Brown University Top Questions

What is your overall opinion of this school?

Gaurav

Good

King

Best things about this school - The (in)famous Open Curriculum and undegraduate focus. It took me awhile to realize just how intellectually liberating and academically enriching Brown's take on a college education truly is. Because there are no university course requirements, except those of your concentration (major), you are essentially in charge of your own education. For instance, I've taken classes listed under the departments of engineering, economics, psychology, and biology, without filling out extra forms or going through a separate registration process like in other schools. I've also taken senior seminars as a freshman after talking to the professors, which shows just how flexible and undergraduate focused your academic experience can be at Brown. People's reactions to "Brown" - Unfortunately, Brown's perceived prestige is not tantamount to that of HYP. True, the number of people who would be immediately amazed if you tell them you went to harvard, yale, or princeton will probably exceed the number of those who recognize Brown. Nevertheless, many recognize Brown as an excellent institution with equally excellent students. Of course, when I tell people I go to Brown, there are those who will refer to Emma Watson. On Campus Life - Brown's campus is just a sight to behold, especially during the spring. The overall student size is in the goldilocks zone, not too big and not too small. On campus, there is always something to do, an activity to participate in, a workshop to attend, and a distinguished/famous person to see. Off campus, there are plenty of restaurants to explore (e.g. Thayer, Federal Hill). Downtown and the mall are just an 8-minute walk downhill. If you want to go farther, Newport beach, Boston, and NYC are just a 45-minute, 1 hour, and 3 hour bus trip away from Providence, respectively. Other stuff to consider - If there's one thing I'd change it would be the advising system. I understand that Brown wants its students to take initiative and be assertive with their academic plans. However, a more engaging and well-developed student-faculty advising system would be nice. School pride, as far as sports is concerned, is not as prevalent unfortunately. Moreover, food from the dining halls is not exactly five-star hotel worthy. Financial aid is sub-par compared to that of other Ivies and some parts of the residence halls could need a little bit of renovation and remodeling. Regardless of the aforementioned caveats, I still love Brown to death and I feel grateful and privileged to be a part of this wonderful institution. To say that Brown is bad ass would be one hell of an understatement.

King

Best things about this school - The (in)famous Open Curriculum and undegraduate focus. It took me awhile to realize just how intellectually liberating and academically enriching Brown's take on a collegeeducation truly is. Because there are no university course requirements, except those of your concentration (major), you are essentially in charge of your own education. For instance, I've taken classes listed under the departments of engineering, economics, psychology, and biology, without filling out extra forms or going through a separate registration process like in other schools. I've also taken senior seminars as a freshman after talking to the professors, which shows just how flexible and undergraduate focused your academic experience can be at Brown. People's reactions to "Brown" - Unfortunately, Brown's perceived prestige is not tantamount to that of HYP. True, the number of people who would be immediately amazed if you tell them you went to harvard, yale, or princeton will probably exceed the number of those who recognize Brown. Nevertheless, many recognize Brown as an excellent institution with equally excellent students. Of course, when I tell people I go to Brown, there are those who will refer to Emma Watson. On Campus Life - Brown's campus is just a sight to behold, especially during the spring. The overall student size is in the goldilocks zone, not too big and not too small. On campus, there is always something to do, an activity to participate in, a workshop to attend, and a distinguished/famous person to see. Off campus, there are plenty of restaurants to explore (e.g. Thayer, Federal Hill). Downtown and the mall are just an 8-minute walk downhill. If you want to go farther, Newport beach, Boston, and NYC are just a 45-minute, 1 hour, and 3 hour bus trip away from Providence, respectively. Other stuff to consider - If there's one thing I'd change it would be the advising system. I understand that Brown wants its students to take initiative and be assertive with their academic plans. However, a more engaging and well-developed student-faculty advising system would be nice. School pride, as far as sports is concerned, is not as prevalent unfortunately. Moreover, food from the dining halls is not exactly five-star hotel worthy. Financial aid is sub-par compared to that of other Ivies and some parts of the residence halls could need a little bit of renovation and remodeling. Regardless of the aforementioned caveats, I still love Brown to death and I feel grateful and privileged to be a part of this wonderful institution. To say that Brown is bad ass would be one hell of an understatement.

