<p>History of China with Professor Davis is really great, he's an amazing man. Its a complete overview of Chinese history, which admittedly is difficult to do in just one semester, but is something that I never got in HS and most people don't know much at all about.</p>
<p>Intro to MCM is also good, even though its an Intro class and maybe a little flakey it is a very interesting subject.</p>
<p>I think single-sex housing is unpopular because students fail to see the point. The opposite sex is still allowed in the building, they just don't live there. You see them all the time outside and in classes and at parties anyway. If you are very sexually or relationshiply conservative there's really still no benefit in just living in a non-coed dorm. So I guess maybe thats the reason.</p>
<p>M2M: Thanks for your input. What type of computer do you recommend (mac/pc-desktop/laptop)? Are they safe on campus? And, is the campus mostly wireless?</p>
<p>I have a PC and recommend them for all aspects of life, not just college. There are a few Mac people around but I always thought Macs were at a disadvantage in a PC dominated world.</p>
<p>Desktop vs Laptop
I have a laptop. I'm not one to take my laptop to the cafeteria or out on the Main Green to do work, but it is useful to be able to bring it to one of Brown's several 24 hour study spaces or to the library or even to a friend's room if we're collaborating on a project. Laptops also save a lot of space on your desk. On the other hand, desktops are a lot more powerful. Additionally, you asked about safety, I guess a desktop computer would be a lot harder to steal. There are thefts occaisionally on campus, you can lock your door with a key, and to get into dorms you need the brown card for that dorm (so you can't get into any dorm with your card, you only have key card access to your own building), but there are still incidents every so often. I've only heard of one and it had happened a few years back, but I'm sure there are more that I just never heard about. I never locked my door which was probably a stupid idea, but I never had anything stolen. Still, if you bring a laptop I'd always lock my door and maybe consider getting one of those things that locks it to your desk, you can never be too safe. The campus is mostly wireless. I heard a tour guide make a joke once that the campus is 100% wireless in all of the places you'd ever use wireless, and thats about right. All the greens, Sciences Park, the libraries, all the 24 study spaces, Faunce House, the cafeterias, all dorm lounges, and many classrooms have wireless access. I actually think wireless access in classrooms ends up being worse for students because it provides so many distractions. I presume by your question that your student decided on Brown?</p>
<p>Modern Culture and Media, its like semiotics, critical theory on media, the construction of meaning, psychoanalysis, a little bit of Marxism somehow, queer theory. Its very strange heady stuff. Maybe a little bit of BS in there but some of it is really cool.</p>
<p>With regard to TAs, it seems that most of the physics grad students at Brown are foreign. Does anyone know if the TAs are used extensively for the undergrad program and if so , are their language barrier issues?
Thanks.</p>
<p>I can't speak for the physics department, but the only classes that have TAs that teach are some intro Math classes and some intro Foreign language classes (where the TA would be a native speaker of the language so its actually a good thing). So even if you have a TA, it would only be for discussion sections. I've only had one foreign TA, and we were able to work with her to overcome any language difficulties. Plus, it was only a discussion section, so we were mostly talking to each other anyway.</p>
<p>Hey,thanks for your help.I guess the first thing is to get into Brown then thinking of how to get financial aid. Anyway, how is the security in Brown? i heard that there are three types of police patrolling campus, that sounds pretty scary.</p>
<p>Uh, I don't know exactly what type of police we have. There are Providence Police officers which are the police for the City of Providence, who are sometimes on campus just because we are in Providence. Then I the University has its own Department of Public Safety, which is involved in campus securtiy but also student things (noise complaints, parties that get out of hand, etc). They have plainsclothes DPS people who walk around late at night as security too, but they are part of the Department of Public Safety. So I count two types of police, and that would be very standard at all colleges. Security is decent at Brown. We're in a big city, but we're also on a hill and in a suburban area, which makes it a bit safer. I've walked around campus very late at night by myself, which was probably dumb, but I was safe and only felt scared because I knew it was dumb, not because I saw anything scary. The University is working on making the campus better lit at night this summer which should be done this fall, and the plainsclothes policemen are also good. There are blue-light phones everywhere that you can hit an alarm button on if you feel unsafe. The police come in less than a minute. There are also safe-walk services where two student volunteers will walk you anywhere you need to go, safe-ride which is a van shuttle that runs all over campus all night (which students usually only use because they're lazy or its cold), and a van service that will drive you anywhere you need to go off-campus. Everytime there is a crime incident on campus the University emails everyone to let them know. In conclusion, we're in a city, but its not that bad at all. Use your head.</p>
<p>Hey Moat2Moat, thanks for all of your informative posts. They all have been incredibly helpful. I was wondering if you know anything about housing and class registration for transfers. I'll be joining the class of 2008 in the fall and I haven't heard anything about class registration. I did fill out a housing questionnaire but I'm a little worried because I've heard that transfers sometimes get placed in common rooms if housing is tight...have you heard anything about this...thanks for your help and see you in the fall!</p>
<p>I'm not sure when you will hear about housing, I suspect that the class of '09 hasn't heard yet (since no one has asked about what dorm is better than what yet) and you'll probably hear around when they do. No one gets stuck living in common rooms, but there are some dorm rooms that are converted lounges. They are private rooms now of course, they just USED to be common rooms. I stayed in one at my ADOCH and actually didn't notice that it had been a lounge until they mentioned it to me. Class registration doesn't really matter since there is a 2 week shopping period and add-drop period at the beginning of every semester. Since I preregistered in the spring, I've changed my mind about three of the classes that I'm taking, but its not a huge deal because I'll just switch it around when I arrive on campus. I wouldn't worry about it. You'll be able to get into what classes you want.</p>
<p>Hey M2M- Again, thanks for answering my question about classes (what are some interesting classes, etc.) I guess in reference to your last question. Can you describe the dorms? Atleast the ones freshman's will get placed into. I remember reading a post awhile back about the dorms, describing Keeny Quad as the party dorm, Andrews as "Hotel Andrews". Anyways, what is your take on the dorm situation at Brown. And if it's not to much, what dorm were you placed in and what did you think if it? Also, how is your relationship with your roomate? Did you get along well? Are you good friends? How was it first meeting him/her? Did you have any problems?
