Schools Similar to Brown...

Parents Forum
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<p>Hi. I am currently a freshman in hs, or the equivalent. I live in France, where information about the whole American college experience is quite hard to get. Which is why I decided to post on this forum.
According to the WES grade converter, I have a 3.9 GPA. But I don't know if it's accurate.
I want to major in either Political Science, English or History. ( don't tell me it'll change, I've known this since I was 8)</p>

<p>My mother might get a fellowship at Harvard, and if she does, I might move to Boston next year (only for 1 year, though). Anyways, I am trying to make a list of colleges I want to visit there.</p>

<p>Anyways, I would appreciate I you guys could help me with that safety/ match/ reach school list.
Make it as long as possible, as I have 3 years to reduce it.</p>

<p>So far I have </p>

<p>Reaches:
-Brown, this is my dream school, it has always been, I love everything about it. (I visited once 4 years ago, and I'm planning on going again this summer) The only problem, of course, is the low acceptance rate. Which is why I was wondering If anyone knew any schools that had the same feel/ curriculum etc. than Brown, Basically, Brown students (or future students), If you don't get to go to Brown, where would you want to go ?
-Tufts (Currently my second choice...)
-Columbia
-Yale
-Stanford
-Johns Hopkins
-NYU
-Vassar
-Amherst
-Bates</p>

<p>Matches:
-BU
-Syracuse
-University of Michigan
-Sarah Lawrence</p>

<p>Although these schools might be reaches as well, I really have no idea.</p>

<p>I am looking for a laid back atmosphere, somewhat prestigious (I know I'm the kind of person who travels a lot, and I don't want to explain myself every time I want to find a new job -does that make sense?-) but the most important part is the quality of the education, I love learning, I actually wouldn't mind if college lasted longer, but that doesn't mean I want to loose my time.</p>

<p>I am mostly interested in schools on the east coast,or in california.</p>

<p>Also, I've heard that the American program in hs, was waugh easier than the French one. No offense, but we apparently have one of the most rigorous program. Is that true ?</p>

<p>Also, if that Harvard thing doesn't happend. I'll most likely move to South Africa. Anyone knows about school here, and if the fact that being schooled in africa might be "helpfull" I'm any way ?</p>

<p>And, does the fact that my mom got this fellowship at Harvard could give me some kind of boost, if I decided to apply there ? (although that's not likely) my cousin went to Harvard, but for graduate school...</p>

<p>Is there a maximum of schools where you can apply to ? Do you have to mention all the other schools where you applied on an application ? If so, is'nt a high number fround upon ?
I know you have to pay a application fee, that's not a problem.</p>

<p>Sorry, I know that's a lot to answer. I would really appreciate if you took the time to help me.
I apologize for my English, I hope that by the time I graduate, it'll be almost perfect.</p>

<p>PS: I'm part Egyptian, is that considered like a minority ? Should I present myself as Egyptian on my applications ?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot.</p>

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<p>What do you mean when you say similar to Brown? Academics, school atmosphere, etc.</p>

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<p>Correct me if I’m wrong on any account, but I’ve always liked Brown because evreyone there seems so laid-back, and at the same time, so smart, but they don’t brag about it. There’s no competition, which is good, and, obviously, the academics are amazing, the campus is beautiful and the city is good-sized (is that even a word?)</p>

<p>I would say that, if I had to rank my priorities, it would be:</p>

<p>-mentality of the school/students (laid back, well rounded, smart, kind of artsy, in a way)
-academics (good academics, I don’t mind work.)
-location/campus (urban or suburban, no huge cities…)</p>

4

<p>I’d add Wesleyan, Kenyon, Colby, Williams, and William & Mary</p>

<p>Drop, Syracuse, JHU (they don’t seem to fit).</p>

5

<p>Columbia is very different from Brown since it has a core curriculum and Brown has an open curriculum. </p>

<p>What is your financial situation? Can your parents afford the costs or will you need financial aid?</p>

<p>Since you’re only a freshman, SAT or ACT scores will also be important.</p>

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<p>And no, Egyptian is not considered a minority.</p>

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<p>No school is exactly like Brown, of course, but try…</p>

<p>Amherst, Grinnell, Smith (all female) and Eugene Lang (part of the New School) are like Brown in that they have an open curriculum. Eugene Lang is in Manhattan, though, and that doesn’t sound like what you want.</p>