King

Best things about this school: - The (in)famous Open Curriculum and undegraduate focus. It took me awhile to realize just how intellectually liberating and academically enriching Brown's take on a college education truly is. Because there are no university course requirements, except those of your concentration (major), you are essentially in charge of your own education. For instance, I've taken classes listed under the departments of engineering, economics, psychology, and biology without filling out extra forms or going through a separate registration process like in other schools. I've also taken senior seminars as a freshman after talking to the professors, which shows just how flexible and undergraduate focused your academic experience can be at Brown. People's reactions to "Brown" - Unfortunately, Brown's perceived prestige is not tantamount to that of HYP. True, the number of people who would be immediately amazed if you tell them you went to harvard, yale, or princeton will probably exceed the number of those who recognize Brown. Nevertheless, many recognize Brown as an excellent institution with equally excellent students. Of course, when I tell people I go to Brown, there are those who will refer to Emma Watson. On Campus Life - Brown's campus is just a sight to behold, especially during the spring. The overall student size is in the goldilocks zone, not too big and not too small. On campus, there is always something to do, an activity to participate in, a workshop to attend, and a distinguished/famous person to see. Off campus, there are plenty of restaurants to explore (e.g. Thayer, Federal Hill). Downtown and the mall are just an 8-minute walk downhill. If you want to go farther, Newport beach, Boston, and NYC are just a 45-minute, 1 hour, and 3 hour bus trip away from Providence, respectively. Other stuff to consider - If there's one thing I'd change it would be a stronger approach to academic advising. I understand that Brown wants its students to take initiative and be assertive with their academic plans. However, an engaging and well-developed student/faculty advising system would be nice. School pride, as far as sports is concerned, is not as prevalent unfortunately. Moreover, food from the dining halls is not exactly five-star hotel worthy. Financial aid can be subpar compared to that of other Ivies and the residence halls need some major renovation and remodeling.

King

Best things about this school: - The (in)famous Open Curriculum and undegraduate focus. It took me awhile to realize just how intellectually liberating and academically enriching Brown's take on a college education truly is. Because there are no university course requirements, except those of your concentration (major), you are essentially in charge of your own education. For instance, I've taken classes listed under the departments of engineering, economics, psychology, and biology, even though many colleges don't allow you to take classes outside of your "school" or department. I've also taken senior seminars as a freshman after talking to the professors, which shows just how flexible and undergraduate focused your academic experience can be at Brown. People's reactions to "Brown" - Unfortunately, Brown's perceived prestige is not tantamount to that of HYP. True, the number of people who would be immediately amazed if you tell them you went to harvard, yale, or princeton will probably exceed the number of those who recognize Brown. Nevertheless, many recognize Brown as an excellent institution with equally excellent students. Of course, when I tell people I go to Brown, there are those who will refer to Emma Watson. On Campus Life - Brown's campus is just a sight to behold, especially during the spring. The overall student size is in the goldilocks zone, not too big and not too small. On campus, there is always something to do, an activity to participate in, a workshop to attend, and a distinguished/famous person to see. Off campus, there are plenty of restaurants to explore (e.g. Thayer, Federal Hill). Downtown and the mall are just an 8-minute walk downhill. If you want to go farther, Newport beach, Boston, and NYC are just a 45-minute, 1 hour, and 3 hour bus trip away from Providence, respectively. Other stuff to consider - If there's one thing I'd change it would be a stronger approach to academic advising. I understand that Brown wants its students to take initiative and be assertive with their academic plans. However, an engaging and well-developed student/faculty advising system would be nice. School pride, as far as sports is concerned, is not as prevalent unfortunately. Moreover, food from the dining halls is not exactly five-star hotel worthy. Financial aid can be subpar compared to that of other Ivies and the residence halls need some major renovation and remodeling.

King

Best things about this school: - The (in)famous Open Curriculum and undegraduate focus. It took me awhile to realize just how intellectually liberating and academically enriching Brown's take on a liberal-arts education was. Because there are no university course requirements, except those of your concentration (major), you are essentially in charge of your own education. For instance, I've taken classes listed under the departments of engineering, economics, psychology, and biology, even though many colleges don't allow you to take classes outside of your "school" or department. I've also taken senior seminars as a freshman after talking to the professors, which shows just how flexible and undergraduate focused your academic experience can be at Brown. People's reactions to "Brown" - Unfortunately, Brown's perceived prestige is not tantamount to that of HYP. True, the number of people who would be immediately amazed if you tell them you went to harvard, yale, or princeton will probably exceed the number of those who recognize Brown. Nevertheless, many recognize Brown as an excellent institution with equally excellent students. Of course, when I tell people I go to Brown, there are those who will refer to Emma Watson. On Campus Life - Brown's campus is just a sight to behold, especially during the spring. The overall student size is in the goldilocks zone, not too big and not too small. On campus, there is always something to do, an activity to participate in, a workshop to attend, and a distinguished/famous person to see. Off campus, there are plenty of restaurants to explore (e.g. Thayer, Federal Hill). Downtown and the mall are just an 8-minute walk downhill. If you want to go farther, Newport beach, Boston, and NYC are just a 45-minute, 1 hour, and 3 hour bus trip away from Providence, respectively. Other stuff to consider - If there's one thing I'd change it would be a stronger approach to academic advising. I understand that Brown wants its students to take initiative and be assertive with their academic plans. However, an engaging and well-developed student/faculty advising system would be nice. School pride, as far as sports is concerned, is not as prevalent unfortunately. Moreover, food from the dining halls is not exactly five-star hotel worthy. Financial aid can be subpar compared to that of other Ivies and the residence halls need some major renovation and remodeling.

