Looing for feedback from parents with kids @ Brown

[Anonymous]

As a parent who has been through this already, it’s comical to me that parents are even wasting their time asking these questions. Almost nobody gets in, and that includes all of you private school parents.

[Anonymous]

Housing. The housing lottery seemed really convoluted last year w/ a lot of students not getting an assignment until late. Dorms are old (flood in one, rumors of mold in others), and res life is not the most responsive, though they have new direction this year.

The food isn't the greatest, but my kid gets by fine. I think others make a bigger deal of this than it warrants.

The nicer library has limited hours. My kid would love to study there more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of very wealthy kids at Brown. That's the only pitfall.

That is a reason to go.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid studied CS and he really had great experience. He and his friends worked hard and had lots of fun as well. Very supportive environment. When I visited, I saw quite a few good looking boys and attractive girls more than other top schools that we visited and they looked happier..

I'm sorry, what?

How funny. When we got back in the car after visiting, my kid said the boys were all "filthy and crunchy." To each their own, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Housing. The housing lottery seemed really convoluted last year w/ a lot of students not getting an assignment until late. Dorms are old (flood in one, rumors of mold in others), and res life is not the most responsive, though they have new direction this year.

The food isn't the greatest, but my kid gets by fine. I think others make a bigger deal of this than it warrants.

The nicer library has limited hours. My kid would love to study there more.

They've changed the housing lottery process recently and new plan will be in place for next school year.

[Anonymous]

It's a great university whose reputation is warranted, and Providence is a wonderful but imperfect city.

Open curriculum is there to be exploited by polymaths, not used to avoid subjects. The former is the type of student they look for the most. Don't use your ED there if this does not describe your student.

Guidance embraces the exploratory aspect immensely and may throw your student off track if they are not careful.

You don't go there for the dorms or the food. 'Nuff said.

The idea that the students there are a "type" is not borne by evidence. In fact you'll be shocked when you walk the campus that the meme you heard so much is untrue. The students there look like the students everywhere, with athletes, preppy students, and all types represented.

STEM programs are hugely under-rated by novice observers. They have Nobel winners and the like on STEM staff and research opportunities abound. CS is particularly good. #1 applied math program in the country.

It's reputation as "The Chill Ivy" is partially true, but like all top schools it is packed with over-achievers all used to being top dog. There is a competitive aspect.

I am of those that believe most colleges are great, and all of them are what you make of the opportunity when you go. Brown is no exception. Yes it is prestigious and people will raise their eyebrows when you tell them your kid attends. But that is NOT a reason to go if it is not the right place for your kiddo.

My kid's experience there was excellent, but hampered by Covid like everywhere else.

[Anonymous]

I suggest you read some reviews, posted by students, on UNIGO and NICHE.

[Anonymous]

open curriculum is a negative. Instead of a cohesive education in the liberal arts and history, you get a cafeteria style hodge podge of courses (same was true at my SLAC - I regret I have no exposure to the Greats). Also too much SJWarrior stuff. Not worth the cost to send my kids there for that kind of indoctrination

[Anonymous]

Funny to see the comments about the dorms. I turned down Brown to go to a top ten SLAC. Part of it was wanting a SLAC vs a university, but a LOT of it was the dorms. My SLAC had nice dorms with lots of singles. The Brown dorms I saw weren't that nice and were mostly doubles. I've sometimes lamented letting that superficial impression of the dorms guide my choice so much, especially since it might have been better for me socially to have a double.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny to see the comments about the dorms. I turned down Brown to go to a top ten SLAC. Part of it was wanting a SLAC vs a university, but a LOT of it was the dorms. My SLAC had nice dorms with lots of singles. The Brown dorms I saw weren't that nice and were mostly doubles. I've sometimes lamented letting that superficial impression of the dorms guide my choice so much, especially since it might have been better for me socially to have a double.

Absolutely on the single vs. double. I did not allow DS to apply for a single for that reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:open curriculum is a negative. Instead of a cohesive education in the liberal arts and history, you get a cafeteria style hodge podge of courses (same was true at my SLAC - I regret I have no exposure to the Greats).

This comment shows you don't understand how Brown's open curriculum works, nor the type of student Brown tries to attract and accept. A concentration requires 8 or more classes in a progression, more for engineering and other degrees (my kid's degree required 19 classes out of 32). There are other requirements WRT writing and historical content. What you suggest does not happen, and the fact that you say this shows you don't know much about Brown.

The fact that you made poor selections at your own un-named LAC is irrelevant, of course. Poor selections can be made at any college.

Also too much SJWarrior stuff. Not worth the cost to send my kids there for that kind of indoctrination

Yeah now your slip is showing, comrade.

[Anonymous]

My freshmen DC is not impressed by the food, so they stock instant noodles and occasional going to nearby restaurants.

Weather is on the colder side.

The rain, has anyone mentioned the rain yet? A freshman dorm was flooded during labor day weekend, just a couples days before convocation. But the school eventually send those affected to a nearby hotel.

Other than those, my DC is having a great time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he is unhooked, save his ED for a school where he would get an edge applying early. My perfect-stats kid with award-wining ECs got deferred and ended up at a top 3 LAC.

+1. Consider carefully what you want to do with the ED spot. Brown is really popular with kids from this area. I don't know any unhooked kids that got in last year. The one I know who got in has multiple hooks.

[Anonymous]

I worked at a DC private and these are the only kids I knew who got into brown:
1) top URM student, very politically active in HS, top grades and scores
2) recruited for crew
3) legacy with grades and scores to support admission, very rich, obviously full pay + big donor potential
4) legacy who was a lower-half of the class student, had a concussion and no grades for basically all of sophomore year, but also had a building named after her family and an endowed chair or scholarship or something along those lines

So my advice is to get a hook of some sort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked at a DC private and these are the only kids I knew who got into brown:
1) top URM student, very politically active in HS, top grades and scores
2) recruited for crew
3) legacy with grades and scores to support admission, very rich, obviously full pay + big donor potential
4) legacy who was a lower-half of the class student, had a concussion and no grades for basically all of sophomore year, but also had a building named after her family and an endowed chair or scholarship or something along those lines

So my advice is to get a hook of some sort.

Not the question at hand. OP is looking (or looing) for feedback on the school from parents with kids at Brown.