good too but there are only 6000 kids here so its not to big. The social life here is petty good. There is almost always something going on at night and during the day there are exhibits, art shows and other cool things like that going on. The main problem that I have about the nightlife is only a few local bars on campus so going out downtown is more fun and a little more of a hassel but worth it. The administration at Brown is really relaxed and help the students out a lot whether it be with getting grades dealt with, unfair teachers or dorm problems. They understand that we work hard here (and pay them lots of money to be here) and they respect that fact.

Adam

The best part of Brown is definitely the trust it has in its students and the freedom it consequently affords us. Brown's curriculum is all about trusting students to make educated choices and this ethic runs throughout every aspect of the school. Sure, some procedures and paperwork are involved from time to time, but on the whole, Brown trusts its students. With respect to size, I think Brown is perfect. I can go into the Ratty and know that I will know at least a few people, even at 3:30 on a Tuesday, but I won't know everybody. Moreover, in the unlikely event that I get tired of my Brown friends, there is always Providence to explore. Brown doesn't really have traditional school pride. We don't have pep rallies and football games, though fun, are sparsely attended. However, I think Brown has its own unique form of school spirit. We truly love Brown. In fact, there is a facebook group entitled "I fucking love Brown" with something like 2000 members. We love Brown, we love it's ethic of freedom and embracing the individual.

Helena

the college town is great. thayer st encompasses everything you may need. a few more bars would be nice

Brett

The best thing about Brown is the people. Most of the learning here REALLY does take place outside the classroom. The first semester I came to Brown from Turkey, I was terribly sad to leave all my good friends behind. I counted the days left to go back and see them. Soon, the situation turned completely around. I now have a huge group of friends here and I prefer spending time with them than the ones back home. The time we are all at Brown is crucial in terms of becoming adults and maturing up, and the friends you make here are so different than the ones you make in high school. I have spent sleepless nights, having enlightening discussions with friends. One thing I would immediately change would be to bring need-blind financial aid for international students. The international student body is geographically very diverse but not so economically. I have even read articles claiming that Brown is the "mating ground" for Eurotrash jet-setters. The size is just right. Big enough that there is someone new to meet every day, and small enough that it's unavoidable to run into your drunken hookup the next day in the dining hall. When I'm walking to class, oftentimes I end up being late because I know so many people. And I'm not an exception. If you make a little bit of an effort, people are so open here that they will force their friendship on you. Well, most people in back home in Turkey only know "Harvirt","Yeyl" and "Prinstin." But people are starting to know Brown and more people seem impressed when I say I go to Brown every year. In the States, most people are impressed,but some think that Brown is a joke. Especially when they hear that I'm a History of Art major, they tend to roll their eyes and say, "Oh...". I spend most my time in Buxton International House, the dorm in which I live. It's pretty awesome, we have 60 people living here -half of them internationals, half of them Americans. Though people think we're all snobs - it is the friendliest dorm on campus if you're living in it. It's like my second home here. We throw parties, chill in each other's rooms, cook dinners in the kitchen, order wings and watch the Super Bowl together...It's awesome! College Town for sure. Even though there is Thayer Street which is amazing in the Spring and Summer, and there are a few clubs downtown, the city doesn't offer much. So people spend a lot of time on campus, and house parties are pretty popular. I'd say administration is pretty open-minded and care about our thoughts. Their biggest problem is that they don't have much money to do what we ask for - Brown has a tiny endowment compared to most Ivy Leagues. Gender neutral bathrooms were quite a huge deal recently. As far as I remember, "Sex Power God", when it was on The O'Reilly Factor" was the biggest public scandal. A reporter from Fox News sneaked into the Queer Alliance party with a camera and recorded semi- naked students dancing in a University Hall. Parents and administration freaked out, naturally. There is not a lot of school "pride" but there is a lot of school "love". Students here love their school, love president Ruth Simmons and love everything the school stands for. However, the school does not try to associate itself with its elitist ivy league background. Nobody knows the Alma Mater and we don't have special handshakes, but we all LOVE LOVE LOVE our school. One experience I'll always remember is one that I can't talk about in full detail, but it involved climbing a bell-tower on top of Andrews Hall. There's also the time when I was sitting with one of my closest girlfriends on her desk, our legs hanging down the window during summer. When we noticed that one of our professors was walking down the street below, we started shouting his name and shrieking like monkeys. We were hiding behind her curtains not to be seen - and we almost fell down the windows when we heard him reply back with a monkey sound! And the time when we had a Halloween Party in my dorm. Every single person dressed up and served a special drink with their roommate. We started drinking on the first floor, and by the time we reached the top floor suite, we were all drunk and dancing like crazy. And many more that I can't even remember right now. The most student complaints are about the food in the dining halls, namely the Ratty. It's not that bad really if you learn what's good and what's not. The food is always so deceptive - it looks amazing but most the time you don't even know what you're eating!

Amanda

With around 6,000 undergraduates, Brown University is a comfortable medium between the small, intimate liberal arts school and the large, intimidating research university. Its location on College Hill isolates the campus from the main city, creating a greater sense of community among its students. At the same time, downtown Providence is only a ten minute walk away and provides several opportunities for jobs, internships, or just a city-feel whenever campus gets too suffocating. Though the attendance at our sporting events may suggest that Brown lacks school spirit, our students have a great pride in their university that resonates more from their involvement in activities that promote Brown. Brown has the benefit of carrying the prestigious Ivy League title while relieving its students of the stressful environment that often plagues competitive universities. With the known flexibility of its administration, Brown students find little difficulty in getting their academic goals accomplished on their own terms. Brown students may complain about mediocre dining hall food, somewhat unattractive housing, and poor financial aid but this does not sway their enthusiasm for the exciting, relaxed atmosphere that Brown creates.

Wesley

The best thing about Brown is the freedom you're given here. You are respected as an adult to know what is best for you- in terms of what classes to take and when, how to do your work. Professors recognize that you probably worked hard to get here so you know what you're doing. I love the size of Brown. It is rare that you walk across campus and not run into at least someone you know. But there are enough people that you're constantly meeting new people, even as a senior. Providence is a great college town, especially College Hill, where Brown and RISD are located. Thayer St. & Wickenden St. offer tons of walkable restaurants and stores. Downtown is barely a 10 min walk, as is the train station and mall. Providence is a small city, but it has a lot to offer and it is super easy to go to Boston or NYC for a day or weekend, which people do sometimes. I wish there was a little more school pride at sporting events. When you talk to people they always say how much they love Brown, but it isn't always represented at games. This year BrownNation was started which gives students points for attending games, which has seemed to work to bring in more people. It was recently announced that Brown is taking away on campus student parking starting next year. Parking has always been a problem around campus and this certainly doesn't help but the Administration promises that parking will be available off-campus with shuttles. Watch out, because there is a lot of construction going on with even more projects being brought up. The swim center and a new student center/gym is being designed but won't be ready for years.