What About Brown Is So Great?

<p>I am not being sarcastic. I would truly like to hear from current students. Thanks!</p>

<p>Hey sonssecty -- there are tons of threads on this forum where current students have answered this and similar questions. Feel free to search through and find them! Many of us have answered this question dozens of times.</p>

<p>If you have more specific questions about the school, we'd be happy to help.</p>

<p>I am sorry Sonssecty, but I am a Brown student and I agree with ILoveBrown. Being on here for several years, although way from prefrosh to now a sophomore at Brown, I've answered hundreds of questions on this webpage and probably hundreds more from people IMing me. It's a little hard to sum up what Brown is, and certainly would involve typing a lot more than I can in one sitting. Search for threads on your particular academic interest. Search for the thread titled, "Brown Student Answering Questions" (or something to that effect), search for the recent thread on Brown's Liberalism. There was a thread a few weeks ago about the Open Curriculum, inquiring whether there were any faults to this concept. All of these threads will have far more information, and be far more helpful, than asking anyone of us to regurgitate the information that was there in a more concise form, which will simply make us sound like the Admission Office's material that's quite widely available. Again, if there is anything specific you can pin point-- something you've herad about the school, something that made you interested in Brown in anyway, we would be glad to discuss that point. However, the task of summing up why I love the school I attend in such a general way is way too much of a task to take up. I'd have to write pages, and frankly, my schedule here is too ambitious for that. If you think this is being unfriendly, I suggest you tread very carefully in the waters of the real world. We're here of our freewill to share what we know, but some questions are too general and ask too much of us to really be worth our time, especially since these points are addressed practically once a week around here and a simple search would get you far further.</p>

<p>honestly sonssecty, there has been so much on this site about the very question that you asked-I Love Brown wasn't being mean, just explaining that you could do a little research on previous posts to find it yourself. Do you know anything about Brown? Are you just starting your research about schools now or are you looking for something specific? Do you know about open curriculum, PLME, grading options? This is the first place to start researching...then if there is something specific, these students can answer it. ILOVEBROWN has been extremely helpful to people in the past so your comment was reallly unwarranted.</p>

<p>Another post in support of ILoveBrown. If you're the kind of person who can read that post as mean, then you're probably also going to be the kind of person who makes others' lives miserable when you get to college, so I'd rather you go elsewhere.</p>

<p>And that's a good point... What do I like about Brown? The overwhelming majority of people are genuinely of a happy disposition, and it permeates every event on the campus. I'd say this happiness arises in two ways: 1. it attracts constitutionally happy people and 2. the freedom that one has here makes us happy. I'd say from what I've seen that ILoveBrown is subject to both of those. It seems like (1) might not apply to you, but I encourage you to investigate Brown more, because you may find that (2) can offset that fact.</p>

<p>Oh, and just a point of note: pre-frosh on this board sometimes seem absurdly self-centered. It is a tiny fraction of perspective Brown applicants that wind up on this board, and you yourself constitute an even tinier fraction. And then, 86% percent of the applicants will eventually be rejected. So basically, the "Brown Administration" couldn't care less about a neutral comment that ILoveBrown leaves for one irritable pre-frosh on a college discussion board. The current students who come here are taking time out of a busy schedule to (usually) encourage pre-frosh to apply or attend, and to imply that any of them should be disliked by the administration is silly.</p>

<p>Well if they cared and were upset so much by these responses why didn't they answer themselves? hmm</p>

<p>Well aren't you just a barrel of fun.</p>

<p>sonsecty-this is getting a little out of hand. I can tell from the number of posts that you have not been on CC very long, but what is customary before you start a thread, is to research it a little to see if this has been answered before. Your post was so general too, it was hard to see what you exactly meant by it. These students who come on to help have probably seen that post and answered it so many times in so many other threads-it can become a little redundant. These students have reallly been very helpful-I am a parent of a freshman and they have offered lots of advice and help throughout the year that I have been posting. I am actually frustrated with that question-can you imagine how they feel?? The bottom line is there is no need to be rude, anyone-this goes to the students as well. Please do not threaten either, it is very unnecessary. Research the site a little, as well as the school's site-that could be a good start for you and then.....come back and ask something specific if it is not clear.Your question is very vague-you could go on any CC school site and ask that question and you would get the same response - "the students, the professors, the dorms, the campus, the activities"....it would be the same response for any college. I guarantee if you read some of the other posts offered throughout the years previously, you will get some answers to your question and can form your own opinion whether this is a good school for you.</p>

<p>Hello again -- I just read my post again, and I can see how you could read it as a little abrupt. For that, I am sorry. However, it seems friendly and reasonable enough -- I said that your question had been answered many times, gave you a tip as to how to find those answers, and said I'd be happy to answer any more specific questions. You didn't ask a stupid question -- you just asked a very common and very vague question, to which many answers are readily available.</p>

