Brown University Top Questions

Brown is a good size student number-wise and campus size-wise. Providence is a nice small city with plenty to do if you're in the know. The campus goes through some lulls in weekend activity but for the most part there is always something to do.

Brown is an "independent" institution. The New Curriculum encourages maturity and freedom of thought on campus. Sometimes, this indpendence can make the campus seem a bit disconnected and less homogenous. But that's a small price to pay for the freedom Brown students enjoy.

The best thing about Brown is the way that you get to design your own schedule, so if you're unhappy it's your own fault. I would change the way the university handles funding and space requisition for student groups as well as the student categories. The school size is just right, I feel that it is the perfect balance between an urban setting, campus setting, and small university size. Brown's administration has a lot more bureaucracy than its liberal stereotype lets on. There isn't much school pride, and most students are apathetic toward student governments and athletic teams.

The best, most defining quality of Brown is the freedom that the students have due to the open curriculum. It really sets Brown apart from all other schools, cause students can really design their own academic plan because they dont have to worry about so many requirements.

Best thing about Brown - when you go out drinking "if you're 21," getting ass is kind of like shooting fish in a barrel. I spend most of my time in FRAT. One experience I'll always remember - I don't remember, but I remember not remembering. One thing I'd change - I would like larger breasts. Oh, wait, about Brown? Uhh. Yeh no, just the larger breasts.

Brown is the best. Sex Power God no Core Curriculum, being better than everyone else, Providence is awesome, there is no school pride, perfect size and people love brown.

Brown's great because it's really laid back and you can make your education whatever you want.

In terms of size, Brown is just right. The campus is small enough to give you a sense of familiarity, but it is also large enough to meet new people on a daily basis. If I could change anything about Brown, it would be its lack of interaction with the greater Providence community. It's a great college town -- Brown, RISD, and J&W are all pretty close, but Brown quite isolated from them. Venturing downtown from "College Hill", where the university is located, is almost like entering an alternate universe. And visits downtown too often consist of trips to the mall.

The best thing about Brown is that people are engaged with what they're learning- they can choose all the classes they take, and they seem genuinely excited and interested in most of them. I would change the dining hall food, it can be pretty bad. School is just right. I don't feel lost in a crowd, and there is a good balance of large 100+ classes and small 20 or less classes. People react differently when I say I go to Brown. A couple interviewers have seemed impressed by the fact, while others haven't even mentioned it. Most people in general seem impressed by the Brown name, although some haven't heard of it/ask where it is Providence is just the right size for a college. Students can definitely have an impact on campus, and in fact a major Top 40 radio station in Providence is run by Brown students. Thayer St (basically on campus) has a lot of stuff for college students, as does the mall and downtown. The only problem is that stores like grocery stores and Target are not close to campus. There is little school spirit. People are proud that they go to Brown, but they are not into school athletics at all.

Currently, a lot of students are complaining about Brown's new online registration system, called Banner. The complaints are well justified, although on the whole, we are adapting.

Best thing about Brown? The curriculum-freedom of choice=nation's happiest students (polls agree!) I would change the study abroad policy because it's very expensive for people to go abroad now. School size is just right and people are generally impressed when they hear I go to Brown (if they know what and where it is ;) I'm a student-athlete so I split my days between the gym and the libraries usually. Spend another 30 hours a week at my job and at the BDH. Providence provides a decent setting entertainment, but there's 3 other colleges in the same radius, so it's not a college town in a sense that it's Brown's college town. Not a lot of athletic school pride. Big deal when they switched to online registration, from paper, because students thought it would take away from our freedom to shop classes, but it's been a smooth transition.

The best thing about Brown, the fact that it is the happiest place on earth. The people are chill. The one thing that I would change is the tuition because like a ll the other Ivys, tuition is crazy. The school size is just right and when people hear that I go to Brown, most of them don't know about it but if they do they are impressed. It is not really a college town but a vibrant Providence community. Brown admin is really cool and they run the school well. The biggest recent controversy on the campus is that somebody threw a firebomb in the Hillel building here and it could have possibly been a hate crime. The pride in the school is good except at sporting events. Brown is the most unique and beautiful place that I've ever been in. The most frequent student complaints are that the food at the Ratty (a local dining hall) could be better.

school is too small. i spend most of my time in my dorm. this is NOT a college town. there is really no school pride.

no core classes is the best thing. one thing i'd change is the advising (it's horrible, especially for transfers, i think). just right size. some people don't know about brown at all, others say WOW. most of my time on campus on the main green or in dorms (when i lived in them). thayer st feels like our college town-and it's just right. not enough school pride-especially with sports. i'll always remember senior week and campus dances.

