<p>Hey everyone! My name’s Courtney and I’m having an extremely hard time deciding where to go next year, because I’m probably one of the most indecisive people ever…but I think I’ve narrowed it down to Brown, Cornell, or Middlebury (possibly Hamilton or Syracuse…but probably not). I have a few questions about Brown and if anyone could give me any kind of feedback, I’d really appreciate it.</p>
<p>I’m pretty much undecided on what I want to concentrate in…is having an open curriculum conducive to undecided students?</p>
<p>But…I’m kinda interested in nutrition and food science…but that’s only a possibility. Problem is, Cornell and Syracuse are the only schools that offer nutrition as a major. Do you think that by going to Brown, I’d be basically ruling out nutrition as a career?</p>
<p>I think I’m going to go to ADOCH next week. I’m sorta afraid that it’s going to give Brown an upper hand of sorts in my decision making…although if I love it then that’s not bad…I just want to make a fair, informed decision. Also, my mom could go with me, or I could go by myself on the train. Do you think it would be better for some reason to go alone? (Does anyone know how much time you spend away from your parents if they do go? We stay in dorms, right?)</p>
<p>haha sorry for the ridiculous indecision…Thanks for reading this (and hopefully responding!) Also, if anyone has anything positive/negative to say about Cornell or Middlebury, please tell me too, even though if you’re on here, you probably would still say Brown’s better.</p>
<p>Are you in-state for Cornell? If nutrition is part of the public section, it's probably much cheaper (not that you wouldn't know that...)</p>
<p>By not majoring in nutrition, you would definitely not be writing it off as a career. What you major in is often somewhat unrelated in what you end up doing. Besides, Brown must offer courses in similar areas that would give you a good base for grad school. </p>
<p>Parents can spend almost the whole day with you on Wednesday if you want them to. There are special things for them to do though. I would definitely go to ADOCH though. If you love it, then great! You have a school you love. (You kind of sound like you'd love all your schools though.)</p>
<p>out of state...so that's not really a factor. you're right, i would probably be happy anywhere...but that's not really helping me to make a decision. basically, i read stuff about middlebury, and think oh this place sounds good i think i'd be happy there, and then i come here and learn about brown and it seems awesome too. i just was researching some cornell stuff and for the past five minutes, i've been leaning in that direction...haha. RaboKarabekian, are you definitely going to brown?</p>
<p>I'm a student at Brown, and one of my good friends is going to grad school in nutrition, so not being able to concentrate in it is not going to affect your long term career path. As I understand it, you'll need a graduate degee in order to be able to practice as a nutritionist, regardless of whether you concentrate in it in at college. Brown does have a couple of nutrition classes, and if you take some initiative you may be able to do research on related issues with the professor. That said, if this is your passion, (as opposed to an interest), and you are sure you want to devote substantial time to this in college, you might have to look elsewhere. Good luck!</p>
<p>If you're up to it, I'd say take the train to ADOCH alone. Although Michael Goldberger (director of admissions) said that there were about 500 parents on campus last year for ADOCH, to me it sounds like it's really about the admitted kids getting to know each other and Brown like they will when they arrive on campus in the fall. Also, the fact that Brown reserved like three cars on the train up to Providence indicates to me that the long train ride serves as a bonding experience as well. I know I wouldn't want my parents to come with me.</p>
<p>I hated Cornell when I visited. Very spread out, hilly, and freezing in the winter. Getting from class to class in January is probably hell. There is also nothing to do around there unless you like hiking and other activities like that, but even then, those are only good a few months of the year when it isn't freezing.</p>
<p>Here's my thoughts from personal experience. First off, don't rule out nutrition as a possibility at Brown. You can design your own concentration, although only about 15 or so people do it each year. Also, I'm sure not all nutritions majored in nutrition for undergrad, so I wouldn't really worry about that.</p>
<p>In regards the open curriculum, it's a blessing and a curse. I love it to death, but when I came into Brown, I was dead set on international relations, and midway through the fall semester, I realized I really didn't want to be writing papers for the rest of college. What this meant was me deciding to switch to a major where I would want a bachelors of science, which have large numbers of courses required, and many of the courses at least in the engin/physics/comp sci areas are two course sequences. One in the fall, one in the spring. Essentially it's left me a year behind. You just have to be careful about stuff like that.</p>
<p>And don't bring a parent to ADOCH. It'll be a lot more fun without them peering over your shoulder the entire time.</p>
Also, if anyone has anything positive/negative to say about Cornell or Middlebury, please tell me too, even though if you’re on here, you probably would still say Brown’s better.</p>