<p>In terms of liberal, laid back atmosphere, Wesleyan (Connecticut) is probably the closest to Brown. At my offspring’s old high school, it was common for students to have Brown as their first choice and Wes as their second. (Of course, there were students who had Wes as first choice.) Another school that sort of has the same feeling is Vassar. </p>

<p>Another school that has some, though not everything, you are looking for would be Macalester. </p>

<p>Everyone is entitled to an opinion of course, but the list above-- Kenyon, Colby, Williams, and William & Mary --doesn’t seem to me to be a list of schools at all like Brown.</p>

<p>Now, Grinnell is in Iowa and Macalester is in Minnesota. That’s not East Coast or California, obviously. Be aware though that many international students feel the same way you do. Thus 90% of international students studying in the US are in California and the East Coast. As a result, it’s one heck of a lot easier for international students to get accepted to schools of comparable quality outside those areas.</p>

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<p>I’d add Oberlin, Vassar, Macalester, and Grinnell and drop Columbia(Too pre-professional and far from laid-back) and BU(Too pre-professional, not artsy from what I’ve seen, and academic level may be too low).</p>

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<p>I know I should drop Columbia, but since it’s been my dream school for ten years before I actually started looking, it’s kinda hard…</p>

<p>Also, I visited BU once, and although it’s not my top choice, obviously, I do thin I could be happy there, as for the academic level, even though the place where you are makes a difference, I believe that everyone can make the most out of any class, if they want to. So it’s really up to me…</p>

<p>Also, I don’t think I would enjoy Grinnel that much, although I don’t want to be studying in a huge city, I know that a rural campus isn’t for me, I have been living in capitals/ big cities my whole life (Paris, Baltimore, Johannesburg…) </p>

<p>Anyways, thanks to everyone, you were all very helpful !!</p>

10

<p>I wouldn’t cross off William and Mary-- know three classmates who’s top two choices are william and mary and brown. Macalaster and wes are great choices, maybe even Boston College, Amherst College, and perhaps Northwestern</p>

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<p>Northwestern is similar to Brown in the ways you described (smart, laid-back, well-rounded, civic-minded students; thriving arts/theater scene without the pretentiousness; campus is suburban, close to the city but has its own defined campus with its own college town right next to campus; rigorous academics). Similar to Brown’s flexible curriculum, Northwestern’s academic structure allows you to design your own major or combine majors/minors/certificates from a wide array of schools: [Ad</a> Hoc Majors - Undergraduate Advising – Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Northwestern University](<a href=“http://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/advising/majors/adhoc.html]Ad”>http://www.weinberg.northwestern.edu/advising/majors/adhoc.html)</p>

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<p>@ Jonri, I was suggesting Kenyon, W & M, Wesleyan, based on OP academic interests, and a similar student body to Brown. It didn’t sound like OP was just going for the open curriculum of Brown or all those other schools wouldn’t have been on OP list (JHU, Syracuse, NYU, BU, U of Michigan, etc. are not “like Brown” either). This “like Brown” question comes up a lot on CC, lol! Everyone has their take --I was merely trying to suggest schools that were top for English and History programs (W & M is #1 for history, Kenyon for English, and Wesleyan is just the standard second choice for most Brown applicants), but was also considering liberal student body. </p>

<p>OP already had Vassar, Amherst, Bates, and Tufts.</p>

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<p>Again, jkiwmom, all this is a matter of opinion. </p>

<p>I don’t know where you are getting your rankings from, though. W&M is excellent in colonial US history. IMO, it’s lacking in non-US history. USNews ranks its graduate program in history #42.vs. Brown at #17. USNews certainly isn’t my bible, but I simply do not believe that W&M is the best school in the nation for history.I personally would not rank it anywhere near top 25 for undergraduate history programs, EXCEPT in colonial US history. It’s probably BETTER than Brown in that specialty. But in the other areas of history? I don’t think so. YMMV. </p>

<p>Nor do I think Kenyon is “tops” for English. Again, YMMV.</p>

<p>But the statement I really disagree with is that these schools have a student body like Brown’s. Again, YMMV. You are entitled to your opinion every bit as much as I am entitled to mine. I would not describe W&M’s student body as “liberal.” I wouldn’t describe Kenyon’s as “liberal” either. I would not describe the student body of either as artsy. </p>

