Thanks for the response! You’re absolutely right about the party scene; it’s not a huge factor in my decision (if it is a considerable one at all). That being said, Claremont is such an administered bubble that I am cautious of the experience as a whole falling into monotony. But perhaps this is just me falling into the whole “grass is always greener” style of thinking. Both are privileged choices.
On the second point, you may be right, however I question whether or not having close friends/relationships with professors and being in significant positions on campus clubs, is enough to justify picking one school over another. The truth is, since I plan to live on the East Coast after college, Brown simply has a name that resonates more and will have a far greater local alumni network from which I can draw resources.
For the fall, assuming I went to Brown, I would be studying abroad at the University of Ediburgh in Scotland, before making my move to Providence in January. This leads me to another concern: are 2.5 years at Brown more valuable in the long/short run than 3.5 years (assuming I go abroad for a semester) in Claremont? Again, any help is greatly appreciated.