How should I choose between Columbia and Brown for Early Decision?

Brown’s Open Curriculum gives you more control over your course selection from the start, which makes it the safer binding choice for a student still exploring interests.

Columbia makes more sense for ED only if you feel excited, not merely willing, to complete the Core Curriculum. The Core is a defining shared academic experience: students take a prescribed sequence of foundational courses alongside their major and other electives. For some students, that structure produces rich classroom conversations and a strong common intellectual language; for others, it can feel restrictive, especially when they want room to pursue several fields early on.

The setting is the other major differentiator. Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus is part of New York City, so internships, arts, research connections, and daily life can extend directly into the city. That access is valuable, but it also means a faster, more independent environment and less of a traditional campus bubble. Brown has an urban location too, but its campus and student social life feel more cohesive and self-contained.

Because ED is binding, do not use it simply to improve odds at either highly selective school. Use it where the academic structure is clearly right for you and where the financial-aid estimate makes attendance realistic.