I’ve read some posts about life at Brown but nothing really recent. I am an Asian Indian and am vegetarian. Also, I don’t really see myself drinking underage or using substances. Can I get some current or just graduated students’ opinions on Brown including some of these factors:
I heard that alcohol/substance usage is a given. Are students who do not participate excluded in any way? I understand that there is a niche for everyone, but honestly, will such a student have trouble making friends.
As a vegetarian, is it easy to get sufficient food and will any specific meal plan fit my needs better than another?
I’ve heard a lot about self-segregation, meaning races will inevitably seclude themselves from other races. Is this even a real thing and is it as bad as people say?
Are dorms really bad?
Also if you have a list of cons of attending Brown, that would be appreciated. I’m considering Brown, Duke, and Rice but Brown is the obvious best for applied mathematics so it’s my first choice. I just want to know what students feel is truly bad about Brown.
Alcohol/substance use is absolutely not a given. I did partake to a moderate level during my time at Brown, but I had many friends who did not at all, or who didn’t drink until they turned 21. You will find plenty of friends who feel the same way (especially if you choose a “sub-free” dorm floor your first year).
“As a vegetarian” - you will have no trouble at all. Brown is extremely veggie-friendly. There’s always at least one hot veggie/vegan option in the dining hall, and there are always options in the other eating places as well. Nothing to worry about.
Are you deciding among these schools to apply, or have you been accepted already?
If you’ve already been accepted, and no other colleges are in the mix, then the amount of alcohol/substance abuse is probably the same on all 3 campuses, more or less. You should opt for a substance-free dorm so at least your roommate and hall mates won’t be drinking/using right around you. There will be parties and events you may decide to avoid, or won’t be invited to – but there will be alternate options if you look for them. You will not be the only kid on campus who doesn’t drink or use pot.
One does not attend Brown for its dorms. They are better than most public schools. They are not as nice as some private schools. They are functional.
There is some segregation on campus. My daughter and her friends talked about this a lot. Most if not all of it is self-segregation, in that individuals decide they want to hang out with similar individuals. But if you want a mix of friends, you will be welcome with open arms. In other words, any segregation is not the result of prejudice or bias. Some occurs because of the pre-orientation program for so-called “third-world students,” – so many kids make close friends at that event and then stay friends.
A negative about Brown is that you have to speak up for yourself, you have to advocate for yourself – nothing is given to you on a silver platter. It’s hard going to a school with no requirements – that first semester you have so many choices it can be overwhelming. There is guidance, plenty of it, but you still have to be assertive to figure out what works for you.
It just snowed and was wicked cold in Rhode Island – in April. That’s a negative. You will have to buy winter clothing.
Thank you both for all this information. And yes, I have been accepted and am deciding currently.
One question: I visited Brown the summer before last and I loved it. I didn’t stay with a student but I took a tour and walked a little. I’m not sure if it’ll be convenient for me to make a visit before I make my decision and I definitely cannot attend ADOCH. My guess is that staying with a student won’t tell me much more than it would at another university but I could be wrong. Would you recommend fitting that in?
People have widely different opinions on the importance of overnights. Some swear by them and others say they are not useful, since your judgment will be made based on your host, who is one student out of 6000. Search around on college confidential and you’ll see this range opinions.
Count me among the “essential” group (well, not essential but very important), but with the caveat that you can’t have the school just assign you to someone random and guarantee that it will be a meaningful experience and honestly, I’d argue going outside of ADOCH will be more meaningful than going during ADOCH.
Now maybe the kinds of visits I’m thinking of are generally unrealistic for most kids and thats why so many say they are worthless. Growing up in NYC and attending a fancy private school I a) had parents who had 0 problem with my traveling to schools by myself, sometimes even doing back to back visits and being gone on my own for days at a time and b) had a lot of alumni at the schools I was looking at. At the two schools where my high school didn’t have alumni, someone from that school’s chapter of my dad’s fraternity would usually serve as my point person (and it was noticeably different and much better when it was a kid from my high school)
Without a doubt, the best way to do the overnight is to stay with someone you know or at least have some sort of connection to who provides you with a perspective that is at least remotely like yours and who will be more likely to actively help you maximize your visit. Best case scenario is someone you know at Brown who graduated from your high school. Someone who can directly discuss Brown and Providence by relating it to (Or explaining how little it relates to) the high school and hometown that you both know well. Cousin or something or parents’ friend’s kid is still better than random unless of course you know they don’t have any sort of similar perspective and your odds of being hosted by someone like you are higher if you go the random route.