<p>I've been posting on this board for over a year, and as others have said, answering the "why I love Brown" question over and over, when my response is available dozens of times in the forum archives, does get a little exhausting. I take time out of my busy day to come here and help high schoolers like you, so I'd appreciate it if you don't insult be by calling me and my classmates pompous. If you have specific questions about the school or my experience, I'd still love to answer them for you.</p>

<p>Thanks to the rest of you who defended my response. I appreciate it. :)</p>

<p>Ok sonssecty, despite the fact that I find it strange you claim to be living longer than a current student has (are you a parent? did you differ for some reason? are you not the typical prefrosh?) I'll give you the kind of canned general answer your general question deserves. Much as AudiB4 eluded, I love Brown because of the open curriculum, the atmosphere, the people, and the opportunities it presents.</p>

<p>Want to know more? Search for threads on the benefits of the open curriculum, liberalism at Brown and the atmosphere in general about Brown which has been discussed quite a bit since students recently did their college visits, search for UTRA (undergraduate teaching and research assistanceship which is how we fund undergraduate research), undergraduate research in general, etc.</p>

<p>So, is this response more to your liking than my original where I said the same thing? It's IMPOSSIBLE to give you the run down on Brown in less than thousands upon thousands of words. This early in the research aspect of a school, I suggest looking through the first few pages of back threads to read what has been discussed recently, check out Brown's own webpage, try the Wikipedia page on Brown, and when you're ready to ask about something that specifically interests you, please come back and ask to your delight. I'll be sure to either point you to a recent thread where that question has been answered or to answer your question if it hasn't been discussed often and recently. If you'd rather talk to me through IMs, note that my AIM screen name is available for you to bother me 24/7. I'd love to hear what oyu have to say. You asked a general question, you received a general, "Take a look around first, there is a lot to learn that's already in the archives here that you should check out BEFORE asking questions," and you were NASTY in response. That's ridiculous.</p>

<p>Have you ever posted on internet forums before? If you posted a question like this on say, <a href="http://www.harmony-central.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.harmony-central.com&lt;/a>, home to some of the largest musician forums, the response would be, "*** n00b USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION IT"S THERE FOR A REASON". No one on the amp page wants to answer ten times a day that you match an 8ohm cab with an 8ohm output from a head. But, if you search "impedance matching" or even "ohm matching" you're likely to find 100 threads with responses that answer these questions.</p>

<p>Why is suggesting, in a nice way, to use the search function when information you seek is already talked about ad naseum such a harmful thing? There are some internet forums out there that dictate that if you post a thread with a question that could have clearly been answered by searching that your post will be deleted and you risk being banned. No one was being nasty to you about it, just saying that you'll find many more helpful threads throughout this page.</p>

<p>This isn't a chatroom for question answer, it's a huge archive of information collected by a series of questions and answer sessions. If something you have to ask is unique or specific enough, we'll often answer (whether it involves repeating something or not)...</p>

<p>Just recently someone posted a question about the prevalence of homosexuals on campus. I kindly responded that there was a current thread on liberalism at Brown that both may clear up a few things and would be a better venue for discussing that individual's question. Rather than throwing a hissy fit, she sought out that thread, found it informative, restated her question in that thread and I provided her with a thorough, and hopefully helpful, answer. See these two threads here:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=255806%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=255806&lt;/a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=251947%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=251947&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I don't understand why you're responses were immediately defensive and critical. Post this question on other boards, you may get a few responses, but I bet by in large people will point to other threads. In fact, I probably would have, and still could have easily answered your question but your attitude is poor and I don't want to help someone who thinks that being asked to use the search function is such a terrible thing. Chances are you wouldn't listen to what I have to say if you couldn't look for what I've had to say in the past.</p>

<p>Well, sonssecty, I hope you're not a lawyer, because Hey sonssecty is not all that different from "Hi Sonssecty". The internet is often informal, especially on forums, and especially on this one where we are quite friendly. If ILoveBrown had say, "Hi Sonssecty," before starting his response would that have made a huge difference?</p>

<p>Also, it's interesting you felt the need to delete your initial response showing some remorse for the way you conducted yourself.</p>

<p>I stand by my point, if you want to not be over sensitive and freak out about someone addressing you with "Hey," I suggest you do take a look around at the rest of our responses and the rest of what we have said about Brown as a school. If you feel I was using nasty rhetoric, well then I am afraid you're just misinterpreting again. Perhaps it's because your generation (I presume you're at least one behind myself, a current student), didn't grow up communicating over the internet, but it can be very difficult to determine meaning through words written hastily and informally. I only meant to clarify ILoveBrown's statement and perhaps go into more detail about why he would feel this way (explaining that these questions come up often) and even suggesting a few topics to search for you to use that would point out many of the unique aspects of Brown. I wish we had closer moderation on this forum so that we could "sticky" an FAQ about Brown so that new comers have all of this in one place, but unfortunately, as it stands, it takes a little work.</p>

