<p>So near the end of August, I’ll be in Providence visiting Brown (one of my top choice schools!), but unfortunately, it worked out that we will be in Providence on the weekend (August 20-21) so I won’t be able to go to a prospective student information session and campus tour. What do you suggest I do? Any specific places I should visit/see on campus/in the city? Will the Admissions Office still be open on the weekend so maybe I can at least drop by and pick up some pamphlets/brochures or something? </p>
<p>I’d appreciate any help. I really want to get a feel for Brown and I’m afraid I’ll be missing out since I won’t be able to go on an actual tour and ask admissions officers questions.</p>
<p>I don’t know about the admissions office. You should contact them directly for info. But other things, ways to look around: (particularly if they are closed.)
Go to the web sites for the university and download a map.
Go to Faunce House. (now officially renamed the Stephen Robert Student center, but everyone still calls it Faunce). this has a nice take out spot, and the lounges there are good places to meet up/back. There is an info desk there with maps (usually) and likely a student manning it that may even be able to find someone there to give you a brief unofficial tour. Also, don’t be afraid to be bold when you wander into buildings of interest to you (libraries, certain classrooms may be open) and ask people if you can be shown around/ ask students questions. (even if it is where is?? and it will start conversations)
Take a stroll down Thayer street (but a lot of the people there in the summer will be “townies”, so I would recommend eating at least a snack some where on campus to be more likely to get those spontaneous chats with a student.
While on Thayer, stop in the bookstore. Buy something (overpriced, but limited source) Brown to wear back at school, or your home town. (Another way to find people from Brown to talk to!) The bookstore is pretty boring, but you may also find people to chat with there.
In general you likely want to take a loop: across the main green,(maybe detour down to the Rockefeller Library if it is open,) through Wriston quad, (back way through Lincoln green,or through soldiers Arch, ) or up or down Thayer street, (getting a Dell’s lemonade if you are hot by now from a truck.), stopping at Sci Li, Computer center /MacMillan hall (lecture hall) etc as interested or as they are open. Swing through Pembroke,(a peek in Alumni hall?) back down Brown street to Faunce. (or reverse order.) add stops in areas of interest. The most interesting things are not going to be the mostly empty in summer buildings, but the students you can find around to talk with.
I’ve left out a lot of things to check out, but you should peruse a map, or better talk to students about what you want to see either there or in advance, so this is just the “basic” loop.</p>
<p>The building is called Faunce, and the Brown Daily Herald has been trying to get people to call the student center the “Steve Bob” (Steven Robert Someone donated it), but most people say they’re heading over to “Faunce” or the “Blue Room.”</p>
<p>Suggestions on food: eat somewhere on Thayer near Brown, so you’ll get an idea of what the options are. If you’re looking to go out somewhere nicer for dinner, get Italian food somewhere on Federal Hill. Nomz.</p>
<p>If you have some time to spare and would like to look around places in Providence that Brown students occasionally go to, try the mall/Wickenden/Wayland Square.</p>
<p>Go on to Brown’s website and check out the virtual tour. Take the tour “live.” You’ll miss some things, but it will give you a good idea of what to look for.</p>
<p>There’s a tour Friday at 4 and one Monday at 9. Is it absolutely impossible to stretch your trip?</p>
<p>Check and see if there is a Waterfire being held the weekend you’re in Providence. It’s a not to be missed experience (Google it, it’s hard to describe). The RISD museum is worth checking out. Newport is a great place to visit–beaches and mansions, but is really a day trip in itself.</p>
<p>@jonri: No, I can’t stretch the trip whatsoever. Hotels and stuff are already reserved and paid for. We’re taking the train from Boston to Providence Sat. morning and then leaving early morning to NYC by Amtrak (tickets booked and paid for!) on Monday. Bummer.</p>
<p>@hornetdad: Just looked at the schedule for Waterfire. Unfortunately, the weekend I’m there is the one weekend where they don’t have one scheduled. Haha.</p>
<p>Visit Federal Hill, which is the “Little Italy” section. It’s walkable from the mall. Walk on Benefit Street and admire the architecture. Walk all over campus. Twice. Eat pizza at Antonio’s on Thayer Street. Get a cookie at Meeting Street Cafe. If you can get to breakfast at Rue D’Espoir on Hope Street, DO IT. Go to the John Brown House if it’s open. Ditto on the RISD museum, a real treat. Go to the Cable Car movie theater and sit on sofas to watch your film. I don’t know much about the bar and club scene (I’m a parent and would rather not know), but Wickenden and Westminister Street probably hop. And my two favorite all-time things are slightly out of town, but a short drive: Roger Williams Park and the Johnson and Wales museum. The last one is a trip and a half!</p>
<p>JWU Museum and RW Park are both in Providence. There really aren’t any great beaches near Brown. Use TripAdvisor and Yelp for hints on where to eat and things to do. </p>
Bummer.</p>