Brown University Top Questions

Make sure to visit the campus beforehand! Follow your gut and not just the name of the school. My friends that chose Brown over other Ivy-League schools never looked back! As it tends to be harder in High School, college is the time to surround yourself with people with like interests and who truly inspire you. If it wasn't for my friends at Brown I wouldn't be the same person today! Use all of the resources available to you because once you graduate the 'real world' is much less willing to push and guide you towards your goals.

Find a college you can pay for without going too far into debt; education is what you make of it and a prestigious institution is not always the best choice. If you are an athlete and are looking to play collegiately, converse with the players on your prospective team--speak specifically with the seniors and those who are not injured but do not play. If you are adversely affected by dreary weather, perhaps look for a school that has consistent weather patterns and plenty of sunshine. If possible, visit the schools you would like to attend and learn as much about the programs you are interested in as possible. While visiting a school, check in with yourself and ask if the school "feels right." When you finally decide on a school, get involved from day one. Activities, clubs, and sports are a fantastic vehicle to meet new people and develop your comfort zone. away from home

People put college on a pedestal way too much. Yes, it is an important life choice that may determine much of your future plans, but if you're unhappy at the first school you choose, transferring is easy enough. When searching for the college that best fits you, the two most important aspects to consider are: 1) the field in which you may like to concentrate and if unsure, how much mobility between fields and classes you have at that school, and 2) how closely you identify with the other students at the school. Social life is a very big part of college life and if you're unhappy with your social life, it affects everything else you do. The best way to make the most of your college experience is to follow these two axioms and to get involved with everything and anything that interests you. The more you do and the more involved you are, the better your experience will be and the more successful you will feel.

Visit the schools many times: it's the only way to get a good feel for the campus.

More important than anything else is finding the place where you feel comforable and excited about learning. Once you get to college, the most important thing is finding something to do. College life will be incomplete without involvement in some sort of extra-curricular activity. What you do outside of class is what will really build your social life and is also what you will most remember about school (aside from perhaps how hard it was).

Don't choose a school based soley on the programs they offer or their reputation. Get a feel for the students and atmosphere by visiting or talking to current students. You want to choose the place where you will be living for the next four years not just the place you will be earning your degree. There is more to where you are going to school than the school itself--from extra curriculars to the city it is in to the interests of your potential classmates. Once you chose and get to your school, it can be intimidating. Although the freedom college gives you in both your academic and social life is overwhelming and somewhat unexpected at first, there are endless resources to help you get acclimated, and once you have, to help answer any of the millions of questions that constantly come up if you just look for them.

It's important to visit a campus rather than just look at the guidebook. The guidebook is trying to convince you to go there, so it has something for everyone - not until you actually get on campus, meeting the people, sensing the academic/cultural/political atmosphere, understanding what it would be like to actually attend can you get a good idea of whether or not you could feasibly spend the next four years of your life there. If you end up a place that for whatever reason doesn't mesh with your personal or academic goals, you won't be able to take advantage of the opportunities that a college education offers you. Once in college, the responsibility for your education falls on you instead of on your parents, teachers or school system. Take a variety of classes, even classes you think would never be practical for your studies or your career. Sometimes these classes will introduce you to ideas, methodologies and world views that you would never have otherwise encountered. And that's what college is about: expanding your view of the world.

Visit a psychic and have your palm read. Or play Eenie-meenie-minie-moe. Um, hang out on the green, or the quad, or whatever. Listen to what students are talking about, who they're hanging out with, what they're up to. Frisbee's are always a good sign. Just come to Brown....

Attend lots of guest lectures and take advantage of extra-curriculars.

The most important piece in making my decision (which was a great one for me) was the visits I made. I visited the schools on my own and went around trying to get the feel for life there, even sitting on classes. I would strongly advise that prospective students not just visit their college choices and see thier landmarks in a rehearsed tour, but also explore the school and the area and try to get a glimpse into the vibe on campus. It's actually fairly easy to do if you can just pretend you are actually a student there. Yes, you will definitely get lost and likely stand out as someone who is clearly not a student as you pull out your campus map, but don't let that sway you. Go to the library. Sit in on a class. Eat at the dining hall (even if you have to pay for it). Explore the area. Try to fit in the college experience into your visit, and then you'll know if it's really right for you.

