<p>I was not insulting Brown; I was alluding to your misconception about the Ivy League.</p>
<p>not gonna argue.</p>
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<p>For that, I feel badly. I shouldn’t have done that. It was really elitist.</p>
<p>However, I do stand by my assertion that Brown should not be taken seriously as an academic institution. If a school allows a student to take as many classes pass/fail as he or she chooses, I think that’s a joke. (If this isn’t true, please say so. I don’t want to spread misinformation.)</p>
<p>This does not mean that students don’t learn at Brown. I’m sure the opposite is true. It also doesn’t mean that Brown is a bad school for the students who choose to attend. I’m sure they love it. And it doesn’t mean that Brown shouldn’t be as selective as it is. I’m sure it has much to offer to those who will fit in.</p>
<p>Are you implying that an institution should revolve around grades? The philosophy at Brown is that students get to take their education into their own hands and concern themselves with learning rather than with attaining high GPAs. The pass/fail system and lack of core requirements ensures that Brown students receive the education that they want and can learn what they want without having to worry about what certain classes might do to their GPA. Brown is a great place for intellectual exploration. Serious academic institutions are great places for intellectual exploration.</p>
<p>A serious academic institution ensures that its students get the education that they want. The fact that Brown doesn’t hand out grades for every class does not detract from the education it provides to its students.</p>
<p>The school allows you to take as many classes S/NC as you like so that you don’t feel scared to explore areas of academic interest which you don’t have any background in. Not so that you can sit back smoke weed and play the wii.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure NO person at Brown takes all/most of their classes without grades, they are high-achievers, and they do compete and work very hard. </p>
<p>The best part of the New Curriculum is that almost all people fulfill what other universities would call ‘distribution requirements’ without being made to do it.</p>
<p>Brown is centered around academic integrity. You should want your work graded, and you should want to explore new fields, and want to take a wide variety of classes. Instead of just saying “well this is the way it is, we take classes we have to, get our grades and shut up about it”. They make you think and make this system work for you. As far as developing an academic attitude goes, Brown just might be the best. But surely, places like MIT and Princeton provide better academic training.</p>
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<p>What do you mean by “academic training”? Do you mean the quality of teaching? If so, I don’t think there’s really a gap between Brown and MIT and Princeton.</p>
<p>Agree w/ Basajaun.
S/NC just means students could take whatever classes they want.
Good thing about Brown is its open curriculum. It means that students would not have to narrow down the courses they wish to take that Brown offers. </p>
<p>Brown’s quality of teaching is surely ranked higher than MIT’s and Princeton’s.</p>
<p>^ What makes you say that (the latter part of your post)?</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s exactly better than MIT’s or Princeton’s but it’s not worse.</p>
<p>Brown is it’s own kind of education. Why do we even have to dispute it? Life isn’t about what job you get… And in the end everyone on CC has been so successful. Why argue with each other over dartmouth mit princeton brown and harvard. They are world class educations and it is a great success attend any of them.</p>
<p>^ true <em>10char</em></p>
<p>^ I’m glad to see you took the gap year guitar!! :)</p>
<p>I know, I am too. Making plans is hard, but at least I’ll never say ‘what if’ :)</p>
<p>When I first considered college, I of course gravitated towards Harvard…but after doing research I feel like Brown is the best for me. There’s less pressure on students, it feels like.</p>
<p>It’s my dream to go to Brown. Very, very unlikely to occur, but still my dream nevertheless. D: Applying RD.</p>
<p>I will most likely be applying ED.</p>
<p>34 ACT, 4.0 GPA, lots of ECs.</p>
<p>Hi there, new to this thread. Same stats as above, except I’ll likely apply RD. Good luck to you all.
Also, a few questions, if anyone would care to answer. I’m considering retaking my ACT. My English and Reading scores are high, and my Math and Science scores are not so great. I was hoping, even if I ended up with the same composite, to come up with more rounded results in subjects. Will this actually even matter, or should I just accept what I’ve got?
And I know brown requests ACT or SAT I & II. For some reason, it’s just always seemed like around these boards, SAT is preferred. Although Brown doesn’t have any official preference, would it be worth it to take the SAT I & II?</p>
<p>I think I’m applying early to Brown. I really value a “core” (I also would like to attend Columbia) but I think to myself, why not just go to Brown, and take classes that simulate a core, without the pressure? That’s my take.</p>
<p>^ I feel just like you. I’m planning on applying ED also 
Although I REALLY need to boost my SAT score up :(</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone here! I’m most likely applying RD.</p>
<p>A question about letters of recommendation… I can only see on the website about transfer students. For regular applicants, how many letters do we need and are specific subjects neccesary?</p>