<p>I have a D who is very interested in Brown, but has not yet visited. She has been raised in a fairly conservative (but not religious) community. Do you think she would feel comfortable at Brown? I keep thinking of the episodes of “The OC” where Summer Roberts seemed so out of place there. Any thoughts are appreciated.</p>
<p>Well, it is true that Brown is considered one of the most liberal schools in the country, and definitely the most liberal of the Ivies. However, like at every school, there is diversity, and there will be some, although not many, people that are conservative. Shocker, I know. If she needs an atmosphere that is conservative, look elsewhere. You have to look hard for them. But don't let that be a reason to keep you away. Open curriculum is incredible. Tripple majors have never been easier. (Although still challenging, don't get me wrong). But hey, this person may not even have the option of attending Brown, so apply first, then think about this. That is of course unless she is to do ED, which in this case I strongly advise against.</p>
<p>Thanks, mooseman. I don't think she "needs" a conservative environment, its just that she has been raised in one. I would say that she is pretty open-minded: one of her friends is a gay male, for example; she loves dancing to rap music, she wears trendy clothes, and I'm fairly certain she has had a drink or two at high school parties. Everything I read about Brown is how happy everyone is to be there. My worry is that she has a certain somewhat traditional expectation of "the college experience," and I wonder if she will find it there. We are on the West Coast, which is why she has not visited yet, but we hope to get her out there this fall.</p>
<p>I think unless she's a conservative activist, she won't even really care about the "liberal" atmosphere. I really don't think we're as left leaning as people claim we are (I mean, yes, some people are, but they're easy to avoid). There are people for everyone here. I think a visit will help solidify things for her, but she also has to keep in mind that she will only meet a small, small portion of the student body, and regardless of whether she likes it or not, she's going to have to take things with a grain of salt (and that applies to all visits)</p>
<p>there's definitely plenty of space for a conservative person to grow and thrive at brown</p>
<p>some of the most prominent polititians that graduated from brown are conservatives. moreover, they credit brown for both challenging them and helping solidify their views
U</a>. grads in politics shake liberal stereotype - Campus News</p>
<p>also, here is a recent new york times article on the growing conspicious presence of religious conservatives at brown
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/22/national/class/EVANGELICALS-FINAL.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=christian%20%22brown%20university%22&st=cse&oref=slogin%5B/url%5D">http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/22/national/class/EVANGELICALS-FINAL.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=christian%20%22brown%20university%22&st=cse&oref=slogin</a></p>
<p>other conservative voices on campus include
The</a> Brown University Spectator</p>
<p>That New York Times article was such an amazing and inspiring story. I am a very conservative and evangelical Christian and I was contemplating going to Brown, but I had decided not to because of all the liberalism (not that liberals are bad as many of my friends are). But I may change my mind. It just seems like in higher education there is a sense that somehow faith and traditional values are wrong.
For example I was doing the application for admission to an honors program at University of Texas and one of the essays was to write about a belief that we stopped having based on rational thought, and to not only write about it but to write the steps of rational thought as well. It was really offensive.</p>
<p>Dbate, to me the feeling I get regarding faith and traditional values in a liberal environment is that it's ok for you to have them, just don't try to force them onto others or judge them because they have a different belief system than you do.</p>
<p>Why is it offensive that they asked you to explain how rational thought has led to the downfall of A belief, not ALL beliefs? I think, quite frankly, some things that religion use to have people believe are clrearly just not true. I mean I guess you might still believe that the sun is actually Helios and his fiery chariot, or that tropical storm Fay is actually Poseidon upset that the 100m bronze medalist from FSU didn't sacrifice a hekatomb to him after he got the medal. But something tells me that you don't think those things.</p>
<p>I'm from rural Kansas which about as conservative as any place in the nation. You won't have problem here being from a conservative place. One of the biggest changes for me was how things are so close together around here, it makes me a little claustrophobic whenever I come back from home. But it is college, like any other college minus Bob Jones, and we have our vices.</p>
<p>You just need to be very open minded no matter where you're from. The more radical people on campus do some silly things you'd never see in a more conservative place like the pie throwing or "awareness" demonstrations (which I think are a little silly like some others).</p>
<p>I had totally forgotten about the pie throwing thing; that was an absolute disgrace. I was ashamed to be a Brown student that day.</p>
<p>I have a policy that I tell ppl once (emphasize on tell them and just explain CHRIST and Christianity) and if they don't want it then I tell them about it anymore.
