Brown University Top Questions

To a certain extent. Yes, there are plenty of those who talk about socieconomic inequality and other societal issues. Yes there are stoners and yes there is a sizable LGBTQ community. However, as with most stereotypes, these do not hold true for many students. As far as the stoner stereotype, I for one can say that this is not true for me and my friends and you will find plenty of Brown students who aren't into cannabis-related activities. Also there are students who won't give a hoot about third world issues and there will be students who will err on the side of conservative values and argue against your leftist ideologies.

Brown is so diverse that yes, you will find those people here (although they won't major in basketweaving, that would never get through the independent concentration review process). But there are so many different kinds of people here that most will find their niche. Also, Economics and Biology are the most popular concentrations at Brown, and they're certainly not useless.

Yeah there is quite a mix of people at brown.

Yes and no. Yes, you will find people, a fair number of people that fit those stereotypes. At the same time, there's a healthy balance of blue blooded republicans on their way to investment banking jobs at the world's most successful companies, even with the economy in the shitter. You'll find liberals chasing those jobs, too for that matter. Ok, yes, the naked party is fun if you get invited, but yes, the point of it is to embrace the human form rather than gawk at unrealistic media-driven portrayals of what the naked body should look like. On the flip side, there is Starf*ck and Sex Power God made famous by Republican news pundits to feed your debaucherous instincts. Yes, there is a lot of weed, but in my opinion, only in a very small portion of the population. Yes, we're the most diverse and most gay friendly of the Ivies, and that's something of which we are very proud. The stereotypes exist because of our Ivy League status--we're left of the Ivy average, but that's not saying much: For example, the diversity of Brown's student population still does not represent the US population. We could use even more diversity - it's white-washed compared to where I come from. Yes, we are gay friendly, but I've never seen a single gay couple holding hands on the main green, compared to the face-sucking by straight counterparts. And far too many students still end up with high-paying consulting or investment banking jobs than donate their lives to Teach For America/Americorps/Peace Corps etc.

motivated students

no distribution requirments

DIY liberal iIndie kids epitomize brown. maybe.

can we even be boiled down to a stereotype?

Brown students are just SO creative

fact - brown students are a little weird

To an extent, yes. Stereotypes about any school and their students always must hold some truth (i.e. Princeton has admits too many students with legacy. True story.) But not all Brown students are hippies, and the "liberal" environment on campus is simply due to the fact that the students come from very different backgrounds and we all have a very *liberal* view of seeing how the world works. We are liberal in the sense that we want to look forward and do something that will make things better. There are some pretty politically conservative students on campus.

We are extremely liberal for the most part, but beyond that none of the stereotypes are valid.

yes, qualified. Most students fall somewhere on the liberal scale, and many are inclined to try things like vegetarianism, Buddhist meditation, and political protests. But we also tend to be pretty laid-back, never pushy about whatever ideas we have. Brown students are unique in that we place a high value on creativity, on intellectual independence, and on passion for learning and being.

yeah, for the most part

Some- rich, hipster, involved

To a large degree, yes.

The truth is that, of course there are the hippy kids and the rich kids. But there are also the artists, the science major the english lovers, the kids who live in the librabry, the athletes, ect. There are people from all over the world but its more than that still. every person i have met thus far at brown is complex. People have their intricacies and i dont thinks it fair to describe a person with one word. Maybe it seems like a dichotomy to the outside world but at brown you come to learn failrly quickly that the "hippy" kids can be jocks and the jocks can be sensitive. So, yes, stereotypes are accurate but they are never complete. At Brown, you learn to delve deeper, to appreciate the completness of other people

There isn't that much activism, but Brown is a hard place to be if you're Republican. Brown is, in fact, the cool Ivy. People are really laid back, but you still have to pass classes and major in something.

Yes, I would say so. In my experience, it's amazing how shocked you are to find that some of your closest friends make three, four, FIVE times as much as your parents do, if not more. It's widely known that there are some heirs and heiresses around Brown, but never do you see them flaunting it and or using it as a tool to garner friends or attention. Likewise, people aren't pursuing them constantly. The stereotype of being rich and snobby doesn't apply to Brown's students, as much as my knowledge goes, and I'm glad for that. Likewise, almost everyone I know is committed to some sort of organization in or around the Brown campus, and even away from it, in some manner. Attending such a university with people who truly want to lend a helping hand seriously boosts up ones self esteem and really lends that "ummph!" that might be in you, letting you realize that, "yes, in fact, you CAN do something."