<p>I’m very familiar with both schools. Both are very good schools, and thus you are not going to make a serious mistake by choosing either. And while you seem to have fallen victim to the old cutthroat myth (which is false–Hopkins students are as collaborative as Brown students), you are correct about the cultures of the two schools being quite different. This is important to any decision (assuming of course that the admissions committees provide you the option of making a choice).</p>
<p>I’ll start with Brown. Someone mentioned that Emma Watson is going to Brown. I hadn’t heard that but wouldn’t be surprised if it were true. Brown has for years specifically targeted celebrities and their progeny. They also target rich, European jet-setters and royalty. While many Brown students don’t get to interact much with these campus stars (many don’t do much academically and were attracted by Brown’s lack of requirements), I guess its fun to tell your friends that you go to school with (fill in the blank). These people would never be attracted to Hopkins because there is no “free pass” way to get through Hopkins–even for top athletes.</p>
<p>Brown is classified as a R1 university (research intensive) but it is primarily focused on undergraduates. It has a few highly ranked departments (applied math, computer science, geology) but most of its graduate programs are not that highly regarded. Outside of the departments I mentioned, there is little cutting edge research going on. Of course, one can argue that top ranked graduate programs and research have little importance to undergraduates. That is a popular point of view but one I fundamentally disagree with.</p>
<p>Brown is also famous for its political correctness. If your political leanings are liberal or left-wing–you will be comfortable at Brown. But be aware that deviation from liberal orthodoxy is greatly frowned upon (in other words, it is not a very liberal place in the true sense of the word). Moderate and conservative students who do not get in line behind the liberal orthodoxy will be shunned and made to feel very unwelcome. Brown students likely will spend fours years without ever hearing a conservative speaker on campus, or learning about a conservative point of view in the classroom. </p>
<p>Hopkins, on the other hand, is a very different place. Its mission is not teaching undergraduates. Its mission is expanding human knowledge for the world. Undergraduates have a role in that mission because they are the future researchers and expanders of knowledge. Thus, their proper training is important–more important than ensuring that undergraduates are having a good time. Yes, enjoying your time as an undergraduate is important (and the university has devoted a lot of resources in recent years in improving the undergraduate experience) but it takes a back seat against producing a well qualified future researcher (regardless of whether that person eventually becomes a doctor, lawyer, professor, or entrepreneur). Thus, there is no question that academics and training are number one at JHU.</p>
<p>Hopkins is also much more politically balanced and tolerant than Brown. While most students and faculty lean liberal, there are some famous conservatives on the faculty (particularly at SAIS) and, for sure, all viewpoints will be heard and discussed. Because of this tolerance, some left-wing people consider Hopkins to be conservative. It’s not. </p>
<p>How does having a top graduate school and ton’s of funded research help undergraduates? First, graduate students are a lot closer to your age and thus can easier serve as mentors. Second, the opportunities to do research as an undergraduate–as an important part of your training–are immense. That’s not to say that opportunities like that don’t exist at Brown. They certainly do but not nearly to the same extent.</p>
<p>So, trying not to be judgmental --whats more important to you? Going to school with the stars? Or getting the best possible education?</p>