Columbia or Brown?

<p>I'm posting this on both Brown and Columbia, and I know that they're completely different schools. </p>

<p>They seem to be totally opposite (considering their curriculums), but i seem to be stuck between the two. They're both amazing schools, and i was hoping to get feedback and what you guys think are some pro's and con's of both schools. </p>

<p>I'm completely undecided on my major, but i lean toward the humanities, rather than math and sciences. I LOVE the idea of an open curriculum since i have a lot of diverse interests and I want to test out different things. However, i can also see the benefits of a core curriculum, by giving me a good foundation for testing out new classes. I've also heard that the core is impossibly difficult though.</p>

<p>Also...what are your thoughts on applying ED to either of these schools? I've heard that applying ED (especially to columbia) increases your chance of getting in? does the same hold true for brown? (I know that isn't the POINT of ED haha. But still...) </p>

<p>Thanks so much for your time!!</p>

<p>Actually, I’ve heard that the CORE isn’t that bad if you put in the time and effort. A lot of people tend to put off everything till the last day since you know, its NYC and who wants to be stuck inside studying. </p>

<p>ED does improve your chances of getting into both schools dramatically, but only if you’re a highly qualified applicant. </p>

<p>There are a lot of threads about Columbia vs Brown so just scroll through and look for them and a lot of them have really good information.</p>

<p>I’ve also been debating but I’ve decided to apply ED to Columbia and if I don’t get it then RD to Brown :)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>These were the two schools I was debating between for transferring. It is weird that this always seems to happen, considering how different these schools really are. I feel better now that I am not alone. I had a professor who gave me a couple raised-eyebrow looks when I said that I was debating between them.</p>

<p>But I ultimately chose Columbia. The way I saw it, what I really wanted was the Core, and to be part of a multi-generational academic community. The class sizes were there, the readings were there, and the environment was there. I felt it was the more traditional sort of college education. </p>

<p>I suppose I ended up considering Brown as “temptation.” Everyone likes the idea of building their own study, but through my experience after one year of college elsewhere, sometimes it is better to engage in something more historical, and to sit back and listen - at least for a little while.</p>

<p>On a more superficial note, Brown has not been doing so hot lately, at least as compared to CU. But ultimately, it is you, of course, who needs to discover for yourself what it is you want from an education.</p>

<p>^this is well put, I think it captures a common thought process behind wanting to study at Columbia.</p>