<ol>
<li>You’re Asian (where people believe US News rankings as law) and you’re going to live in Asia for the rest of your life–Brown itself admits (as stated in their “Boldly Brown” brochure) that Brown is one of US’s best, but not a global university.</li>
<li>You shudder in front of educational freedom</li>
<li>You’re a grad student.</li>
<li>Who you’re around cares much about rankings and so called “overall prestige”</li>
<li>You’re looking to be in the business world.</li>
<li>You want a bustling neo-urban setting for your undergrad experience.</li>
<li>You hate hippies/drugs/a relatively irresponsible mindset.</li>
<li>You’re strongly biased against homosexuals.</li>
</ol>
<p>That’s a long list, but many people fit into these categories, and so there are many reasons you wouldn’t be going there even when you’re accepted. So perhaps there’s an undue zealousness when you defend Brown for being so liberal and having an open curriculum, when not everybody likes such things.</p>
<p>The only other school I can think of that has as picky a choice for enrollment is… Harvard and MIT?->Brown is clearly a maverick of the Ivy league, even if it’s not as prestigous as some schools. </p>
<p>PERSONALLY, I really don’t care too excessively about concepts like prestige that people make up to feel more in the top of the future well-to-do in-crowd. BUT, I live in Asia. Still, I like down-to-earthness, and moreover I believe in acting what you believe in and less in pretense->Although I’m not sure that’s a good thing, especially when you begin to grow older.</p>
<p>However, it’s not as if I have some grandiose ideal that can replace the lure of feeling superior over others.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, I’m tired of defending myself of why I went to Brown. Besides, I’m a Korean, which makes #1 and #4 relevant, BUT, the term IVY has a ring to it here too, so I’m not that bust.</p>
<p>Not sure I agree with number 3, as Brown does have several incredibly strong departments for grad school (applied math, computer science, etc.).</p>
<p>There are reasons why some people would loathe Brown, including some you’ve listed, but if Brown is a better fit than those more highly ranked schools, you may get a better education at Brown.</p>
<p>the econ dept is not as strong as the other top schools. besides, brown is one of the few ivy league schools that does not have a business school (mba)</p>
<p>Wow an old thread, but yeah: Brown has no pre-preofessional concentrations, and that includes business. We have a concentration called Commerce, Organization and Entrepreneurship, which was admitted as a concentration program because it wasn’t “Business.” The COE is a multidisciplinary concentration, created in conjunction between our Engineering, Sociology and Economics departments.</p>
<p>The thing about business school is that you don’t need to get a bachelor’s in business: Brown’s philosophy is that you should find something you love in school, whether that’s Africana Studies, French Semiotics, Cognitive Science or Biology. By doing that, you’ll learn the critical thinking and writing skills necessary to succeed in what you love, including making what you love into a profitable business. Then, if you actually NEED a business background in school, go to grad school to get an MBA. You’ll do better there having learned something other than just business anyways.</p>
<p>Brown fits my educational interests and I’m really glad I came here, but I’m with you: it’s certainly not a school to go to for the “name.” Even within the U.S., it’s mocked among the educated elite for its liberal approach to academics. (I’ve gotten some snide comments like “Oh, have you taken any of your classes for grades, or do you take everything pass/fail?” and “Brown doesn’t have GPAs, right?”) </p>
<p>The “Brown” personality is also worth taking into account. I mean, let’s be real: any non-tiny school is likely to have “niches” for all sorts of personality types, so it’s not like an ultraconservative kid would be unable to find likeminded classmates. But Brown’s liberal feel is definitely something to keep in mind. I’m quite liberal and sorta hippie-ish myself, but I find myself making fun (lovingly, of course) of just how hippie our school is. I’d prefer if a broader range of viewpoints were represented, to be honest. I like being exposed on a daily basis to all sorts of schools of thought, rather than having to actively seek out ones that are incongruous with mine.</p>
<p>Hello everyone, I have a question: I reeaaalllly wanna get into Brown, but I’m very nervous about my chances (with it being an Ivy and all–and being among the most selective–I can’t help but be a bit intimidated…)</p>
<p>So, um, I have only 2 questions: </p>
<p>1) How did you score on the SAT and/or ACT?</p>
<p>also,</p>
<p>2) For the CommonApp, which prompt did you choose, if you can recall?</p>
<p>For the CommonApp essay, I didn’t use any of the prompts (I chose “Choose your own topic” or whatever); I sorta just rambled about my own thing (I talked about how I like death metal and other creative modes of expression). I don’t think it hurt me – my admissions officer even mentioned my love for death metal in my acceptance letter! You’re definitely free to disregard the CommonApp’s prompts if none of them sparks your interest and you can think of something else that conveys your personality just as well. CommonApp’s prompts are just sort of jumping-off points, meant to inspire ideas.</p>
<p>^Eek. I may have to reconsider my choice if I’m accepted. I prefer an urban environment (6) and while I don’t mind hippies or carefree mindset, I prefer to be around sober/unhigh minds (7). Oh well, just another reason to visit in April…</p>
<p>Providence might not be urban enough for you (it’s certainly a bit too urban for me), though Boston is relatively close if you need to escape. This can make it more tolerable. I’ve found a great group of people who don’t use drugs or drink, so the latter hasn’t been a problem for me either. You’d be able to find a group and enjoy yourself if Brown is a good enough fit for you.</p>