So I recently received a cool email about current events and research opportunities within the BioMed/Bio dept. at Brown even though I’m still an applicant…is this a good sign that I was/will be admitted?? Or am I just in over my head? I applied as a Bio major btw.
I will absolutely go to Brown if I got in…I love it so much.
Hard to tell - but it’s definitely not a bad sign. You will know on Thursday
How do you know it was meant for current students? Maybe they were just sending people in their high school email list this to attract them to Brown (the heads of admissions are not the same people as advertisers at universities)
@theofrelord The email began with “Dear Bio students” the proceeded to list a bunch of professors and their projects, looking for students.
I would not read anything into this but good luck.
Two years ago, I read in one of the Brown brochures that an entering student took the initiative to contact professors in her intended field of study and let them know that she thought their current research projects (which she had researched) were interesting and she would love to work with them once she matriculated. Four years or so later she had established a solid research history with professors in her department, having been taken on from day one.
Her initiative was well-received.
Seems something dropped in your lap which may prove to be a boon to you if you are smart about reaching out.
Good luck to you.
Update: was just rejected, so the email meant absolutely nothing. Guess it was truly just from a mailing list.
I hope other decisions have gone your way, @mg29409.
Thank you so much, @Waiting2exhale. You especially have been a great help, your suggestion was genius. I actually emailed the professor in the email saying I would be happy to do research with him, but he never replied.
I’m thankful I have 3 other schools to choose from. I have Boston College, BU, and Holy Cross. I’m assuming you have great experience–so where do you think I should go??
Thank you again.
I have lots of experience, @mg29409, but not all of it great. 
I only know cursory things about the schools you have spoken of, and most of it has to do with locale, moreso than academics.
Boston College is a fine school, and outside of the main throng of Boston proper, and is, I believe, located on lovely grounds. The students there were said to me to be a little more privileged than those at BU, and the atmosphere in the classroom reflects that. The students I know who have been accepted to one quite often have NOT been accepted to the other, though, so there must be something particularly eye-catching about your application that made what you offer appealing to both institutions.
I know that Boston University is part of the reason that Boston is research-strong, and that you would be studying among professors and students who have a long range vision, determination and a recognized capacity to do rigorous work.
Holy Cross is a well-respected institution which is also placed in a smaller city in Central Mass within its own little regional hub of other colleges, and has an excellent reputation for educating its students. Students at Holy Cross love their school. The locale of Worcester is one that is distinctly more older factory town feel than major city, but people seem to love it and not leave it.
Do you know what type of location you wish to be in? Considering the schools you’ve mentioned, including Brown, I take it you are from the general area and fell in love with the quaint charm of both the town of Providence as well as the formidable reputation of the lovely school on a hill.
What made you place these schools on your list?
I think you have some great options, and as for most of you at this time, you will have to do the hardest part of this whole thing, and narrow it down to one.
@Waiting2exhale Wow. This is great advice.
Personally, when considering a school, I place academics at a higher criteria for consideration versus location. BU’s location would tire me out a bit, seeing that it’s smack-dab in the city and the campus is gargantuan. And yes, absolutely, that’s why I picked Brown–quaint, small University with a great reputation, like you said. Brown is not very far from me.
I put the last 3 schools on my list purely from an academic standpoint, to be honest. I visited all of them and I loved the feel of the campus (moreso BC and Holy Cross, though.) However, I’ve heard that BU has grade deflation, which worries me a bit. But, at the same time, it has its own medical school which negates the cons.
I don’t know, its all just very overwhelming at this point. All of them are great schools. I am going to all of their open houses to get a final feel for the schools, and that will hopefully make my decision a bit easier.
Going to PM a list I recently found which I think can be helpful in determining if the college or university will meet some very specific needs you may have as a student with a long range goal. It may aid you in pinning down some hard yeahs or nays as you are at your various open houses.