<p>Anecdotes appreciated :)</p>
<p>Additionally, how would you compare Brown’s international prestige to Duke’s international prestige?</p>
<p>A person familiar with Duke being a top US college will also know Brown is one as well. Those who don’t, won’t. If you’re planning on attending one of these over the other based on other peoples’ ignorances, you’re valuing the wrong things.</p>
<p>The avg American has not heard of Brown University. But then, why should I care?</p>
<p>I couldn’t agree more; it’s ridiculous to base such a personal decision on the opinions of others. Though, I see myself as a global citizen. It’s very likely that I will work outside the US at one point of time in my life, so I have interest in the connotations that my undergraduate degree will carry. </p>
<p>I realize that HYPSM are the top contenders in regards to international and domestic “lay man prestige”. I understand that among educated circles both Brown and Duke would fare more than well. I’m not one for rankings. </p>
<p>What motivated me to ask this question was the variation in opinions regarding the matter I read online. I wanted to open the question in 2012 and to encourage people to share personal experiences. </p>
<p>I know so much of it is regional. I’m from a small town in Ohio, but I can’t remember not knowing of Brown…Cornell, on the other hand, I only recently learned of (no offense intended, really). That’s why I’d be thrilled to read your personal experiences.</p>
<p>I’m from Canada, so I guess I kind of provide an international background.
Brown is definitely better known than Duke here. Most educated people who know something about US universities would be able to recognize Brown, maybe half of those that could recognize Brown would be able to recognize Duke.</p>
<p>T26E4 has it right though. This is an incredibly personal decision that only you can make. It matters more about your growth at college and what you accomplish there, not the ‘brand’ name.</p>
<p>Well, except for HYP, recognized universities are those mentioned in Gossip Girl. Brown included.</p>
<p>Actually, Brown, Duke, and Princeton have about the same level of international prestige. While Princeton is considered a top 5 university in the States, its lack of major professional programs somewhat dilutes its brand internationally. I would say that Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and Columbia are the most prestigious American universities internationally in that order.</p>
<p>No offense Megan but being from Canada doesn’t offer us too much of an “international perspective” hehe. ;)</p>
<p>@goldenboy
I didn’t know that about Princeton. Columbia seems to carry very positive connotations overseas, but it’s not for me. Thanks for your input.</p>
<p>^^^^^</p>
<p>I think your not knowing about Cornell “until recently” is kind of an anecdotal example and doesn’t really say all that much.</p>
<p>Kakaouko,</p>
<p>How does Brown’s lack of a degree in slut affect it’s international reputation?</p>
<p>@Saugus
Totally agree! It doesn’t say much and it’s totally anecdotal evidence. I’m not looking for anything scientific, just personal experiences. I feel like there’s only so much you can do with those arbitrary rankings (intl. and natl.).</p>
<p>Brown ranks 22nd worldwide as the college degree international employers currently seek, ahead of Duke by 4 spots, way ahead of Dartmouth and UPenn and way, way ahead of Cornell.</p>
<p>[Global</a> Companies Rank Universities - NYTimes.com](<a href=“Global Companies Rank Universities - NYTimes.com”>Global Companies Rank Universities - NYTimes.com)</p>
<p>Reputation among International Recruiters
[Global</a> Companies Rank Universities - NYTimes.com](<a href=“Global Companies Rank Universities - NYTimes.com”>Global Companies Rank Universities - NYTimes.com)</p>
<p>Brown: #22
Duke: #26</p>
<p>Reputation Among International Chief Executives and Chairmen
[Education</a> - Image - NYTimes.com](<a href=“Education - Image - NYTimes.com”>Education - Image - NYTimes.com)</p>
<p>Duke: #13
Brown: #16</p>
<p>The fact that two separate Global Employment Rankings that employed different methodologies arrived at the conclusion that Duke and Brown are within 5 spots of each other should tell you that these schools are almost dead even prestige-wise.</p>
<p>@Loremlpsum
I wonder why Boston University was ranked so high?</p>
<p>Thank you and goldenboy for sharing those sources.</p>
<p>EDIT:…and I certainly think that goldenboy is on to something 
The universities clearly are on the same level.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There was speculation about this on another thread. Grads from Harvard will often telling people they went to school “in Boston” to avoid that well-la-de-da attitude. One wonders if “Boston” has becomes synonymous with Harvard and MIT in some international circles.</p>
<p>Boston’s a pretty great school in and of itself and hosts a lot of connections with job recruiters.</p>
<p>I’m studying abroad in Denmark this semester. I don’t think I’ve met a single Dane who knew what Brown was. The only school most Europeans know of is Harvard.</p>
<p>"I wonder why Boston University was ranked so high? "
I’ve had a fair amount of connection with international students applying to Brown, and have noticed that BU actually recruits pretty hard for international students. BU seems to have a high acceptance rate for them, as well as wooing some of the wealthier ones with “prestigious” scholarships that their parents seem to be impressed with them getting.</p>
<p>you mean brown not boston? lolol</p>
<p>I am from China and people recognize Brown well as an good ivy league school.</p>
<p>In Europe people aren’t as interested where one studied because the universities are predominantly public and vary much less in terms of quality and character. So, people hardly ever ask where I studied. When they do, it means they know something about U.S. schools. Recently, here in Berlin I met a German lawyer who was going to teach at Trinity College in Dublin, and she asked me where I’d done my undergrad, and I said, in Rhode Island. She said, “Brown?” I expressed my surprise that she had heard of it, and she said, of course she had, it’s a great school. Clearly, she was “in the know.” I also recently met someone who asked where I’d studied and I said Brown, and he said he had met someone in California who went to Brown. He said he was clearly brilliant but a little weird, and that made me smile. I’d agree that the best known schools here are Harvard, Stanford and Columbia, but I believe that’s only because Harvard is Harvard, Stanford is associated with Silicon Valley/Google, and Columbia is in New York City.</p>