<p>wow, it looks as if this whole mess may have been caused by an inter-generational difference in the interpretation of the word "hey". ILoveBrown meant it as a friendly greeting and sonssecty took it as an evil condemnation...</p>

<p>Thanks again, modestmelody and mgcsinc.</p>

<p>Members of our generation often use "hey," both in verbal speech and on the internet, as a friendly greeting, just like "hi." It is polite, in all generations and in most forms of communication, to adress the person to whom you are speaking by name. The beginning of my post was therefore intended to be a warm, polite greeting. I'm sorry that you interpreted it incorrectly -- however, the fact that several other forum users read the meaning I intended demonstrates that the error was probably yours, rather than mine.</p>

<p>Hang around internet forums long enough, and you will begin to pick up on the jargon ("hey" as a friendly greeting, for example), and the customs (searching through threads looking to see if your question has been answered before asking it). I truly hope you learn from this experience that:
a. When you ask a question, and someone tells you how to find the answer, you should thank them, rather than insult them.
b. Insulting people who are trying to help you will lead to angry, unhelpful responses.
c. Assuming that people are unfriendly and treating them in an unfriendly way becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.</p>

<p>Again, I'd be happy to answer specific questions about Brown and my experience here. If you have a child or a friend considering the school, I'd also be happy to have him/her contact me directly.</p>

<p>I promise you that Brown is one of the friendliest, warmest environments I have ever experienced, both as an "outsider" when I was considering the school, and as a student (which is one of the things I have often said I love about it, if you read earlier threads to which I've contributed). Your assumptions that we are pompous are both unfounded and incredibly insulting. Please read over this thread, realize that you have misunderstood me, and reconsider your assumptions about me, my classmates who have defended me, and my University.</p>

<p>Also, I see now that your second post (in response to mine) has been deleted. If you deleted it yourself, thank you. I'll accept that as an appology. If the forum moderators deleted it, I thank them -- but I don't think it was really necessary.</p>

<p>sonsecty- I am a parent too, of a current freshman at Brown. I remember how overwhelming and daunting this whole process of college selection was. I applaud you for coming on these sites to obtain information so that you can make the most informed decision concerning your son. I noticed that you had also posted on the Princeton site and asked specifically about their engineering program. I am a little confused, why you didn't do the same on the Brown site. Perhaps if you had asked something more specific, the students may have been able to help you. But, can you not see that your question was so general and vague? Would you ask a doctor-so, what do you think of medicine? Where does he begin-does he talk about med school and its requirements, patients, insurance companies, how to build an office, different specialties?? Where does he even begin. And, since Brown is so unique in its structure-with its lack of requirements, that it is very hard to sum it all up in a small thread here. These students have helped with so many questions throughout the year I have been on-even where to stay and restaurants to check out while I am visiting my Son. They have talked about dorms, classes to take etc. I really do think you have erroneously taken IloveBrown's response and interpreted it incorrectly. And, if you reread your post, you may see that (I felt) you were a little threatening and "snippity". I really think IloveBrown is sincere when she says she started her post with hey-look at other posts from other places on CC and it is a common way to start a post-it is never meant as rude or condescending. In addition, IloveBrown came back with an apology stating that she hoped you didnt interpret it incorrectly-so I can not understand why you would continue to state that she had an attitude-she explained that she didn't and that you might have just assumed incorrectly that she did. I think that shows alot of maturity on her part-she even offered to answer further questions and have direct contact with that perspective student if they desired. Basically, I think everyone misinterpreted the thread. I would hope that you research the site-previous threads and the school site as well, and still consider if this school is right for your child. I know mine is very happy.</p>

<p>I wish to thank all of you once again for your "words of wisdom."</p>

<p>Did you see that a number of your rude posts were deleted? Please, just drop it.</p>

<p>wow, some of my posts were deleted too... I must have angered the gods... <em>tear</em></p>

<p>"What About Brown Is So Great?"</p>

<p>Here's the impression of an outsider, familiar with Brown though</p>

<p>2 factors: Ivy League school (i.e. good reputation and academics) and outstanding location, the city of Providence has really improved over the past 10 to 20 years and it has a large amount of vibrancy for a small city, is relatively safe, and the Brown campus has alot of style to it with everything located relatively close together, with a nicely setup main street with shops and restaurants that pretty much are going all the time. I don't believe students feel isolated like they might with for example some of the other elite colleges like Dartmouth and (for some) Cornell - and that can be a big plus. The city is sort of triangulated between NYC, Boston, and Cape Cod - a location many would love to have</p>

<p>(fair) question asked - and question answered</p>

<p>Citation, thank you for the answer, though as a current student, those aren't my two top reasons. I hope you don't feel we were being overcritical in here, this thread has been the case of the missing posts as at least 3 of sonssecty's have been deleted as well as several others.</p>