I’m researching freshman housing options for my S and I’m confused about the residential college system (Brown, Hereford, IRC) at UVA.
My other S attends a different school and was a member of a learning community (fine arts and letters) and I think this is the same type of thing, but don’t really get the “themes” of the different dorms at UVA.
Does anyone have experience with these dorms?
Thanks.
Correct me if I’m wrong (I’m just an accepted student) but I think those residential colleges are for upperclassmen, not freshman.
@Zenithar143 The residential colleges are listed as options on the housing webpage for incoming freshman.
FYI - most first year students do not live in a residential college, but you can apply. Most of the newest residence halls are not part of a residential college. US students can live in the International Residential complex if they wish, which may be particularly interesting for someone with an interest in international relations. If you do a search of this website, you will find comments from students about each of those options.
I lived in Brown for four years so if you have questions you can search for my previous 5 million threads on the first year experience or you can PM me. I obviously loved it since I lived there for 4 years.
Hereford is sustainability, IRC is international/multiculturalism, Brown has no specific theme. I lived in both IRC and Brown so I can help with any questions as well.
As an admitted first-year, I am interested in more info about IRC and Brown. How is each for first-years: do residents lose out on social life not living where most concentrations of first-years are? Can you make generalizations about the kind of students who are in each of these as opposed to mainstream first-year dorms? How likely is it that a first-year would get his choice if he picked IRC or Brown? Any other info that would give me more of an insider perspective would be greatly appreciated.
My opinion after watching my DDs experience with freshman only dorms at UVA, and comparing it to my experience with a dorm that had all different years, is that a varied living experience is SO MUCH better. You get an instant group of friends who know the ins and outs of college life. In later years you get the advantage of fresh energy and youth injected into your life. 3-4 decades later I am still close friends with numerous guys from my dorm who were a year or two different than me but lived on my dorm floor.
Settleback,
The IRC is about half international students, so it tends to attract first-years who are interested in multiculturalism. I had a great time there and wasn’t international, nor have I ever really traveled outside the country - don’t let being from America hold you back if you are interested in it. All you need is an interest in living with people from diverse backgrounds. If you apply to the IRC, you’ll almost certainly get in. Brown tends to attract people who are off the beaten track, or looking for an alternative to the mainstream preppy UVA culture. We’re a very creative bunch - not just in terms of arts. Brown is more difficult to get into, but it’s easier to get into as a first-year than as a returning upperclassman. I was a transfer, so I’ll let others comment on the first year experience issue.
That is very helpful, thanks. Other insights out there on the first-year experience at IRC and/or Brown? And any rough odds on getting into Brown as a first-year?
I feel like reading the Brown application gives you a bit of insight into the atmosphere there. 
Unfortunately the Brown application is not available now as far as I know
It will be available on or around May 1st.
Actually, having a sense of whether one/both of the 2 residential colleges I mentioned is for me and how likely I would be able to end up there is a consideration in my close-call final decision on which university to accept, which is due by… May 1. So any more information anyone has out there on either or both would be greatly appreciated. The information I’ve already received on this thread has been very helpful (including that would almost certainly get IRC if requested), but in my view you can never have too much information.Thanks everyone!
I lived in brown for 4 years. You can google because this thread comes up every year. If you have trouble finding old threads give me a PM and I can google for you. All of the previous brown apps should be posted and you can see how… ecclectic… the questions are.
Thanks very much folks. Lot’s of helpful stuff. I note that most of the previous threads are 5 or more years old (other than occasional newer postings from hazelorb admonishing folks to google prior threads). Anybody gone through the first year process at IRC or Brown more recently? And anyone have a feel for the type of atmosphere at IRC other than the multicultural dimension (which itself is cool)?
My daughter is also interested in Brown and visited there during DOTL. I can’t speak to the odds of getting in, but the people we spoke to indicated there are 20-25 open spots for first year guys and girls. If you get in, you can live there all 4 years. It’s my understanding that the app will be available on May 1st. I like the location of IRC as well. As a grad student I lived in what is now the Russian House, and thought the location was a nice proximity to grounds, the corner, sports arenas, etc.
My S is thinking about applying to Brown as well, but during our tour the guide said that Brown was for “artsy” types. He is not artsy at all. Does anyone know if this characterization is true?
It’s more accurate to say that Brown is for creative types. Creativity comes in all forms, and at Brown it’s more about the way residents think than any artistic inclination.