<p>Brown has some really nice athletic facilities-- though I was FAR from a varsity athlete, I swam, I played squash, I ran on the indoor track, etc. There are plenty of outlets for athletic participation and enjoyment if you don't have a deep seated need to compete against other colleges.</p>
<p>I believe the open curriculum is another big plus at Brown. </p>
<p>Some on this forum favor a core curriculum, but remember-- if a Brown student <em>wants</em> to take a core-style curriculum, he still can! In fact, it turns out that 90% of Brown grads have taken a wide distribution of courses, that would satisfy the typical distribution requirements of other schools, by the time they graduate. </p>
<p>However, if your interests are ecclectic, or if you are searching for your passion (or if you've already found your passion!) Brown offers incredible flexibility. You can devise your own major. You can double or triple major. You can double major in two humanities while completing pre-med requirements. It is very liberating and it helps make for the relaxed attitude on campus... because nobody is stressing about not getting in to a given class they "need."</p>
<p>Fireflyscout, as always, I value your counsel! And I don't know what it is about those older girl/younger brother things. I think my D has practiced for motherhood on my son, and I am a lot more laisez faire than she is. Of course I am a middle child! Mercifully, though, they really do love eachother and have a great relationship. He has held his own amazingly well over the years considering the nearly five-year age difference. And if for some reason he does choose to go to Swat, I think he can't really lose! My D's fiance has two siblings who went there before he did. Talk about a lot of Swatties in one room!</p>
<p>SBMom you make Brown sound mighty attractive. Mind sharing in what way you felt it was life-changing? Sounds like a fascinating story, if you wish to tell. </p>
<p>My son has a LOT of self-discipline, even though he does like to play hard, too, and I think the lack of a core curriculum would not deter him at all in finding a great education. I suspect he would do careful research on most all the classes he thought sounded good, and come out in excellent shape. In his "Why Brown" essay the main thing that came through was his eclectic interests and the fact that he wanted to pursue studies in many areas. He was very impressed by the two classes he sat in on, especially an upper-level music theory class, and had a great chat with the orchestra conductor. Everyone went out of their way to be welcoming. In retrospect, I think it was fortunate that he was there the day before ADOCH; I think he may have gotten a better inside view of the school.</p>
<p>Bluebayou, is there really no public transpo into LA from Claremont? That might be more frustrating than anything, not to be able to get to stuff you knew was so near!</p>
<p>No insight. No advice. But gosh I had a good laugh at your title for this thread "Help me read kid's mind." We CC parents are good, but not that good. If we could figure that one out, we would all be rich and famous. LOL! :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, I do not get the impression that Swat is laid back.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I could be wrong, but everything I know about Swarthmore is that it is extremely "laid back". Seems odd given that the kids work pretty hard, but the vibe is mellow. It's actually one of the consistent characteristics I've seen: admin, students, alum, parents.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Talk about a lot of Swatties in one room!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Wow. I'd be worried about spontaneous combustion! Got help 'em if somebody starts a discussion on existensialism or something.</p>
<p>Seriously though, I think big sis having an apartment in the city nearby would be a very cool thing. Easy Saturday night away from the Ivory Tower. Sit around and tell war stories about the parental units!</p>
<p>we're discussing SoCal, home of more autos than there are people. So, the 'public' transport to the Big City is rush hour, commuter only. sorry, it would not work for social events such as theater, concerts and the like. Would need a car for those.</p>
<p>Interesteddad, if I had 2-3 kids, I wouldn't want all of them going to the same college because big sis went there. No complaints against Swarthmore, I am SOO very glad my son is going there.</p>
<p>I know Brown personally and have done alum interviews for them. I know Swat only by reputation CC and elsewhere. My gut response to your description of your S is that Brown would be the better choice for him. You can find alcohol 24/7 at Brown but there are plenty of other options and a wide range of social types there. Providence is in recent years a vastly improved smallish city but Boston is less than an hour away by easy to access Amtrak.</p>
<p>How did Brown change my life? Here's the short answer-- on the way to play tennis by 8 am:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>After having been somewhat unusual in my HS I was able to have the experience of being very "normal" in college, which was a liberation.</p></li>
<li><p>The open curriculum meant every choice, every class, was my personal decision. I thus felt very connected to my classes, and my peers felt the same way. This created a very exciting learning enviornment, and the fredom of choice prepared me for adult decision-making. It also resulted in a very high standard for how I want to spend my time in life: I became accustomed to passionate about what I was doing, and I grew comfortable with the "search" aspect of crafting my own opportunities.</p></li>
