Why you should apply to Brown
“How are college applications?” “What colleges are you looking at?”
These are just two examples of questions that will strike fear into the heart any high school senior in the midst of application season. Although it’s not spring, fall, winter, or summer, this season brings a whole other vibe that fails the vibe check.
But, have no fear, Brown is here. An institution established in 1764 and adored by all of the people who try to drive through campus to get to work at 8:55 am, Brown University may just be the school for you. Still not sold? Here are some reasons why you can fall in love with a college with a ~shitty~ color as a name.
1. Location
Let’s not kid ourselves. Of course location matters! Out of all the colleges, Brown has arguably the best location, especially for those who come to THE East Coast in search of a big city setting. Rhode Island, with the 50th biggest state area out of all the states, is one of the prime locations for city life. Providence’s skyline has New York beat. Look at those four skyscrapers! In fact, Rhode Island is so big that at one point, the state had five separate capitals. If that doesn’t scream big city life, I don’t know what does.
Okay, yes, Rhode Island might be tiny and you might also be wondering why you would go to school in a tiny state, but a tiny state has big perks. Could any other state boast having the longest official state title? (It’s “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations”.) We may be small, but we got spunk. Still not sold? Read this: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/68213/25-things-you-should-know-about-providence.
2. Easy to navigate
Looking for a big campus? You’re not going to find it here, but at least a small campus equates to easy navigation. Brown is pretty straightforward to walk through, and campus tours are short as a result. (Because who wants a long campus tour where the guide rambles about that guy who never called back?) As someone who has serious directional confusion, Brown has been a beacon of light. There’s still the occasional need to discreetly use Google Maps without looking like a total first-year and the embarrassing moments where I have to turn back because I missed a right, but overall, life has been easy for this chick who left her sense of direction in the womb. As a matter of fact, the hardest thing to navigate at Brown has probably been the Ratty, which brings us to another great reason to choose Brown.
3. The Ratty - aka the best dining hall in America
You can 100% find quality food at this all-you-can-eat, luxurious, gourmet, nutritious location. It’s not called The Ratty for nothing.
4. SciLi (and other notable architecture)
Thought that the brick setting at Harvard looks gorgeous? We have that here, too, but brick is overrated. The new thing is beige concrete, which has really garnered international attention in Vogue. Brown’s Sciences Library has grown notorious to be the most beautiful architecture in Rhode Island, perhaps even America. By applying, you could someday boast to be studying in THIS building:
5. tHe oPEn cURIcuLuM
hAvE yOU heARd oF tHE oPEN cURrIculUm?
6. The people
One of the biggest considerations when applying is what the community is like. Chances are you’ve asked yourself, “Will I fit in here? Are people like me?”
Chances also are that with such a vibrant community, you will find your group. It doesn’t take long to realize that Brown has a fair amount of weirdos, but these are diverse weirdos. So, don’t worry. We’ll bring out the best quirky weirdo in you.
Honourable Mentions
7. Sex in Blueno
Imagine boasting having had sex in Blueno, the big blue bear with a lamp sticking out of its head that all Brown students adore. That’s a great sell: come to Brown and have sex in a statue of a blue bear!
8. Jim and Hermione (!)
Not only does Brown have their stamp of approval, but you could even possibly have these iconic characters be your commencement speaker. Sure, Obama may have graduated from Harvard and Lupita Nyong’o from Yale, but we got Jim from the Office. If that doesn’t scream “WANT”, I don’t know what does.
No matter where you choose or where you end up, have fun in the process! Stress healthily. I swear that’s possible. Good luck!
