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Brown University (US) versus Warwick (UK)
Hi, im new here at TSR but was just hoping for some people's opinions. I'm currently a high school student in the Philippines and am about to graduate. I've been accepted to Brown University in the US, and have also received offers from the UK. My firm choice is Warwick (PPE) and second is Lancaster (PPE). I also have a UK citizenship however none of the UK colleges have granted me local fee status. Therefore in terms of cost there is not much difference since Brown has also offered me financial aid.
My problem now is whether a Brown education would be more beneficial than that of Warwick or Lancaster. And in the future, i'm planning on working in Europe/UK so if I go to Brown will I still be able to do so and land a good job?
I'm really worried at this point because I have to commit to Brown by May 1, and my UK offers are conditional based on my IB points, which don't come out until July. So I have to decide NOW whether to go for the UK or the US. And if i don't make Warwick i'd hate to go to Lancaster thinking that I had a chance at an Ivy league education?!?! Sorry about ranting but i'm just extremely confused. Any feedback from anybody would be greatly appreciated... Thanks.
My problem now is whether a Brown education would be more beneficial than that of Warwick or Lancaster. And in the future, i'm planning on working in Europe/UK so if I go to Brown will I still be able to do so and land a good job?
I'm really worried at this point because I have to commit to Brown by May 1, and my UK offers are conditional based on my IB points, which don't come out until July. So I have to decide NOW whether to go for the UK or the US. And if i don't make Warwick i'd hate to go to Lancaster thinking that I had a chance at an Ivy league education?!?! Sorry about ranting but i'm just extremely confused. Any feedback from anybody would be greatly appreciated... Thanks.
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Reply 1
ps23
Hi, im new here at TSR but was just hoping for some people's opinions. I'm currently a high school student in the Philippines and am about to graduate. I've been accepted to Brown University in the US, and have also received offers from the UK. My firm choice is Warwick (PPE) and second is Lancaster (PPE). I also have a UK citizenship however none of the UK colleges have granted me local fee status. Therefore in terms of cost there is not much difference since Brown has also offered me financial aid.
My problem now is whether a Brown education would be more beneficial than that of Warwick or Lancaster. And in the future, i'm planning on working in Europe/UK so if I go to Brown will I still be able to do so and land a good job?
I'm really worried at this point because I have to commit to Brown by May 1, and my UK offers are conditional based on my IB points, which don't come out until July. So I have to decide NOW whether to go for the UK or the US. And if i don't make Warwick i'd hate to go to Lancaster thinking that I had a chance at an Ivy league education?!?! Sorry about ranting but i'm just extremely confused. Any feedback from anybody would be greatly appreciated... Thanks.
My problem now is whether a Brown education would be more beneficial than that of Warwick or Lancaster. And in the future, i'm planning on working in Europe/UK so if I go to Brown will I still be able to do so and land a good job?
I'm really worried at this point because I have to commit to Brown by May 1, and my UK offers are conditional based on my IB points, which don't come out until July. So I have to decide NOW whether to go for the UK or the US. And if i don't make Warwick i'd hate to go to Lancaster thinking that I had a chance at an Ivy league education?!?! Sorry about ranting but i'm just extremely confused. Any feedback from anybody would be greatly appreciated... Thanks.
I'd go for Brown definitively. It's an ivy and well known university. Well respected in the US. It's got a bit oldish now but it's still up there. Warwick PPE is a top program, at a top UK university but with little brand name outside the UK.
Brown is a really good university, but a couple of my American friends told me that they have no grades, basically you only get passes/fails or something like that. If you want to land a job in Europe/UK, I don't know how employers would judge an academic record that doesn't really allow them to compare you against other candidates with actual marks, probably it would work against you. If you planned to go stay in the USA or go into academics or pg study afterwards I guess it would be different as Brown is generally well regarded.
If you accept Brown's offer now are you forced to legally commit? Can't you accept and then maybe decline later if you get Warwick? A friend of mine had a similar problem for Yale and she decided to accept and decline later if she decided to stay at Oxford, although this was for PhD, maybe it's different for undergrad...
If you accept Brown's offer now are you forced to legally commit? Can't you accept and then maybe decline later if you get Warwick? A friend of mine had a similar problem for Yale and she decided to accept and decline later if she decided to stay at Oxford, although this was for PhD, maybe it's different for undergrad...
Reply 3
kalen
Brown is a really good university, but a couple of my American friends told me that they have no grades, basically you only get passes/fails or something like that. If you want to land a job in Europe/UK, I don't know how employers would judge an academic record that doesn't really allow them to compare you against other candidates with actual marks, probably it would work against you. If you planned to go stay in the USA or go into academics or pg study afterwards I guess it would be different as Brown is generally well regarded.
If you accept Brown's offer now are you forced to legally commit? Can't you accept and then maybe decline later if you get Warwick? A friend of mine had a similar problem for Yale and she decided to accept and decline later if she decided to stay at Oxford, although this was for PhD, maybe it's different for undergrad...
