Matriculating without visiting?

<p>For financial reasons and the like, I never really had a chance to do traditional college visiting. Consequently, I just applied to a few schools and was planning on visiting the one or two favorites of the ones I got accepted to. I have been accepted to Brown, but I am in a dilemma because I may not be able to get transportation there before May 1st. </p>

<p>The decision is between my state school, Ohio State, and Brown. From the extensive research I have been doing on Brown the past week and a half I can confidently say I want to go to Brown over OSU (in terms of the jist of what the academics, atmosphere and student body seem like at Brown). My question is that do you think that visiting is essential to “feeling Brown out” or can I get good enough information online?</p>

<p>you have to be there for some time to actually get a sense of it, but I decided on Brown before seeing it in person (and have since graduated etc). you won’t be disappointed.</p>

<p>Brown is a pretty safe bet for most people. You would probably find you really like it here, even without visiting. </p>

<p>There’s only so much you can learn from a visit and a guided tour. Talk to students and professors, ask questions. You can get a lot of often better info that way. </p>

<p>Do you know what you plan on studying?</p>

<p>Brown and OSU are going to be very different. What are you looking for in a school? Let us know and maybe we can let you know how the two schools would fit those criteria</p>

<p>I have been interested in studying biology (I know its broad but I can’t really pin point a specific part of biology I would like to study), but I want to keep myself open to other options as well (which is another reason I think Brown would be good for me), such as philosophy.</p>

<p>What I am looking for in a school is a place where I would have a great intellectual experience (in terms of both academics and realizations of what I should do with my life (outside of a career). I see Ohio state (honors program) as a great place to learn as well, but Brown seems like it would offer me a much better intellectual experience because there will be more people who have a similar mindset to me (unless I’m wrong in assuming this).</p>

<p>I guess the only thing stopping me from 100% going to Brown is worrying that the perceptions I get from the web site, this forum, and talking to people are incorrect.</p>

<p>So its not a blind chance I’m taking; Brown really is a place where the majority of people are there just as much to learn about their respective interests as they are to enjoy life. As well as a place where professors really do have an inclination to “give more care” to the undergrads, and a place where ultimate is pretty popular (lol actually a pretty big thing for me).</p>

<p>ultimate is very good here :)</p>

<p>Brown is those things, at least much more so than your average state school</p>

<p>Look, Brown isn’t perfect. My experience has been mixed. But I feel that that is unusual. Most people ride their 4 years out really enjoying it here because it has the traits you described. 50 years from now, if you don’t go here, you’re going to be talking about how you once earned admission to brown but didn’t go. </p>

<p>Unless your parents have to sell the house to get you here, there shouldn’t be anything stopping you.</p>

<p>Why don’t you call Brown’s admissions and tell them it is a financial hardship for you to visit but, you’d like to and, see if they can do anything…</p>

<p>My daughter went to Brown from California without getting to visit. We did only one visit away to her EA school (it was great.) But once she got into Brown, she really didn’t want to talk about anything else. We could not visit, because of cost and her school schedule.</p>

<p>She made the most appropriate decision for her, but it took hindsight to see it. I visited each year, sometimes a week, sometimes three weeks. I loved to hang out there.</p>

<p>Freshman year away is hard for everyone, but you won’t regret it. Brown is amazing.</p>