The most important factor to take into consideration is the atmosphere of the college. You're going to spend four years, some say the most important four years, at that school so it is important that you feel at home. Often students and their parents get caught up in the pursuit of prestigious schools, but it's important to understand that you can be successful and make the most of your college experience regardless of where you are. This is why it is so important to find an environment in which you can thrive. Take the time to visit each school, attend classes, go on tours of the campus, dorms, and dining halls. Meet with deans, faculty, and students. Find out about class sizes, campus resources, extra-curricular activities, and go wherever it is that students hang out. They will give you the most honest advice so speak to as many students as you can. You will know where it is that you feel at home. And most importantly, don't freak out! This process can be really stressfull, but it can also be really fun. If possible, take your whole family on college visits and make it enjoyable.

First piece of advice: wherever you go, there you are. Be careful in your college selection, yes, but remember that no matter where you go, you will have friends, you will learn, at least if you want to, and you will grow and change. Having said that, I'd suggest that you try to go somewhere where the students seem happy, and where you think you'd be comfortable making friends. Reading and papers and career development will get you far, but finding a supportive community will get you farther. Second piece of advice: Don't discount the Greek system. You may be an individual, a non-conformist, or a recluse, but if you see an ad for a rush event that strikes your fancy, GO. I never thought I'd be Greek, but joining a co-ed Society was the best thing I have ever done. I have met friends to last a lifetime, found a great social/career network, and have a place to come back to for events and reunions. I can't imagine what my undergraduate life would have been like without such a close-knit community to support me.

At every school I visited, everyone told me how happy they were and what an amazing school it was. In college, I've seen this school be a happy, amazing place, and I've also seen it be less than wonderful. My mother once told me "You see the inside of yourself and the outside of everyone else," and I think that is a very apt mantra, especially when it comes to the college experience. There are great things and not so great things about every school, about every Freshman experience, and about every person. Don't be afraid to acknowledge both, and don't feel alone in doing so. Find out what is real by looking to understand the inside of other people's experiences, during both the college search and your years at school. Making the most of college means experiencing it in all its truth, through both the highest moments of elation and the lowest moments of frustration.

Find a school with variety: a diverse student body with varied interests and ideas. College is just as much about what you learn outside the classroom as it is what you learn from your professors. Look for small classes that empower the student to take initiative. Be open to change and live in the moment and most imortantly: this is the student's college experience only he/she can learn, choose and do.

Don't fall victim to prestige-lust; it's not all it's crapped up to be. Just make sure you end up at a reasonably reputable school that will get you where you want to go. If you don't know where you want to end up a decade down the road, don't sweat it. Study what you like (you'll find out quickly what you DON'T) and the rest will come. Don't let your school get in the way of your education. Most schools efforts to encourage diversity are full of crap - mine is the most homogenous campus I've ever seen. Everyone shares the same set of values. Talk to students at a prospective school and ask them what they HATE about their school and you'll actually get useful information in choosing where to matriculate...

The number one piece of advice for students is that they should take the helm on their college search process and be proactive, rather than passive. There are many similar students competing for schools, financial aid, scholarships, etc. which is why you need to do your research and try to stay organized. Do not be shy about asking questions to your college counselor, alums, current college students, and admissions officers, but remember to be respectful to all groups considered (especially admissions officers!). If you are able to narrow down a few schools, make the extra effort to shoot an email to the admissions officer with a question showing you are informed and interested in the school, not just on a superficial level. Try to keep up some form of correspondence and if you are able to submit a supplement that highlights more about your personality, involvement in some sport, music group, or club/activity--do it! (so long as the school will accept a supplement). Parents: do not bug the admissions office when decisions are being made and sent out; be a sounding board for your children to help them reach a decision, rather than dictating college decisions for them!

Visit as many colleges as possible. Stistics and brochures can only tell you so much. The first emotion that a student gets when walking onto the campus for the first time will speak volumes to how well match he or she is to that school. Read the course cattalogue to see if the course describtions excite you and get on the school's social networking site, such as www.dailyjolt.com Finally, don't underestimate the value of the student body. Professors are important, but in my experience the student body taught me as much if not more than my professors.

Take your time in selecting the right college. Start early folks! The most important task is to talk to the students. Ask them what they like, about sports and social life, and what really goes on at the school. They will be much more honest than any school official. Ask them what they don't like, and what they would change about the school. Think about cost, but don't let that limit your options. Some of the best colleges are private, and some hold real value for your dollar. Aim high, shoot for your dream college and don't apply to a school unless you know you could see yourself there. DO NOT attend a college without visiting and learning all about it- that could be a major mistake. When you get there, enjoy everything it has to offer. Go to plays, see speeches, go to frat parties and enjoy yourself. Don't obsess over your major, but try and figure it out early so you can plan you academic schedule. If you find that you don't like your major- switch! Above all, have fun.

