<p>Here's the official definition from US News' website:</p>
<p>Peer Assessment. How the school is regarded by administrators at peer institutions. A school's peer assessment score is determined by surveying the presidents, provosts, and deans of admissions (or equivalent positions) at institutions in the school's category. Each individual was asked to rate peer schools' undergraduate academic programs on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (distinguished). Those individuals who did not know enough about a school to evaluate it fairly were asked to mark "don't know." A school's score is the average score of all the respondents who rated it. Responses of "don't know" counted neither for nor against a school. The survey was conducted in the spring of 2004 and about 61 percent of those surveyed responded.</p>
<p>In my opinion, if the core curriculum looks horrible to you, then you should not go to Columbia. The core represents a lot of classes -- too many classes to take that you don't think you'd like. They're both great schools. You won't lose, going to Brown.</p>
<p>My friends at Brown love it because Brown is so specialized to a specific type of laid-back students. Columbia is more well-rounded and diverse, offering EVERYTHING (it's in NYC) for all types of people. If you want a specialized experience, Brown is better. Columbia gives a student a fuller college experience with opportunities at every corner,</p>
<p>CC students take two required core courses each semester of the first year: Lit Hum (both semesters), University Writing, and Frontiers of Science. They take one required core course sophomore year: Contemporary Civilization (both semesters). But, when you add up the rest of the required core classes, it amounts to about a third of your education, depending whether or not you have passed out of the language requirement.</p>
<p>Seriously, I'm a huge fan of both Columbia and the core, but it is not for everyone. Check it out on the website. It's described in detail and you can find the reading list as well. Talk to Columbia students about it. If it sounds horrible to you, then don't choose Columbia. Definitely don't choose it in spite of the core just because you think Columbia has some higher academic prestige. Brown's a great school with lots of great departments, and represents the opposite philosophy -- that students should choose their own curriculum.</p>
<p>I was thinking about choosing it in spite of the curriculum because of the fact it's in new york. which is really cool. and that the professors at columbia have been way nicer to me than the ones at brown. columbia sends me loads of emails, brown sends me 0. so I feel more loved by columbia. which probably isn't a good reason to choose a school either.... but columbia offered me a place on the rabi scholar problem which also sounds nice. and the deadline is approaching... oh dear</p>
<p>sorry another quick q. just wondering how many classes you take each semester? I assume it's (32/4)/3 which is... uh... not an even number. ok can someone help??</p>
<p>The Rabi program is a BIG honor. You get guaranteed research opportunities, special seminars, etc. You are right to take that seriously. Have you e-mailed any of the current Rabi scholars about their experiences?</p>
<p>One thing about science majors at Columbia. Because of the core, added to heavy duty science requirements, there is not that much chance to explore other departments. On the other hand, because many science students choose not to go to Columbia because of the core, some science departments have few undergrad majors and treat them really well. Physics, for example.</p>
<p>Most Columbia students take five a semester.</p>
<p>Son took six first semester, but one was P.E. and one was a music ensemble, so four "academic" classes. He's taking six this semester, including music ensemble, so five "academic" classes. 19.5 units. Working his tail off, but having fun, too.</p>
<p>You really should investigate the Rabi program. It's mentoring from Day 1. Many do not choose Columbia because they're afraid of getting lost, but you will not be lost as a Rabi Scholar.</p>
<p>Sorry to complicate things, but I didn't know about the Rabi scholarship earlier. But I still think you should look into the core. It really is a big part of the Columbia experience, and I know I would hate to do that much work in courses I didn't want to take in the first place. (Though, personally, I would have loved to take courses like LitHum and CC). I do know students who have loved Brown and been in the sciences -- they've gotten personal attention there, research opportunities, and mentoring.</p>
<p>I'm surprised that professors at Brown haven't come courting, given how impressive you must be to have won a Rabi.</p>
<p>So, I'm not trying to convince you one way or other, just provide info. BTW, my son made his final decision last year the day it was due, and said he still felt his stomach fluttering when he stood in line at the post office. The day before, we actually had a check made out to a different school, and tore it up.</p>
<p>I think you'd be crazy to turn down Rabi just because of a few required classes. If the Core is the only thing holding you back, I'd say go in spite of the Core. Rabi is a big deal as mentioned (something like 10 students per year that means admissions thought you were in the top <0.1% of applicants!). New York is of course great too!</p>
<p>I'd even try to persuade you that the Core isn't all that bad anyway it just tries to give you a well-rounded education so you won't spend all of your time in the sciences. If you're academically inclined enough to succeed at science, I think you could still enjoy the intellectual philosophical discourse that is what the Humanities classes are really all about.</p>
<p>Keep in mind also that the "Core is one third of your education" line also includes the requirement that you take science classes: you'll have those covered anyway.</p>
<p>The core gives all med students and science students an edge by making them more well-rounded individuals to talk to patients, etc. etc. instead of straight up unapproachable nerdish bookworms.
C</p>