-Thanks for answering questions, I've been on this post for the last few days. There are some great questions and you've been giving some great detailed answers.</p>
<p>Question about science classes. I don't want to major in biology, but I think it's kind of interesting, although it's not my forte. If I do well enough on the AP exam, I was thinking about taking a course or two in the bio dept. Are these classes superhard to weed out pre-med people, or can people just wanting to explore a little survive in them? Also, is it worth taking a class with a 3 hour lab if you don't actually want to do anything sciencey? Thanks!</p>
<p>I have a dorm question again (I know, I know, "Always with the dorms..."). Are any of them air conditioned? Also, are microwaves and fridges allowed in dorms, or do you have to rent them from the school? Sorry for increasing the load of questions that you have to answer...</p>
<p>fridges are cool, microwaves arent. But microwaves are in the kitchens, so you can find one. Honestly, I sort of forget if my dorm was air conditioned, but I was never happy with the temperature. Definitely bring one of those stand up portable fans, I slept with it blowing on me every single night.</p>
<p>Wow ok lets get started with these....
Freshmen Dorms:
I'll just give you the quick summary of each one. What I'll say before I do though is that whats great about Brown is that theres not one freshman dorm thats the all time best over the others, or one thats the all time worst. Most people will say that their dorm is the best, which is a good sign. I loved the Quad at Penn, but if you don't get in there you're a little screwed. Its not like that at Brown.
Keeney: Holds 1/3 of the freshmen class, lots of people and like you said lots of parties (since they have a lot of people). Still don't worry if you don't get in there. I partied pretty much every weekend and only like three times in my own dorm (Keeney). No worries, there are plenty of places to party. Nice because there's so many people but its harder to get to know everyone there. Has its own sateillite gym and many very nice lounges.
Hope College: GREAT location, and its got an awesome history. Supposedly they put all the people who are registered for ES11 in there, but that might just be a rumor. The size of one house in Keeney probably.
Wayland: Also a great location, and right near the frats too. Don't know much else.
Littlefield: Ditto. Also where JFK Jr. lived as a freshman.
Andrews: AKA Hotel Andrews. Very nice, big rooms, all have sinks, etc. Pretty big dorm but still easy to get to know people because floors are smaller. On Pembroke campus.
MoChamp: Combination of Morris and Champlin dorms. Big rooms and semi-private bathrooms (each two rooms share one bathroom) which is really nice. Attached to V-Dub and sateillite fitness center so you never have to leave to work out or eat. On Pembroke campus.
New Pembrokes: Incredibly ugly but have really cool balconies where they threw parties last year. Semi-private bathrooms. At least last year they were known for being pretty wild. Small (like Wayland, the entire NP3 is one unit, as is the entire NP4) so easy to get to know people in your dorm. On Pembroke.
Perkins: Highly contreversial dorm. Farthest away from everything so pretty unpopular at the beginning. However, incredibly close knit, supposedly 80% of Brown marriages come from Perkins. Most people who become conselors from Perkins request Perkins again, because they grow to love it. Most "suburban" dorm experience at Brown, while NPs would be most "urban".
If you have any more questions about that feel free to ask.</p>
<p>Rabo - You'll be fine in the kind of science class you want to take. Even orgo, which is deisgned to weed out premeds, had several non-premeds in it. You could also talk to the professor beforehand and see if they think its a good idea or not. If you are really concerned about difficulty you could take it pass/fail. Labs are sometimes annoying (if its been a really long day) but you also get your own lab station and equipment for the semester, which is exciting and sort of cool. They are usually pretty interesting. I 100% reccommend taking the class if you are interested, thats part of what Brown is all about.</p>
<p>Liquid: I once asked someone before my freshman year if the dorms were air conditioned, and they told me: "You should be more worried about if they're heated!" Ha. They are all heated and a few have air conditioning. Just bring a fan and you'll be fine. You can bring both a microwave and a fridge if you want, though all dorms are equipped with kitchens that will have those already if you want.</p>
<p>Hey MoatToMoat,I'm very interested in advertising,as in producing advertisements,but im not tt artistic. Do u think MCM is wise choice for me to take as my major?</p>
<p>Possibly. MCM relates to media but you don't have to be an artist to study it. In fact, most MCM majors probably aren't artists. There is a major called Art-Semiotics that is a combination of MCM and art for people who are interested in that field. If you are going to be a freshman next year I'd say don't decide already what your major is going to be, take a bunch of classes and see what you like. Try Intro to MCM and see if it appeals to you. For advertising I think communications is a popular major.</p>
<p>HaHa,i thought u'd be sleeping. In my time zone,it's 11pm sat. Actually what draws me to brown is MCM. hmmmm,communication... i thought it's about journalism?</p>