<p>I am really interested in environmental science/studies and may major in it. I am not completely sure about it though. I focused on my interests in my why brown essay, and chose this as my major choice. </p>
<li>Do you consider this a somewhat unique major? Or is it a popular one?</li>
<li>If it is considered unique, would it help a little in my admission or do the adcoms not care about what I am interested in majoring in?</li>
<li>Are you bound to major in whatever you select on the online app? or can you change your mind once you are there?</li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li> It's a smaller major at Brown, so yes, it's pretty unique for an incoming freshman to select it on their application.</li>
<li> It might help a little bit, because it shows that you've done your research about the school, are focused, etc, but it probably wouldn't be a deciding factor.</li>
<li> Absolutely not. The application is just so they can make sure that their incoming freshman class isn't ALL planning to major in International Relations or Biology or whatever -- they want to make sure they have a diverse group of people with different interests. However, once you're here, you can choose whatever major you want, change your major, double major, whatever. The application is in no way binding.</li>
</ol>
<p>It may, if they think you are serious about the field. I think it helped my daughter's application; she is now a freshman in Egyptology. But it was very clear from her application (coursework, a recommendation from someone in the field itself, work samples) this is what she wanted to do. Then again, they may have been influenced by the fact that it was so clear this is what she wanted to do and Brown has the only undergraduate program in the subject in the Western Hemisphere.</p>
<p>Brown used to say on its web site that prospective major was a consideration, but that seems to be gone now. Perhaps too many people claimed interest in esoteric subjects trying to game the system? I know I read last year on this forum a thread where kids were specifically wondering if they could put down stuff they didn't care about in order to get in. Maybe the Brown adcom folks saw that ...</p>
<p>But it is evident that you really are interested in your subject, even if you aren't sure, so it could very well help you (and it certainly won't hurt).</p>
<p>Well It is not like I am choosing a random obscure major, because I am definitely interested in it, so hopefully it will help!</p>
<p>I've been involved with volunteering at the local animal shelter, took an environmental science summer program at Columbia, taking AP Biology, and I love animals. I am also an exec board member, communications officer and head of wildlife committee of SAVE club and I am helping to raise money/awareness for PETA, and stuff like that. I am also vegetarian :D I am really interested in environmental science, and hopefully it shows through my app. I hope so!</p>
<p>Well, then, you shouldn't have a problem since your genuine interest does show through!</p>
<p>My immediate family's all vegetarians, too. You are lucky in a way; colleges now usually have good vegie choices (except Carnegie Mellon my son discovered one summer -- imagine six weeks of pasta with marinara sauce). When I went to school, I had to eat at the Student Health cafeteria because vegetarian was considered a special diet request. And all they ever gave me was slices of cheese and hard boiled eggs. Good thing I wasn't following a vegan diet back then, like I am today ...</p>
<p>Wow, I didnt know that CMU has bad vegetarian food choices. That is strange because there is such a high population of internationals and Indian people, and a lot of indian people are vegetarian. </p>
<p>I really hope that whatever college I go to, there will be good vegetarian options. I am not vegan however, because I need to get protein in some way or other. If there isnt good food, I guess I'll have to learn how to cook :P</p>
<p>Well, there were nice restaurants off campus at CMU, but everyday during the summer session, they only had one vegie option, the same thing every day. Then again, the meateaters also complain about the food there. It always makes it near the top of the "is it food?" list on princetonreview.</p>
<p>(Completely irrelevant to this board -- but it is hard to not get enough protein if you eat regular food. Many diseases are caused or aggravated by having too much protein, in particular animal protein. We actually follow a vegan diet for health, not ethical, reasons. If you are interested, you might check out the McDougall board on vegsource or any books by McDougall or Campbell. I just bought Campbell's "The China Study," the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted. If you look at the WHO recommendations for protein, it is easy enough to get all you need from basic starches. No need to balance amino acids either; that is something that has been disproven [the balancing was only necessary when rats were studied, but people it turns out are different] but people who should know better keep repeating it. McDougall is actually contemplating a lawsuit on the subject, I believe. [McDougall is close to Ornish, but the latter allows egg whites -- McD, which we do (with some splurges off the diet occasionally, I will admit!) is no animal products and no added fat. Sounds grim to most people but it isn't that difficult, really, and allows for plenty of tasty, easy to prepare food -- and we feel better, hubby's cholesterol and weight are down, my gall bladder attacks and recurrent sinus infections stopped, etc.]</p>
<p>Well, I can't make my case here. It is irrelevant and I can hardly go into all the different studies I've read about. You just have my conclusion and I wouldn't expect anyone to take my word for it; it took a lot of reading for me to be convinced. It is something to research for yourself in your abundant free time LOL)</p>
<p>If you make it into Brown, eating won't be a problem at all. A number of colleges put up their menus on the net, too, so you can check them out. We always looked at menus when we went college visiting.</p>
<p>The best food I've run across is Wash U in St. Louis. My son goes there ... I guess as a reaction against CMU!</p>
<p>I agree, ILoveBrown. When I talk to my daughter, I always hear about what she just ate and what she is planning on eating at her next meal. She's the type that checks out the menus on the net in advance and plans accordingly.</p>
<p>The one aggravating thing for her is how early the dining halls close. She has athletic practice most days from 5:30 to 7:30. One place closes at 7:00 and the other at 7:30 as I understand it. At WashU, a dining hall is available until midnight at least (I think it is open even later on the weekends).</p>
<p>There are some nice places to eat off campus as well. Dd's favorite is the Indian restaurant, although she has trouble finding the people who are willing to give it a try. Someone on another board recently told me about Fire and Ice, near the Mall, a Mongolian BBQ type of place where you put your ingredients in a bowl and they stirfry it for you. It is supposed to be great ...</p>
<p>It's a little annoying that the main dining halls close at 7:30, but Joe's opens at 6 and closes at 2 every night, and the Ivy Room opens at 8 and closes at 2, Monday through Friday. I'm not sure what the hours of the Gate are, but they're pretty similar. There's definitely a lot to eat on campus after 7:30.</p>
<p>Here's my daughter talking about vegetarian options after 7:30:</p>
<p>If you live on Pembroke Campus, the nearest place to go to is the Gate, but there isn't as much variety for a vegan. You can either have a salad or a sandwich, with little variety from day to day (e.g., you can have a veggie sandwich with either tomato or pesto sauce -- that's it). I go there practically after every sports practice, since the dining halls are closed. As for Joe's and the Ivy Room, when it is, say, in the thirties outside and lots of wind, going to either of them from Pembroke Campus seems to be an act of insanity, at least if you get as easily cold as I do. </p>
<p>I live in Pembroke Campus to be near the OMAC, which is where I have sports practice. When it is no longer winter, I think the situation would be better, since I wouldn't freeze while getting grub. But there will still be the time issue. I can't afford the time to walk to Joe's or the Ivy Room every night.</p>
<p>Still I wouldn't want to go anywhere else but Brown!</p>
<p>I'm a vegetarian (not vegan) and I go to a boarding school where there is NO vegetarian food - we're talking old noodles, every single day. I can't wait to get to Brown!!</p>