King

Best things about this school: - The infamous Open Curriculum and undegraduate focus. It took me awhile to realize just how intellectually liberating and academically enriching Brown's take on a liberal-arts education was. Because there are no university course requirements, except those of your concentration (major), you are essentially in charge of your own education. For instance, I've taken classes listed under the departments of engineering, economics, psychology, and biology, even though many colleges don't allow you to take classes outside of your "school" or department. I've also taken senior seminars as a freshman after talking to the professors, which shows just how flexible and undergraduate focused your academic experience can be at Brown. People's reactions to "Brown" - Unfortunately, Brown's perceived prestige is not tantamount to that of HYP. True, the number of people who would be immediately amazed if you tell them you went to harvard, yale, or princeton will probably exceed the number of those who recognize Brown. Nevertheless, many recognize Brown as an excellent institution with equally excellent students. Of course, when I tell people I go to Brown, there are those who will refer to Emma Watson. On Campus Life - Brown's campus is just a sight to behold, especially during the spring. The overall student size is in the goldilocks zone, not too big and not too small. On campus, there is always something to do, an activity to participate in, a workshop to attend, and a distinguished/famous person to see. Off campus, there are plenty of restaurants to explore (e.g. Thayer, Federal Hill). Downtown and the mall are just an 8-minute walk downhill. If you want to go farther, Newport beach, Boston, and NYC are just a 45-minute, 1 hour, and 3 hour bus trip away from Providence, respectively. Other stuff to consider - If there's one thing I'd change it would be a stronger approach to academic advising. I understand that Brown wants its students to take initiative and be assertive with their academic plans. However, an engaging and well-developed student/faculty advising system would be nice. School pride, as far as sports is concerned, is not as prevalent unfortunately. Moreover, food from the dining halls is not exactly five-star hotel worthy. Financial aid can be subpar compared to that of other Ivies and the residence halls need some major renovation and remodeling.

Thomas

I absolutely love this school. The students are more different than I ever could have imagined, and yet they are united by a love for learning, a mutually supportive spirit, and a n upbeat community spirit. The school is large enough that one could never feel truly socially limited, but small enough that you can be sure to see someone you know when walking across campus. I have heard the occasional complaint about either the quality of the food, or feeling pressured to be socially active because it seems like absolutely everyone is doing some sort of community service, but these are so vastly outnumbered by the praise for some inspiring teacher or the new and exciting extra-curricular opportunity that someone never thought they'd try; I was not surprised at all when I heard that our students had been voted "Happiest Students in America." Providence is a city with much more to offer than it ever receives credit for, and if you have the determination to get off the hill, New York and Boston are easy, frequent destinations.

Gabrielle

Being at Brown University is an amazing experience of itself. The size of the school is just right, and you can always know that on a leisurely walk, you will at least see a few familiar faces. Professors are often very friendly and like to work with students, even in a lecture of 300.One controversial point about Brown is that it is somewhat like living in a Brown Bubble. This Bubble isn't awful, just at points, one may forget what is happening in the outside world. The college town has many stores and restaurants, and one doesn't have to go far for nice dining or to reach the mall. School pride comes naturally, as Brown has some of the happiest students. This prides strays away when it comes towards sports, but is seen by how much students love the school!

