To be a Brownie or a Swattie

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
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<p>Okay, so I hope this won’t be as unfocused as 99% of the other “vs.” threads. </p>

<p>As you’ve discerned from the title, my final two choices are Swarthmore and Brown. I’m posting this here because I feel I know enough about Swarthmore to justify choosing it, but not enough about Brown, so I’m hoping some of you guys could educate me.</p>

<p>First, I know all about Brown’s open curriculum. Swat negates Brown’s usual advantage in that it has a very loose set of distribution requirements, no core. What I DON’T know about, however, is course availability. Do more popular courses fill up quickly, are there any registration hassles in general, etc.</p>

<p>I’m also in the dark about the actual classroom setting at Brown. Is there a lot of interaction between professors and students, or is that only something that happens in your senior year? Do students collaborate with one another/discusses classroom material outside of the lessons (I’m sure this one is going to get some varied responses)? Just what is the academic climate like at Brown?</p>

<p>Oh, and I should add that I’m considering to be a Poli Sci or Econ major, and while I know Swarthmore has excellent programs in those areas, I’m unsure of Brown’s strength in them. </p>

<p>A last question I have (for now) is about Brown’s music program. How hard is it for one to take private lessons at Brown, and how many informal groups are there? And do they perform often on campus?</p>

<p>I hope these questions aren’t too unfocused or burdensome, and I’d REAAAAAAAAALLY appreciate any feedback. I have a feeling it’ll ultimately be a question of whether I’m more comfortable with Brown’s or Swarthmore’s size. I’ll be attending both admitted student events, so hopefully I’ll get that gut feeling telling me where I belong. :)</p>

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<p>The faculty will prove quite approachable if you know what you are after and you pursue it -- Or, if you are willing to be an active participant in the process of figuring out what you want to do. Collaborative is a touchstone of the academic culture, not a marketing cliche.</p>

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<p>BUMPBUMP.</p>

<p>These are my two top choices, as well. I'm leaning more toward Brown because my interest is in the Visual Arts, but still, Swat holds a piece of my heart. ^_^</p>

<p>Add me on AIM; I'd like to bounce ideas back and forth! = Lyra Aidyta</p>

<p>Something tells me I already know you. HMM. Haha, who knows. Anyway, how can you be going to both?! They're practically on the same date. XD</p>

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<p>these were two of my top schools when i was deciding and the visits were what influenced my final choice to go to brown</p>

<p>i was attracted to swarthmore because (in addition to amazing academics and idyllic setting) it seemed cozy and intimate. upon visiting, however, i felt the small size was to its detriment. it seemed more like an expensive boarding high school than a college--students were cliquey, "jocks" hung out separately from "nerds" with great animosity between the two groups, a bell would ring in between classes, etc. </p>

<p>also, opportunities to engage in primary scholarship (research) seemed much more limited in comparison to brown. not to mention there were less course offerings in the areas i was interested.</p>

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<p>If you want to have a life, choose Brown :)</p>

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<p>OP,</p>

<p>If you are still trying to decide, send me a PM. I have a kid at Brown and one who graduated a couple of years ago from Swat. Glad to assist if you are still around. Both kids have music as at least one of their majors/concentrations.</p>

<p>momofthree</p>