<p>Also keep in mind that at some schools, labs and other similar course offshoots are actually separate courses.</p>
<p>As to Brown not being a real school: It is what you make of it - that’s kinda the whole point. Ideally, the Admissions office should be aiming to reject those who won’t make the most of it. I think that if the sum total of what you’re doing at Brown (classes, extracurrics, etc.) doesn’t make you feel challenged, you’re failing at Brown.</p>