<p>I read somewhere awhile ago that this is an obscure major at Brown, but now I’m reading that it’s very competitive… I’m very confused. Do a lot of freshman applicants apply into it?</p>
<p>You don’t “apply into” majors at Brown, and there is no such thing as a major being “competitive” for admissions at Brown. The admissions process just doesn’t work that way. (The only exception is for engineering and the sciences like physics and chemistry, but in those cases it’s not competitive, but making sure an applicant can handle the work.)</p>
<p>MCM isn’t an obscure major (or concentration, as they are called at Brown) – it’s considered one of the stronger ones at Brown, assuming you like the type of theoretical approach it takes. A lot of Brown applicants are interested in film studies. Not as many are interested in physics and computer science, so the acceptance rate for those type of concentrations might be higher.</p>
<p>My son is a freshman at Brown, just finishing an MCM course as one of the 4 courses he took this semester. He enjoyed it so much, he’s planning on taking two more MCM courses next semester. He says the professors are outstanding. I’m not really commenting on the “competitiveness” of the department, so much as its quality. As Fireandrain explained, you’re not really “admitted into” a department or concentration as a freshman at Brown. Students try many different classes and may switch their concentrations several times before they settle on one.</p>
<p>Can anyone say more about exactly what the focus of the MCM concentration is? Ultimately I’d like to go into public relations, possible after graduate law school in contract law. Some schools that I’ve looked into don’t have a specific “Public relations” major, but do have “Communication Studies” etc, that focus on the more theoretical, but could be a liberal preparation for this career. Does this sound similar to MCM?</p>
<p>Also, what other types of careers does MCM usually feed students into?</p>
<p>Check out this list of what MCM alumni are doing – it might help you get a handle on this concentration. </p>
<p>[Alumni</a> : The Department of Modern Culture & Media at Brown University](<a href=“Modern Culture and Media | Brown University”>Modern Culture and Media | Brown University)</p>
<p>Also, from there you can look at the description of the various MCM requirements and courses.</p>
<p>Thanks! I hadn’t looked at that before.</p>
<p>abcderinkay: There really is no concentration at Brown that would “prepare” you for a career in public relations.</p>
<p>Thank you so much. The alumni list was particularly helpful. I would eventually like to get my MFA in film but I like the idea of learning the theories, etc. behind the art of media/communication first.</p>
<p>What I was asking before but didn’t word very well is: is MCM regarded as a more obscure major? I read somewhere that it was, but it seems a lot of people are interested in it so I am a little unsure of what to think. I’ve heard that it’s easier to get into Brown if you apply for an obscure major (i.e. Egyptology) and I was wondering if MCM was also seen as a more obscure major? I’m planning on putting MCM down as my planned major regardless of whether it’s popular or not, but I’m just curious.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you mean by “obscure,” but a lot of people are interested in MCM. </p>
<p>The majors that might be considered “easier” to be accepted for would be engineering and the “hard” sciences like physics and chemistry.</p>