Solomon

My opinion of Brown is that it is a fabulous institution for many students, but that it is not for everyone. Brown's perspective on education is fabulous for self-directed, independent thinkers who know what they want to do before they go to college. Brown has an open curriculum, and often students find that they struggle to make decisions from the vast course options. Academic guidance is often purposefully vague to force students to make personal decisions based on their own reasoning, and this is a wonderful academic policy, but does put substantial pressure on students when they are freshmen. The school is in Providence, Rhode Island, which is a small city which is nice for college students. The size of Brown's undergraduate program is 6000 students, which is large enough so that there are always new people to meet, but small enough so that you always know someone in the cafeteria. One thing I would change about Brown is its school spirit. Most students are not active in attending sporting events, which is unfortunate, because Brown has some phenomenal athletic teams including Men's Crew, which is currently ranked first in the nation.

Ana

I love Brown. For me, it's the best of all the worlds I tried to unify when applying to schools. It's not too big and not too small, and has the benefits of a large research university on a campus that's vastly majority undergrad.

Katherine

I love Brown! One of my favorite parts is, of course, its open curriculum and how easy it is to take classes and explore topics beyond your concentration. And of course, the students. For the most part, everyone is very accepting, open, and incredibly interesting. Everyone is driven but generally not openly competitive or obnoxious. While I wouldn't necessarily say I could not be anywhere else, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to attend Brown.

Nick

I couldn't be happier to be at Brown. At the same time, I understand that it might not be the perfect school for everyone. I'm really glad to have the opportunity to take classes outside of my concentration—I'm basically able to build my own "core" curriculum by taking classes from many departments (I've taken courses in over 10 departments in just 3 semesters, and I'm in good shape for my concentration). More importantly, I think Brown is a student-focused atmosphere: the university tends to treat students fairly and put undergrads first. Professors are actually available and pretty much all classes (except low-level math) are taught by professors. So overall, I love it here.

Jonathan

Brown has just under 6,000 undergrads (the graduate students are a non-factor for undergrads), so you will run into people you know whenever you go out. The best thing about Brown is the freedom that the curriculum and administration give the students in general. This can also be problematic as it requires a great deal of student responsibility. Although we are in the city of Providence, it's feels like a bit more suburban on the East Side that you might expect (but don't walk around alone at night, especially off-campus). So there is plenty of open space on campus, and students definitely take advantage of it when the weather is nice. Brown's administration is extremely receptive to ideas from students, although whether those ideas are implemented varies on the merits of the ideas. But again, that depends on which dean you get, some are better than others. Brown does not have school spirit in the sense of going to sports games. But there is still great pride in Brown, and on the whole most students are happy, even if we complain a lot.

Rory

I think Brown is the perfect size, not too big and not too small. I spent most of my time on campus walking up and down Thayer st., which is central to campus.Providence is definitely a college town, with 3 other colleges in the city.

Jimmy

My four years at Brown, from 2000-2004, were the fondest moments of my life. Nowhere else have I had such a supportive environment, such close friends, such amazing professors, and such exciting events. There's an electricity in the air that I couldn't find from any other college that I visited. You really have to step on campus and interact with the Brown community to know what I'm talking about. You can't read about it or see it on a video. If you look at respondents to this survey, Brown students and alumni will be the ones writing paragraph after paragraph about their school, whereas others might only have a three or four paragraphs. We have good things to say and bad things to say, but we're all so passionate and full of pride that we will go out of our way to portray the school as accurately and as extensively as possible. To answer more of the suggested topics - the best thing about Brown is how it will open so many doors for you. It opens doors to new experiences, educational or otherwise. It opens doors through the amazing relationships you'll make. It opens doors to successful careers or educational paths. It opens doors into a better understanding of who you are. That was really cheesy so I'll answer more questions in a more straightforward way. One thing I'd change - I wish I spent more time at Brown - maybe a fifth year for a double degree or a master's degree. It's just about the right size - small enough that you always run into people you know, and large enough that you'll meet people all the way through the day you graduate. People always say "wow" when they ask where I went to school. Most of my time was spent on campus, mostly with various extracurriculars or hanging out with friends. It's a college town - but a very unique place. As a city, Providence needs its own essay. I have no idea what the most recent controversy on campus was. There is nothing but school pride. I will always remember the commencement ceremony - what a rush! And no idea what the most frequent student complaint might be.

