<p>However, in terms of competitiveness: the only programs I’ve seen much competitiveness in are econ and maybe pre-med courses. And even there, students study together. Most professors don’t grade on a strict curve, and I know many grade in “clumps” (i.e. grades often don’t fall on a strict bell-curve but rather in bumps, and so the top bump or two get an A, the next on or two B, and then people who fall below that, who got what was required out of the course, C, and everyone else NC). This means students are motivated to help others (because it helps them at the same time).</p>
<p>People that have late sleep schedules almost universally work late. But generally speaking, there’s enough time to do what you want and get your homework done. In some programs (like CS or Physics), there’s almost no studying at all (because it’s mostly projects and ideas). That being said, we (or maybe just I) tend to measure workloads in hours, and I think it’s typical for a student to have more than a 30 hr/week homework/reading/studying load. And I know a few whose typical weeks are 50-60 hours of schoolwork. But because this is Brown, choosing to work that much is entirely up to you and which classes you choose.</p>
<p>Byxvera: I don’t entirely understand some of your questions, but I’ll try to answer.</p>
<p>Competitiveness: I feel that Brown students as a whole are less competitive than many students at other equal top schools in the US. There is much less cutthroat behavior than you’d see other places, especially within the pre-med sector.</p>
<p>Study late: some students stay up studying all night, some of us need our sleep and go to bed at midnight. It’s all about your personal study habits and how you work best.</p>
<p>Students who are offered a “free space” (I’m assuming you mean full financial aid) work just as hard at Brown as anyone else. We’re all at Brown because we are self-motivated and hardworking, and because we deserve to be here. I can’t think of many people who would lose motivation by being offered financial aid by such a prestigious school.</p>
<p>The atomosphere at brown is very relaxed in that you will never feel like other students are out to get you or that students won’t help other students for fear of ruining the curve.</p>
<p>There are definitely students who stay up late studying although most of that is either starting work late in the day or cramming for upcoming tests/papers.</p>
<p>I have no idea what your third question means.</p>
<p>Byxvera, I know you have some answers but I wanted to give the bit that I know of.</p>
<p>Brown has a very cooperative culture among students and faculty. Often departments are physically set up to facilitate access between complementary groups and there are many interdisciplinary programs and initiatives at Brown, such as the Brain Research Institute which brings together biologists, cognitive scientists, physicists, and a half dozen more departments. And if you examine degree programs offered say just in Computer Science you can choose:</p>
<p>I’m trying to say that the cooperative culture is integrated into the university structure.</p>
<p>People at Brown often study late-it’s up to you and your schedule. I know my daughter studied into 2 to 4 am regularly and still keeps that habit. Some is just preference and some is from workload. You learn to fine tune your workload to your preferences after your first year.</p>
<p>On your last question, do you really mean to ask if students who get financial aid are less motivated? Especially if they get full aid? One wonders why you wouldn’t that about wealthy students with parents that easily pay full tuition without a second thought? (please explain)</p>
<p>Sudents who get full aid came from backgrounds that may have contained difficulties, certainly family financial difficulties as those are the only people who get a ‘free place’. To get admitted to such a selective college as Brown meant that they are high achievers and highly motivated–they are already used to pushing and challenging themselves. Just like the majority of students at Brown. My daughter was a Sydney Frank Scholar which means she got a ‘free place’ with a special scholarship and she was thrilled and grateful to be able to attend Brown. She took a challenging load, did several years of research, and is in a PhD track program now. She is not unusual but quite typical of the students I met during my visits.</p>
<p>I couple of years ago I went to a Brown reception where a speaker was a young woman from South-Central Los Angeles. She received a ‘free place’ too. She was an advanced student in the PLME program. She was a high achiever despite never having met anyone who had ever attended college, except her school teachers. This girl was able to find inner motivation and achievement and was representing Brown at fund raising events with the President Ruth.</p>
<p>My experience with philosophy as a department is comprised entirely of Felicia Nimue (search Felicia Ackerman). She’s the record-holder for most letters to the editor published in the New York Times. But I feel like she’s also an outlier. The class discussions are great, if often very strange.</p>
<p>Please, please tell me if there’s a campus day! I can’t find one right now! If there is, can you please tell me what happens? Please…I’m a bit ecstatic right now to be honest…!!!</p>
<p>^ there’s one in a week, called ADOCH. you can find the information on Brown’s Bruin club page (Google “Brown University Bruin Club”). CONGRATS! :D</p>
<p>It would be wonderful if I even got into Brown, but supposing that happens, what would I get for financial aid? My parents make about $60,000 dollars a year, and my sister will be entering college two years after me.</p>
<p>Is it possible to double major in Brown College and School of Engineering?</p>
<p>Also anyone who has experience with the physics department, how strong is it? I want to major in physics but I want to know if it has a good reputation.</p>
<p>It is possible, though difficult due to the fact that Engineering concentrations have a ton of courses in them. There isn’t any real distinction or separation between the School of Engineering and everything else other than the name, so it’s essentially just another department as far as everything you’re concerned with goes.</p>
<p>Can’t really answer your physics question with any first hand experience or detail, though I have a few friends who are doing physics that seem to like it. Someone else probably has more to say.</p>
<p>@misubo It’s difficult to say, since Brown uses a lot more info in their calculations. Barring substantial equity or savings (or some other unusual circumstances), it seems you’d get a good amount of financial aid, and you would certainly have no loans.</p>
<p>JAupiais: as neither a philosophy nor MCM concentrator (though I’ve taken classes in both) i’d say:</p>
<p>the philosophy department is pretty good, maybe a bit above average with quite notable or otherwise likeable professors. I think most philosophy concentrators tend to do combine with another major, however… so it seems it’s pretty reputable with some great courses though i wouldn’t say it’s particularly spectacularly unique to Brown.</p>
<p>MCM is seen as sort of a joke (to non-concentrators), yes, but there’s no denying that some of its classes are really interesting and ask you to analyze some broader subjects. People who do it tend to love it, others kind of see it as a cop-out or joke major… but that’s for you to decide on your own i suppose. i’m pretty ambivalent about it; i do tend to joke about its lax, fun, sometimes seemingly irrelevant nature but also think it covers some pretty cool subjects and fun things to think about.</p>
<p>Can anyone tell me a little bit about engineering at Brown? I’ve never heard Brown described as a “top engineering school,” but I really love the Brown campus and student body, etc. But would an engineering degree from Brown get me very far?</p>
<p>Hi!
Accepted last week! Interested in music and math. When I visited I learned lots about phys sci and math, but little about the music program. Any advice?</p>