<p>Though I do respect both schools equally, I think that if you want Brown, you have to be on board with the whole package. Brown is very into being Brown, and the students I know there seem to stand quite solidly behind their image of Brown, which starts with the open curriculum but continues into an overall outlook and approach to life. That’s my impression, at least.</p>
<p>Penn, I think, means different things to different people, among the College, Wharton, its engineering school, and its often overlooked nursing school. I think one would find a wider array of personalities and outlooks at Penn than at Brown.</p>
<p>Another note: a few course requirements never hurt anybody. At Brown, you’ll be able to choose all of your courses; at Penn, you’ll be able to choose all of them too, though your selection may be slightly hindered by distribution requirements.</p>