<p>Because Brown’s grad school is smaller, students have incredibly easy access to professors and research and often work as colleagues with prof’s and grad students on projects. Finding paid researchships and work/study with professors is not a problem. This gives students an edge when applying into PhD programs, I know it did for my own who is going on to CS PdD this fall.</p>
<p>Further for OP’s benefit, Brown is almost an idyllic environment, set on college hill in a small and lively city. Easy access for the occasional trip to Boston or NYC. My daughter finds the colonial atmosphere homey and she prefered it to Chicago’s campus. </p>
<p>However Chicago does have an impressive gothic architecture, it seems in a more Urban atmosphere. The city is great, but the school is somewhat off the beaten path and the transportation into town, is a little problematic, in our experience. The students definetely had a bit of a grimmer countenance, where Brown is always voted “happiest students”, and a friend that goes there from a liberal city find it a bit hard to find friends. I think almost all classes are seminar style and very small.</p>
<p>Brown and Chi are known for the smart, well roundedness of it’s students and their intellectual focus. But they differ vastly in that Chi has a rigorous core that will give you broad exposure and Brown has an open ciriculum that puts you in charge and give you greatest flexibility. Of course I am a great booster of Brown because of my daughter’s own successful career there. And since most people only know their own school, if they were happy there, then that is likely the best place in their view.</p>
<p>I hope you get a chance to visit. But if not, you have great choices all around.</p>