The final stop on my recent East Coast trip of college tours: Brown University.
A few takeaways from my campus visit:
- Brown sits atop College Hill on the east side of Providence (the capital of Rhode Island). The campus has an inclusive, almost refuge-like feel, perched above the city streets below, with a variety of old and new architecture.
- Brown is all about choice, from an open curriculum (i.e. no general education requirements) to the ability to take courses Pass/Fail. I saw this in the campus tour where student tour guides introduced themselves, described how they were involved on and off campus, and then instructed us to choose which tour guide best fit our interests. (Wow, these students were impressive - I wondered when they found the time to sleep and eat!)
- Brown likes their students to explore different interests and then choose their “concentration” (a.k.a major). There is a detailed process involving essays and applications to formally determine your concentration.
- My tour guide raved that Brown is the best mix of a city experience (Boston is close by) and the small-town feel of Providence. Over the summer, he was taking the train to Boston a few days a week for an internship.
- Like so many of the Ivies I've visited, tradition is big at Brown. In this photo, I'm standing in front of the Van Wickle Gate, which serves at the front door to the campus and is only opened twice a year to welcome freshmen in every fall and to usher out new graduates every spring.
- Students are housed by class year to create community and connection. The oldest campus residence halls were built in 1822, and the newest in 2012. Many students move off campus for their final year(s), where a variety of off-campus options await in Providence.
Go Bears!
I help students and their families achieve balance and confidence throughout the college admission process as they discover and apply to colleges that best reflect their personal, academic and financial needs and goals.