Harper

Best thing about Brown has got to be the open curriculum, and the advising that comes along with it. Brown really does trust you to make decisions for yourself, but wants you to know that you're not entirely on your own. The advising is great, especially for first-year and if you would liek to change your advisor that can be easily arranged. Lots of interesting classes, as well, and youll find that students really aren't afraid to dabble in areas that they are not 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} familiar with. Another thing I'm very satisfied about Brown with is that the community is very close-knit. On your way to class, or even if you're just hanging out on the Main Green on a nice day doing reading, you'll run into tons of people you know. Campus is not too big (like a state school slash UPenn) and also not too small, like Amherst. Some complaints I have include: - More variety in food at the VDub (one of our dining halls) - Students not having card access to all of the residence halls

Taylor

Brown is a fabulous place for people a)finding who they are b) making who they are more aware of the wider world c) looking for support to do and b. People who think outside the box are comfortable here, especially if they are willing to accept criticism and communicate. Advising, in every facet of life, is critical to doing well because it is so easy to get lost in the superabundance of causes/networks on campus.

Steph

Best thing: The students. I have never met a boring person here -- everyone has a story, has something that makes them really excited. Thing i'd change: nothing! Size: Medium, perfect for me. People's reaction: "Ohhh Brown! So you're smart." or, "Ohhh Brown! Are you a vegan yet?" Providence: You've got to learn to love it, but I have. It's a small city with a strong sense of identity, lots of cafes and a new interest in the arts.

Harper

There are three factors that really define Brown for me. The first is academia, where Brown excels. We have incredible faculty who love their work and are dedicated to teaching their students and helping them to succeed. The classes at Brown are fantastic--interesting, thought-provoking, fun, challenging and applicable to the outside world. The second is the social environment. Brown is a very accepting place. The spectrum of interests and abilities shown by our students is truly cosmopolitan, and yet everyone on campus seems to really just get along. For instance, I'm a non-athletic guy, very interested in politics, international relations, literature, and other academic subjects, and I roomed with a football player freshman year who could not have had more disparate interests from me. Despite all this, we ended up getting along very well, and I think we both learned a lot from each other over the course of the year. I can also say that, after a year at Brown, I have friends who hail from across the social spectrum, as well as the geographic, political, and economic spectrums. Brown is probably one of the best places on Earth if you are looking for an accepting and fun community. The third factor is the extent to which Brown students are involved in the world around us, be it our local community, the nation at large, or a country across the globe.

Emily

Just the right size, love the open curriculum, great professors, wide range of classes, as an architecture student would prefer more studio type classes but they can be found at RISD, reaction of most people is like Brown, wow, you must be smart, Providence is great- lots to do and bars are very lax, good shopping, easy to get home to NY, Brown food could be better but Thayer food is good, spend a lot of time on the green in the nice weather, all in all feels like a college from a movie. Always remember sledding on cafeteria trays on Lincoln Field during the first snow, slip n' slide outside the Ratty during Spring Week, awkward moments at the Ratty every meal of life, and the last weekend with my friends freshman year- who would have though we could grow so close? Best thing at Brown- the people and the friendships

alex

The best thing about Brown is the relaxed atmosphere. Professors are given a lot of leeway in the subjects they teach, and students are given a large amount of freedom within the curriculum. At Brown students are given the opportunity to decide for themselves what is important for them to learn. The administration and the campus police are also lenient, understanding and reasonable in terms of discipline.

Alex

Brown is perfect place to come of age. Providence is not too big and not too small. There is always something to do and interestingly most of the time one doesn’t have to venture very far from campus, which is rather beautiful. Students and professors are caring and involved if your want them to be. At Brown all you have to do is ask. Students quickly find their voice at Brown. It’s amazing to see how friends and classmates change, how they come in as timid high school students or boisterous teenager trying to mask their insecurities and they become genuinely good people. Education at Brown extend far beyond the class room and I think its precisely this that makes the students so contagiously happy.

