<p>In four + years of driving from between Balt & DC to Brown, I’d say it usually took us about 6.5 to 7 hours. We’d take the NJ Turnpike to exit 11 (Garden State Parkway), GS Parkway to NY, cross the Tappen Zee Bridge, get on the Merritt Parkway, get off at exit 54 and get on I-95 for the rest of the trip. The Merritt is very pleasant to drive on and avoids the generally nasty I-95 mess near Bridgeport. Have a great four years!</p>
<p>@brnpar–It sounds like your route is the one I want. It’s been ages since I’ve taken the Merritt Parkway. Where will I see signs for that? Is it right after the Tappan Zee?</p>
<p>Do many parents stay for/attend convocation?</p>
<p>brnpar and astromom,
Thanks so much for the alternate routes. I have not driven to Brown from this direction, but when we drove back last summer I was afraid of that NYC route. We did the Tappan Zee, but I doubt if we did the Merritt Parkway, but I’ll surely try any route than can be called pleasant! I’ll be waiting for the answer as to how to find it from the Tappan Zee. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Novanglia, I was wondering the same thing. Since it’s not until Wednesday, I assumed parents were not intended to be included. But then I’m also wondering, if it’s a formal procession, who would be the onlookers, if not the parents? Veteran parents and alums, I think we need your guidance here!</p>
<p>After crossing the Tappan Zee Bridge stay on I-287 (it goes to the left at one point and I-87 bends to the right to NYC). The exit for the Merritt is 9N (there are a couple 9 exits). The signs for the Merritt along I-287 are not great and it’s about 9± miles from the Tappan Zee. When you get on I-95 you are right near New Haven. When returning, the Merritt is exit 38 off I-95 and it’s marked a bit better. People from the Westchester area might have more Merritt Parkway tips.</p>
<p>I would really like to be there, but if I’m going to be the only crying mom there, I figure I’ll spare S the embarrassment.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for this Merritt info. It sounds like a more pleasant ride. I’ll check the map to see if I understand.</p>
<p>brnpar–thanks, we will check out that way too. Last year in our only drive up, the section thru CT was awful. The drive was about 8 1/2 hours so your way definitely sounds better.</p>
<p>burry–as for frequency of getting home to the DC area, mine has come home on the traditional T-giving, Christmas, and Spring breaks. Each time he’s flown from Providence to BWI on Southwest. The great thing about Southwest is that you can make “your” (aka your kid’s!) reservations way ahead of time, projecting the date, and then change the date of travel at no extra expense (assuming seats are available on the flights you want of course!). This is so helpful when the kids don’t know exactly what day they can leave due to uncertain exam schedules. Just check on-line as you get closer to make sure the flights aren’t filling up. And everyone brags about great rates with Southwest. Somehow I never seem to land the $49 fairs or whatever they are, but even so, a roundtrip ticket has generally been about $200 which to me doesn’t seem too bad. (into Dulles on United it’s more like $400)</p>
<p>My S is pretty independent and traveled a fair amount before heading off to Brown, but had never traveled all by himself. So of course I imagined him missing his flight, forgetting his suitcase, etc., etc., as he’s a bit absentminded, too! Not a hitch with any of the 3 trips. The kids figure out the bus to take from Brown to the airport that makes regular rounds. And one time he shared a cab from school to the airport. The entire trip, leaving his dorm to arriving home is about 5 hours for him.</p>
<p>Of course Amtrak also runs between DC and Providence, but it’s more expensive than Southwest (like $250 or so as I recall) and of course takes longer, about 6 or 7 hours. But it’s an option if the flights book up, for example.</p>
<p>Re: convocation. No, parents are not intended to be there. On Sunday (three days before convocation), as President Ruth winds up her pep talk she says something like, OK families, time to go. It’s short, not so sweet :(, and to the point. And off you will go into your new chapter in your life.</p>
<p>Drat, I was afraid we weren’t supposed to go to the convocation. Do they at least post pictures?</p>
<p>Another option for those in the DC area is bus. $62 each way. The ride is a bit long-- 9 hours including a transfer/break in NYC. That’s 2 hours longer than the Amtrak at a little less than 1/2 the price of the cheapest ticket. (Three hours longer than Acela and less than 1/3 the price).<br>
DD traveled on the bus to visit DC over spring break. She didn’t have any complaints, but she did mention that it filled up in NY because Amtrak wasn’t traveling to or through RI (flooding).</p>
<p>There might be a picture or two on the Brown Daily Herald the day after convocation. Regardinig the BDH, I receive it by email each day, and it’s a great way to keep up with what is happening each day on campus. Here is the link:</p>
<p>[The</a> Brown Daily Herald](<a href=“http://www.browndailyherald.com/]The”>http://www.browndailyherald.com/)</p>
<p>You can sign up to get it in your email and read it in a couple of ways. There are only a few more issues before they go on hiatus for most of the summer (I think there are one or two issues after the end of the semester). Check it out!</p>
<p>Now I have another question for those wiser than I. DD was filling out the forms to the schools she is declining, and we noticed most of them required a deposit to hold your place in the class. I couldn’t find anywhere where Brown asked for a deposit. Did I miss it, or are they that trusting?</p>
<p>I don’t think you missed it. We didn’t have to do a deposit last year.</p>
<p>The year before, there was no deposit either. Brown is trusting in that regard.</p>
<p>Thanks Uroogla and mom58. Wow, this world of Brown just keeps getting better and better.</p>
<p>Theat is really interesting. The only other school I know to not require a deposit is Haverford.</p>
<p>Hello! I’m resurrecting this thread because I have a question which I can’t believe I’m asking. It has just occurred to DD and me that we can’t find housing info anywhere in the things we’ve gotten from Brown. I know there’s a housing questionnaire and I’m guessing a form. Did it come in the fat envelope and we’ve managed to lose it, or is it on line and we’re just too blind to see it (she’s taking AP tests, but my excuse???). Thanks! (Skulking away in embarrassment now…)</p>
<p>I believe, but cannot confirm, that it is available online. Most of what the student needs to do over the summer (letter to advisor based on book she’ll read, FYS lottery, list of courses that she’s interested) would be online. I’m sure someone on here (maybe one of the students entering in '14) will be able to give more specific information as to where it’s available or to correct me if it is actually a paper form.</p>