Is Brown a better choice than Boston University for an open curriculum?

Yes, if true academic freedom is one of your top priorities, Brown is much more aligned with that than Boston University. Brown’s Open Curriculum removes general education requirements and lets students build their course of study with very few non-concentration constraints, while BU uses a university-wide Hub curriculum that asks students to complete broad areas outside the major. For a student who wants to follow interests organically across departments, Brown offers a meaningfully different experience, not just a slightly looser version of the same thing.

Brown tends to fit students who are self-directed, comfortable making choices without much curricular scaffolding, and excited by intellectual exploration for its own sake. Its system works especially well for someone who may want to combine fields, dive deeply into niche seminars, or avoid spending time on categories that feel disconnected from their goals. The culture around academics is built to support that kind of independence, so the flexibility is not just on paper.

BU can be a better environment for a student who likes flexibility but still wants a clear framework making sure they branch out. The Hub is more structured, but it is designed to be completed through many different courses, including ones tied to your interests or major. That means BU is not rigid in the sense of forcing the exact same core on everyone, but it does ask you to engage a broader set of skills and perspectives than Brown requires.

The practical difference is that at Brown, you can often shape your education starting from what genuinely interests you and add breadth only when it feels purposeful. At BU, you still have room to explore, but the university is more actively steering that exploration. If what attracts you is maximum control over your academic path, Brown has the clearer advantage.