Hey so I’m going to Brown next year as a freshman. And have already started thinking about the dorms haha I know its super early. But I realized that I have never seen the dorms…Can anyone please tell me how they are. Are they nice? Also what is dorm life like?
The good people at FYBU have compiled a freshman dorm guide! 
http://f*ckyeahbrownuniversity.■■■■■■■■■■/post/58443552479/the-updated-freshman-dorm-guide
Replace the asterisk in the url with a U and you’re golden.
Just going to say that I don’t agree with all of their assessments - it’s pretty colored by their favorite dorms and places to hang out. All of the freshman dorms are perfectly nice, and each has its benefits and downfalls.
FYI – you don’t get to select the dorm you are in, so no point in getting too much info.
Reslife used to put up photos of rooms - is that no longer the case or am I just unable to find it?
You can check out this for now: http://reslife.brown.edu/new_students/residence_halls/firstyears.html
But yeah, as @fireandrain says - not much to gain given you have no say in where you live.
The dorms at Brown seem to all be different. My daughter was in Andrews - it was newly renovated and beautiful. They just opened an eating facility in the dorm and there were great study areas. It was on the Penbroke Campus, so it was convenient to the athletic center but less convenient to the classes. It was great, but I still hope my son gets Keeney Quad next year. Its a lottery every year - lots of different dorms and room styles.
I have to agree with @stemmmm. My son is in Andrews this year as a freshman. It really is beautiful as far as the study rooms, and the dorm rooms are very large compared to other dorms. Every room has its own sink, and the dining hall on the main floor serves wood fired pizza till 2 a.m. so no need to leave the building to find something to eat during late hours. But as fireandrain said, there is no choice anyway. Congratulations!
Yes, you don’t get to choose, but I can completely understand how you are anticipating and trying to visualize the situation.
And yes, the freshman dorms vary as others have already described. So let me talk about the dining situation. The V-Dub serves the dorms located on the old Pembroke campus. The Ratty is in Wriston Quad a block from Keeney Quad and the Main Green.
V-Dub is smaller and some say the food is better than at the Ratty, but that is an individual judgment. A minor bummer in my mind is that the V-Dub is closed on the weekends (When did that happen, I thought it was open on weekends a few years ago) So, on weekends, freshmen in Andrews and the other Pembroke campus freshman dorms (I think there are freshmen in Metcalf this year and maybe Emery?) have to go to the Ratty or use their meal credits at Andrews Commons, which has been mentioned above (or elsewhere). Not to worry, there is plenty of good grub readily available.
Another distinguishing factor between V-Dub and the Ratty is that athletes tend to eat at V-Dub because it is closer to the Athletic Complex where they are returning from practices and workouts. Because most sports, during their offseasons, have early morning conditioning and lifting sessions, there can be whole sections of tables at breakfast comprised of athletes. It is not exclusionary or anything like that, but you will definitely be able to see some segmentation.
You’ll have a blast no matter where you live.
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At least before 2005, and probably before 2002 since I have no recollection of anyone on campus ever saying it was different.
teamratty
Emery had freshman in it from 2005-2009 when I was there. According to the link I posted above, it still is and Metcalf is not.
Please post that link (I am not doubting you–except about Metcalf, I have it from a freshman resident at Andrews that a few freshmen friends live in Metcalf–I am just interested). Thanks for the info!
EDIT: Thanks also for that correction about V-Dub not having been open on weekends for a long time. I know it is not open now. I guess the following article, which I read long ago stuck in my mind.
http://www.browndailyherald.com/2012/02/13/campus-housing-to-be-renovated-transformed/
Andrews, Metcalf/Miller, Morris/Champlin, and Emery/Woolley are all currently freshman dorms.
Not sure if this is the link you are referring to, but if it is, I have some comments about it.
http://reslife.brown.edu/new_students/residence_halls/firstyears.html
Warning: The following opinions are based 100% on hearsay from a current Brown student.
The page linked above is not updated regularly. In particular it has inaccuracies relating to floor layouts and capacity. If applicants want updated information about housing they should refer to whatever service it is that Brown provides students for housing information via log in. I have never logged into that site myself, but if you are a Brown student or admitee you will know what this refers to.
OK, now this is first-hand information. At move-in this year, a publication entitled, “The Completely Unofficial Guide to Brown–Class of 2018” was distributed. Just dug it out of the pile of papers on the credenza and found that starting on page 24 it describes each of the first-year dorms–including Metcalf. So it seems my student source for this information was correct. I was also able to locate this publication online. Very interesting reading for all applicants, I would think!!! @vantose56
http://issuu.com/browndailyherald/docs/first_year_mag_2014/1
They vary, but overall, freshman housing is comparatively very good. The problem with on campus housing at Brown is that it doesn’t get much better as you continue!
And for the love of all that is good and holy, I just don’t understand why they have us sleep on twin sized prison mattresses (this is an epidemic across the country i tell you).