Brown's campus is gorgeous. Even on gross rainy days the beauty of the buildings and landscape shine through. I love that campus sits on college hill so that we are a contained area, but we are also a part of Providence and we can get to downtown or to most other areas easily. We are a 15 minute walk from the mall, and a 10 minute walk to the train and bus stations. The size of Brown is great. There are enough students that I'm always meeting new people, but it is small enough that I know people pretty much everywhere I go. I spend most of my time on Wriston because it is where I live! The Scili is an obvious second home. Spring Weekend is the quintessential Brown activity. There are awesome bands and good weather and a feeling of relaxation and togetherness.

I think that Brown needs a dean / vice president of common sense. We seem to waste a lot of our small endowment on superfluous positions, appointments and "improvements." It is a small school where you will recognize many people walking around Thayer street and all around campus. There are few bars that people go to and many people tend to stay on college hill and not explore too much. On the weekends there's a variety of house, bar and fraternity parties to choose from. Our "big" sports (basketball / football) aren't phenomenal, and the stands aren't packed because of it. For me, I was looking for a bigger school, didn't know too much about Brown when choosing it, and think that I would have done better personally in a medium to larger school. This is a great place for someone looking for a smaller sized school.

best thing- people. there are so many and they're all different. there's lots of real cultural diversity, primarily because of the amount of international students. school size is just right. when i tell people i go to brown, people in providence are impressed, people who are used to being around ivy league students are somewhat impressed, harvard people are not impressed, and other college students range from being indifferent to impressed. most of my time on campus is spent in the sciences library (sci li). it's a small city, so it's not really a college town. brown's admin. is great. they like to communicate with students a lot of their decisions and give us lots of options with our life here at brown. biggest recent contraversy? not sure... no outward school pride. i think most people are really glad about going here, though. we just don't tell others about it too much. the normal person at brown is VERY different from the normal american in prob. more ways than most colleges. reading Isaiah 53 in the Bible and seeing that it was all about Jesus even though it was in the Old Testament! i did that when i was a freshman at one of the college hill for Christ weekly meetings. the food's not that great and the staff isn't doing what people want them to.

Brown students are diverse and interesting. The school's size is perfect. People are generally impressed when I tell them I attend Brown. I spend most of my time on campus in the dorms. Providence is a great city. It's small enough so that the city doesn't dominate the school while being large enough to be able to provide things like good food and good live music. Also, the proximity to Boston makes seeing major musicians very easy. I haven't had much interaction with Brown's administration, though the little I have had has been fine. People complain about the food the most. On the whole, it is pretty abysmal. You can find better stuff by going to the smaller eateries on campus such as the VW dining hall, the Gate, the Ivy Room, and the Blue Room. The main dining hall, the Ratty, is really awful.

Brown is the bomb. I love the open curriculum... I'm a sophomore and still don't really know what I want, but I've been able to study some really interesting subjects along the way to my decision. I hate the ratty food... it's gross. The campus is nice; the student body is just the right size to provide amazing opportunities without getting lost. Providence is a great city... College Hill allows us to be part of the fun while still being our own separate campus. Probably the best thing about Brown is that the students love it. Ask anyone here , and they will tell you they love being here and are incredibly happy. This school really fosters that.

The best thing about Brown is the independence you have as a student. You are exposed to so many resources, and you have the ability to learn whatever you want through its open curriculum. One thing I would change is the location. Providence is very dull. It gets a little suffocating sometimes. The school is just right. I love the size. The town is too small. I surprisingly get a lot of respect from the other ivy leagues to the fact that I go to Brown. When I tell other people that I go here, they are shocked and suddenly think I'm brilliant. I spend most of my time in my room because it's too cold outside. It is definitely a college town. On College hill, it's definitely about Brown students. However, it becomes too much of a college town sometimes and not enough of an actual city. I greatly respect the Brown administration. They have accomplished amazing things, and are very approachable. I don't know what the biggest contraversy on campus was. I haven't even been here for a year. I think there is a lot of school pride. We aren't very good at sports, but students don't seem to mind. The students really love their school. What is somewhat unusual about Brown to me is that there seems to be alot of judgement. Since it's a small school, it gets kind of like high school sometimes. The good thing is that you get to know a lot of the students here, but the bad thing is you sometimes feel like you're always being watched. People are somewhat reserved. I will always remember the first two weeks of school. Everyone partied every night and it was so much fun. The complaints i most hear is "This town sucks" and "It's too cold outside".