<p>Okay, as a hippy dad, i have a problem…i know Brown matches my ideals and liberalism and probably what I want for my daughter as well as she would, and is by far the administration I respect the most of respecting student expression and freedom—this of course implies I am an idealist, which I am, but i do know this is NOT an ideal world, where money for grad school was no object and one could learn until one finds their passion—but do kids go into Brown disorganized and come out with a cohesive view of the world-or do they just come out having enjoyed the experience, smarter for it but not practically experienced to get a job in the really tough economy?
I get the impression that the “happiest” students may be partly that way as they do not have to take classes they hate as dad or mom’s money is waiting to protect them, but for the ones who had their FULL (or really full) need met and know mom and dad are not their to support them after Brown, do those kids find they have to pick a path leading to a career or face loans and poverty unless they are headed to Med school? I mean a law degree is no guarantee and half the kids with one now are 200k in debt. A CS degree is guaranteed good income for 20 years or 15 if they outsource you–but a good while if you can put up with that career in a cube or are lucky enough to be the founder of freakbook (my preferred name for it)…
“Do as I say not as I did daughter”. I wound up doing what many Brown students likely do anyway as I took pre-med could not hack the pressure in 400 student state school lecture halls- then philosophy-complete disillusionment clearly, then psychology (self analysis-abnormal psych–is it me?) then, yep dropped out, and worked in the Walmart of its day for 2 years-after that sort of fun but impoverishing and enlightening experience I got whatever out of my system, then realized poverty awaited so had to take 2 grueling years of engineering (having covered all my electives in 1st 2 years) to get my 4 year degree in 8 years (like Belushi in Animal House), living with family in between. </p>
<p>Not what I want for my daughter and hardly what I would expect from her to happen in a school like Brown-although it could mirror the same realizations, just maybe less painfully. </p>
<p>I know this is hardly the story of most Brown grads and maybe its exactly why Brown is set up as open and take what you want, flow where mind takes you, but I have seen that there are many who seem to have degrees from Brown (a sampling of tour guides etc.) in a lot of interesting stuff that does not necessarily place them in good spot for a career(IMHO)? I am all for being renaissance people and not just living to make a large living or think of college as a place to gain a trade without learning your place in the world first, but in this economy can you afford to be all that open about the open study plan?
I know there are a 100 answers as all are different but in general, how many Brown grads simply have to go to grad school and cannot get good jobs because of their major–any metrics? Sorry if this is a silly question on last day but it gives me room to be happy or unhappy if she doesn’t get in, personally its my favorite for fit but she did not even nab an interview so who knows…good grades–typical stats of an admitted but the stats of an admit are also typical stats of a reject–so who knows…good luck all…</p>
<p>I want my daughter to be happy, and I know if she gets in she will be happy-and where she goes will be her choice…wlm</p>