On the visit itself, don’t just rely on your host to do everything for you. A) you want to make sure you see/experience the things you want to see/experience B) they are college students with homework and other things on your plate. I always tried to sit in on a class that I thought I would take, I wasn’t good enough to be recruited but I still went and met with coaches and they would show me the facilities, introduce me to team members etc. Look at what will be going on around campus and see if there’s anything that interests you or (especially now that you’re an accepted student) email whoever teaches the intro AM course that you’ll be coming to Brown on X day and can you talk with them about AM @ Brown. Since you ideally know your host, be in communication with them about what kind of evening you’d like to have (e.g. depending on my schedule, sometimes I wanted to go out, sometimes I wanted to just chill - one of my best college overnight memories was going to a presidential debate viewing party in 04. Sure, kids were drinking, but obviously the mood at that party would be very different than one where everyone was playing beer pong and dancing and such which I did do one night) and if my host wasn’t planning on having that kind of evening, they’d identify a friend who was (again, why it’s best if you have some sort of connection to the person because this takes time and effort on their part) and I’d go tag along with them. Another night was a viewing party for one of the 2004 ALCS games (shudders).
Certainly if money or time are really that prohibitive absolutely don’t worry about it, but if it would only take a little effort to make it happen, I would try to make it happen.
Ok this is actually very helpful. Having discussed with my parents, I don’t think we’ll be able to visit before I have to make my decision. But I did look at other posts and yes, I can see the split on the topic of overnighting. For me personally, I don’t think it would make much of a difference. I’ll end up with a random roommate either way. My main concern, because I can’t visit beforehand, was if anything sets Brown apart from other universities in a negative way. I agree about the need for assertiveness, etc specific to Brown
Thank you! Do you know of any cases that went to ADOCH and that made them not want to go to Brown? I’ve read some cc posts about ADOCH being average for some students but they decided to attend Brown anyway, but does the experience actually turn away some students? Brown is my current first choice by a long shot but I don’t want to go there and not like it. I cannot visit before May 1st so do you think, having visited 2yrs ago (and really liking it) that it would be safe to decide on Brown now?
Hi, my daughter is at Brown. She decided after ADOCH and it was between Wash U and Brown. She decided on the more prestigious school, basically, but really liked the people she met at ADOCH. Hadn’t visited before that. Lots of vegetarian options. Actually she is eating way more veggie than before because the veggie food is better than regular. She is not a substance user at all, is quiet, has found a few really good friends. She’s caucasian, her best friend is Chinese. So that’s that. The school is fantastic for helping students who seek out whatever they need. My best story is that during orientation we missed a science library tour, showed up right after, and the head librarian gave us a personal tour. That is how they are there. It’s the culture. It’s an amazing place. Yes the dorms are bad. The food is pretty bad (except veggie). Both of these shouldn’t be for the money but they are. Who cares, though? It’s Brown. I’m biased of course, but you should go there.
My daughter is a freshman at Brown and LOVES it. She chose “substance free” housing for her first year. She is a quiet, mellow person. 95% of the people are super friendly and wholesome. They are very accepting of everyone - diversity is highly valued, and even diversity in choices about whether one chooses to drink,etc. or not. Everyone’s choices are fine. Providence is great. Their Applied Math program is great.
Here’s what’s “bad” about Brown: the Sports Teams aren’t great. But, that’s OK, because there’s an awesome Brown Band that makes it fun to attend sporting events!
Also, she took a CS class, and it seems that there are young TAs (sophomores/juniors) that are running the CS courses…they do the grading, offer help, and students are constantly needing help sessions with the TAs. It seems that, if that much help is needed, something is awry. Sometimes that course has driven her nuts.
The dorms are more than fine…I wouldn’t call them ‘bad’ at all. Her room is a nice size. The bathroom is shared by students in 2 doubles. (4 users) It’s quiet in her dorm (maybe because she choose sub-free housing?). She’s thrilled with the room she’s getting for her sophomore year…it has 3 light switches (!) and a sink. She and her roommate will share a bathroom.
Go to Brown!! It’s awesome!
My D did not have a good experience at ADOCH because her student host basically abandoned her. It made the choice more difficult, but in the end she was smart not to let one bad day decide where she would be her next four years. She chose Brown and has loved every minute of her experience as a student. If you are concerned about fitting in, I would say that Brown is better than most in having a real diverse student body that mixes friendships across racial and socio-economic lines. The greek system is muted at Brown, in contrast to Duke where it is very strong and promotes more segregated socializing. Brown offers a special diversity 1st year orientation before everyone else arrives on campus if that is something that appeals to you. If I were to say anything negative about Brown it would be that the housing lottery for upperclasses is run poorly and causes unnecessary anxiety.
^^ I say that because Duke has been moving up in the ranks year by year and I project that it will be ranked alongside UChicago and Columbia just a few years down the line
Isn’t Crew perenially great? Not a big spectator sport, but just sayin’… and don’t know how their soccer has been lately, but they’ve been pretty good, nationally, some years.
@notarobot124: I agree with @fireandrain. “Don’t give up on Duke because it’s increasingly well-ranked”? Not necessarily the best strategy when it comes to college selection (and Duke’s high ranking doesn’t negate Brown’s). After a certain point, all the highly selective schools come with similar prestige and high-quality academics, and you have to rely on school culture and gut impulse.
