Brown University

1st Year Male -- Class 2008

Education Quality: A+, Perceived Campus Safety: B

I would not have gone anywhere else. Brown has all the benefits of a major research university but the institution is also careful to create and sustain a close campus community. You won't get lost here, and you'll take classes from real professors, not graduate students. Go to office hours and get to know your profs -- they are the best resource the university has and they are just sitting there, waiting to talk to YOU.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000

Brown is a great school. People there are actually trying to learn and do positive things with their education after graduation, rather than just trying to gain 'marketable skills' from day one. There is a 2 week 'shopping period' where undergrads can sit in on as many classes as they want before enrolling. Taking advantage of this system (sometimes shopping up to 20 classes in 2 weeks) ensured that I never took classes with boring professors and was constantly intellectually stimulated. The Swearer Center provides all kinds of community service oppportunities, which is a great way to get to know Providence better. The city itself is small but has a lot of great places to eat, some pretty fun Latin clubs, and a beautiful bike path along the water. Beaches in the warmer weather are pretty close for anyone with access to a car. There aren't many frat boys and there's not too much drinking either. Students are able to design their own majors (only about 10 a year do it, but I did and it's a painless process) so you can really major in whatever your passion is. Everyone that I know loved their experience at Brown, and our closest friendships come from that time as well. Lastly, students publish a survey of professors called the Critical Review- it's a great way to see which professors are considered interesting in order to shop their classes. And taking advantage of office hours is important-- professors are usually really open to it, and some go out to eat with students.

Alumnus Male -- Class 2000