Brown University Top Questions

The food. Not spicy and no salt. Could be better.

The worse thing about Brown University is a double-edged sword. The degree of freedom offered to students can be overwhelming for those who need a little more external structure. I noticed that a fair number of students coasting by, not realizing their full potential because there was no administrator, faculty member, or core curriculum pushing them. On the other hand, this is favorable for self-motivated students who can use this lack of structure to try many different pursuits.

Finiancial aid, because even though they help me out, it is not enough for my financial situations; especially since my situation has recently changed for the worse.

Class size

There is arguably too much freedom.; some people can't handle the responsibility that comes along with being able to design your own major, take any class you want, deal with a pass/fail option for every class (even within your major), and being able to structure a well rounded, self-motivated course load. Although this is a huge responsibility, for those students that can handle it, it makes Brown a very special place.

I'm a little discouraged by the size of the school, I wish I went to a smaller school. As a result of the size, if you don't meet people in the beginning you're not likely to meet many people later on.

Having to stay in the dorm for two years, because they're not that great and there are not many single rooms

crummy math professors and some dorms that need to be updated

Too tame. I don't believe in rules and neither does Brown, but most students, despite agreeing with this, come from environments whose enforced expectations upon them (sadly, the reason many got this far is that dedication to the system is more valued than undermining of it) set the stage for great self restriction which often inhibits the happiness and creativity of themselves and those around them. This is not to say that the students at Brown are not happy and questioning - they are, but could let themselves stray even further from the arbitrary societal ideals instilled in them.

Well, sometimes I feel very small