March 19th: Brown University, Harvard University, and M.I.T.

 Brown University:

During this trip we had the opportunity to visit and experience the atmosphere of the universities in and around Boston. Although every university that I visited had something special and unique to give, Brown university was extra special. We took a trip to Providence, Rhode Island where Brown University is located.  One of the most interesting things about this school has to be its open curriculum, where students can freely choose which classes and subjects they want to study regardless of their major or whether they are a STEM or humanities student. The benefit of this one-of-a-kind curriculum is that students are not forced to take any classes so every single student in each classroom is extra passionate and genuine about their learning. Hence the reason why they say "pave your own path."

Brown has a calmer atmosphere and is more affordable compared to the other universities in Boston. Although many of the Boston universities have big campuses, like Boston College or Suffolk University, the size of Brown University cannot be emphasized enough. As a result of their size, they have multiple sports fields with a plethora of sporting activities including some Division 1 athletic programs.  I really enjoyed our visit to Brown. 

- K.K. (boy) 

One of the most attractive features Brown has is its “Open Curriculum”. This means students can choose almost all of their classes. Of course, you need enough credits in your major, but unlike many other colleges, Brown does not make students take certain general classes and instead allows you to choose your own electives. The only main requirement is to finish your major and Brown has top-tier programs from politics to computer science and any other major you could think of.

This system allows students to study what they truly enjoy. Instead of taking classes just because they have to, students can follow their interests. For example, someone who likes both business and art can study both without any problem.  The Open Curriculum also makes school less stressful. Brown has a “pass or fail” class selection where you can get a credit based on your participation and effort so students can try new classes without worrying too much about grades. This helps students feel more comfortable taking risks and learning new things which can sometimes lead to changing majors and finding your true calling. However, this freedom also means students need to be responsible. They must plan their classes carefully and stay motivated.

Overall, Brown’s Open Curriculum gives students the chance to learn in their own way. It helps them become more independent and curious which I thought was amazing and only what Brown can do. 

- N.M. (boy) 

Harvard University:

Today we went to Harvard University, one of the most honored universities in the world. We didn’t get a chance to have an information session from the admission office. However, Karen Yoda, a freshman student at Harvard, kindly helped us out to tour around the campus and shared many notable pieces of information based on her personal experiences.

Before the tour, we had time to check out a souvenir shop of Harvard called ‘COOP’ which also collaborates with MIT. Some of us bought very pretty caps and hoodies for the memento of this trip. Then, we met up with Karen and she guided us to the statue of the founder, John Harvard, of the university. Fun fact she shared with us: the statue is not based on him but based on a handsome student. On top of that, the foundation year was different from the real one. And he isn’t the actual founder but the first major benefactor. Next we headed to her dorm and saw her actual room, which she lived in. Karen lived in a 2 person room by herself, so it looked pretty spacious and open. Similarly to other universities we visited, most freshman students shared a communal bathroom per floor. As they move up grades, they get to live in an apartment style room with their own bathrooms. Other than that, we also visited the student center, the science center with labs, the famous Widener Memorial Library named after a person in ‘Titanic’, and the ballet studio church she took lessons from. 

Since Karen was a Japanese student, it was easier to ask her personal questions more than the other students we had throughout the trip. One specific talk that stood out to me the most came from asking for advice she would give to students going to universities outside of Japan. She said that ‘It is good to pursue what you are passionate about, and keep going on with it.’. I asked this question not only to Karen, but also to students in other universities/colleges. They’ve all answered similarly: to prioritize yourselves more than others and to express yourself in your own way. As a Japanese student, these comments were very interesting and supportive. Although Japanese universities focus more on entrance exam scores, making the students use their time on academic learning, the advice made me notice how you are being seen not only through your test scores, but also through your own strengths. Because a Harvard student said so, it made me feel more determined to keep on club activities and hobbies I might have given up.

Compared to other universities such as Bentley, BU, BC, and Brown, Harvard’s campuses were very concentrated in one area including the residence halls, and that arrangement definitely made the efficiency to move from one building to another very high, reducing students' mental fatigue coming from walking for long distances. All buildings mostly had a very classic, sophisticated brick structured architecture, and the inside were also very neatly cleaned, creating a productive studying space. Especially the main field, where the statue is located, gave a ‘Monsters Inc. University’ flashback, relating the atmosphere closely to us, which was a distant community before visiting. 

Overall, we had a very significant experience at Harvard with Karen. The two key discoveries we made today were the importance of pursuing your passion both inside and outside of school, and the presence of Harvard University that actually might be close to us. This was surely an amazing way to spend time on our very last day of the east-coast university/college tour of 2026.

- Y.I and H.I. (girls) 

Massachusettes Institute of Technology (MIT):

Visiting MIT was wonderful and exciting and the atmosphere made me feel inspired and I could imagine myself as a student there. While looking around, we saw the Institute for Cancer Research, the Institute for Architecture, the Institute of Technology, and the Institute of Astronomy. In addition to the sense of history in all buildings, I also saw the kind of creative design typical of MIT in the buildings around campus.

MIT is known as one of the best universities in the world, especially in science, so the campus felt more like a research institution than a university. Unlike Harvard University—another top-tier institution we visited on the same day—we could sense the unique atmosphere and characteristics that come with being a university with a strong focus on technology. I gained a better understanding of what a top university is like. 

- S.Y and E.A. (boys)