It’s been 7 years or so since the program started, and I’m wondering if anyone has any experience or information on actually attending it. I’m worried about getting exhausted from spending an additional year in college. And alternating between two schools on a yearly basis sounds daunting for me socially. My understanding is that you can take classes in Brown while attending RISD and vice versa so I’m asking why you would choose RISD/Brown Dual Degree instead of that. Any contribution will be greatly appreciated.
The two schools have had a relationship for decades. I knew several people back in the mid-80’s who had attended both Brown and RISD, though I don’t know how their degree programs compared to the one offered now. I was extremely jealous of the work they got to do.
At least for computer animation, a dual RISD/Brown degree is about as good as it gets. If that’s your interest and you have the opportunity, absolutely go for it.
Exhausted? If you love what you do, you won’t be exhausted.
Seems like the best of both worlds to me. You won’t be the only one in the program in your graduation year, so I would think you guys would stick together to some extent (my understanding that it is definitely true about RISD that cohorts stick together).
@tooblue a couple of factors to consider: 1) while it’s true that you can take classes at Brown while enrolled as a RISD student (and we know kids who have done that) the two schools run on different academic calendars so it’s not as easy as you would think. However, it’s definitely doable. In contrast, the dual degree program is set up PRECISELY so that you can take classes at both institutions. Therefore, you will be more likely to get your class when you want it and not have to juggle potentially disparate schedules. 2) Have you been to College Hill? There is really no obvious difference between the RISD and Brown campuses - one campus just flows right into the other one. The only disadvantage is that RISD is on the STEEP side of College Hill - I’m not kidding!! 
People tell me that students from both schools attend the same social functions and hang out together. The two schools have a long-standing and close relationship and the dual degree program is unique among art/design schools (at least I don’t know of another opportunity like that and we’ve researched a LOT of art schools!).
It’s a prestigious program and very hard to be accepted to. It’s not unusual for a bright, motivated student to spend a 5th year picking up a Master’s degree or double majoring. It’s expensive but given the reputation - you’d be getting degrees from one of the top national universities AND one of the top art/design schools in the WORLD - it just might be worth it for you.
Good luck!
When we visited RISD they explained who gets into the dual degree programs. You have to have a concrete reason for needing both, not just wanting the excellent combination of academic and art programs. They cited an example of a guy who was designing instruments who got into both.
There is a short clip of a young woman doing neuroscience and studio art at RISD. This is very interesting and the glimpse of her art at the end is beautiful.
I think the classes you can take at the other when you are enrolled at only one is very limited. 4 total maybe? Socially they are just a couple blocks from the other so it wouldn’t be odd to hang at one more. Even Jonathan Adler said when he was at Brown he spent all his time in the RISD ceramics studios.