Current Brown students taking questions!

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
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<p>I don’t know TOO much about the Biochem department as I only recently thought about doing Biochem over Chem. The Biochem requirements seem less stringent than Chem and frankly, more interesting.</p>

<p>Freshman fall you will definitely take either Chem 0100 or Chem 0330 depending on whether you took AP Chem/can pass a placement test. I didn’t take a straight up bio class last semester, but I am next semester.</p>

<p>Last semester I took: Chem 0330, a class on graphic novels, a biology first year seminar about the context of scientific thought/darwin, and an intro comp sci class.</p>

<p>With regards to work load, Chem 0330 is a lot of work primarily because of lab (which is only 20% of grade). I spent very little time on the lecture component of the course unless a test was coming up. I found most of the material to be a repeat of AP Chem.</p>

<p>Research opportunities are great. I just approached my FYS prof and asked if he had an opening. It was as simple as that.</p>

82

<p>Uroogla: What kind of classes are offered in the Computer Sciences program?
I’ve always been more humanities oriented (planning a concentration in Hispanic Studies, possibly Philosophy), but I’m really interested in learning some basic programming, among other computer science-y things. I have a rather weak mathematics background but a strong science background, so I’d either need to take some more advanced math classes or take computer science classes that don’t involve too much math.</p>

83

<p>I can answer as to the above (I’m also a CS-concentrator, and willing to take questions, though I haven’t yet said it explicitly on this thread).</p>

<p>CS offers a few intro courses:</p>

<p>CS15 - teaches you Object-Oriented Programming in Java. Is a VERY large class, and most people who want to learn “useful” (less theoretical) programming take CS15. It’s also a major course for people who just want to “shop” CS to see if they might like it.</p>

<p>CS16 - This is the complement to 15. It teaches functional programming and lots of theoretical CS-ey type things, using Python and Java. Most the people who transition into 16 are likely, at this point, to go further in CS.</p>

<p>CS17 - Intro course using functional progrmaming in Scheme and OCaML. You don’t need a programming background to succeed, but most the students have one (but few have one in functional languages). CS18 continues the sequence (teaching OOP), and this is generally considered to be the more CS-ey of routes.</p>

<p>CS2 - This is the intro course for people who don’t think they’ll do anything else, but want to be literate in CS. It’s taught by Donald Stanford, who has a background as an engineer and seems to know a ton about everything. A basic introduction (in Python and HTML) is given to actual programming, but it’s not likely to be any more in depth (in terms of actual coding) than an AP high school course. But the main focus of the course ISN’T on “programming” but rather analytical skills</p>

<p>CS4 - This is the intro class for engineers, and uses Matlab. It’s also a pretty large class, and I’d recommend 15 or 17 as a more interesting alternative.</p>

<p>CS931 - Introduction to Computation for the Humanities, this class is taught by multiple different professors, and studies computation (this does not mean the same thing as computers) with respect to such things as problems presented in the news and current research</p>

<p>CS195Q - Programming for the Humanities and Social Sciences, this class is taught by Shriram (who also does the advanced intro course, and is a very intelligent, but sometimes tough to get along with person), and requires permission to register for, and is seen as a continuation of 931</p>

<p>CS195P - Cybersecurity and International Relations, this is John Savage’s pet course. I’m not entirely sure how it’s structured and if any programming is involved, but yeah. Having taken CS51 with him, you’d definitely be advised to shop and make sure you can handle his teaching style before committing to this course.</p>

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<p>As to advanced CS courses: CS31 didn’t require much, if any, math background. And CS22 and CS51 are the two intro “math” type CS courses, and require a lot of proof-writing. After that, many of the advanced CS classes don’t require much of a math background, such as CS132 (creating modern web apps), and I don’t think CS166 (intro to computer security) does either.</p>

85

<p>chsowlflax17 gave a pretty thorough description of relevant courses. 22-51 are likely not that relevant to you, but a lot of students take 15 for a 1 term intro. I love 31 and I TAed it this past term, but it’s not necessarily what you’d be looking for either - you’d need 15-16 or 17-18 first, and it’s more of a course on how computers work internally.</p>

86

<p>Thanks so much, both of you! If I end up at Brown next year, I’m definitely going to try to sign up for a CS class first or second semester. It seems like there are some classes that would fit what I want to do perfectly.</p>

87

<p>bruno, </p>

<p>I’m a junior in high school, and I’m very passionate about becoming a doctor. I am also very interested in Brown’s PLME program. I wanted to know if you have any advice for the application process. Also, what other schools were you deciding between before you chose to attend Brown? Why did you choose Brown, and why do you think you got into PLME? Thanks!</p>