If you accept Brown's offer now are you forced to legally commit? Can't you accept and then maybe decline later if you get Warwick? A friend of mine had a similar problem for Yale and she decided to accept and decline later if she decided to stay at Oxford, although this was for PhD, maybe it's different for undergrad...
brown does give out grades, but i think you can take everything pass fail if you wish. i think you can drop a class on the day before the last day so if you are failing, you can prevent that from going on your transcript. but brown is highly regarded in the United States because it is an amazing school, i know a lot of people who would choose brown over hyp
Reply 4
kalen
Brown is a really good university, but a couple of my American friends told me that they have no grades, basically you only get passes/fails or something like that. If you want to land a job in Europe/UK, I don't know how employers would judge an academic record that doesn't really allow them to compare you against other candidates with actual marks, probably it would work against you. If you planned to go stay in the USA or go into academics or pg study afterwards I guess it would be different as Brown is generally well regarded.
If you accept Brown's offer now are you forced to legally commit? Can't you accept and then maybe decline later if you get Warwick? A friend of mine had a similar problem for Yale and she decided to accept and decline later if she decided to stay at Oxford, although this was for PhD, maybe it's different for undergrad...
If you accept Brown's offer now are you forced to legally commit? Can't you accept and then maybe decline later if you get Warwick? A friend of mine had a similar problem for Yale and she decided to accept and decline later if she decided to stay at Oxford, although this was for PhD, maybe it's different for undergrad...
brown does give out grades, but i think you can take everything pass fail if you wish. i think also you can drop a class on the day before the last day for the course so if you are failing, you can prevent that from going on your transcript. brown also doesnt have a core curriculum. but brown is highly regarded in the United States because it is an amazing school, i know a lot of people who would choose brown over hyp, it is very artsy and laid back
Reply 5
If I were you, and you are working to a deadline here, deposit at Brown.
Reply 8
If I were you, and you are working to a deadline here, deposit at Brown. If they have offered you aid, you may not want to give that up right away. IB grades are out on July 5- If you deposit at Brown, you will have the place if you mess up on the IB and don't get your grades. I don't know, but if the deposit is around $1000, make the deposit. If you end up not going, then you will lose that money, that's all. However, if you have that place at Brown no matter what happens on the IB. it will ease your mind. You will also have much more time to make an informed decision. About losing the money if you don't go- you can work for a month and earn it. Peace of mind is pretty valuable when facing up to a battery of exams. Good luck, ps.
Also, do as much research as you can when the exams are over in a month. Also check Brown's policy for those who deposit but end up not coming.
Also, do as much research as you can when the exams are over in a month. Also check Brown's policy for those who deposit but end up not coming.
Reply 9
ps23
OP
Thanks for all the replies. That's what i was thinking dismal, i was planning on a deposit but looking into my acceptance package it turns out Brown doesn't require any deposit. You simply send in a commitment card and the wording of that is pretty intense. "I understand that my singature above commits me to attend Brown. I have notified all other colleges to which I was admitted that I will not matriculate at their institutions..."
Plus my school's not really helping because my guidance counselor was telling me if i send in the card and then decide not to go it will hurt our school's relationship with Brown and the chances of future applicants?!?!?!? I'd honestly have peace of mind if there was a deposit but since there isn't i'm not sure. And i'm not sure if I can actually email brown about my dilemma and tell them that i'm still considering Warwick...
Plus my school's not really helping because my guidance counselor was telling me if i send in the card and then decide not to go it will hurt our school's relationship with Brown and the chances of future applicants?!?!?!? I'd honestly have peace of mind if there was a deposit but since there isn't i'm not sure. And i'm not sure if I can actually email brown about my dilemma and tell them that i'm still considering Warwick...
Reply 10
Brown is an ivy league school, so will have more international cache.
I have mentioned on this site before that I"m American and had never ever heard of Warwick before I got onto this site, despite having spent 6 months in the UK last year.
I have mentioned on this site before that I"m American and had never ever heard of Warwick before I got onto this site, despite having spent 6 months in the UK last year.
I think Brown and Warwick are on a similar level, yes, even in terms of international rep. Perhaps my opinion is such because I come from South-East Asia (which is where you live), so you might want to give this some serious thought.
If money is a problem for you, definitely pick Brown. They have excellent financial aid programmes especially for international students.
If money is a problem for you, definitely pick Brown. They have excellent financial aid programmes especially for international students.
It is a difficult one. Both Brown and Warwick are top universities and amongst the best institutions in the world.
First of all I think you need to consider what would be best for you on a more general scale; a UK undergraduate education or an American one? In the UK you are specialising, whereas in America you have to take general classes for at least a year I think before you streamline your course.
If you reall enjoy PPE and want to dive right in then I say think about that because in the UK you will be solely dedicated to the course whereas it will be different in the US.
Also think about the different cultures and climates and where you think you would be happiest at first. It's going to be 3/4 years of your life after all.
Second, and back to the universities, themselves. Well obviously, Brown is an Ivy League school which is the equivalent to the UK's Oxbridge and the big 5, so you might say Warwick is a teensy bit behind in prestige but not by much as the most famous Ivy schools are Harvard, Yale and Princeton I would say, Columbia too.
