<p>Most unfortunately, I will not be able to visit my beloved Brown. I have heard wonderful things about the laidback, egalitarian, and very fun nature of Brown. I was hoping if Brown students, or even others who visited, could comment on the amazingness of Brown. Maybe things like how the place looks/appears, attitude of students/faculty, what the food tastes like (I know, out of the blue, but important, no?), and if I’ll have time to play lots of Xbox while maintaining stellar grades. Or anything in general. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>College isn't about playing Xbox! It's about having intimate relations with many of your classmates!</p>
<p>Brown students tend to do a lot of things "for the experience." We can make an experience out of anything.</p>
<p>the "how many does it take to change a lightbulb" joke for Brown is </p>
<p>"1 to change and 10 to share the experience" or something like that</p>
<p>The buildings themselves (well, the academic buildings--dorms are very bland) look good, some look great, but they're pretty cramped on the campus. Most of the professors are great aside from a few odd intro classes. The students are just like students at any other Ivy League school I guess. The food, especially in the dining halls (the VW has about 5 different names for "soggy mixed vegetables), isn't that great. Amount of free times varies directly with what ECs you pursue and classes you take--students in easy classes always complain about having so much work, students in hard classes don't have time to complain. Unless you're the Rhodes Scholar gun-for-every-award-in-existence type, you'll have a decent amount of free time. The students don't really seem any more or less laid back than anywhere else, I think this is largely a byproduct of viewbook propaganda (which every school puts out its fair share of). Good grades aren't terribly hard to come by if you actually work (there are a surprising amount of simply lazy students [academically] here), we're probably the most grade inflated school in the country. </p>
<p>Anything else?</p>
<p>How do you guys deal with the bad food? I had lunch in a dining hall and no joke, I kept on taking more and more food, desperate to find something I wouldn't feel gross about eating entirely. It was all so bland and there wasn't much variety at all. </p>
<p>Have you attended SexPowerGod?</p>
<p>Is there that "The best part of the school is the students!!!!" kind of feeling?</p>
<p>I think the following convo that I heard yelled across the other day perfectly sums up Brown:</p>
<p>Guy: "You wanna get stoned with us later?"
Girl: "I'll see how much reading I get done and let you know."</p>
<p>Of course, stoned can be replaced with whatever fun you like to have - whatever it is, you'll find it here. And I'd disagree with elpope, I think there is something very different about our student body and the attitude that permeates it, and that's what I love about Brown. Maybe I'll come back and expand more on that thought when I am not desperately in need of sleep :-)</p>
<p>mgcsinc:</p>
<p>i'd love to hear you expand on that, once you've caught up on sleep :)</p>
<p>Hey elpope..i'm one of those lazy students.
got a psych exam on tuesday (PY21)</p>
<p>My students who have visited Brown say it is a beautiful, though compact campus located in a town-like section of Providence (i.e., small houses, restaurants, shops). </p>
<p>Courses seem rigorous, student body diverse, friendly and helpful. As are the professors. Many visiting students have been welcomed into their classrooms.
The open curriculum encourages intellectual exploration without sacrificing rigo. Students do not tend to abuse the pass/fail option offered - it provides a safe way to explore a course you may be interested in, though not gifted in.</p>
<p>Students are reported to work hard, yet they know how to have a good time too. Students who have visited the campus have remarked that the students do not seem as "stuck up" or "snooty" compared with others at well known institutions. They are reputed to be a remarkably friendly bunch of folks.</p>
<p>My experience is much more like MGs. Wouldn't it be interesting if I could see partial IPs on here like on the Jolt...</p>
<p>lol, is it my partial IP that you want to see?</p>
<p>Yes, but as I thought of that, I realized that I'd like to know where some of these kids are coming from when they ask questions.</p>
<p>Btw, it's just because you sound like someone I could get along with. One of the more normal people I've come across on the interweb.</p>
<p>I went to Brown's overnight program, and never being to the east coast before it was one heck of an experience.
