<p>@TrinidadJames22
You are a fellow Brown applicant too? I love Brown because of the overall package it offers (and their amazing Philosophy and Public Health programs). And the opportunity for admission into the famous Brown PLME program. I have not visited most of the schools in the north because it is so far from where I live but I have a feeling that I don’t need to see the campus to be falling in love with them! ;)</p>
<p>@SoCalDad2
I understand where you are coming from but I don’t think that most colleges are pretty much the same. Sure most of the top 20 schools are tiered in terms of prestige/ranking and some of them might seem similar to one another. But there is always one or two factors, if not more, that really distinguish each school from another in the minds of every applicant. I found those one or two factors to be what make each school what they are to me and why I am so attached to them, some more than others obviously. </p>
<p>@matrixsurgeon, I applied to 16 schools. Not necessary, but happened due to a mixture of paranoia and indecisiveness.</p>
<p>@TrinidadJames22, @SoCalDad2, I love a lot of things about Yale, but the biggest thing for me is the residential college system. As someone who has had trouble making friends in the past (I’m better now), it’d be nice to start over in a university where you’re immediately part of a family. Additionally, great psych/cog-sci program, beautiful campus/architecture, lots of things to do on campus, good food, and though New Haven is a little sketchy, apparently, it’s a very foody town, and I’m a very foody person. Also, it has an intellectual vibe, but, from what I’ve heard, students still seem cool and down to earth. </p>
<p>@my88keys
I applied to 14 schools, looks like we are in the same boat. Most of them are due to general indecisiveness as well as lots of fear of not being able to get into atleast one of my top choices so I expanded my choices.</p>
<p>Rice and Yale are on my list which have residential college system as part of those “one or two factors.”</p>
<p>@matrixsurgeon I applied to every ivy except for cornell and columbia(wanted to leave NY). While it may seem a bit ridiculous, I visited all of the ivy’s I ended up applying to, and liked each. I also applied to Williams, Amherst, Duke, and Northwestern. The only school I haven’t seen that I applied to was Duke…
So we’ll see. Hopefully a couple of those will turn out well.</p>
<p>Yea, Stanford too, but my high reaches end there. Brown does it for me, you tell me I get to control what I study, I get to do the crazy academic combinations I want, have all my C courses i do for fun magically turn into just “Pass”…I’m in.</p>
<p>The student body just seems like my people, everyone chill and everyone doing their own thing.</p>
<p>Stanford caught me with the supplement thougt, that was just a thing of beauty.</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s why I’m kind of worried about Yale. I wish their supplement were more expansive. I think my best apps were Stanford, Princeton, and Columbia because I really got to display multiple facets of my personality. </p>
<p>@TrinidadJames22
I will admit that even though I am done thinking of Stanford, their supplement was sure fun to complete! Especially the roommate letter which I was sure I hit out of the park!</p>
<p>@satsarecool
We applied to a lot of the same schools then. I applied to pretty much all of the Ivies as well as Duke and a couple of other top schools. </p>
<p>@my88keys
Yale’s was wierd because of their “do what you like” long essay which I crafted the best I could. I like wierd out of the ordinary prompts that really press you to find your own “way,” although UChicago definitely takes that to a whole another level! My best supplements imo were Brown, Duke, and Rice.</p>
<p>@my88keys Yea, I got the same vibe, all part of why I applied. My essay for Yale was about cooking lol.</p>
<p>I didn’t bother to apply everywhere. I just know I’m not a Harvard guy, a Princeton Guy or a Dartmouth guy…just not me. Probably not Cornell either.</p>
<p>Columbia attracted me, but in the end it was just too expensive. My scholarship only covers 55,000 a year, and I’m not allowed to work, so that extra 10,000 would be difficult. Plus it’s the big city, I’m ready for small city, but big city would be just an insane transition.</p>