Felipe

Brown has been noted to be the more "liberal Ivy" out of the other higher profile Ivy League schools, and I find that to be true! While there are always people with more conservative leanings, the general consensus tends to revolve around having a liberal outlook. Even with this, both outlooks exist together in harmony, seeing as the vast majority of Brown students tend to be very relaxed and tolerant when it comes to such ideas. Brown is also a nice-sized university in a large town, while paradoxically having a "bubble-like" feel. It becomes very obvious once you leave the bubble of the Brown campus, but having the mall, the train station, and other amenities and pros around you makes it difficult, not that you'd always want to leave! There are a couple other universities in the Providence area, most notably RISD (a high profile art university) which lies RIGHT next door to the Brown campus (in fact, Brown and RISD have cross-registration, where students are able to take some classes irrespective of their universitiy). There's always something to do at Brown - on the weekends, there's always a party one can attend to. On the weekdays, a myriad of lectures and movies screenings, among other activities also take place. One can never truly get bored on the Brown campus! Although Brown isn't a Harvard or a Princeton (meaning it's not as immediately recognizable), it's still very widely known and even more so respected. After getting accepted there, my favorite reactions have come from doctors (especially!) and even some store clerks. However, there's always that weird reaction once can get, asking you if Brown is in New York City (no! It's in RI!). Brown's administration is highly praised. If anything, Brown's current president, Ruth Simmons, is an icon! A vast majority of students approve of her decisions and she holds a very high popularity rating. Likewise, her administration are equally loved, but are less heard of than "Ruth" ("That's so Ruth!" is a Brown inside joke). The most frequent student complaints, however, are probably the student dorms and the cafeteria food. Personally, I'm not a picky person, but others might not particularly find the dorm buildings themselves and the food the greatest thing at Brown. Most students complain about some (not all) of the old buildings, such as Keeney, and some of the more cramped residential halls like Grad Center, but all in all, it's not as bad as they say. The rooms are ample and sufficient, and the facilities are kept clean regularly. It all depends on the people you live with, really. As for the food, don't expect five star ratings. The main cafeteria, the Sharpe Refectory, holds several different lines of food (vegetarian, meat, etc.) and there's a large variety of thing to choose from. The other one, the Verney-Woolley Dining Hall, has more of a specialized meal choice. People complain, but it can get repetitive, boring, and even bland.

Michelle

Although it's considered a mid-sized school, socially, Brown is a small, tight knit community. It's pretty common to meet someone new in a class or out at a party who knows a fair number of the same people as you do. There isn't much school spirit in terms of athletics, but ask any student how they feel about the school's President, and the response will most likely be along the lines of "I LOVE RUTH!" Thayer Street, which borders campus, is a popular spot for shopping, eating, and hanging out. Downtown Providence is also becoming a more developed, interesting area to visit.

Harper

I love Brown. The main green is beautiful, especially in the spring when everyone is laying out on blankets, resting in the sun, playing guitar, throwing a frisbee. It brings a real sense of community. The size of Brown is perfect. There's just enough people so that while you see a lot of different faces and have the opportunity to meet many interesting people, you always see the same people, depending on your classes, the clubs you are involved in, and your nightlife activities. My favorite thing about Brown is that it's PART of Providence, rather than a closed off campus - it's not a blob in the middle of the city. Rather, we have a nice strip of restaurants and stores in the middle of our campus; on one side of the campus we have the big downtown city of Providence; on the other side we have a beautiful residential area, where you'll most likely live as an upperclassman. Everything is spread out: residential buildings aren't clumped in one part of the campus; academic buildings aren't all in one place. I think the last biggest controversy at Brown was how two students threw a pie container filled with green whipped cream at New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman when he was about to give a speech. One offender was apprehended. While some believe Friedman deserved the pie, others think it was a rude and an uncalled-for way to express opposing opinions.

Dani

Oh god... I could go on and on. I think the best thing about Brown is how much everyone is genuinely happy to be at Brown. I really don't see what could make someone unhappy at Brown... there are no rules, you can do practically anything you want, you can take any class you want (pre-requsites might as well not even exist), and if you don't get what you want, yell loud enough and you WILL get it. Makes us sound a little spoiled... hmm.. that may actually be a valid analysis. Anway, point is, the school definitely doesn't give you a reason to be unhappy. As for me, the school size is just right. There are between 5-6 thouand students, enough to ensure that you will always know someone but will never know everyone. The campus itself is big enough not to feel clausterphobic, but small enough that you can get from one end to the other in about 20 minutes. Be careful though... College Hill is a bubble in disguise, I only realized in May that I had left campus (plus Thayer St.) only a totaly of three times the entire semseter!

Rich

The students are friendlier then I´ve heard of at many places, interested in learning not just to get good grades, resulting in a relaxed and fun attitude, with learning still at the core of everything. Solid campus. Frequent complaints are the slow encroachment on the so loved student freedoms. (still more then almost anywhere else, but look out!)

jess

brown offers a unique experience to every student who enters. whether it be through the rugby team or the salsa dancing club, there is a chance for every individual to get involved on campus. the best thing about brown is the ability to partake in something that you are passionate about. say you enjoy doing yo yo tricks in your spare time and there is no club for that on brown's campus. what do you do? well here is a place where you can divulge your interests. with a little bit of work and a lot of passion brown allows its students to achieve anything they want.

Jenna

Brown is about learning new information in classes for a major, but it is also a learning experience socially through peers, faculty, and perhaps coaches. In general, its not just an academic or athletic experience, it is a LIFE experience.

