<p>I don't know if you know anything about PLME or any PLME students, but if you do: </p>
<p>How is their workload compared to other students'? Do they mingle with the other students or mostly hang out with each other?</p>
<p>Also, what's your favorite and least favorite thing about Brown, if you had to pick one?</p>
<p>The PLMEs surprisingly are some of the best partiers... at least the ones i hang out with. I'm not a PLME, but their workload seems to be normal first semester as compared to regular students. They still have the flexibility of Brown's open curriculum, meaning they can practically take any class they choose to take. The PLMEs are probably one of the least stressed group of people since they simply need to maintain a 3.0 to continue their PLME status. They have a "security blanket" which means in 4-years, they are guaranteed to have a spot at Brown's medical school, which is good if Brown's med. school is there top choice, if they choose not to apply to another medical school or if they don't get into another medical school. This removes a lot of the stress that most non-PLMEs or Premeds have. All and all, the PLMEs have a good life. Contrary to popular belief, they aren't segregated from everyone else, and they don't flaunt the fact that they are PLMEs. I was surprised to know that some of my friends were PLMEs because they leave you to believe otherwise. </p>
<p>Favorite part about Brown hands down is the open curriculum. I didn't want to limit my knowledge to simply information from the Western Cannon, and I wanted complete academic freedom to choose how I'll spend my next four years. My least favorite aspect about Brown is that ... hmm, I definitely have to think about this one. I'll get back to you.</p>
<p>A lot of times, acutally, they make a point of not mentioning that they're PLMEs...From what I've heard a lot of premed students are pretty bitter towards PLMEs, because they've got the free ride through med school without having to take the MCATs.</p>
<p>Can you tell us a little more about the Open Curriculum?</p>
<p>sure... what specifically about the curriculum do you want to know about?</p>
<p>I've heard that there is a lack of good advising when it comes to the Open Curriculum... what are your experiences with that?</p>
<p>Oh, and also -- how's the weather? :O)</p>
<p>I'm from California, and the weather's pretty nice. My parents are kind of skeptical about the East Coast and say that the cold weather won't be good for me, considering that I get sick very easily (am sick right now). Are you from the East Coast, if so, do you know of any friends that had to deal with the changes?</p>
<p>you can check that yourself cant you?</p>
<p>I dont really know what it means to have good advising in terms of the open curriculum. Each freshmen is assigned two advisors, a faculty advisor who most likely is a professor in one of your classes and an upperclass student advisor called a Meiklejohn. Learn about the advising partnership here:
<a href="http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Dean_of_the_College/advising/%5B/url%5D">http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Dean_of_the_College/advising/</a></p>
<p>I personally only came in contact with my advisor for advising counseling twice this semester. Once during the beginning of the semester in order to talk about my courses and my potential major(s), and once at the end of the semester to rant about the pressure I was feeling in one of classes. She made a real effort to keep in touch with all 6 of her advisees throughout the semester, e.g. taking us out to dinner, requesting group talks etc. But I never went to any of that. I figure you can make the most or the least out of your advisors, which I love. </p>
<p>If you dont feel as if youre getting enough out of your advisors be more assertive and talk to them.. if you dont like your advisor, request a new one. Simple as that. </p>
<p>I was never into the whole advising thing which is why I personally have little contact with them. This little contact epitomizes Brown's motto: choice. In other words, choice means the aspect in which Brown gives the responsibility of absolute freedom to each student in choosing their education. </p>
<p>So those who complain about the lack of good advising at brown probably didnt maximize the effects of their choices to the fullest extent, e.g. if he/she had a problem with the curriculum, they should have talked to their advisor. Word of Caution: the advisors at Brown cant force you to do anything, and this aspect can be bitter sweet to those who arent use to such freedom.</p>
<p>I personally was ready for such freedom.</p>
<p>The weather is cold right now... which sucks.</p>
<p>The advising sucks. It's as simple as that. If you know what you want to study, either take a CAP course in that subject, or have your advisor changed to someone in that department. Most of the professors who act as advisors don't know much about the departments outside of their own, and most of the meetings are going to be "Hey, could you sign this course form?" and them saying "Ok."</p>
<p>how's the food?</p>
<p>I personally like it. We have two cafeterias and they both serve a huge variety of food.</p>
<p>Is aeronautical eng. offered at brown?</p>
<p>Just to add about the food: the Ratty had the best cheese fries I've ever had.</p>
<p>i don't think the advising is very bad at all. freshman year you have meiklejohns and a faculty advisor to help you adjust to school. sophomore year you have all of the deans at your disposal plus randall counselors to help you settle into a concentration. once you pick a concentration, you have a concentration advisor, and if you write a thesis, a thesis advisor. if you take enough small upper-level classes you'll soon get to know many professors across various departments and they all unofficially act as advisors as well. at least that was my experience.</p>
<p>aerospace engineering is under mechanical engineering at brown (like at most schools). incidentally, my girlfriend did aerospace engineering at MIT for undergrad and is currently there for her masters. however, she is currently considering finishing her PhD at Brown because the planetary geology program is very strong. most of the high level administrators at NASA are Brown alum from that program</p>
<p>I'll second the praise of the advisors; I had nothing but good experiences! My advisor went beyond knowing a little about the other departments, and sometimes she has even been able to tell me which professor's section to take in totally different departments. Who is expecting an advisor in English to know EVERYTHING about the engineering department? Of course you should choose an advisor in a department close to your own interests - this is not a flaw in the system but just good sense. Don't be discouraged by stories about bad advising, my group of friends has had largely positive experiences with the system, and I certainly have.</p>
<p>=] good to know, thanks guys! and from real experience, too.</p>
<p>How do you feel about the Pass/Fail system? Is there a specific reason why you didn't want your calc class graded? heh not a fan of calc? :)</p>