Brown vs. Columbia?

<p>Since 9th grade I've seen Brown as my dream school, but now I've been accepted to Columbia too. I'm pretty much the most laid back person ever, and that gives me the idea that Brown would be a great fit for me. At the same time, I find cities fascinating, and Columbia seems great in that regard. However, one thing concerns me about Columbia. I've heard that it's much harder to meet new people, since people often go out into the city to explore. Having to actively search for friends is sort of intimidating, while I've heard others say they just made friends effortlessly at other colleges. I've also heard it's stressful to live in the city, but NYC > Providence any day. While I'm not entirely liberal in political thought, I'd have to deal with liberal ideology at both places, and am entirely open to others beliefs, so long as they do not militantly pursue mine. I'm interested in pre-med, and I've heard Columbia has an edge in pre-professional advising. I'm probably going to visit both schools, I just can't make this decision without seeing Brown again, and Columbia for the first time. </p>

<p>So, does anyone have any suggestions? I know I'll be getting a similar caliber education at both places, so I'm mainly looking at schools in terms of their social atmosphere. I know there's another topic similar to this on Columbia's forum, but it doesn't answer my question. Thanks for any advice!</p>

<p>bump. I could really use some advice…</p>

<p>Really hard decision (congrats on such amazing acceptances), but it seems to me that Brown is a better fit for you and you’re just having trouble turning down some statistical info about Columbia (great school, good location, etc). Think about Columbia’s intensive core curriculum and if you’d feel comfortable with that, especially if Brown was your dream school, And Brown will definitely have more of a social scene on campus. But I agree that you should visit before you make your decisions. You honestly can’t go wrong–Columbia is an incredibly kick ass school, as is Brown.</p>

<p>But on a second note…you seem to have done more thinking about Columbia, and your only comments on Brown were that it was your dream school and you’re laidback. Really research the nuances of each school so you can imagine your life there. You seem to be skimming the surface of both schools.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice, I get that feeling a little too. It’s just hard to pick a 16th ranked school over a 8th ranked school, even when the rankings are mostly meaningless. I’m interested by the Core, and I know I wouldn’t mind it (I’m better at science but I definitely enjoy humanities just as much). As much as I’d love to do all sorts of research, I’m pretty sure it’s all going to come down to the visit. I vaguely know one actual Columbia student, and no Brown students. Without firsthand accounts, it’s hard to get a good idea of the campus vibe. I guess my best bet is to try and ask questions on their separate forums and get some actual students.</p>

<p>I say Columbia. I think you’re too mesmerized by your early infatuation with Brown. It’s not hard to meet people in Columbia AT ALL, so I think your fears don’t have much root. I’ve grown up around NYC and even lived there for a brief period, and films/TV shows over-exaggerate the strenuousness of living in NYC. However, it is not. Also, there are many different museums and culture events to help you unwind if youre feeling particularly stressed. Rankings are very important, but both are great options.</p>

<p>Don’t even look at rankings, they’re ridiculous. And if prestige is your worry…Brown and Columbia are both Ivy League, both extremely well regarded. It’s not like you’re choosing between Ivy League and a LAC or a state school, where a worry about “prestige” would be more understandable, though not necessarily valid or important. Let the schools speak for themselves, not arbitrary ratings, especially in this case when both are incredibly well-regarded.</p>

<p>Consider the impact the core versus the open curriculum will have on your experience. While I understand the appeal of both (I plan on applying to both schools next year) because of the intentionality any interesting curriculum, now that you’ve been accepted, you really need to consider the differences between the two. Which philosophy clicks with you–one that emphasizes underlying connections/foundations necessary for the study of all disciplines, or one that encourages exploration unfettered by prescribed courses?</p>

<p>Yes you really should look at some of the threads on core curriculum vs. open curriculum. These schools are quite different from what I hear. More laid back types may drift a bit in an open curriculum situation.</p>

<p>you’ll probably get a gut feeling when you visit both</p>

<p>from my own personal experience, going to brown was the best decision i ever made. i currently advise undergrads at harvard and mit and (no offense to those schools), the experience has only reinforced my belief that brown is an amazing place. they truly respect undergrads as adults, give them complete academic autonomy instead of dictating a western cannon or telling them what’s best. the students at brown continue to be some of the nicest, most passionate and interesting i have ever met. obviously, i love brown. when i made my decision over where to college, it ultimately came down to a strong gut feeling.</p>