Go with what feels right

Visiting the campus beforehand and asking the actual students what they really think of the school are very important. At the same time, consider the financial situation of the family and whether you like the college near home or far, suburban or urban, big or small, conservative or liberal. Nonetheless, no matter where you go, make sure that you make the most out of the experience you have there, make good friends, and build a vision for your future. It'll be the best time in your life.

As cliche as it sounds, college is really about what you want. Try not to let everyone else make your decisions for you. It's your experience and it's your education so don't risk regret and uncertainty. During the application process, ask lots of questions! The worse that could happen is that you receive "no" as an answer. Never be afraid to ask any questions concering financial aid. Also, don't be afriad to try something completely new; travel across the country, meet new people. Take advantage of everything you can.

Ultimately, regardless of how many schools you apply to and how many school you get accepted into, in the end, you will end up where you belong.

Do not be afraid to look at the small liberal arts schools, those not listed on the rankings for national universities. If you are willing to pay for a private education, your student is much more likely to get his or her moneys worth at a smaller school like reed or marlboro than at a big one like usc.

I encourage to attend and sit in classes for a day and really talk to students. If there is a pre-freshman event, then try going to it because it is really true what they say, you just know that it's right for you. Make sure that you research whether or not it has your major and really think about what you want to accomplish in college. It goes by fast and it doesn't mean that you have to make a decision right out of high school of what you want to be... find a college that can accomodate your needs. The best colleges aren't always the ones with the biggest names. College is really a chance for you do what you want and make mistakes. It's scary at times but it is so worth it if you find the right place. Don't sell yourself short if you think that it's out of reach and don't be afraid of the costs, the universities are a lot more generous than you might think. Good luck!

Students should approach finding the right college with intensity as it is a crucial decision that has lasting implications. They should start their searches in-state, looking at colleges and universities that match their academic profile, broadest career interests and personal characteristics. But they shouldn't stop there! While in-state universities are generally more financially feasible for most families, students should also look elsewhere, especially if they are of high academic caliber or have very specific interests or talents not satisfied close to home. Students should not sell themselves short by only applying to Mom or Dad's school. But they should also be realistic about their chances to avoid setting expectations unrooted in reality - this advice applies to families, too! Their interests can and probably will change, so they should go to a school that has myriad strengths rather than a narrow focus. Finally, students should seek informal advice from undergrads who actually attend your target schools. There is so much that is not printed in the guidebook that can be make-or-break their experience. Lastly, once they finally decide, they should be ecstatic as they will have the most rewarding experience of their lifetimes!

Find the college that is a good fit socially, academically, and politically

-pick Brown if you can handle the lack of a core and want the academic freedom and respsonibility that comes along with Brown's liberal academics -visit as many schools as possible -talk to current students to find out what it is really like to attend the school -a great place to start the process is to narrow down your search based on categories, for example: city vs. non-city, size of the school, athletic division, academic requirements and course offerings, etc.

The best advice I can give to parents and/or prospective students about finding the right college is that you only live life once so follow your dream and your heart . Forasmuch, my motto is to carpe diem and to not be confined by limiting circumstnaces like finances or physical disabilities because no one wants to grow up with the regrets of "what if".

Brown is a very unique institution. It prides itself on the size of its endowment and the degrees its professors hold. It doesn?t care about students needs. It has inadequate athletic facilities and a terrible food service. Classes are incredible and you really can't beat the education you will receive, but be warned that you don't matter in the eyes of the university. There is no school spirit and believe me, the kids at this school are STRANGE. Really though, you will meet the weirdest people in your entire life. For all of you parents out there wishing your kid went to an Ivy League school just be warned that the kids drink a lot, I mean Wednesday through Sunday every week. Your kid might be happier staying closer to home. I know that I am one of the few that actually say that they don't like the school but believe me, the majority of the kids hate the administration and are fed up with the social life. My recommendation: look somewhere else.

go to brown

When looking for your school it is very important that the environment, both social and academic, is a good fit. It will always be a difficult acclimation to school and changing environments from high school to university. Make sure that that the class sizes are to your liking, your professors are easy accessible, campus is to your liking, and most importantly, that the social environment fits you as a person. You will have a tremendous impact on your university and on the people you meet while at university. Make sure the university you choose is one that has the ability to shape you, not change you. I wish you the best of luck looking for the right school, but you will know when you've found it! So I suppose luck has little to do with it...

