<p>What are some reasons for picking Brown over top tier ivies other than lack of core curriculum? Ivies supposedly have more resume building opportunities. Other than that, which prolly isn’t such a big deal anyhow cuz you can build your res newhere if you’ve the init., how is brown necessarily worse, equating em from the start?</p>
<p>Who cares?</p>
<p>Go to the school that is right for you, Ivy or not. To be honest, I'm really sick of this "which school is the top?" ****.</p>
<p>I'm always going to say Brown, because to me, Brown is what I am looking for in a school. For many, it is not. If the only reason you are going to a school is because some person at U.S. News or some counselor says it is the "top" or the "best" or the "most prestigious" then I really pity you.</p>
<p>Stop comparing schools. It's ridiculously subjective.</p>
<p>'nuff said.</p>
<p>I do agree with you. It was a dumb post in retrospect...b/c it's true that every school is a school and you've got to make the best of things...harvard is just a miserable place tho...I don't want to go...but my dad sent in my reply card...and brown...well...for some reason I'm not going there. lol evidently I dont know what I'm doing, but for some reason I'm going to Harvard and not Brown. : (. Ergh. Maybe I should change things around but I'm really apathetic and at this point don't even want to go anywhere. Maybe it's because I'm swamped in work. And If I really hate Harvard I don't think I'll have the energy to leave. OMG WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MYSELF</p>
<p>Your dad sent in the reply card? Why didn't you?</p>
<p>I don't know. But now I'm seriously considering contacting Harvard and telling them I don't want to go anymore and coming to Brown instead. Now all the awful memories of my Harvard visit are catapulting back into my head. And Brown's a place where none of those things exist. People are happy and open. It's just better.</p>
<p>Those horrible things...
these overwhelmingly big science classes where people were apathetic and cared truly about socializing over learning...it was nuts...how they seemed to pay only nominal, annoyed attention to their instructors who didn't know them by face or by name.
really materialistic almost skanky students who loved malls and parties and swimsuits...not all, but some were there and noticeable right away from just walking around...this one girl told us she loved house life b/c she got to hang out with "frat guys"...she told us this while talking to our tour group with an admissions officer.
It's an impersonal place...no one knows each other...no warmth, no family...I guess that's why they have houses...I'd feel so lost and large and small and silly and scared and little there...I'd have to expand myself to belong and be.
It's so old, everything's so old. The library is way too tense. Boston is really old and seems to be fading, decaying into...a sick apathy...I just didn't find it there in those two days...I'd be surprised if I never found it there...but...it changed me, it helped me. I'd grow a lot socially, etc. But I'd be lost and scared and sad and wishing I was at Brown the whole time. I'm SO CONFUSED</p>
<p>That's exactly what I think.</p>
<p>I really didn't like Harvard when I was there. It felt cold.</p>
<p>Brown just felt right.</p>
<p>Drop me an IM if you want to talk about it more Daya..d..v... yeah.</p>
<p>Will your father pay for Brown?</p>
<p>If so, definitely look into going to where you feel most comfortable. You kind of sound really not enthusiastic.</p>
<p>If not, maybe, if you still aren't looking forward to Harvard, you could look into deferring for a year, and maybe after that, Harvard will be more eppealing.</p>
<p>IF YOU FEEL THIS WAY, HAVE A TALK WITH YOUR PARENTS AND CALL HARVARD NOW. No one deserves to have a miserable four years.</p>
<p>By virtue of the more selective admissions process, other "top" ivies will have more "top" students. Also, cross-admits to Brown and Harvard overwhelmingly choose Harvard (I'm starting to sound like Byerly!). If your peer group is a factor to you, you may want consider this. </p>
<p>Of course, there are plenty of other factors involved. I, for one, love the absence of a core curriculum at Brown.</p>
<p>I think people are massively overblowing what is only a 5% admissions rate difference. At the "top Ivies", yes, some things will be a little bit nicer. You may have a few more opportunities by virtue of what is going on there. But having more "top" students doesn't necessarily equate to an environment YOU will like.</p>
<p>I don't believe in the cross-admit crap. The difference between Harvard and Brown is not going to be the issue to your future employers. If you are talented, you are most probably going to thrive at both Brown and Harvard, and most people are not going to make a big distinction between strong performances at two Ivy League colleges.</p>
<p>Joey</p>
<p>Dayadhvam</p>
<p>You sound too depressed to make an important decision right now. Talk with you counselor, and talk with your father if you can. Do not place too much emphasis on a bad visit. Remember both universities are big, and you see only a tiny fraction of either place on a tour. Although by reputation Harvard students are less happy than Brown students, there are plenty of people who enjoy their time at Harvard. The unhappiness of the others may be more due to who they are than anything that happens at Harvard. </p>
<p>Do you know any people who are students at either college? Are there some graduates of your high school you could contact, even if you don't know them? </p>
<p>You have time, talk it over, and if it remains Harvard, go there with a positive attitude. Most people who do go to Harvard end up concluding it was the right choice, even if they think other places would have been more enjoyable.</p>
<p>Wow, your dad sounds like something else!</p>
<p>Honestly Harvard is pretty cool, so you are going to be part of an awesome experience nonetheless. I do like Brown better though.</p>