Summer@Brown Pre-college

Colleges & Universities Brown University
1

<p>I am thinking of applying to Summer@Brown Pre-college classes, my mother is really motivated, but I have my doubts. The thing is that I live in Chile, south america.
English is not my problem, until 7th grade I was in an american school, and it was all in english, then I changed to a catholic school were english is not so good, but the school is also american the holy cross congregation (same as Notre Dame University). In 8th grade I took this test called Preliminare English Test (PET) from Cambridge, and passed it with honors and this year I am taking the First Certficate in English (FCE) also from Cambridge, and hoping to pass it with honors again.</p>

<p>My fears are in like the people that attened, this may sound really stupid but the only image of Ivy League Universities is Gossip Girl, and I am afraid of the people being like the ones of the show. My family has the money to pay me for this, I attened to private schools (you don’t have a big choice in Chile, because public education is really bad), I take several vacations in the year most of them abroad, but compared to the families of gossip girl it is nothing, so I am a little fearfull of not adapting well in that sense.</p>

<p>In second place, also in the matter of the people that go is the international students, are there more people like me (not from Chile, of course), that come from no english speaking countries?</p>

<p>Also, are this courses really hard academically? of course I want to learn, but how I am going to be in my short winter vacations that only last 2 weeks, and I am starting in a couple more days 11th grade that is a really demanding and stresfull year, I also want to have the opportunity to rest a little, or distract myself.</p>

<p>Last but not least, which are really good courses if you are like into History, Political Science, Journalism, Politics, International Relationships, that kind of stuff?</p>

<p>I would really appreciate some help, because it sounds like a great opportunity. Thank you very much.</p>

2

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>I cannot speak to the logistics of most of your questions, but I can tell you Gossip Girl is just a tv show. In New England and in many other places, there are people with insane amounts of money. Some are perfectly normal, others are jerks. This goes for the middle class kids and the underprivileged ones as well. Being a jerk is not just a disposition for the extremely rich. </p>

<p>As with many high schools/colleges (I dont watch much Gossip Girl, but I think theyre in high school?), cattiness and pettiness exist. I wouldn’t be too worried about it. Most of the students that will be in the program with are high school students as well. No matter how cool or tough they act, they are just as nervous and unsure of themselves as you may feel. </p>

<p>Please don’t let the impressions from an American tv show impact your decision to attend a wonderful program such as this! I promise, most Americans are perfectly amicable!</p>

3

<p>I took a course at Brown this past summer and absolutely loved it. You should do it, hands down. I had such an amazing time - it was so inspiring to meet other students from around the world who all cared about learning and wanted to get engaged. And, when I say “from around the world,” I really mean it. In my class of 18 students, one was from Taiwan, 2 were from Germany, one was from Turkey, one was from China, and two were from Venezuela. That makes 7/18 international students - almost half. I walked away from the course loving Brown (I hope to go there next year!) and with many new best friends (yes, really - best). One of the girls I met is from Dubai and we still talk about once a week and mail each other and have plans to meet up in the future.</p>

<p>If you have any other questions about what Summer@Brown is like, I’ll be happy to answer them! I had such a positive experience and I’m sure you will too, if you decide to go. There’s certainly plenty of students from outside the USA and many from non-English speaking countries, if that’s your only concern. And don’t stress too much about the academic rigor - the professors are amazing and the learning is interactive. I had a fair amount of homework (mainly essay assignments, about 3-4 hours a day) but a lot of them were group assignments. In the end, it was well worth it and I walked away with a lot of new knowledge/ insight.</p>

4

<p>My daughter attended Brown for undergraduate, but not Summer before college. I’d have to think it is a wonderful program. The physical location of Brown on college hill is like its own little university village. </p>

<p>The types of kids that go to these sort of programs will be interesting, academically inclined and creative types. </p>

<p>Gossip Girl is just an entertainment show. Those aren’t real people, they are ‘characters’, put there for sensationalism to titilate and amuse you, like a teen soap opera.</p>

<p>Although Brown has some very sophisticated and privleged students, in generally students are curious and friendly. There are plenty of internationals in the general population and some regular students will be on campus in summer. I didn’t know how many internationals come to the summer program, but Napster seems to have provided some good info on that.</p>

<p>I think it is a good opportunity to see what top American colleges are like in a very protected and safe environment that will be fun as well as challenging. Everyone will be new and exploring, like you, they just might not all come from so far away.</p>

<p>Look at the offerings in the Modern Culture & Media department, it is said to be a great department.</p>

