<p>I guess this question would be better answered by Brown graduates and current students, but what do you guys feel are the pros and cons of going to a school that has no requirements? </p>
<p>Do you feel like a lot of the students aren’t focused? Or is it just the opposite, where students are able to focus on what they like and what they’re good at since they don’t have to worry about completing requirements?</p>
<p>Also, what kind of personality does this school attract. I know a lot of people will respond “all kinds” but generally colleges have distinct personalities. I heard it attracts a lot of hippies and “free spirits” but tell me how it really is.</p>
<p>And what’s the social atmosphere like? </p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>You might want to read some other older threads, too. Many of your questions have been discussed just in the last couple months.</p>
<p>Not that I’ve actually gone ot school yet, but personal pro: I’m able to look into three different concentrations, take classes that’ll actually push me forward on the path of many different concentraions, all in my first semester. If I decide to switch, I haven’t lost anything. And even if I double concentrate in math/science, I can tone myself down, take them both as ABs, and take my fill of humanities courses to whet my appetite (I think the number of total courses for both the physics and computer science AB, total, came to about 20. Which means 12 courses, or 2.5/year, to do what I want with).</p>
<p>I’m not vehemently opposed to a core, and in fact, Harvard was very nearly my first choice, despite its nine-course, non-departmental core. What swayed me in the end, though, was the freedom to explore, and, well, to mess up. As an entering freshman, I have a fairly good idea of what I want to concentrate in. However, my planned major may look appealing until I actually have to study it at a college level, or a new interest may well present itself, causing me to switch concentrations. Had I fulfilled half the requirements for my degree and had to complete a core on top of that, changing majors would be a lot more complicated. Since Brown doesn’t bind me to an academic path (or to finding one) from day one, I’m excited to try my concentration on for size while looking at other options.</p>
<p>That, along with a few personal reasons, was why Brown was my first choice.</p>
<p>The open curriculum as you might already know doesnt mean “no requirements” whatsoever. It just means that if you’re a bio major you don’t HAVE to take courses in english, social sciences, etc. </p>
<p>My feeling is that most students are pretty focused on a course of study and the things that intrigue them. Those that don’t know usually get focused along the way because either a) one interest supercedes the others, or b) they are able to find a concentration (or make one!) that marries all or most of their interests. </p>
<p>As far as your Brown “type” questions - there really are all kinds, which is perhaps the special thing about Brown. No matter what, you will find people with common interests, but at the same time many more that will challenge you in a positive way.</p>
<p>Brown students on the whole seem genuinely intersted in their studies and explore many aspects of education - so again, you do have your hippies floating around but just as much as you would any other stereotype I suppose. For sure, appearances can be deceiving :-)</p>