UChicago vs. Brown

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Okay. Here's the story.
I applied to UChicago and MIT EA (Brown was ED, and my parents didn't want me to do that). I was admitted to UChicago, but deferred-->rejected from MIT. That rejection destroyed my confidence, so I didn't even let myself consider getting into Brown. I was positive that I was going to get rejected. So, I was 99.9% positive that I would be attending UChicago, and obviously got very attached it it.
But then, I GOT INTO BROWN! Brown was the school that I had always liked but didn't allow myself to love... and now I do love it. I still have that attachment and affection for UChicago, though.</p>

<p>Chicago: amazing architecture, I love the city (being in a good urban environment is really important to me- I especially want to go to a lot of concerts), quirkiness, fantastic academics, would make XC team (I think), farther from family, I really love the Shoreland, lots of school pride, better research opportunities, Scav Hunt, I could also probably make the orchestra/wind ensemble- I'm not sure if this is true for Brown, I have already made some friends there, I like the fact that it doesn't have as much prestige, because I don't like that aspect to college admissions</p>

<p>Brown: Providence is also a great city- in fact, it might be a better fit for me since I grew up in a tiny town with a population of 8,000, people seem to be more "chill," Ivy League without the cutthroat atmosphere (more diverse student body), closer to family (haha, I know that I said UChicago was good because it was farther, but I DO have a 3-year-old sister, and I want to visit her semi-frequently) and friends (I have a couple of really close junior friends), friendly students and faculty, it seems like Brown "wants me" more, Brown students seem happier and everyone loves it, friends and family want me to go to Brown</p>

<p>Honestly, both the Brown and Core Curriculums appeal to me in different ways. I like the Brown Curriculum a little bit more, but I plan to take a mixture of science and humanities courses no matter what, so this shouldn't impact me too much.</p>

<p>I also have the guilt factor working in favor of Brown. Seventeen students from my school applied, and I was the only one who was accepted. If I don't accept that offer, I would feel really guilty.</p>

<p>Finally, I'm planning on majoring in biology (biochemistry, perhaps) with a minor in environmental studies. I really love languages, writing, and history, though- I don't really like any areas of science/math other than biology and chemistry.</p>

<p>Thanks! And sorry for the unnecessarily long post!</p>

2

<p>You seem like you definitely wanna go to Brown more. Go to Providence.</p>

3

<p>1]Shoreland is being closed down because of the new dorm. 2] you will have to devote essentially your first 2 years to completing the "core" if you go to Chicago- and that includes having to take math. if you want more freedon to take classes you are interested in, go to Brown.3] grade deflation is a fact at Chicago, especially in comparison to many of the Ivy's. 4] unless you LOVE to work really, really hard, you would probably be happier at Brown.
My son was accepted at both colleges and recently transfered out of Chicago. He would have gone to Brown, but he was interested in doing a minor in Music, and the music dept at Brown was not strong enough for his interest in composition .</p>

4

<p>go with your gut and follow it to brown</p>

5

<p>


</p>

<p>Nice one. ;)</p>

6

<p>Menlopark makes 4 years at Brown seem like a walk in the park. Definitely not the case.</p>

7

<p>If the student happiness, diversity, and the lack of cutthroat competition are the most important factors for you, I would go with Brown. Definitely.
But if you are super-academic and are concerned about the sports possibilities more, go to Chicago (just remember no one will come to watch you run, haha)
Other than that, they're both in great - although different - cities and they're both full of highy intelligent, quirky people.
I'd go to Brown, though ;)</p>

8

<p>is chicago really that much work?</p>

9

<p>dude,don't make a decision based on what people that have never attended say.visit and meet actual students</p>

10

<p>"dude", my son was accepted twice- as a freshman and as a transfer. He attended last fall qtr and was pretty miserable . Yeah there is a lot of work required at Chicago. You can get one one of the best liberal arts educations in the world at Chicago, but they do make you work harder in comparison to most other colleges. There is a reason for the slogan, which many not be as true today as it once was, but is still true for many students- Chicago is the place "where fun goes to die". So if your idea of a college education is to devote yourself to your studies, if you want nothing more than to live the " life of the mind", then you can't find a better college than Chicago. If you want a more "typical" college experience, then you may be disappointed there.</p>

11

<p>I'm sorry to say this, but maybe your son couldn't handle the work? I haven't met any student that describes the college the way you do, as the place where people do nothing more than work. Please stop giving false impressions.</p>

12

<p>Brown & Chicago are opposites with respect to educational philosophy, in my opinion. Chicago demands a lot from its students & requires a lot from its students. Brown trusts its students and encourages risk free exploration of different academic areas. Both are two of the world's most outstanding universities with different approaches to higher education. My niece recently graduated Brown, and my nephew from Chicago; I would love to get their perspectives on this.</p>

13

<p>Beefs, as you don't know my son, and as you have not even started at Chicago yet, please stop making assumptions about others. He could handle the work just fine, as his roomate, another CC poster mentioned in another thread. I'm not bad mouthing you, so please have the courtesy to refraine from doing likewise to others. The thread is about the difference between Chicago and Brown, both fine colleges, but they are more different than alike.</p>

14

<p>this article, though it is from 2000, gives an illuminating perspective about Chicago from the point of view of a Princeton student.
Think</a> we've got it bad? U. Chicago has it worse - The Daily Princetonian</p>

15

<p>Thanks for all your input (and I had no idea that my thread would start a mini-feud... haha)! It's becoming clearer and clearer as time goes on that Brown is a better fit for me... There's still a part of me that loves UChicago, but when I read over my post, it was clear which school I really favor.
I'm going to both schools' overnights, so those will be the deciding factors (I'm sure that at one school it will just feel "right"), but I think that I'm a future Brown bear at this point. Thanks, and any other input is definitely appreciated!</p>

16

<p>I suggest you continue to weigh the pros and cons of both schools, and consider the qualities you're "truly" looking for in a college. Search deep within yourself for the answers; spend this month agonizing over the decision.</p>

<p>Then choose Chicago.</p>

17

<p>^Ha, ha.</p>

<p>(Actually, I only have 12 days, because after that I'll be in France until May 2!)</p>

18

<p>congrats again on acceptance to 2 great colleges. good luck!</p>

19

<p>Two schools couldn't be more different...</p>

20

<p>cough..chicago..cough...cough</p>