I’ll be attending Brown this Fall and I’ve been doing non-stop research since I decided to attend (even more than when I applied, if that’s possible) but I can’t help thinking about the social stigma surrounding Brown overall. Some people including teachers that I’ve told about my acceptance brush it off as if it’s not a credible/prestigious university. I’m excited to attend, but I can’t stop wondering: Why do people ridicule/dismiss it so much? Do you think it could potentially be harder to get a job as compared to the other ivies?
People who say that Brown is not prestigious are mean, jealous haters. Ignore them or wish them luck at UConn!
You chose your school, and objectively it’s a great one. Research all the amazing things about it and try to train yourself not to care what others think. People love to spout off negative opinions about everything, and if you only listen to the negatives, you’ll never be able to make a major decision without doubting yourself. Brown is amazing - enjoy your next four years!
So many parents have had their dreams of their children attending an ivy like Brown dashed. Admission to an elite college like Brown has become extremely difficult.
So, there are a lot of hurt feelings and anger out there.
Don’t pay any attention to the haters.
Anyone who claims that Brown is not among the small group of uber elite colleges in the United States has an agenda. Most parents who care about education would be thrilled if their son or daughter got into Brown.
Brown is outstanding by many measures. Work hard and enjoy it!
Did you research last year’s US News list of the top universities in the country for undergraduate teaching?
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/undergraduate-teaching
I would hope that as an incoming freshman, that is one of the categories that you would care about most. In that area, US News ranks Brown as #3 in the entire country.
As you get older (and presumably wiser), you will not worry so much about things people say. Brown is a great school, beloved by its students and alumni alike. Focus on what your experience is going to be like, not on the uninformed remarks of a few people. Congratulations, and have a great year!
All of the above replies are probably true (except, TomSr, why pick on UConn?). However, I think that it is true that, ot some extent, Brown doesn’t get the same ‘general’ respect as HYP, and other institutions, by the public at large. It is not as well known, and that seems to be part of the reason. However, depending on your field, employers are fully aware of the caliber of graduates that Brown produces. Furthermore, there is a large and growing segment that views Brown as being superior in many ways to HYP – you may not have run into that segment yet. People who seem to show disdain for Brown likely don’t know very much about it. Finally, for some people, a single news story can influence their entire view of a university. So if someone reads about a news event at Brown that strikes them as too ‘liberal,’ ‘politically correct,’ etc., it can shade their view of the institution regardless of the academic chops.
@bonerz Sorry but UConn was the first southern New Englandschool that popped into my head. The haters likely had no chance of being admitted to Brown.
TomSr – no worries. I just think UConn is a great school. I know a few people who have gone there who think Brown is great. But you are right – there will be haters everywhere, for lots of different reasons. And I probably misinterpreted your comment as being critical of UConn, which I now see was not your point or meaning.
Those people are fools. Nuff said.
This reminds me of the anecdote that Frank Bruni recounts in his book “Where you go is not who you’ll be”, where a set of students from one of the Ivies taunts a set of students at another Ivy with Safety School, Safety School during an athletic match.
Its like the .001% looking down on the .01% and the .01% feeling ashamed of themselves!!! The whole thing is ridiculous. Brown is a good school. You should be proud that you made it. Stop looking up or down and start looking straight.
You travel in strange circles. I’ve never met anyone – in my four years at Brown and in my 30+ years as an alum – who has ridiculed or dismissed it. Never. Not once. And in all my conversations with hundreds of students and alums, I’ve never heard a single anecdote about someone who demeans Brown.
Honestly – I don’t know who you know who says things like that. And if so, do they think that the only successful people in this world go to Harvard? Because that’s so not true.
Brown alums get great jobs. A Brown grad was just chosen to design Obama’s presidential library. Daveed Diggs, currently on Broadway in Hamilton, went to Brown. Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, went to Brown. The list goes on and on.
This is not a thing and the OP needs to work on his or her eye roll when the idiots in his world start talking about stupid stuff.
Thank you all for your replies. I certainly will learn from your comments and advice. I let my perception of Brown be skewed by others’ opinions, which was incredibly stupid on my part. I’m very excited to be attending Brown and I’m sure it’ll be a great experience. Thank you all for helping me combat my insecurities about attending.
Don’t forget Fed Chairman Yellen. One of the most important people in the world and a Brown alum.
Brown is great…really. But this is still amusing:
https://twitter.com/gilmoregags/status/642270672211824640 Edward Herrmann, as Richard Gilmore: “Make sure you gloat over that dimwitted son of theirs who couldn’t even get into Brown.”
Also, this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKo71nYx3uo
“Weren’t you at Brown, Otto?”
“Yep! Almost got tenure too.”
I truly believe Brown has an incredible reputation. It may have one that is not as great as, say, Duke or JHU’s, but it is great nonetheless.
It doesn’t have the name recognition like HYPS etc among the general population (prob 90% of the US population has never heard of Brown or couldn’t tell you a single thing about it), but it obviously has a very good rep among those who know.
I chose Brown over one of HYP. Having had parents who each attended one of the two, I’ve always seen the two as roughly equal. I legitimately liked Brown more, and didn’t think the difference between the two was that great. However, I have surprisingly also encountered this same kind of lack of respect for Brown, sometimes so much so that I feel like I made the wrong choice and am seriously questioning my decision. It’s driving me crazy! Can someone please convince me that I made the right choice and help me not have Buyer’s Remorse for what has always been my dream school? I’m very sorry, but I’m insecure about this and need help