Oh I dont believe in Greek gods so of course i wouldn't believe those things. As far as the UT thing, it was the connotation of the words. It was a paragraph that basically said give an example where you gave up belief for reason and it just gave the connotation that faith was wrong, it did not help that it was for the Science Honor program.</p>
<p>Wolfman, I have not visited Brown, but when i was in San Fransico the houses were literally right next to each other. Is it just different styles of design in other parts of the country (I come from Texas so there is plenty of space). I realize the earthquake thing in Cali, but what is with places with Row houses and stuff. Is there that much population density?</p>
<p>Well population density for all of Providence is around 9000+/sq mile compared to the roughly 2000 in the cities back home. San Fran is listed at 16,000/sq mi so a bit higher. College Hill is one of the most crowded places in the city though. Most houses don't have front yards and just have small backyards. Front doors exit directly onto the sidewalk.</p>
<p>Wow, that is so different than here in Texas. 9000 ppl per square mile. Why do they not just live in condos and apartments like Manhattan than building tiny houses right next to each other?</p>
<p>This isn't the whole answer obviously but New England is an old part of the country. I mean, the First Baptist Church down the street is really the FIRST Baptist Church. The houses up here are pretty old as well.</p>
<p>Dbate: There is no room. Texas has a ton of space. Rhode Island, along with any other part of southern New England (RI, MA, CT, Southern NH) is extremely crowded and dense. There simply is no room to spread out, build apartment complexes, or have backyards. Not to mention, New Englanders are generally business-first people. Not to make an overwhelming generalization, but unlike the South's stereotypical laid-back lifestyle, Northerners are all about getting things done and working before relaxing. Because of this, many people don't find any time to relax, thus eliminating a need for a backyard or excessive space. We aren't even able to enjoy a backyard for 3/4 of the year because in the fall we are raking it, the winter we are shoveling it, and the spring we are cleaning it. It's more of a hassle then a luxury. Crowded houses w/o backyards are the way to go.</p>
<p>Man it's great to me a Ma**hole.</p>
<p>I have a question relating to this thread. I am a very conservative person (socially and to a lesser sense economically as well) I really want to be active in College Republicans where I go to school. From all the posts on this forum it seems that at Brown I would experience overt hostility toward me bc of my viewpoints (i am not the shut and keep things to myself type), Brown has the program I am interested in and so I would like to go, but would I really be ostracized? I mean most ppl (including myself) do not treat ppl differently bc of thier political viewpoints, but do ppl at Brown? In essence, would i be treated poorly or constantly be in an environment with a tangible sense that my opinions are wrong at Brown?</p>
<p>"Northerners are all about getting things done and working before relaxing. Because of this, many people don't find any time to relax, thus eliminating a need for a backyard or excessive space. We aren't even able to enjoy a backyard for 3/4 of the year because in the fall we are raking it, the winter we are shoveling it, and the spring we are cleaning it."</p>
<p>I'm not buying that at all. Neither one of those arguments holds much water. You don't think people have to take care of their yards anywhere they live?</p>
<p>Dbate-- you will find a broad cross-section of people most places. Colleges usually have a diverse population, in many senses of the word, and from what I have heard over the past years, both as a teacher with students who went to Brown and as a parent of a current Brown student, Brown is diverse. True, our family is probably more liberal than you are, which is fine, and D's friends are pretty liberal, but a 2008 graduate of the school where I teach is going to Brown as a freshman, and she is, probably, somewhat more conservative than we are. There are very religious people, of all faiths, there are republicans, democrats, independents, etc; all of this you know. I would guess that in the current political climate and time of year, that the campus will get quite heated in the coming months, before the election. Brown students WILL be involved. They WILL be vocal, and there WILL be many points of view. </p>
<p>Your challenge will be to learn how flexible you can be, wherever you may find yourself. Worry less about how others will treat you, and more about how you will respond to your environment. The world depends on all of us being tolerant and accepting of others' p.o.v. But certainly not everyone is open-minded, and we all are susceptible. You have posted many times about your worries about being accepted at Brown. Have you visited? You can get a good feeling by being on the campus. But there are many great schools that have traditional, conservative populations, and you should check those out too. You say you know what you want to study; you can find good programs at places where you will be comfortable.</p>
<p>I guess it comes down to either accepting who you are, accepting the people around you, and not really worrying about those who might disagree with you, because that's life. Or, staying within your comfort zone, not pushing any envelopes, and moving on from there. Either way is fine. It's just the way it is.</p>
<p>
[quote]
My worry is that she has a certain somewhat traditional expectation of "the college experience," and I wonder if she will find it there
[/quote]
hmm ... I find that nugget interesting. I would think someone who is conservative would be fine at Brown but in a pretty small minority while there are other elite schools (Penn, Georgetown) which might have a higher concentration of conservative students. I'd like to go back to the statement in the quotes ... what is your daughter expectation of a traditional college experience? No right or wrong answer here ... if it is everyone headed to the football game on Saturday and lots of frat and sorority activitity that makes perfect sence ... but Brown may not be a great match ... there are other excellent schools that social lives fit more of the "traditional" mode (depending on how you define it).</p>
<p>Thanks franglish, that is really good advice. I am in Texas and the schools I am applying as too far apart to visit them all, so I was planning on waiting to be accepred and then visit, to try to figure it out. I keep coming on here to get a feel for Brown. Ultimately I guess if I get into Brown, I will just have to wiegh it. My other colleges are those that are fairly conservative (in context):Yale, Penn, Duke, University of Texas. But I am just trying to find the right place. Wanted to apply to Georgetown but their endowment is low and I need financial aid.</p>