But, like I say, it is a tough decision definitely. Hmm...
On reputation alone, I think Brown would pip Warwick to the post so I'd head there. However, you do have to think about the different academic aspects and that things in the US are much more general, because do you really want to be fannying around with general classes?
On the whole, I've heard that undergrad educations are a lot better in the UK but postgraduate is better in the US.
Perhaps you should accept your offer at Warwick study for PPE and then do an MA at a top US school or something?
Good Luck!
First of all I think you need to consider what would be best for you on a more general scale; a UK undergraduate education or an American one? In the UK you are specialising, whereas in America you have to take general classes for at least a year I think before you streamline your course.
If you reall enjoy PPE and want to dive right in then I say think about that because in the UK you will be solely dedicated to the course whereas it will be different in the US.
Also think about the different cultures and climates and where you think you would be happiest at first. It's going to be 3/4 years of your life after all.
Second, and back to the universities, themselves. Well obviously, Brown is an Ivy League school which is the equivalent to the UK's Oxbridge and the big 5, so you might say Warwick is a teensy bit behind in prestige but not by much as the most famous Ivy schools are Harvard, Yale and Princeton I would say, Columbia too.
But, like I say, it is a tough decision definitely. Hmm...
On reputation alone, I think Brown would pip Warwick to the post so I'd head there. However, you do have to think about the different academic aspects and that things in the US are much more general, because do you really want to be fannying around with general classes?
On the whole, I've heard that undergrad educations are a lot better in the UK but postgraduate is better in the US.
Perhaps you should accept your offer at Warwick study for PPE and then do an MA at a top US school or something?
Good Luck!
Reply 15
ps23
Thanks for all the replies. That's what i was thinking dismal, i was planning on a deposit but looking into my acceptance package it turns out Brown doesn't require any deposit. You simply send in a commitment card and the wording of that is pretty intense. "I understand that my singature above commits me to attend Brown. I have notified all other colleges to which I was admitted that I will not matriculate at their institutions..."
Plus my school's not really helping because my guidance counselor was telling me if i send in the card and then decide not to go it will hurt our school's relationship with Brown and the chances of future applicants?!?!?!? I'd honestly have peace of mind if there was a deposit but since there isn't i'm not sure. And i'm not sure if I can actually email brown about my dilemma and tell them that i'm still considering Warwick...
Plus my school's not really helping because my guidance counselor was telling me if i send in the card and then decide not to go it will hurt our school's relationship with Brown and the chances of future applicants?!?!?!? I'd honestly have peace of mind if there was a deposit but since there isn't i'm not sure. And i'm not sure if I can actually email brown about my dilemma and tell them that i'm still considering Warwick...
Dear ps,
That's pretty heavy wording, and surely is on that card because in the past, other accepted students who declared their intention of going ended up not going. First, do they know where else you applied? Did they ask for that info on your application, and if so, did you give it? I'm asking because if Brown doesn't know where else you applied/were accepted, you will feel less uncomfortable if you decide to "deposit" at Brown. Still, they can't really do anything to you. It's a very nice offer from Brown, and you must be a terrific student, but remember in the end you must do what is best for you, what helps you the most, all other things considered. Brown has thousands of students, is a major and very wealthy institution, and you are just one young kid. Brown is acting in its self-interest by putting in this wording, and in the end, your not going really will not hurt them. They will have a long waiting list of kids, many of whom would dearly love to be offered a place from the list, all rushing to their mailboxes every day- if your exams go well, and you go to the UK, one of those kids will be overjoyed, seriously, and the aid will also be freed up for another kid. If you don't take the place at Brown, it's not going to go in the trash.
What your guidance counsellor is saying is rather difficult- and there may well be some truth in it. However, you are a senior, and are either 18 or close to it- how much control do the admissions officers at Brown think that your school has over you at this stage? Can your high school really be held responsible for what a kid who is no longer, or nearly no longer, a minor child does? I think that if you "deposit" and don't go, it make be remembered by some admissions staff at Brown, but I also think that it would be rather unprofessional of those staff to let their decisions about future candidates be affected by what one kid did in the past- after all your school is not telling you to accept and then not go.
Finally, I'm writing about worst case scenarios here- You should have reasonable confidence that you will make the grades for your offer at Warwick. You know where you are the weakest and the best in your subjects- cover your bases, work really hard, look after yourself, eat really well, sleep and build in time for some short breaks too.
I do know how you are feeling and you can probably tell that from this post. If it were me, I would try hard not to mess up anyone else, but are you really doing that, objectively? I don't think you are. Good luck with your decision, and feel free to write back or PM me- if you feel like it, let me know how things turned out for you.
Very sincere best wishes.
Reply 18
Brown's a lot more liberal (which is for me one of the most important things in a university experience... hence the pass fail options I imagine), probably a lot richer, and the birds are HOT. Warwick is probably one of the grittiest places I've ever seen. Plus it's near Coventry. Go for Brown.
Edit: woopsy just realised the deadline's been and gone. Hope you went for Brown.
Edit: woopsy just realised the deadline's been and gone. Hope you went for Brown.
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