Is Yale still the fun alternative to Harvard, or has that all changed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Brown is the one Ivy we attended with so much activity on the lawn and professors and current students coming over to chat.

My kid also did sports camps at 6 of the 8 Ivies the past 2 years. Princeton and Brown were the two he liked the best. Cornell and Columbia felt too big. Yale, like another pp said, didn't have as many students out and about having fun--hurrying around head down, wouldn't look you in the eye. Never made it up to Dartmouth. Harvard was Harvard. Penn he didn't like campus as much.

Having kids milling on the yard, and attracting the most sociable, athletic kids compared to other Ivies, are two different things. I’d say that Brown tends to attract a certain type and those kids are happy to be among their people, which is great. I would not say they attract the most well rounded kids.

We visited in the Fall and again this April. Kids were playing all kinds of sports on the green and so many coming in and out of the athletic center. The kids walking the campus were very athletic looking.

This is an observation from someone that toured recently while classes were in session. We have visited a few other Ivies and Brown was one of the few with this much activity--and 'sporty' kids. Granted- we didn't make it to Dartmouth--but pretty much toured all of the others at some point.

I know a fair amount of kids currently attending Brown, and not one is sporty. I would agree that the kids are more laid back and free spirited than kids at other Ivies.

Hmmm. The 3 from our HS are all playing a sport there next year. Lol. The two at our public attending were heavily into travel sports and high school sports.

I think your sampling is just that--your sampling. I'm guessing there are plenty of all kinds.

One in seven undergraduates participate in varsity sports teams. Brown has the second largest collegiate athletic program in the country, with 38 varsity teams, including 17 men's teams and 21 women's teams.

And yet can’t think of one sport that Brown has good teams, even within the Ivy League.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Brown is now. It has risen up the ranks and requires scores this year and it is no longer the 'emo' alternative Ivy. Yale has now become the Ivy with much more emo-types. Brown student body is very athletic and clean-cut.

Brown University is often called the "Happy Ivy" and is frequently ranked as one of the happiest Ivy League schools. Some say this is because of its relaxed environment, open curriculum, and sense of community. Students at Brown have more freedom to choose their courses, which can lead to less competition and more creative thinking. Brown also has a socially conscious student body, a lively campus in Providence, and a strong party culture. In 2023, a survey conducted by The Herald in collaboration with the Brown Opinion Project found that 81% of students reported being very or somewhat happy. The location boasts an abundance of great food, as well, and for those seeking a livelier scene, Boston is a train ride away.

^ not just happiest Ivy it is ranked #15 in the country for happiest university

Given how widespread drug use is on campus, of course, it would indeed be a very happy place.

When we visited recently you can get high just from walking around, marijuana smoke is everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Brown is now. It has risen up the ranks and requires scores this year and it is no longer the 'emo' alternative Ivy. Yale has now become the Ivy with much more emo-types. Brown student body is very athletic and clean-cut.

Brown University is often called the "Happy Ivy" and is frequently ranked as one of the happiest Ivy League schools. Some say this is because of its relaxed environment, open curriculum, and sense of community. Students at Brown have more freedom to choose their courses, which can lead to less competition and more creative thinking. Brown also has a socially conscious student body, a lively campus in Providence, and a strong party culture. In 2023, a survey conducted by The Herald in collaboration with the Brown Opinion Project found that 81% of students reported being very or somewhat happy. The location boasts an abundance of great food, as well, and for those seeking a livelier scene, Boston is a train ride away.

^ not just happiest Ivy it is ranked #15 in the country for happiest university

Given how widespread drug use is on campus, of course, it would indeed be a very happy place.

When we visited recently you can get high just from walking around, marijuana smoke is everywhere.

How naive of you to assume that Brown is unique in being like that.

[Anonymous]

Never heard of Brown being associated with sports before this thread

[Anonymous]

Brown Mom never stops plugging Brown, but it’s still a lesser Ivy with aging facilities, mediocre athletics, and a small endowment that isn’t even on par with Rice.

[Anonymous]

The happiest and best Ivy is whichever one your kid gets admitted to and attends. All the other ones suck

[Anonymous]

Yale and Brown were my kids top 2 this past cycle, love both, only got into one. My sense based on research, tours and admit weekend is that Yale is generally trending quirkier and Brown is generally trending less quirky overall. Both have smart, engaged, passionate student bodies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of the Ivies are fun anymore except MAYBE Penn and Dartmouth.

Go to Bucknell if you want to have a blast and still end up in the same IB/MC jobs as Ivy grads.

They all sound dreadful. Imagine attending a parents weekend or family orientation with all the moms and dads talking over each other about accomplishments.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, this is a Brown dad and I am plugging the experience my kid had. He had other Ivy options and he chose Brown and had an incredible experience. Not saying he wouldn’t have enjoyed the others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of Brown being associated with sports before this thread

Because they actually sponsor far fewer sports than most other ivies. Harvard, Penn, and Princeton are the only school that participate in every ivy league sport for men and women.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League#Men's_sponsored_sports_by_school

[Anonymous]

Back to the original question…. Penn is incredibly fun, if you can get away from the grind. They do work hard, but they play hard, too. Friends who attend, combined with what we observed when we visited for a weekend, confirmed this. Not sure mine will apply, but we both saw the social side as robust, if you want it. Keep in mind, not all students are Wharton strivers. It’s a big place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of Brown being associated with sports before this thread

Because they actually sponsor far fewer sports than most other ivies. Harvard, Penn, and Princeton are the only school that participate in every ivy league sport for men and women.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League#Men's_sponsored_sports_by_school

Can see the full link, bc I am on my small phone. But the table I could see showed that Brown does not have rowing.

This is flat out incorrect. All Ivies row and compete with each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of Brown being associated with sports before this thread

Because they actually sponsor far fewer sports than most other ivies. Harvard, Penn, and Princeton are the only school that participate in every ivy league sport for men and women.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League#Men's_sponsored_sports_by_school

Can see the full link, bc I am on my small phone. But the table I could see showed that Brown does not have rowing.

This is flat out incorrect. All Ivies row and compete with each other.

WTF are talking about?

https://brownbears.com/sports/mens-crew

They even recruit for it. And 2 of their alum are on the current 2024 Olympic team

[Anonymous]

I see them as two different places, not really alternatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of Brown being associated with sports before this thread

Because they actually sponsor far fewer sports than most other ivies. Harvard, Penn, and Princeton are the only school that participate in every ivy league sport for men and women.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League#Men's_sponsored_sports_by_school

Can see the full link, bc I am on my small phone. But the table I could see showed that Brown does not have rowing.

This is flat out incorrect. All Ivies row and compete with each other.

WTF are talking about?

https://brownbears.com/sports/mens-crew

They even recruit for it. And 2 of their alum are on the current 2024 Olympic team

2 men and 1 women Brown rowers in this years Olympics. Maybe the pp didn't know rowing is known as "crew" in college/us. lol