Advice needed about Brown vs. LACs!!

College Search & Selection
1

I’ve semi-decided on applying ED to Brown, but I’m constantly uncertain. Most of the other schools I love are smaller and more rural, which is very appealing to me since I come from a huge, impersonal high school in the middle of the city. I worry that at Brown, I will miss the tight-knit community that comes with the LACs, and that I will regret not being in a more rural place. I truly love everything else about Brown (the people, the Open Curriculum, the breadth of opportunities), but it’s my least favorite campus and, again, I worry about whether the community is tight-knit. Everyone I have met from Brown says that they LOVE it, that it’s a very special place and that you will find your own community there. Still, I’m always freaked out about my decision (I’m a really indecisive person).

Basically, I know that if I apply ED I will apply to Brown–it’s just a question of whether or not I apply ED at all or if I just wait for regular decision so that I can potentially decide between Brown and the other LACs later (granted that I get accepted).

Should I be so worried about Brown’s community? Does the campus even matter that much? My top three other choices are Williams, Dartmouth, and Bowdoin, which all have beautiful campuses and are smaller. I get a feeling in my heart when I think about those campuses, but that’s just because I love being outside. I know that Brown will probably provide me more opportunities to pursue my passions than those schools, (I love both humanities and some hard sciences, so the open curriculum is really appealing; plus, I’m interested in politics and activism), but I can’t bring myself to be ONE HUNDRED PERCENT about it.

If Brown was in the same location as Williams and maybe just a tiny bit smaller, I know I would choose it in a heartbeat! What do I do?

Edit: Here are some of my stats if that is needed to offer advice: 35 ACT, 96.6 GPA, leadership position in a large activist group, year-rounds sports, Editor in Chief of Newspaper, blah blah blahhhh (I’m actually very passionate about these things I just don’t want to sound braggy lol)

2

What about Hamilton? Small LAC, open curriculum, strong in humanities and sciences, beautiful campus.

3

Apply ED to Williams College if that is among your top choices. Best bargain in American higher education with respect to ED admit rates. Beautiful campus, setting, location & town.

Everyone who I know from Brown loves the school & the experience.

Retention rates:

Brown University–98%
Bowdoin College–96%
Dartmouth College–97%
Williams College–98%

Can’t ask for better retention rates. No wrong choice among your listed schools.

4

Yes, I hope you haven’t somehow overlooked the flexible curricula at NESCACS such as Hamilton and Amherst. And if you’d like an activist campus in a less confined environment, consider Wesleyan. Irrespective of your decision on Brown, I think you’ll find great choices across a range of schools. For a safer admit, research Connecticut College.

As a general consideration, if you tend toward indecisiveness, then that feeling may remain even through an RD round, so you may want to take some risk with an ED application even under your current level of uncertainty.

5

It doesn’t sound like Brown is clearly your first choice. I suspect you would be able to pursue your interests at the LACs, so why Brown? Do you think it’s more prestigious?

Another thought is that it’s a good idea (imho) to put yourself in a different environment to high school, whether that’s going to college in a different part of the country, or going to a smaller, or larger, school eg.

6

You should not be applying to Brown ED if it’s not your favorite school. Williams, Bowdoin, and many other LAC’s are what you seem to want, and you will not be sacrificing anything in terms of education or opportunities.

7

If Brown is your “ least favorite,” why are you even considering applying ED there.

8

By “least favorite campus,” I interpreted the OP to mean Brown’s physical campus and its proximate setting. In other important ways, such as in Brown’s flexible curriculum and general academics, the OP sees benefits worth serious consideration.

9

Yep, that’s it. I just meant the physical campus compared to my other top choices–obviously would not be considering ED if it was my least favorite school… haha

10

Another school that fits your criteria is Vassar. If you aren’t 100% sure about Brown (ts a great school), then don’t apply ED.

11

@CJeanneLo Like Brown, Amherst also offers an open curriculum along w/ being part of a 5-school consortium including UMass, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and Smith.

12

@CJeanneLo , I’m not clear why you are trying to talk yourself out of applying ED to one of the three schools that give you “a feeling in my heart” (Williams, Dartmouth and Bowdoin) and talk yourself into applying to Brown which you’re ambivalent about. Admission to selective colleges like these is already insanely competitive. I would suggest that you apply ED to the one that checks the most boxes (as long as you can afford not to compare financial aid packages).

My son is a Williams graduate. Williams rural location and accessibility to nature and outdoorsy activities was a huge plus for him, as were the tight knit community and nurturing faculty. He always had always lived in big cities (and is working in one now) but he found Williams mountain village setting the ideal antidote to academic pressure and looking back cherishes the time he was able to spend in the Berkshires.

I wouldn’t worry too much about distribution requirements. With interests in humanities, hard sciences and social activism you’ll easily fulfill 3 out 3 of the general requirement groups. Bear in mind that even open curriculums like Brown’s have graduation requirements (for example, writing intensive, language, cross-cultural), plus progression requirements within the individual majors. They are not entirely open.