The Yearly: Brown student taking questions thread

<p>For the past few years, sub-free housing for freshmen was a floor in Perkins. There's no guarantee that it will remain this way, but if it does, Perkins is the dorm most likely to foster a tight-knit community, and from what I've heard, the sub-free people get to know each other quite well. I would recommend it if you have serious concerns, but I also have a lot of friends who don't smoke or drink and lived in regular housing with no problems.</p>

<p>
[quote]
So Ivy grads all want to work on Wall Street ?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>A disproportionate number at Brown and its peer schools go in that direction or a similar one that can require transcripts. Several schools publish data on the number of their graduates in various fields. The numbers are high for Harvard and Yale and I assume something similar is true for Brown. Competitive summer job placements on and off Wall Street are quite likely to request transcripts.</p>

<p>We also know from Brown's web site that 80 percent if its graduates attend some form of graduate school within 10 years, which means probably at least 85 percent apply. The application process requires transcripts and any selective admission will look at the actual courses and grades and not just where they were obtained.</p>

<p>Taking all the above into account one could guess that 85-90 percent or more of Brown students will be asked to submit a transcript for some purpose after graduation.</p>

<p>HEY! I just visited Brown this week, and i LOVE almost everything about it (the open curriculum especially). Despite this, I have heard that the "type" of student that goes to Brown is usually very liberal and "artsy" (involved in art, theater, singing, etc.). Almost every student that has gotten into Brown from my school in the past few years was a prominent member of my school's Theater Group. I am not very "artsy," and so I am worried that if I wind up going to Brown that I won't really fit in. To any Brown student: is this stereotype true? </p>

<p>Also- a few more questions:
Do you feel safe in Providence?</p>

<p>During free time, do you usually go into Providence or stay on Campus (thayer street included)?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot in advance.</p>

<p>Alright, I got this " by invitation only" letter to attend some session called STEM during ADCOH on April 18th... Does everyone majoring sciences/math get this ? Is it some type of Honors Program?...I posted this before but got no answers..Any info would be really appreciated 'cause i am going out of my way to attend...</p>

<p>I mostly stay on campus but often go into the city on the weekends. I feel perfectly safe and I'm not artsy and neither are my friends.</p>

<p>STEM is just a program that anyone who applied for science, engineering, math, etc gets invited to to specifically talk about those programs, meet with those departments, see some of hte facilities, etc. They do it each year becuase students who go to STEM tend to come to Brown in higher yields than other groups so they feel like it's been very effective at "selling" our program.</p>

<p>If I wanted to study something that isn't already offered, let's say I wanted to learn a language that isn't currently being offered, how would I go about doing that? I've heard things about submitting a proposal but I don't really understand what that entails. Thanks!</p>

<p>What language do you have in mind? One way to do that is to get a group of people to do a Group Independent Study Project (GISP). You need a faculty member to agree to teach it and at least 7 students. This coming year, there will be a Persian language GISP, and maybe others that I don't know about. You could also probably find a professor who speaks the language and arrange to do an independent study. There are probably other ways too, maybe someone else can chime in here.</p>

<p>btw....that business-econ major that was mentioned earlier as no longer available...I don't think that's exactly true. It's just called something else (its the Business Economics track of the COE major)</p>

<p>The business econ major was a standard econ concentration plus financial accounting. The COE business track major is that, but with additional sociology and engineering courses, so it has I think 4 additional requirements.</p>

<p>My sophmore son just finished the housing lottery and called to tell me that he is living in 111 Brown St next year. For the past month all I heard about was the Grad Center and this house was never mentioned. Was just wondering from any Brown students what this was? I know its near Pembroke and it appears to be a real house. Does anyone have any info? He is busy with something and I wont be able to ask him about it for a couple of days. Thanks</p>

<p>I actually know the people who are living in 111 Brown St. this year. Basically it is a house that is owned and controlled by Brown, it is part of the dorm system, and it has the same security as any other building. Other than that, it is not a dorm at all. It is a huge house with 6 doubles, kitchen, laundry room (pay machines) living room etc. My friends who lived in it this year absolutely love it, they said that moving into most other dorms on Brown is going to feel like a step down.</p>

<p>Thanks for the info. I guess it is a good choice although it seems so far removed from the rest of the campus (especially since he is in Keeney now).Will he still need to be on a meal plan even though there is a kitchen?</p>

<p>It really depends on how much effort your son wants to put into cooking. If he's willing to do it a lot, it's definitely saving money to go off meal plan. If he goes to Thayer street for every meal, it's probably not. It's definitely more convenient to be on some kind of meal plan, as long as you're still ok with the food.</p>

<ol>
<li>how hard is it to major in two or more areas? for instance, how hard would it be to double major in...economics and philosophy, and maybe throw in sociology? is that possible? </li>
<li>is brown really the happiest school? is it really not ultra competitive and cutthroat? believe me, my high school is full of "depressed people" who are crying over their B+. so i'm really hoping that brown students are different. </li>
<li>honestly, how are the dorms? are doubles the most common? are they comfortable? and hows the bathroom situation?</li>
<li>this is may be an odd question, but is it easy to make friends at brown? will it take weeks to finally make good friends, or are most people approachable and also looking for friendship?</li>
</ol>

<p>sorry this is so long. any help would be appreciated!</p>

<p>3 majors is basically impossible at any school. 2 is fine. Probably more doable at Brown than at another school. </p>

<p>Brown students are very friendly. It's easy to make friends. People are also relaxed about grades. </p>

<p>The dorms are okay. Not hte greatest but not the worst. Bathrooms are also okay, not the greatest, not hte worst. As a freshman you will be in a double unless you have some sort of special need...</p>

<p>Even special needs freshmen sometimes get put in doubles, although often they are special doubles that have like 2 rooms or a bathroom or whatever...depends on the situation. </p>

<p>3 majors is doable (my friend did business econ, art history, and a combined ba/ma in archaeology in 4 years) but it pretty much means limiting yourself to just those areas. Fine if that's what you want, but keep an open and flexible mindset and you'll probably be happier. </p>

<p>Brown is very happy and people are very friendly. I don't know how that compares to other schools since I have only gone to brown, but I love it and wouldn't want to be anywhere else.</p>

<p>btw, i think freshman are required to be on meal plan</p>

<p>Freshman are required to be on meal plan to clear that up.</p>

<p>Can anyone tell me from experience (yours or someone you know): about how much would Brown adjust my financial aid package if my family loses its income (meaning my father loses his job)? I don't expect a numerical answer of course, this is sort of a "to what extent".</p>

<p>To the extent they feel it's affecting you. When something major like that happens they will contact you or you should definitely contact them.</p>

<p>I just received an email now that my sister is goign to school about where she will be attending, a few details on how my savings and investments have changed, etc. They're fairly helpful and very responsive and attentative to changing situation. They do initially calculate based on the assumption that your situation remains relatively static other than predictable changes (loss of money in students name as it goes towards college, siblings, etc) but they will change their model if something warrants it.</p>