<p>has anyone from brown ever taken classes at RISD? (not as part of the dual degree program, but I hear that regular brown and RISD students can still take up to 4 classes at the other institution)</p>
<p>also, how big are first year psych courses?</p>
<p>
A quick glance at enrollment numbers suggests that the lower level psych courses range from 70 to 250 students. Intro to Sleep is incredibly popular, for instance.</p>
<p>“has anyone from brown ever taken classes at RISD? (not as part of the dual degree program, but I hear that regular brown and RISD students can still take up to 4 classes at the other institution)”</p>
<p>Yes, lots of students do. I personally never did though so not quite sure what the process is, especially with banner.</p>
<p>One thing to keep in mind concerning RISD classes is that their weekly schedule does not necessarily overlap with ours, so you do have to plan carefully to take a course there.</p>
<p>How is the social life at Brown?
Did many people know each other before attending the school?
How easy was it to make friends? Do you and your roommate get along?</p>
<p>Also-what do you guys think about the sub-free zones?</p>
<p>To me, the social life is great. I prefer smaller, dorm parties to big frat/theme house parties and Brown definitely provides with that. However, if you do like larger dance parties there are always a couple going on every weekend. The RCs are very relaxed and the environment is just generally very chill. If drinking is not your thing (it’s not really mine) there are still plenty of things to do. For example, I didn’t get back to my dorm until 1:30 last night because I was playing Settlers of Catan. You will undoubtedly find a group of people who share your social interests.</p>
<p>My friend and I were the only two kids to get into Brown from my high school in the past 30 or so years, so he is the only one I knew. There was a small LA send-off party where I get to meet people, but in general I didn’t really know people. Some of the kids, especially the ones coming from big prep schools, know more people, but it is really a non-issue.</p>
<p>I found it pretty easy to make friends. I live in Keeney, which is a big raucous freshman dorm. I am very tight with the people in my hall and spend most of my time with them. My roommate and I are very good friends; he is even coming home with me for Spring Break to see LA (this is his first time in America). With very few exceptions, most people are fine with their roommates.</p>
<p>I don’t know too much about sub-free, but the people I know in it seem to enjoy it.</p>
<p>Agree with burningham17</p>
<p>I was more of a big party person, and was in a frat myself, so a lot of my time was spent in parties on Wriston either in the lounges or in the basements. By the end of my senior year most of my friends didn’t want to go to the frat parties anymore and so I spent multiple nights a week out on thayer street (liquid lounge/spats) or downtown (McFadden’s when my friends won bar nights). Liquid lounge is now some english pub so I don’t know what that place is like, and FishCo is closed (I only went a few times) but I’m sure that something will replace the weds night spot.</p>
<p>By senior year you will spend a ton of time at the GCB, and I am totally blowing the secret open here because a lot of people don’t even know the GCB exists until junior or senior year. GCB is a bar in grad center that requires an annual membership to enter. The prices are obscenely cheap, and the bar is very extensive. FishCo gets all the publicity because its weds nights and pretty much anyone can get in, but plenty of people don’t like FishCo, you won’t find someone who doesn’t like the GCB. GCB is more of a neighborhood pub type place with dart boards, pool tables, TVs, board and card games.</p>
<p>My freshman year roommate and I got along great. We didn’t really start connecting until Columbus day weekend when almost everyone in our dorm except us went away and we basically spent the whole weekend hanging out playing video games in our room. If I hadn’t gone Greek I would have definitely continued to live with him.</p>
<p>I would only do sub free housing if you are really against the idea of people being around you drunk/high. Freshman fall was in my top 3 semesters at Brown (the others being when I was fraternity president and senior spring), and part of that is the relationship you have with your unitmates, and I just don’t think you’ll have as much fun in a sub free hall unless you really just don’t want that environment around you.</p>
<p>Just a general Brown question. I know the school doesn’t have undergrad business, so if one is interested in the business field would Brown simply not be a good match? Or is there somehow any alternatives or special things that I don’t know about that would relate and be a good match with business at Brown?</p>
<p>I think I already know the answer, but does Brown have co-ed dorms?</p>
<p>Chelsea: yes. All dorms are co-ed unless you request single-sex housing (which would be a hall with only guys or only girls on it). It’s not very common, though - I can only think of one single-sex (female) hall for this year’s freshman class.</p>
<p>Collegekang - Brown doesn’t have a business concentration per se, but COE (commerce, organizations and entrepreneurship) is a popular option if you’re interested in business. It’s a multidisciplinary concentration that has bits of econ, sociology and engineering that, depending on the track you pursue, can be a good alternative to a business major. I’m afraid I don’t have personal experience with it, but there’s some information scattered about the Brown website if you want to know more about it.</p>
<p>Just my $.02 on these questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>How is the social life at Brown?
