<p>Hi. My name is Emily, I’m new to College Confidential. I’m going to be a senior in high school and I’m increasingly worried about college.</p>
<p>I would LOVE to go to Brown. I haven’t visited the campus (yet), but I’m rather enamored by what I’ve read about the school.</p>
<p>There’s a bit of a problem, though. Brown is a reach school for me, academically and financially. I’ve gotten a mix of A’s and B’s in high school which gives me good grades, but not great grades. I’m in the top 10% of my class, I took the ACT twice and got composite scores of 31 and 33, and I’ve taken honors/AP classes; but it’s still very selective and there are plenty of other kids out there who look better than I do on paper. As far as finances go, I’m in the lovely position of not qualifying for financial aid but my parents haven’t saved quite enough to pay the 50k in tuition/room&board. </p>
<p>I have TWO questions regarding Brown.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Are the students competitive with one another academically? I’ve heard Ivy League schools can be sort of cut-throat, and I haven’t been able to find much in regards to Brown.</p></li>
<li><p>I’m not totally crazy for considering Brown, though, right? I realize it’s a reach school, I just want to make sure it’s not impossible for someone like me.</p></li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>Generally, no, unless they’re non-PLME pre-meds in pre-med classes. And even then, generally no, because few classes are graded on a strict curve. Rather, people are generally competitive with themselves. Are many of our classes really difficult? Yes. Will you be a straight-A student here? Unlikely. But generally, people are collaborative whenever possible, and so people tend to learn a lot from each other.</li>
</ol>
<p>Are you crazy for applying? No. Will you probably get in? No, as <10% of applicants get in. But you’re giving yourself no opportunity if you don’t apply.</p>
<p>I agree with chsowlflax. If you’d like to go, apply! </p>
<p>People here can be competitive, but it’s easy to avoid those people. Most everyone is helpful.</p>
<p>On the issue of money – have your parents done an online financial aid calculator, do you know what they can contribute to your education? If you are right, and you will not qualify for aid and your parents can’t pay $52,000/year (which will probably be $60,000+ in four years) – then think long and hard about where you are going to apply. You do NOT want to graduate with a lot of debt, no matter where you go to school. With your grades and ACT scores, you can get merit aid at some good schools. You might get into Brown, but if you can’t pay for it you can’t go.</p>
<p>chsowlflax and hollyert- thanks so much for your input! It means a lot to me. :)</p>
<p>fireandrain- they did the estimated family contribution calculator the other night. I keep thinking that if I look a little harder, i might find some other way to pay that doesn’t involve graduating into debt - but it’s really only a problem if i get in. (:</p>
<p>As to debt: my parents both told me I was welcome to apply to expensive places, but it was unlikely they could pay. I applied for aid and got what I believed they’d say was not enough. However, I had a good, long talk, a ton of introspection, and with more debt than I’d like but not so much I can’t handle it, I was able to make things work. However, my situation is somewhat unique, and, for example, I would not recommend my little sister taking the same path as me. Mostly because she is not disciplined enough to pay off debts/be frugal (from her past-behavior with money).</p>