<p>Now, we all see things through our particular prism. The kids from my offspring’s NYC public magnet who applied to W&M and/or Kenyon were those who were far to the right of most of their classmates politically. That does NOT mean they are politically conservative in a national context–but they certainly are not liberal in the same sense Brown is. </p>

<p>Again, please understand that I do respect your right to disagree. I just honestly disagree with your opinion that these schools have student bodies that resemble Brown’s.</p>

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<p>Here’s the OP list of schools. I was using this as a reference when making my suggestions and I don’t think these all fall into line with “like Brown”. Just a few are similar. I did suggest Wesleyan if you want to be as close to Brown as possible…and Macalester, Oberlin, Grinnell had already been mentioned. </p>

<p>-Tufts (Currently my second choice…)
-Columbia
-Yale
-Stanford
-Johns Hopkins
-NYU
-Vassar
-Amherst
-Bates</p>

<p>Matches:
-BU
-Syracuse
-University of Michigan
-Sarah Lawrence</p>

15

<p>Drop Hopkins. It is not anything like Brown.</p>

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<p>William and Mary was on my son’s list for a while as it came up a lot if you were interested in International Relations. After my son got into U of Chicago he crossed it off the list - because he thought - just from the website - that the kids looked way too conservative. He certainly didn’t see anyone with shoulder length hair like he had at the time.</p>

<p>Vassar, like Brown, has an open curriculum, but it is of course, much smaller. It’s the only LAC that stayed on my son’s list. </p>

<p>You might want to think about rural, urban, suburban and how that impacts your experience. I think it makes quite a bit of difference in US colleges. </p>

<p>Since you are just a freshman you’ve got plenty of time to consider this. I think it’s way, way too early to even contemplate what might be a reach, match or safety.</p>

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<p>Actually, I almost thought to suggest Vassar because my college classmates and I have a lot of Vassar alum friends who’ve visited each others campuses and remarked on the great similarities between the two schools (Artsy, great academics, laid back, left-leaning). </p>

<p>However, a few Vassar alums…especially those who were on near-full/full FA like myself recounted experiencing some snobbery and pretentiousness because they couldn’t afford the high-end fashion/expensive clothes their wealthier classmates had and because they attended public schools from poorer/inner-city neighborhoods. </p>

<p>Granted, I’ve heard this exclusively from female Vassar alums…but it is something to consider…especially considering snobbing/pretentiousness on the basis of one’s clothing/fashion choices was so alien to my experiences and those of every Obie alum I’ve known…regardless of gender.</p>

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<p>Both times we visited Vassar students were wearing pretty much the same stuff. Either the arty uniform of tight black pants and shirts or the less arty one of jeans and hoodies.</p>

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<p>The educational philosphies of Brown and Columbia could not be further apart. The former has virtually no distribution requirements and the latter has a core curriculum shared by all the students. The easiest way to see that someone is making up their list based on prestige or rankings and not fit is to see those two schools grouped together on someone’s list. Yale and Stanford are going to be more selective than Brown so adding them does not help much if Brown is your first choice. Agree with the others to drop JHU for its non-laid back professional vibe. Tufts, Wesleyan, and Vassar are all great choices that are a bit less selective than Brown. BU, Syracuse and U of M are huge schools that will not have the same atmosphere as Brown.</p>

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<p>there are males with shoulder length hair at W&M, just to set the record straight. =P</p>

<p>Obviously “like Brown” can be interpreted in many ways. I think that W&M is “like Brown” enough that it is worth more research for the OP. It has a well rounded student body that is smart and civic minded (tons of community service hours and many (relative term) graduates join peace corps). The student body is probably not as liberal as Brown. But I would not characterize it as conservative. Artsy can be defined many ways, so I will just say that W&M has student run theater productions, a capella groups, a student run light opera company, artists, etc… W&M, like Brown, has a strong focus on undergraduate education. W&M does have a core curriculum but you can also design your own major.</p>

<p>From the OP’s list of schools, it is very hard to tell what part of Brown he/she would use to identify other schools as “like Brown”</p>

<p>jonri - do you know the political leanings of all the students at your kids’ HS?</p>

<p>OP - </p>

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<p>that is probably true of the “base” curriculum at US high schools. But at all of the schools on your list, the students will be taking many advanced placement (AP) classes or be completing the IB Diploma program.</p>