I’m really interested in getting to know what kind of school Brown is like, but more specifically, what is unique about it and its classes (other than its open curriculum), its accomplishments, or its professors of a certain area of study.
Although I have a good feeling about Brown, I’d really like to know more about it to see if it’s a good fit for me–I feel like this info would also be critical in interviews or writing essays if I do decide Brown is right for me.
Recently, I’ve been doing online research through their website but most of the material I found was mostly just general info…is there a way to really delve into class/campus life through their website?
I know the best way to get to know a school is through a tour, but I may not be able to go, so I was hoping to obtain some ‘insider info’ from online. If I am able to tour the school, I was thinking of doing the campus tour and ‘experience Brown’ program-- is this a good choice of tours, or would visiting classes be more beneficial for getting to know the school more deeply?
Any other tips on important things to keep in mind when deciding if Brown is right for you/applying to Brown would also be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for the help!
Also, if you go on a campus tour, what are some important things to take note of, and good questions to ask the tour guide? For instance, one I just read about (a question normally wouldn’t have thought of) are the university’s internships/co-op programs, which is important to consider/ask about b/c internships can help you post-graduation when you need to find a job. What other details like this should I consider (other than the obvious questions of financial aid, dorms, etc.)?
@bluebird1234 Typically you’ll have an info session given by an admissions officer and a tour led by a current undergrad . A lot of your questions may be answered (ie inernships) during the info session - and the student tour guide will usually give you insight to their specific college experience. Don’t feel stressed to have to ask questions for the sake of making a good impression. The info session and tour are solely for your benefit and nobody is judging you for admissions. Ask whatever comes to mind or what you’re curious about or what you want to know.
Take notes of the things that strike use as interesting and/or unique about all the colleges you tour and save your notes to refer to when you write your applications. For example when touring Brown, my daughter thought it was pretty cool that an administration building was flying the American flag, the rainbow flag and a pirate flag. She referred back to that for her ‘Why Brown’ essay.
Other good ways to get to know Brown (or any college) is to plan your visit well in advance and schedule a class and possibly a meeting with a prof or dept head for a department tour (department admins are a great resource to make connections with current students or profs who can give you a department tour, meet for lunch or suggest a class) eat at one of the students cafes, attend a student performance or a sporting event. Visit/Tour during a Fall family weekend when there are planned seminars and presentations you can sit in on.
I’m a hs senior and visited Brown. I did a tour, info session, and Experience Brown. I highly recommend Experience Brown. As for your question about it versus visiting classes - you go to a class with your student host so you get to see what it’s like. The downside is that you can’t choose the class, although they try to match you with a student that has similar interests. Personally, I enjoyed the class (The Philosophy and Psychology of Happiness
We always hung out on the main green, the dining hall and the bookstore to experience the “vibe”. In the end much of the information you need is available from a distance, but only a visit can give you a real feel for the place.
Does anyone know if Brown is a good school if you’re interested in bioengineering or something in the medical field?
I heard that biology is a popular major, but I’m not sure if I want to major in just biology because it seems a bit too general of a major.
Brown has its own YouTube channel, where they have video tours, and there are also a few Brown students who have personal YouTube channels and make daily or weekly vlogs. I found both pretty helpful in getting a feel for everyday life there.