But I need sleep and I won't go into a long narrative about how it went, but basically:</p>
<p>Brown is pretty awesome. It seems really relaxed, students are walking around laughing, chatting, just chilling. I saw students check their facebooks during class. But one thing I found amazing about it was just the people you meet there. They all seem genuinely kind/decent/good hearted people that like the school as much as you do.</p>
<p>So, if you're a chill person and like a small town that is right next to a decent sized city, and if you actually like interacting with people...then Brown should be a pretty good fit for you.</p>
<p>My suite collectively attends approximately 40% of it's classes (6 guys). You'll find all different types here. Those who wake up at 6 am and get right to it, those who sleep until 3pm and work late into the night, those who take very simple courses and squeak through doing almost nothing. Some of us write every word the professor says, some of us surf the internet through class.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, that is just what I wanted to hear. I probably won't get into Brown, but at least I know how cool it is!</p>
<p>I've attended two schools (Tulane and Brown), and so I can definitely say with a note of comparison to other school(s) that Brown students take their work very seriously -- but in a laid back way. Like Jason (ModestMelody) said, some people go to class all the time, some don't. But bottom line is that everyone really cares about their school work and learning (even Jason!)</p>
<p>They also really care about fun. Brown is a fun place to go to school. It's not as exciting is Tulane (but honestly, I don't think there is a school out there that is). There isn't much school spirit. People don't flock to football games. But they are socially conscious and do flock to speakers on campus and that kind of thing. </p>
<p>There's a small greek scene that make up some of the parties on campus. But they are more like clubs than actual frats and sorrorities. There are also a lot of house parties off campus, or dorm parties. But a lot of that depends on where you live and who you live with. Luck of the draw, in a lot of ways (my dorm is not very exciting party-wise)</p>
<p>The professors are great -- granted some are better than others, like at any school. But most will really bend over backwards to help you out. You will run into large classes, and you will have TA's sometimes. But that's not always a bad thing. My favorite teacher this semester was a TA!</p>
<p>One thing that I love about Brown is the course selection. There are just so many cool courses to take!!! Some of them are hard if not impossible to get into, at least as a lower classman, but the thing is, if you don't get into one class, there are a dozen more great ones to choose from. And that is what really makes up an educational experience if you ask me. </p>
<p>Another great thing about brown is the advising system. Each advisor only has about a dozen students, so they know you very well and it's very personal. My advisor happens to be my rugby coach as well, and is a great resource. </p>
<p>There are also a lot of Deans (there's a dean for everything!) that can help you. The one thing is, though, is that you have to seek out the help. No one will come running to you. It's definitely there, but you do have to go get it. There isn't much handholding here unless you make the first step. </p>
<p>The students here are incredible. They are friendly, and fun, and brilliant. Be prepared to face a crisis of confidence -- you will no longer be the smartest kid in the room, which is actually really a blessing. People here are also very passionate, either about their studies, or some cause, or sport or something else wacky.</p>
<p>There are some downsides. The food, though better than Tulane, needs a lot of improvement. I wish the social life was a little more active (but I'm used to New Orleans, so what do I know...), and the campus can kind of give you a "bubble" feeling, since most people don't stray far from campus very often. </p>
<p>All in all, Brown is a really great school and I can't think of one person who doesn't like it. There is a niche for everybody and its not cliquey. </p>
<p>The only things that I would say would make you a bad fit for brown are if you are rabidly conservative AND hate liberals, are homophobic, like school and ONLY school (that is to say, you don't like to have fun and be laid back too), or like to be around snobby people (because you won't find many at Brown). Other than that it's a really great school for just about everybody. You won't be dissapointed. And yes, you'll have time to play xbox. </p>
<p>Oh, and play rugby!!</p>
<p>I found theu.com incredibly helpful. They have videos about the school, academics, admessions, the scene, the crowd, the shelter, the food, the setting, and I think that's it. But they have these video for most major schools, including Brown. You should watch =]</p>
<p>theu.com seems helpful but really it just perpetuates a bunch of silly stereotypes about each school. it's a money making scheme more than anything else</p>
<p>Yeah, it's a little helpful, but it perpetuates too many stereotypes. You might as well watch the O.C.</p>