<li><p>Grew up a yokel in Calif. small town. At Brown my friends came from the whole world, from many different backgrounds. It was a culturally enriching experience. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Im sure there's more but that's what hit me first.</p>
<p>Yup that is a lot of Swattie energy in one room. Can you imagine the future Swattie babies? Maybe we don't really wanna to go there for awhile!</p>
<p>Reidm,</p>
<p>I think that there isn't a major consideration in the competitive running issue. I am pretty sure he just doesn't want to lead a sedentary life; I have looked into the athletic facilities and fitness centers at both places and I am sure he could get in shape at either place. The Bellingrath is connected to Rhodes, and they are fading far far away. Sigh.</p>
<p>Bluebayou, </p>
<p>I am in a rural part of TN, and the only time I see LA is on TV. But I can surely understand what you are talking about. (I did watch the OJ Simpson chase, but that wasn't even rush hour :) ) No way on this green earth son is driving there in any kind of car, (couldn't afford the gas even if he had the car) so I guess he wouldn't do much in the city.</p>
<p>Pyewacket and SBMom, </p>
<p>I am so impressed by the loyalty the Brunians feel toward their school. I went to a gathering last night at school where H is administrator, and ran into the alum who interviewed S. He was so positive and encouraging, wants S to call him, ask anything, etc. etc. Thanks for sharing your experiences with me!</p>
<p>Look at Studentsreview.com - check out Brown - I looked at all of the 10 US schools to which S applied, and Brown and Emory were rated the highest by the student and alumni reviewers (all As). Some of the posters are sort of disgruntled, but if you keep seeing the same complaints in post after post, you have to suspect that there is some truth to them.</p>
<p>I would say Brown, too, esp. since my stepdaughter has three friends who went to Swat and they were not very happy.</p>
<p>Know nothing about Pomona so can't weigh in.</p>
<p>Brown grads are usually very loyal because they typical Brown student is extremely happy for four years. When you can take anything you want, be surrounded by interesting people who are simultaneously inspiring, bright, fun & mellow, what's not to like?</p>
<p>Brown is a place many kinds of people can be happy.</p>
<p>I should add under "life changing" list that if I think of my favorite people on this planet, I met most of them at Brown.</p>
<p>Well, in the midst of my mind-reading on Sunday, I tried to ferret out if Son was still interested in Wash U, the place he had had the best immediate response to. He said yes, to my amazement, so I finally got the other financial aid offers faxed to them to see if they might reconsider his aid. They had been the least favorable of the awards, with Brown a close second. And today, right after he tells me that he's 90% sure it is BROWN, I get a revised aid award from Wash U increasing the Eliot Scholarship to exactly the level of Pomona and Swat! Now Brown is looking worse to him. </p>
<p>Man! I just called Brown to see what their policy about looking at other awards, and they said they don't unless the other school is an Ivy, but to have him check the financial aid award page as they have revised the award based upon the receipt of my tax return, and will further revise it when they get proof of medical expenditures for last year. So, see saw see saw. </p>
<p>I will be interested in the result of all of this, and a lesson to me and to anyone who has been patient enough to read this far, is don't wait to ask for a reconsideration of your aid! Ask early in the game, as soon as you have the data, so the potentially revised awards can be weighed!</p>
<p>Still, no matter what my son does, money IS NOT the chief consideration; if I can get him to talk a bit, I will assure him of that!</p>
<p>I know the end result will be a positive one, momofthree. Give him our best wishes and tell him we know he'll make the decision that is best for him. Of course, we'll want to know his decision as soon as you complete the "decision dance!" :)</p>
<p>Wow, MomofThree, your son's case appears to be more difficult than Berurah's S!! WashU, huh? Well, it is a pretty campus, although I know nothing about St. Louis.</p>
<p>In reading articles about papal selection, I noticed that when the cardinals took 3 years to decide, the populace tore the roof off their building and gave them only bread and water until they made a selection. Which happened quickly.</p>
<p>
[quote]
In reading articles about papal selection, I noticed that when the cardinals took 3 years to decide, the populace tore the roof off their building and gave them only bread and water until they made a selection. Which happened quickly.</p>
<p>Have you considered withholding food?
[/quote]
I couldn't help but laugh out loud when I read that!!!</p>
<p>For what it's worth, St. Louis is a great city with lots of access to cultural attractions. We just visited Wash U a couple weeks ago and found it one of the most impressive of all the schools we have visited during this process.</p>
<p>Good luck! They are all outstanding choices.</p>
<p>Undergrad experience at WashU can be pretty impersonal...
I guess I am in the minority, but I think having a sibling alumna can be a great asset for inside info and such, and having a sister with an apartment in Philadelphia for a Swat student is priceless...
My daughter chose Swarthmore over Stanford and WasU, and has no regrets. (Her brother is at Stanford, and she has numerous friends at WashU, so she is well informed.)</p>