Look at the way the school is academically structured. This was a huge factor in my college decision. Does the school have a very strong core cirriculum or a more open ended one? This alone can completely change the dynamic of a school. Another important question to ask yourself when you're visiting schools, are people happy to be there? Are they excited about their school? Location was also a very important factor for me; how far do you want to be from your family? Do you want to go to school in a city or in the country? Visiting is very important to get a real feal for a school, if my look one way on papper and then be a completely different place when you visit. Make sure you can picture yourself at that school. Happy Hunting!

I believe that the best way to choose a college is to go visit, talk to the students and faculty, and stay overnight. All of the facts and figures about different colleges are usually the same, but visiting a college really lets prospective students discover what it is like to live and go to school at that campus. I did know anything about Brown when I applied, so I learned everything from the overnight visit that I took before making my decision. The campus was so happy and welcoming that I knew it was the right place for me

Understand that many colleges have excellent academc faculties, big-names don't actually matter. A smaller school where the focus is clearly on undergraduate education makes for of a difference in your education than major research facilities or Ivy-League status. Choose a school that feels good all around: you'll get bored with binge drinking and all-the-time partying, just like you'll burn out if you have to devote every minute outside of class to studying. Think carefully before accepting an athletic scholarship: varsity sports are a great way to meet people and organize time as well as compete at a very high level, but in case you want to try other things, make sure there is a way to adjust your committment. Finally, remember that college isn't the end: study hard and take advantage of all the resources a university can offer, like networking and working closely with a professor. Life beyond school is even harder than anything you'd have to face while attendng.

You can't put off being happy. You can't wait to be accepted by your top-choice school, to lose another ten pounds, to find a better-paying job, or for that special guy/girl to finally make a move. Accept that life is difficult and strap yourself in for the ride. Be mad, love deeply, don't take advice from strangers. You sleepwalk through four years of high school, but when you find yourself at college, you're faced with more choice, more freedom than ever before. Use it. Take risks. Be strong. Don't let a day go by where you forget the fact that you have a finite amount of time in this world. So whatever you do, don't put off being happy.

visit as many colleges as you can before selecting a school, when at school participate in clubs and students groups, go out with friends and make the most of all the resources available to you!

Examine the type of social life you want and choose a university which reflects this. Academics will be secondary to your happines.

I would suggest that you start saving money as soon as possible. Financial aid awards don't always work out they way you think they will. Go to campus visits before you choose a schoool, so that you can get a feel for the environment and the student life. When you do get to college, get involved in as many extracurricular activities as you see fit with your schedule. Many of the activities helps you to make life-long friends and is a great way to network with people who have different resources. You will learn a lot about different cultures and backgrounds, so you should be open to new experiences because you might come in contact with things that you have never seen before. You should also realize that everyone is at you school for the same reason, to get an education.

Consider carefully the priorities of the student and then think about how a particular college fits those priorities. Though there are real differences between schools, nobody should be deceived into thinking there is only one school that is right for a given student. Also, though a focus on career is important, the college years are extremely formative socially and intellectually, so an emphasis should be placed on the overall quality of experience. Good luck in your search!

Finding the right decision involves identifying what is most important to you. Unfortunately, often it isn't until you are close to being done with college or have already graduated that you start to identify what you are really passionate about. A very wise high school senior will block the distrations of getting into a top school, wanting to ''live the college life'', not wanting to accept change, or considering careers based on money or status and ask themselves one simple question: "What am I passionate about?" If you start your college process with the most sincere and honest intentions, it will be much easier to find your way when you start to feel lost. Choose your school and course of study based on the things you love most in life and forget the rest. This will be the single greatest investment in your academic career besides deciding to go to college.

College is a time of discovery and growth. When choosing a school, try your best to make sure you feel comfortable in that environment. Once you're there, regardless of whether or not it was your first choice, make the most of every experience. College is truly the greatest four (or more :) years of your life- be sure to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Don't be afraid of taking risks, meeting new people, or taking a class in a field completely different than your area of interest. Be open, be excited. It was Emerson that once said: "Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you." Remember this and please, make the most of yourself.

Don't set your heart on a school that you've only read about. Regretfully, there is no statistic for what is the most important criterion for a school: happiness. Visit the school, talk to the students, have an overnight stay. Remember that a university is a whole new lifestyle, not merely a place with books and classes. No matter what school you go to, the people you will be spending the most time with are the other students - not the professors. Make sure you find a school that has a culture that fits your personality. Ultimately, it's this community that determines whether or not you will have a happy four years or not. Don't look for a school that has a "niche" for you - find an inclusive school that embraces you no matter where you happen to be on campus.