<p>I hated the Why Yale prompt, because SERIOUSLY? I’m supposed to explain everything I love about Yale in 100 words?</p>
<p>I applied to all Ivies but Dartmouth, because it’s in the middle of nowhere. I shouldn’t have applied to Cornell for the same reason. </p>
<p>My Yale essay was about how people conforming to society and not thinking for themselves. I gave somewhat of an extended metaphor. I don’t know how it rolled off. I think the way I wrote it was what made me want to submit it.</p>
<p>I applied to Columbia, but I’m with you, @TrinidadJames22. It’s really big. And because it’s NYC, everybody wants to do everything off campus, so there isn’t as cohesive of a social atmosphere. I know people think New Haven is a con, but I think New Haven not being a big super fun city actually benefits the campus. There’s always something to do on campus.</p>
<p>Brown was your best supplement? Damn. That thing had me shaking with anger…150 words for academic interests? 150 words, what community is meaningful to you? </p>
<p>Then 200 words for why brown…and I just want to tell them read your own website…</p>
<p><em>Steps into the light after lurking for a while</em>
Guess I’m in the minority here; I applied to only two Ivies (Harvard and Yale) and a top LAC (Williams)… I kind of tacked them on towards the end of the application process… due to changes in what I’m looking for in a college, I can’t really see myself being completely happy at my other schools, so if I don’t get in to any of those three I mentioned, I’ll most likely take a gap year and apply to more LACs and other Ivies (AKA I am going to take a gap year)</p>
<p>@my88keys My common app essay was about the same!, extended metaphor, everything. Mine was about cows and chickens, how cows are subdued creatures, how chickens are fiesty, how ironic that is, how Indians reflect the cows…</p>
<p>We approached the supplements different, I like to just write, but I hate listing things, which is what I felt I was doing with Why Brown. In the end it just came out like a robotic, I love everything about Brown and I fit there answer.</p>
<p>@TrinidadJames22 @my88keys
I am the wierd one that applied to both extremely Urban environments (Columbia) as well as places that were in the middle of nowhere (Cornell, Dartmouth). I just like all of the environments and what they have to offer!
I loved the challenge of fitting those Why Yale and Why Browns into less than 200 words. I felt like I spent hours upon hours just trying to take out all unnecessary words until that thing was a beauty which was packed with information. But then again, its all about how the admission officers see it!</p>
<p>My essays were very personal, especially my Common App one. I have a wierd thing with essays in that I think of answers to those topics not while brainstorming or such but instead in the wierdest of situations! I don’t spend alot of time doing actual writing but LOTS of time thinking about it during the day. </p>
<p>Man, I just taked on a whole 650 word essay in the extra space because the Brown supplement and Yale Supplement didn’t do enough for me. Here’s to hoping ad coms don’t get pissed. The good people at Stanford essentially reading the equivalent of a short story from me.</p>
<p>My top choices right now are Yale, Stanford, and Princeton. I’m hoping, hoping, hoping, but expecting the worst.</p>
<p>@TrinidadJames22, Mine was a really weird metaphor. Like it’s hard to explain (Probably not that hard, I’m just lazy).</p>
<p>@matrixsurgeon, I think I could survive at Columbia, I just have my preferences. But I suppose when it comes to schools with sub-10-percent admissions rates, my preferences are the least of my worries.</p>
<p>@my88keys
I totally understand what you mean. My top choices are Yale, Columbia, Harvard and then Penn/Duke in that order. One half of me wants to hope and find a path to those schools while the other loves being practical lolol.</p>
<p>Wow, just by reading this forum I realise how different America is than the UK. We can only apply to 5 schools at home so if they all reject you, you’re in a bit of trouble. And it’s funny how some of you wrote that you have the stats but lack the x-factor, because I feel exactly the opposite :P</p>
<p>I am getting like 5 responses that day. Any plans on how you’ll celebrate or regret? If I make it, I’ll take a walk without telling anybody. If the other way, I’ll probably cry, eat food, and watch tv to soothe my broken heart.</p>