Visit Report by MLeigh (Member since June 22 2007 with 76 posts) Visit Date - June 2007
Visit to Brown University in June 2007 by MLeigh (Student, HS Class of 2008)
Visit Activities:
Information Session:
Yes - The admissions counselor was really nice and dynamic, and very informative. Campus Tour:
Yes - It was okay... our guide was very bubbly, but I didn't like the campus much.
Brown University Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 4 - Very Good -
We only interacted with our tour guide, who was very nice.
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
Again, we didn't interact with many, but they were good.
Appearance of Campus: 4 - Very Good -
It's a very pretty campus, but I didn't get much of a vibe from it. It didn't appeal to me very much.
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 5 - Excellent -
From what we saw, they were great.
Dormitories: -
We didn't see a dorm.
Security/Safety: 5 - Excellent -
It's pretty removed from the city, but there are precautions nonetheless. Seemed perfectly fine.
Overall Campus Impression: 2 - Fair -
I know it doesn't really match up, but... there wasn't anything unique or appealing that stuck out to me on the visit. It was just another school.
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 2 - Fair -
Okay, but not much to do. Greater Providence would have more, but then it's really not a huge city.
City/Town/Community: 4 - Very Good -
As I said, it's not huge, so the opportunities will be limited, but then I hear it's undergone something of a cultural renaissence recently, for what it's worth.
Campus Visit Notes for Brown University:
Visit Description:
I think the best way to put it was mediocre. I had seen a number of colleges in the week or two before I went to Brown, and each of them had had something that distinguished them from the rest: even if I didn't particularly like that thing, it was at least there. Brown was just another school.
The campus is perfectly nice-looking, and if you're interested in a school that's in a city but not really *in* it, it'd be ideal: it's technically in Providence, but it doesn't feel like it, certainly it's on the outskirts. I preferred something more integrated, but to each her own. There's quite a bit of space, but nothing stuck out at me as memorable. There were lots of impressive brick buildings, and there are no shortage of those in east coast schools, let alone the Ivy League.
I'd say the two things that really turned me off about the school were the lack of a feeling from the campus or its surrounding area (it was pretty boring and unappealing, I thought) and the academic structure. I hated the structure, or rather lackthereof: there are no requirements whatsoever. Now, this might appeal to you very much, and I can see that it would work for some people. It just wouldn't work for me: I love the idea of Columbia's Core. It's something you think about seriously when you're considering the school.
Two friends were on the tour with me; one loved it and will be applying early, the other shared my reaction. If you're interested, VISIT. And if you can't, talk to as many people as humany possible who have visited or, better yet, attended the school. The people who go there love it, but it just wasn't for me.
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We only interacted with our tour guide, who was very nice.
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Again, we didn't interact with many, but they were good.
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We didn't see a dorm.
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I know it doesn't really match up, but... there wasn't anything unique or appealing that stuck out to me on the visit. It was just another school.