Very, very diverse. I spent this Friday night watching The Big Lebowski while drinking White Russians at one frat before heading to a shots party. I’ve spent other weekends just staying in, watching chick flicks, and discussing life, gender roles, and religion. So this is just to give you two ends of the spectrum, lol. As a freshman, most of the partying for me happens either on Wriston, through the clubs I’m a part of, or through parties hosted by friends who are upperclassmen. Not gonna lie, though: there have been some disappointing nights when you go searching for something, but find nothing that’s worth it/devoid of a huge line. I usually go out partying only one night a week, and that’s definitely good enough for me. My other weekend night is usually spent just chilling with friends in some way.</p></li>
<li><p>Did many people know each other before attending the school?
Facebook is always there. We '14ers had a group, and there were some pretty nice discussions on those. I walled some of the people I seemed to click with, and so that was nice. However, let me emphasize that Facebook connections and the people you hang out with once you’ve actually settled down are often mutually exclusive circles (if you continue to associate with the former at all). I’m actually still in touch with only like two of the people I spoke to over the summer. I guess organic friendships are still the way to go!</p></li>
<li><p>How easy was it to make friends? Do you and your roommate get along?
Let’s put it this way: everyone is in the same, friendless boat once they’re on campus. This makes for some initial awkwardness (ice cream social, anyone?), but at the end of it all, everyone’s just really open to making new friends! Say hello to any random person in the Ratty during orientation, and you’ll strike up a conversation that might lead to a lasting connection. I had zero issues finding a good group of friends just by staying social all the time (but then again, I did pre-orientation and was here when there were fewer people, and that certainly helped at first). My roommate and I aren’t the best of friends, but we absolutely don’t hate each other. It’s a functional relationship that’s working well, despite the fact that we certainly won’t room together next year. On the other hand, I know some fabulous roommate success stories, so it’s pretty hit or miss.</p></li>
<li><p>Also-what do you guys think about the sub-free zones?
I’m on a “normal” floor that’s below a sub-free floor, and let me tell you that sub-free floormates are TIGHT. This seems true of all sub-free floors in general (at least from anecdotes I’ve heard from friends), so that may be either a pro or a con for you. I know sub-free residents who use substances but who just don’t want to come back to a mess, and that works really well too. At the end of the day, it’s a personal decision. If you’re especially averse to the very presence of substances (I assure you, there’s no pressure to do any of them), sub-free might be the way to go. But if you’re sub-free and live on a normal floor, it’s still going to be just fine :)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>THANK YOU for there responses! I greatly appreciate it!
ALSO going on Chelsea’s question.
floors are coed? Is it split by one side of the hall girls and another guys or is it mixed- every other door-random??
Also how about the bathrooms? I’m guessing they are single-sex?</p>
<p>Tothetop:
It’s random, as far as I can tell. It doesn’t go boy-girl or by side of the hall or anything. Bathrooms tend to be single-sex, but if you’re in certain dorms with semi-private bathrooms, like me, you share your bathroom with 4-5 people of varying sexes.</p>
<p>Blueroomjunkie:
Do you live across the hall from me? I was at The Big Lebowski as well, and I live right below a sub-free floor. Is today possibly your birthday? (Sorry if this is creepy…)</p>
<p>I’ve always wondered if I know the people here on the CC Brown board.</p>
<p>How was the Big Lebowski challenge, by the way?</p>
<p>Edit: If any of you guys are redditors, you should join the subreddit I created: r/BrownU. Hopefully, it will become a good location for internet Brown happenings.</p>
<p>Big Lebowski was fun, though the buckets of White Russians got knocked over at least 3 or 4 times. I just joined the subreddit!</p>
<p>Okay, once and for all, is Brown really as liberal as everyone makes it out to seem? Is everyone really an atheist-anarchist who listens to indie bands and smokes an O a day? Sorry if someone asked this before. The thread is getting kind of lengthy.</p>
<p>I don’t have much time to answer, but let me say this: at least half of us on this board would not call ourselves liberal, even if we’re not a representative population. Were there massive parties when Obama was elected? Certainly. Were there parties at many other colleges too? Yes. Brown is rather liberal for my taste, but that stereotype is certainly not accurate. There are people like that, but there would be at other schools too.</p>
<p>The following threads/posts might be helpful:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/1044990-conservative-brown.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/brown-university/1044990-conservative-brown.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/11122358-post2.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/11122358-post2.html</a></p>
<p>Question: Does Brown ADCOMs care if you say you will take an unpopular major vs. a more popular major? In essence, will Brown admissions accept anyone who is qualified enough for Brown that doesnt exactly stand out if they say they will take an unpopular major?</p>
<p>It’s not what major you list (most students just change their minds anyways), but having demonstrated passion in that area. (So trying to game the system that way won’t work.)</p>