5

<p>hahaha, gossip girl? cute. no trust me, it’s a good environment with people eager to learn, just like you. i’m myia, i’m actually going for the first time this summer! i’m super excited. i’ve been to brown before to tour though. it’s an AMAZING campus and i’m sure you’ll fit right in. and if you need a friend you can find me. i just signed up. i hope you don’t let a silly tv show discourage you from going :stuck_out_tongue: the courses say they require 3 hours of work outside the classroom btw. and yeah, the site says there are tons of international students. you wont be alone.</p>

6

<p>Like Napster, I was in Summer@Brown last summer. The kids were all down-to-earth and not at all like you fear. I loved it and wish I had known about it earlier.</p>

7

<p>Hmm, do any of you know how good the pre-college creative writing courses are? In particular, I’m looking at the experimental writing, fiction, or poetry courses…</p>

<p>My other option is to commute to Columbia for their creative writing program, which is said to be decent but is also much more expensive.</p>

8

<p>I am like really embarrased about the gossip girl question, but that is the result of living in the end of the world hahaha. Myiaa, when are you going, which dates? Hope to see you. I just send my application, hope I got accepted.
littlepenguin: I was looking for the writting courses, but the ones that I liked the most, didn’t fit with my short winter vacations. There was one called “introduction to journalism” but I was still in class. So I think I am going to choose Music & Politics I think.</p>

9

<p>I took “Medicine and Society” during Summer@Brown two summers ago, and it was, hands down, one of the best experiences of my life. Like Napster said, one of my roommates became one of my best friends. She flew to Chicago to visit me this summer and we still talk all the time. Plus, the class itself was one of the most intellectually enriching courses I’ve ever taken. Yes, some of the people there are rich kids whose parents just sent them there, but the majority do want to be there and are really down to earth and friendly. There are tons of international students too, so don’t fear! If you have any interest in doing a summer program in the U.S., you should definitely consider Summer@Brown! I seriously loved my time there and am also waiting on my Brown decision in a week.</p>

10

<p>I went to Summer at Brown and loved it!!! I’m a Jamaican citizen, but we speak English (basically, lol), and so I can’t help about that, but just confirming what others have said and that it’s AWESOME. In JA we don’t really walk anywhere so I have little to no directional ability but Providence is excellent and tiny and amazinggggg so you won’t get lost (if that was an issue for you!)</p>

<p>I took the Art of Reading and Writing in Contemporary Literature, which is a lot of writing/reading but not so much facts. Remember the classes are basically pass/fail, as far as I know it’s really hard to fail if you show up to class. Just remember to enjoy yourself, show up for class and HAVE FUN. I met some really great people at Brown and made some good friends even after only two weeks. You’ll love it!</p>

11

<p>I thought the same thing! ( i LOVE gossip girl ) but my brother went this previous summer and said he was suprised by how normal everybody there is. even though its at an ivey school all the kids are also high schoolers just like you. he also talked about how many different countries everybody came from, so i wouldn’t worry. I just applied for this summer (2011)
wish me luck!</p>

12

<p>I just picked my course today, which would be: CEPS0913: How the Legal System Works: Anatomy of a Case (CRN:*10190), the dates are July 11th through July 29th. Anyone else going these days, or heck, taking this course? And hah, in response to the original post, I am (my family is) about as poor as you can get, and I’m nice, or so I’m told. So while I can’t speak for the whole of Summer@Brown participants (potentially anyone haha), as for me, I’m not TOO bad, hmm, but then again I’m biased. But I’d most definitely encourage you to attend! Anyone going these dates, or choosing this course?</p>

13

<p>Thankyou everyone for the advice, finally I am not going, the stress of 11th grade is making me nuts (I just finished my second month of classes), so I am staying here in Chile and have at least 2 weeks to relax and not have to study. I wish you all to have a great time and a great experience too.</p>

14

<p>hey! (: LOL this may sound really awkward…but yeah i was googling the Brown program, immediately saw your comment, and made an account within 5 minutes to reply to you haha. but yeah, I’m attending the Brown precollege program for 2011. Ironically, i picked my course a week ago, it’s uh CEBI0904: First Aid for the Medicine Cabinet (CRN: 10087) and also the dates are July 11th through July 29th. anywho, hope i see you soon ;D</p>

15

<p>I hope so too(:</p>

16

<p>oh my, the effect and influence of gossip girl</p>

17

<p>Hi! I am from China and I’m also planning to go to summer school in Brown! Hope to see you there:)</p>