Victoria

Brown University is just right. The best thing about Brown is the diversity. You find people from all over the world. When I tell people I go to Brown first thing thy say is: WOW you must be smart. Then they ask: Do you get grades? I spend most of my time in my room. Because it is my little home. I also spend a lot of time in my friend's room. Brown's administration is amazing. There is a a lot of school pride: Go Bruno!! The open curriculum is mostly of the best unusual things here. One experience that I will always remember is dropping a chemistry class a week before the finals. And I did not panic because it won't show on my external transcript.

Brett

Brown is a place of many positives and many negatives. The positives can be very positive, especially the academic freedom, the extra-curriculars, and the party life, but the negatives, should you encounter them, are rather intractable. Overall, many students find life at Brown quite pleasant, but it can be a bit of a bubble atmosphere at times, and for some, it simply just isn't the right choice.

Reese

The best thing about Brown is that you can choose the classes that you wanna take and there are no painful requirements that schools believe are the "proper" classes for a student to take. But there's no fucking REAL advising, so you're really on your own.

Jerry

Best thing about Brown - the Open Curriculum Thing I would change - nothing School size - just right How do people react? - (gasp) (but back home in Hong Kong it's like "that's in NYC, right?") Time on campus - (90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} - the campus is like a village - it's got everything) College town - yup Brown's administration - best in the USA Recent controversy - Two anti-globalization students tried to pie a well known guest speaker, managed to get him but were caught afterwards. School pride? Hell yeah. We know deep inside we're the best, most diverse, and coolest Ivy. Unusual nature - we have a openly homosexual student body. Anything goes here - from naked parties to regular cross-dressing. Anything goes. Most memorable experience - SexPowerGod Most frequent complaints - what are you talking about? We're the 2nd happiest college in all of the US.

Emily

school size is perfect, so is the college city and campus. it is easy to walk from one side of campus to the other, and thayer street offers a lot of restuarants, some good shops, and bars. Downtown is walking distance or a short cab ride. Big mall, movie theater, good bars and restaurants. students and professors are awesome. Nice, fun, smart. Work hard, party hard environment. kids dress casual to class, but some dress up to go out at night. Pass/fail option is awesome. It allows you take whatever you are interested in without worrying if you won't get a good grade. THere is no core curriculum, which is nice if you don't want to ever take a math or science. My only complaint is that the winters are too long!

Caitlin

Brown is as non-competitive as I think an Ivy League can be. With our pass/fail option and no core requirements, we like to take things a lot easier. We work hard, but not out of competition, rather to do well for our own sake. People are friendly and collaborative, and for the most part professors actually care. Providence is a sweet city with a nice local music and art scene (google AS220 or look up Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel for info on music. Check out the RISD art museum and AS220 gallery spaces for art.) We have some really nice restaurants around, including Italian food on Federal Hill. It's small, but Boston is only an hour's cheap bus or train ride away, and if you really want, New York is only 4 hours away. Also, RI beaches are awesome if you have a car, or if you are here in the summer, when RIPTA runs beach buses (Brown students get free rides on all of RIPTA too!) Brown's campus can get a little depressing in November, but there is nothing more gorgeous in the spring and summer, with flowering trees everywhere. The main green becomes almost a beach itself as soon as the weather gets nice, with people just hanging out, doing work, throwing Frisbees or suntanning. One drawback here unfortunately is the administration, which is bureaucratic, unorganized and generally unhelpful (they lost my high school transcript... twice!) The advising system is also somewhat of a joke, so if you're not capable of figuring things out on your own, you may be in trouble. The other major annoyance is that the administration and professors are living in the stone age as far as technology is concerned. We still use carbon copies, for certain forms, and online course registration was only started last year, through a ridiculously idiotic program called Banner. Maybe they'll have figured it out by the time you get here. I doubt it. Still, overall, it's a great place to go to college, with lots of different types of people doing all sorts of cool stuff.

Eliza

Brown is in Providence, RI, what I would consider to be a great little starter city. Campus is fairly safe, but there are often reports of muggings and occasionally an armed robbery (mostly by local high school punks). There's plenty to do if you're willing to look for it, and if you aren't, there's always Thayer St. You can't miss it. It runs right through campus, and though it used to be a string of quaint, quirky little shops, it's morphed into more a glorified food court that makes a nightly transition into a place where students use their fake IDs to get drunk. If you're like me and you were sort of a big fish in your not-so-great high school, coming to Brown can be a bit of a shock. It's not that I need to be the best at everything, but I think the size and level of competition at Brown has kept me from missing out on a few opportunities (including singing a cappella and TAing a course). I also found it a bit more difficult to stand out in the eyes of the educators, which made me feel anonymous at times. That being said, I have plenty of friends who have LOVED all of Brown's opportunities and taken full advantage of them. One of the best things is obviously the free curriculum. Hands down. Plus, you can take anything pass/fail which, if used correctly can help take some pressure off of you and won't hurt your overall chances of getting into grad school.

