Swimming, Eclectic Guys, No Scene

Introduction
I actually chose Brown because I was an athlete. Swimming brought me to Brown. I don’t know if I would have chosen it, but I’m very glad that I did because being from R.I. I know that Brown is very eclectic. A lot of people look at it as very diverse and having a lot of weird people, but I came here and it totally changed my life and I was very happy that I came. I actually stopped swimming and I still like Brown.

I don’t think athletics are really emphasized here as much as I, coming in, would have liked. But I know that Ruth Simmons isn’t too keen on sports right now so that’s something to consider.

Brown is very liberal and I have met some of the most eclectic, different people, and I’ve befriended a lot of really different people and I really like that about Brown. But you can really find your niche—I consider myself kind of an All-American girl and I fit in fine here. I feel like everyone finds their niche and it is really liberal, but I also have friends that are Republicans.

Campus Life and Social Life
The typical Brown student is very relaxed, kind an urban look. Brown isn’t a place where everybody’s wondering who got better grades. It’s more, do your own schedule at your own pace and nobody’s really on your back, and no student cares about what anyone else is doing. It’s very low key.

I think that Brown has such a different population. I have other friends at Ivy League schools and I know a lot of places where it’s the same type of people- kind of like an extended prep school- and I know that Brown is anything but that atmosphere. I have friends from Jamaica and all over the country. I think it just lets you relax and be who you are. Coming in as a freshman you have to understand that you’re not going to fit in right away and find your niche right away because everyone is so different and it’s kind of overwhelming. I think after sophomore year I just found my place here, and I feel like it allowed me to grow and be myself. Academics
In February and March the campus is pretty dull, there’s not much going on. But once the first sunny day in the spring happens, it’s the best, happiest campus. Everyone’s smiling on the first sunny day, but there are a couple of months in there that it’s a little dull and there isn’t much going on around campus. But everyone appreciates the first sunny day just as much.

Thayer Street is a very interesting place to be. You can walk down Thayer Street and see the most random people and things. I remember when I was in High School and I wasn’t at Brown yet, I knew Thayer St. and I would say, “There are so many strange people there.” But now, it’s just become my home and I walk down Thayer Street everyday. It’s great, there are so many things to see, people to look at.

Student Body
The guys - there are some. You have to look hard but there are some good guys out there at Brown. Some eclectic men, but I think overall you can find some good guys out there. I’m personally into a sportier type guy. But there are a lot of artistic guys and some interesting guys, but I’ve had fun with them. There’s actually no dating scene here at Brown to be quite honest. One time I got asked to go to the movies, and it was very odd. So it doesn’t usually happen. Just wear a cute little top and you’ll be going home with someone.

I don’t know if it would be necessarily a nerd type basis at Brown because I think that nerds aren’t really attracted to the Brown Atmosphere. I feel like it’s more liberal. It’s not necessarily the nerd type of people that are prevalent on campus. It’s more of the really diverse person who’s really into music, or really into art. Kind of like a hippy, underground, indie group that’s really prevalent on campus.

I honestly would say my favorite thing is the friends that I’ve met. I know that’s a cliché thing to say but I’ve met so many different people that I know are all going to be doing really cool things when they graduate. I’ve met a lot of cool people doing really cool things.

In Closing...
I don’t really like the way that they look at athletics here. I think the school kind of looks down on athletics to some degree.

If I could do things differently, I think I would have taken advantage of some of the different classes and professors earlier on in my career. Because in my last two years at Brown I have really gotten to know some of my professors at a level where I think I’ve learned so much for myself for the rest of my life. I think my freshman and sophomore year I didn’t really get to know any of my professors, and I think- not even to just get recommendations- but just to know some people that have done some really incredible things- I think you kind of have to look for that in the beginning.