Course Load at Brown: What Classes are Considered Easiest?

Hello all, I've been thinking of applying to Brown University, but the academic intensity is a little intimidating. Does anyone know what some of the easiest classes at Brown are?

It's understandable that you might be looking for ways to manage your workload, and having a balanced schedule that includes some lighter courses is a common strategy. At Brown, the academic rigor can indeed be quite high, but this will vary greatly depending on your areas of interest and personal strengths.

While it's challenging to pinpoint the 'easiest' classes university-wide as this can change year-to-year and also depends heavily on your individual skills and interests, some courses do have a reputation for being more approachable. Often, first-year seminars and introductory level courses can be more manageable as they're designed to ease students into college level work. Some of these might include "CLPS 0010: Elementary Psychology: An Introduction to Mind and Behavior", an intro to cognitive science, or "BIOL 0200: The Foundation of Living Systems", an intro to biology, where prior knowledge from high school courses could be beneficial.

That said, remember that Brown has an open curriculum, which means you have the freedom to explore any subjects you're interested in without a strict set of core requirements. This provides you the flexibility to explore areas of interest or to step outside your comfort zone. You could take on that challenging Astronomy or Organizational Behavior course if you want to, without affecting your GPA due to Brown's unique S/NC (satisfactory/no credit) option.

Remember, what one person might find 'easy,' another person could find challenging. Your best bet would be to find what really interests you and then try to incorporate one or two courses that may be lighter or cover material you're already somewhat familiar with. Achieving balance in your course load often leads to the most rewarding academic experience. Keep in mind to look beyond just easiness when making your course selections - you want your choice to also contribute to your intellectual growth, exploration of interests, and even potential career paths.