<p>I got that Brown packet in the mail with all the ADOCH info and the questionnaire and was a little irked to see yet another essay. That did not make me the happiest camper. I kind of thought I was done.</p>
<p>I was actually somewhat pleased.</p>
<p>I'd rather write a personal piece discussing the struggles over career paths that I am having right now and all of my interests that I am searching to consolidate into a cohesive direction dictate my Freshman Advisor rather than a random pool or the first letter of my last name.</p>
<p>I don't think they are looking for much but an idea of where you feel you are going and how much of what kind of direction you need in order to make sure matriculating students will make the most of the open curriculum without getting lost in it.</p>
<p>At least, that's what I am convincing myself of so that I don't get ****ed off about the 20-35mins I have to spend writing yet another college essay :-P.</p>
<p>Whoa, collegeconfidential just "*'d" me. Ooops.</p>
<p>Haha, I pretty much already wrote this essay for a scholarship the other day. It's no big deal.</p>
<p>But I actually didn't notice this paper--I'll have to go back through my big packet (I just quickly browsed through it when I got it).</p>
<p>It's really not that bad. It's your chance to show Brown what you expect from them and isn't a "why are you special?" kind of essay at all. Take your time writing it. Put some thought into it, because if you don't, then hey, why should Brown put much thought into advising you? Yes, I do wish that essays were over too, but I think one will could very well define your Brown experience.</p>
<p>From what I've heard, Brown advising isn't that personal anyway.</p>
<p>Eh, it's not so much the time. I just am not in the mood to write about myself once again. College essays were kind of hell for me, and I must have written like 20 before I came out with even a topic that I was pleased with.</p>
<p>rabo i think ur taking this way too seriously...</p>
<p>it really is just a mode of communication between you and the university to pair you up with an advisor to help guide you through the new curriculum, which certainly seems daunting. in no way is it an evaluative piece of writing; just write about who you are and what you want to do, and dont worry, because we're brown 09! haha i still cant get over it!</p>
<p>I know, I know...I just saw it though and thought, are they freaking serious?</p>
<p>I mean, I've called them and left my number 5 times, written letters, etc to get answers to a simple question, with no response, and now they try to come off like we'll be treated like individuals!? Pshaw.</p>
<p>It's not a serious essay. You can just write some crap. It's just for your advisors to get to know you, but in all seriousness, Brown's advising sucks anyway, so it doesn't really matter. They're not going to rescind your admission if you just don't do it.</p>
<p>is the advising at brown reallly that bad?</p>
<p>yea, I thought that Brown was the more personal ivy...guess I was wrong. </p>
<p>Can anyone clear this up for me? My interviewer told me that when he was at Brown some 30-odd years ago, he was hardly ever taught by TA's. Is that still true or far from it?</p>
<p>I'm not speaking from personal experience, but it seems that nobody is going to watch over you and guide your every step, or help much at all unless you deliberately seek help. Even then, I don't know how good the advising is. You could call it a lack of an advising system or a system that encourages independence. </p>
<p>Asterstar, I don't think the advising system has anything to do with whether or not TA's teach classes (which I hope ... they don't).</p>
<p>From what I heard, most classes have a professor, but there are TAs to teach sections. Lower lvl language classes often use grad students, but those can be just as good as professors, since a lot of them are native speakers. I visited a 3rd semester greek class taught by a grad student, and initially I was irked that a grad student was teaching that level, but he was really good.</p>
<p>Rabo, I said the exact same thing when I saw that sheet! I thought, the two hundred essays I wrote for you already aren't enough? But I'll do it out of my love for Brown (with some complaining though, because I'm extremely lazy).</p>