Select a school based on the strength of the departments in which students wish to study. If unsure, pick a school with many strong departments. The social atmosphere should also fit students' needs, since many or most students live on campus. For example, consider whether religion or diversity (not just racial diversity, but socioeconomic diversity, diversity of hobbies, etc.) is important. As to making the most of college, it really depends on the individual and how one apportions his or her time. A large part of college is learning to make one's own decisions and choosing one's own path. That said, the environment the student picks should provide the tools necessary for him or her to realize his or her goals. Finally, I would recommend that students planning on going to college directly after high school think hard about whether they are going to college immediately because it is simply "the next step" or because they really want to get something out of it. If the reason is more the former, I might recommend some time off between high school and college.

Brown University was my so-called dream school. I fell for all of the hype that things like US News and World report create. As it turned out Brown (and I don't believe any college) didn't inherently make me happy. I have two pieces of advice for students and parents: just because other people like or dislike a college doesn't mean you will or won't. Go with your gut but realize that whether you end up loving or hating you school is largely a function of luck and circumstance. There are some obvious variables that you know from the beginning (such as size of school etc.) but the process is really beyond your control. My second piece of advice is not to beat yourself up about being busy all the time. Try to do well in school, but I spent two years wondering what to do with my time and my life and it was miserable. So just enjoy four unique years before the working world comes knocking!

Don't let money govern your decision. Apply to schools that you want to attend and worry about your financial aid packages later. What's in a name, anyway? Maybe less than you think. Follow your heart, not the name. Don't apply to fifteen schools (e.g., all of the Ivies and Stanford and MIT and Williams an...) to maximize your chances. No. Think it through. These are all very good schools; if you're determined to get into a 'top 20' school, good for you, but not all of them are the same: If Brown suits you, then MIT might not, and if Cornell suits you, then Wellesley might not. Accept it and don't waste your time and resources.

The best advice I can offer is to talk to as many students as possible at all schools of interest. While faculty, deans, and other administrators can offer great insight as to the "nuts and bolts" requirements of any school, the students can tell you about the more important and personal aspects of college life. It's important to remember that much of college learning takes place outside of the classroom, and picking a school environment that promotes this kind of learning is of utmost importance.

The search for the right college is difficult and there is really little advice that will work in every situation. However, one thing is for certain, the more you visit a college, the fuller you'll understand it and you'll be able to make a smarter decision based on that knowledge. Tours and information sessions are useful for parents, but if you want to find out whether you actually belong, the only test is to live there and experience it in real time. Making the most of the college experience is a little more difficult. We're sent to college to get an education, right? While academics should always come first, college is just the backdrop to growing up. And experiences, problems, and relationships are all necessary to develop and all take away from studying. But you shouldn't sacrifice a great friend or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the sake of studying. In short, work hard, harder than you'd like, but when someone or something comes along that you truly value, embrace it as an education in something other than academia.

Search the course cataloge deeply when applying to schools. Make sure that the university offers courses that you are interested in. Search and read surveys, like this one, from students attending the university or college. The best way to research a school is through the students who are enrolled. Surveys like these are the best ways to find out about professors, campus life, and academics that are usually omitted on the school brochures. As for making the most out of one's college experience, join clubs and become active on campus. Make friends and discover what your are truly interested in. I joined the cycling club my sophomore year and have discovered that I love competitive cycling. Throught his club I have made many friends as well.

We spend about eighty years on this earth; you'll spend about four in college. That means you'll only spend five percent of your life living in dorms, eating off a meal plan, and writing messages to your friends on those little whiteboards hanging on dorm-room doors. But these few years will be the most important in your life. You will meet lifelong friends. You will find love. You will go broke. You will study more than you ever thought possible. You will party more than you ever thought possible. You will choose a major, and possibly, a career. While you gradually become an adult, you will discover not only what you'll do, but who you are. These are the most transformative years of your life. Whether you go to your dream school or you're stuck at (heaven forbid!) a safety school, cherish the time you have in college, because a day will come when you're out of meal credits and memories will be all you have left of those years between 18 and 22.

The most important advice I can give to this year's college applicants is that finding the right college or university is ultimately up to the student, and not his or her parents. When college begins, parents are there to help the student move in, unpack some things, and make the bed. Then they leave, and college begins. The truth is that your parents won't be there through the entire schoolyear, like they are in highschool. Even for students who live at home throughout college, it is during those years that they must learn independence and self-sufficiency. Ultimately, an applicant can't know what he or she will want with life in four years, or two. What is most important is that you choose the school that will allow you to experiment and grow on your own, to experience and to learn for yourself what it is you want with your life. College is about defining yourself and creating a template for you to work with for years to come. Any school where you can do that and have fun doing it is exactly where you should be.