<p>My daughter has gone to CTY twice, loved it. For some reasons, I want her to consider Brown this year. CTY is very structured, she attended class or study periods 5-6 hours a day, had no freedom to wander out of campus. Duke seems pretty much the same way, and they both require a certain SAT score. Brown is different, it seems easier to get in, students just need to attend 3 hours of class a day or so, there seems to be no straight study hall time and they can wander outside of campus as they wish. Any insights?</p>
<p>^That’s pretty much it in a nutshell. If you want to study all the time, you can. But there’s plenty of opportunity for free time, wandering around, exploring Providence, going to the beach (the bus–RIPTA–will take you anywhere), etc in between the class(es).</p>
<p>Hey thanks ambitiousMind07. Do you know about the level of “selectivity” of the students? CTY does require a certain SAT score though I am alright for her to take a less intense summer. The thing is she’s a freshman, I worry about the associated problems with “wandering around” without any supervision. Do you know if they have homework or study hall?</p>
<p>I honestly don’t think it’s that selective–being able to pay is probably the biggest factor. When I was on campus this past summer (not for Summer@Brown), several of my friends were RAs for the Summer@Brown high school students. Often times, the high schoolers would eat/hang out with the RAs for the first few days and then they’d eventually find a group of friends that they clicked with and would start to associate with those people. It wasn’t uncommon for people to walk to downtown providence (it’s literally down the hill from campus), go to the beach, or just hang-out on campus. I wouldn’t worry too much about the “wandering around”—I hardly ever saw high schoolers walking around by themselves at night. The RAs do a pretty good job of encouraging students to stay safe by staying in groups when wandering about. Plus, high schoolers are required to wear these (hideous) red lanyards and tags at all times—surprisingly, most people abide by the rule! As long as your daughter maintains proper judgement, doesn’t wander alone at night by herself, and is back in her dorm before curfew* (which is HUGE), she’ll be fine.</p>
<p>*It’s important she doesn’t miss curfew. Public safety will get called, RAs will be freaking out, and she could get kicked out. RISD actually has a zero tolerance policy and it was pretty sad to hear of kids being sent home after day one for skipping curfew–albeit, some of those kids also partook in illegal drug use, but I’m sure missing curfew didn’t help either.</p>
<p>hey thanks again! talking about RSID, that’s one reason why I want her to try brown instead of CTY this year. She might be interested in RSID (Industrial Design)/Brown (a Humanities or SS degree) dual program, I know it’s highly selective. How’s RSID like, is it really artsy and not having a sense of the real world? My D is artsy while still knows that being an artist is difficult to make a living.</p>
<p>RISD is eclectic. From the standpoint of a Brown student, it looks like there is a strong sense of community and camaraderie. All of the RISD people I know are extremely intellegent as well! As far as the not having a sense of the real world goes, maybe that depends on the individual? I think there are students at both schools who may fit that criteria, but for the most part, people acknowledge that they have to work very hard to stay grounded once they leave school and enter the “real world.” My RISD friends are always thinking about how the courses they’re taking now will impact their careers and decisions later; they sound like Brown students (insert: typical college kids).</p>
<p>She should definitely apply for the dual program. I know quite a few dual degree-ers. If there’s one thing they all have in common it’s the fact that they’re interests are so…like I said before, eclectic. They are so gifted at one thing that as soon as you turn your back, they’ve mastered something else beautifully! Not saying that your daughter has to be perfect (or even that they’re perfect), I’m just saying that they have diverse talents and interests that really make them shine.</p>
<p>I don’t think that the summerprogram is that selective about SAT; I got into the program - and the school - with 1870. If your d has, say, no Cs or the equivalent, her recs have a good word to say, and you can afford it, then it seems that she’d be able to get in. Come to think of it, I don’t even think that summer@brown even asks for SAT. Some RAs are good, and some are horrible - but not all the RAs are from Brown. I feel that RA was the best of the RAs; his philosophy was to guide us. He allowed us to make our own choices and wasn’t demanding, but was very caring and trusted that we knew how to control ourselves. He wrote me a rec for my application, and now he wants me to write a rec for him for Meikeljohn.
curfew was a really big thing; 1130 m-th and 1230 f-sun. The RAs do rounds to make sure people are in.
We didn’t many other requirements besides curfew (and didn’t need to wear lanyards)… we could skip classes if we felt like it.
I did the 7week program, and I recommend it. I believe that there is a grade req, but I know that a sophomore was in the program.</p>
<p>It isn’t the classes that will help your chances, it’s the connections. Get the business cards, email addresses, names, whatever you can from everyone who has to do with the academics at school whose summer program you attend. Ask thought provoking questions, be knowledgeable about the school, and thank people. Send thank you letters to your professors and adviser when you leave. When people say that the program will not increase your chances of getting in, they’re saying that because they read that on the website because it’s a DISCLAIMER, not because it’s necessarily the truth. </p>
<p>Summer@Brown is very generous with low income students who apply soon after the application opens. The Dean’s Scholarship program is honestly one of the best of any summer program I am aware of except for the totally free ones.</p>