88

<p>Just a word of caution, whoazoe: CS 15 and 17 are offered only in the fall (you generally take 16/18 in the spring).</p>

89

<p>Adding my name to the list:</p>

<p>Here’s a list of students who are willing to answer questions here or by PM:
-Bruno14 (PLME, bio/music concentrator, class of '14)
-Uroogla (Classics [Greek and Latin] and Mathematics-Computer Science concentrator, class of '12)
-aleph0 ('12, Applied Math-Bio, Philosophy)
-burningham17 ('14, Biochem?, probably premed or research)
-Keynes ('14, Computer Science-Economics)
-AmbitiousMind07 (Class of 2013)
-blueroomjunkie ('14, Applied Math)</p>

90

<p>Is there really a niche for everyone, in terms of social life? And is the freshman year really designated for a kind of exploration year? Thanks!</p>

91

<p>This may have been asked already, but how is the neuroscience department? I’m thinking about majoring in cognitive neuro when I get there, but of course that is subject to change due to the curriculum. (:</p>

92

<p>@shyoo100:</p>

<p>The idea is that your entire time at Brown should be for exploration. Freshman year tends to be spent trying to find a concentration, but all of one’s time is spent taking courses one finds interesting. I will be essentially done concentration requirements at the end of this term, so I will be using senior year to take whatever I want. There are lots of different types of people at Brown, so you should find your niche(s). It’s harder for some than for others, but you should find people if you actually try to.</p>

<p>I can’t talk about the Neuroscience department, though…hopefully someone else can…</p>

93

<p>Not too much time, so just dashing this off but</p>

<p>Emukay: Neuroscience and Cognitive Neuroscience of course have a lot of overlap, but there are some differences between them. Between the two, Neuroscience is the more Bio-ish, and CogNeur is the more Psych/CogSci (and the concentration is under the CLPS department), so each has its own appeal. Either way, you have some pretty great opportunities and classes. example: Intro to Neuro is an extremely popular course for all sorts of people, because the professors who teach it are both well-known and just plain good. </p>

<p>I’m 99% going to be declaring as a CogNeuro concentrator this sem, so let me know if you have more questions.</p>

94

<p>Do you all go back home a lot during breaks?
I live really far from Rhode Island so I was just wondering how often those who are from states far away from Rhode Island, get to visit their family? </p>

<p>Also which dorms have you all lived in and what are your experiences there?</p>

95

<p>@tothetop I live in L.A. I went home for winter break (everyone does), but I did not go back for Thanksgiving or any of the long weekends. I could have gone home for Thanksgiving, but I did not want to spend the money for such a short time. Instead, I went to a friend’s house in Mass.</p>

<p>I’m in Keeney now, which is the largest Freshman dorm. I really like it here. It may be loud, but people are close and friendly. My friends in Pembroke insist Pembroke is better, but I disagree.</p>

96

<p>^^ All the dorms are pretty decent, unless you get Perkins, which has no redeeming value whatsoever, although there is supposedly some great camaraderie there</p>

97

<p>Eh, unless you lived in Perkins you can’t really talk. I enjoyed my time there, and the lounge was good with nice kitchens accessible on every floor.</p>

98

<p>Hey, I was just looking at courses and had some minor questions. </p>

<p>If you take Chem35, do you have to take chem 36? And Phys60 must follow Phys50? I get that they’re successions but just wasn’t sure if they’re required. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance :)</p>

99

<p>Also, looking at [Hispanic</a> Studies at Brown University: Placement Tests and Course Descriptions](<a href=“http://brown.edu/Departments/Hispanic_Studies/undergraduate/placement.html]Hispanic”>http://brown.edu/Departments/Hispanic_Studies/undergraduate/placement.html),
If you end up with a 5 in Spanish Literature AP, do you HAVE to take HISP 730, 740, 750 to get AP credit or can you take 500 or 600 to get credit for the AP as well? I don’t even know if I’m going to end up with a 5, but just planning for fun right now…and I’m actually not trying to take easier courses…I just prefer grammar over literature (but took Lit instead of Lang because of better teacher :slight_smile: ).</p>

100

<p>

You don’t have to ever take a follow-up class unless it’s a language, in which case we often require the full year.</p>

<p>However, Chem 35-36 and Phys5-6 are 1 year sequences and many concentrations will require you take the full sequence.</p>