The bubbling, pink concoction of soap, yeast, and hydrogen peroxide—“elephant tooth paste”—oozed out of a test tube. The surprising reaction catalyzed my interest in the STEM fields as I stared in bewilderment alongside other eager middle school girls at an annual event at a nearby university called FEMMES: Females Exploring More Math, Engineering, and Sciences. During the rest of the event, female scientists explained their occupations and led us through activities in laboratories, filled with interesting equipment. After...

The grading system and open curriculum at Brown seem utopian, like an ideal educational model that allows students to learn for the sake of learning. I believe I will thrive in this atmosphere, be able to take academic risks and to explore my diverse peripheral interests in gender studies, journalism, and computer science. With the impressive course selection, it is likely that I will even discover new interests. The open academic setting contributes to Brown’s collegial atmosphere, and Brown...