Kyle

great school, great professors (usually), great guest speakers, great place to live, great prestige, good nightlife, easy to make friends, but engineering building is a dump.

Rory

the best part about brown is how open everyone is. students here are really laid back and love to have fun, academics isnt the main setting of the "brown experience" the campus is amazing however, if you come from a big city, Providence can get a little boring at times. RI are weird but you get used to them.

Ben

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.

Michael

Brown is awesome because it ENABLES YOU TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO AND ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAMS. If you don't succeed at Brown, you messed up.

Gabi

The best thing about Brown is the open curriculum. The open curriculum is very indicative about the personalities that Brown attracts, people that strive on independence and an abundance of choice. I feel like the school is the perfect size, offering a diversity of classes but not getting lost in the crowd for my professors. Also, its big enough to always be able to meet someone new but still see friendly familiar faces all the time. I would consider Providence a college-city. Although its a very small and quirky city its location between Boston and New York is perfect for nice weekend get-a-ways.

Tate

What's the best thing about Brown? The open curriculum · Name one thing you'd change. The weather · Is your school too large, too small, or just right? Just right · How do people react when you tell them you go to Brown? They're usually impressed, and then assume that I'm rich · Where do you spend most of your time on campus? Classes, parties, library, volunteering, random social activities · College town, or "what college town?" Def college town · What's your opinion of Brown's administration? I haven't had any problems with them · Is there a lot of school pride? Yes, and with reason · Is there anything unusual about Brown? It's more free spirited than other schools · What's one experience you'll always remember? Every day is memorable.

Gregory

The best thing about Brown is that everyone is an individual and individuality is totally okay. I love that I can be interested in Ancient Greek and Biology. Socially everyone is accepted. The group of friends I have met are all distinctly unique people but we all get along really well, and these are people I might not have associated with in high school, but Brown fosters friendships like these. The school itself is just the right size. I meet new people all the time, but it's just small enough that I always see people I know, and I can always find a table of friends to sit with at lunch or dinner (most people don't go to breakfast). Thayer St. is quaint...it's not quite Harvard Square, but it's got most of the essentails and a lot of good, not too expensive places to eat (Brown Dining Services is only so-so). Everyone loves our president Ruth Simmons, in fact, she even has somewhat of a cult following at Brown. They sell t-shirts with her picture on them, and most people have one (myself included). Most importantly, everyone is happy at Brown. I can't stress this enough, I don't know a soul who's unhappy here.

Tessie

Brown is the perfect size, with all the resources you could want and friendly faces everywhere (but always the possibility of making new acquaintances). It is a ten-minute walk from grocery stores and a five-story mall, with its own metro Thayer St. in the middle of campus. Its buildings are stunning, the professors are great, the parties aren't crazy to the point of waking you up and (mostly) just on the weekends... But the best part is that, for the most part, the people are fantastically nice and fun but still know how to buckle down and study when it has to get done.

Maria

I love Brown because of the Open Curriculum and its diversity. I've met so many different people from all over the country and the world, and I've been able to explore a wide range of academic subjects as well. Brown has a rather tight knit, friendly group of students. While the food isn't the greatest, there are so many different options on campus and in the city surrounding the city that everyone can find something that they like.

alex

The curriculum allows you to do pretty much whatever you want. The administration is completely responsive.

Natasha

The open curriculum and the vibrant, varied, interesting people you meet here are definitely Brown's biggest draws. Brown is a great size, and the focus is really on undergraduate education, not grad students. Also, our President, Ruth Simmons, is THE BEST.

Royce

pretty sweet. providence is alright. everyone here seems to love it...rules everywhere are pretty lax.

Andy

-diverse but not as much as it is advertised: compared to other schools, brown may be full of people from all different types of backgrounds, but there could definitely be more -we're not very connected to providence: it's rather isolating on college hill and easy to do so b/c we have everything we need on campus or nearby -we hate dps (dept. of public security) despite their recent attempts to win back our favor -we love ruth simmons