What I wish I'd known when I first got to Brown

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>I was just talking to a few of my friends about the whirlwind that was freshman year, and we ended up discussing some of the things we wish we’d known when we started out at Brown. I thought some of you might find it interesting, so I’m sharing a few of the things we said:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The ice cream social during orientation is hella intimidating. 1500 kids on the portion of the Main Green in front of Faunce is no small joke. Go with at least one person you’ve known for more than five minutes so that you don’t get lost individually in the potential social awkwardness that might ensue.</p></li>
<li><p>Faunce has amazing study rooms. Wake up at 9am and grab one if you can.</p></li>
<li><p>Join <em>any</em> club or activity that helps you meet upperclass students who aren’t your RAs/MPCs/WPCs. It’s nice to get a more experienced perspective on life and classes at Brown (and most people don’t get very close to their Meiklejohns, which is sad).</p></li>
<li><p>Going off the above point: if partying is your scene, there are parties outside Wriston which don’t involve crazy lines. Make non-freshman friends, go out, explore!</p></li>
<li><p>CS concentrator or not, you will either love or hate the Motorola auditorium in the CIT as a nighttime study spot.</p></li>
<li><p>It is possible to scrimp and eat tons of free food at Brown. You just have to read Morning Mail, look out for flyers around campus, and be prepared to sit through half-hour long talks first.</p></li>
<li><p>Halloween is a big, big deal here. Mentally prepare yourself for this if you consider it a “lame” holiday.</p></li>
<li><p>CVS may be two minutes away from your dorm if you’re a Pembroker, but don’t let that stop you from having basic medicines in your room – I know this sounds really obvious, but you’d be surprised at the number of people who asked me for Tylenol at odd hours because they didn’t have any.</p></li>
<li><p>The quality of food at the Ratty deteriorates as the year goes on.</p></li>
<li><p>Spring Weekend is HUGE. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t the biggest fan of either artist, or even if it’s not on the Main Green. Go for the experience. It’s $20 for something you will either love or b**** about with your friends for years to come (“Remember that really crappy Diddy concert we saw in the ice hockey rink? Oh man.”).</p></li>
</ol>

2

<p>Thanks for the surely helpful tidbits.</p>

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<p>Thanks! At the moment Brown is at the top of my list. So I definitely found this post helpful.</p>

<p>How friendly would you say the students are? Is Brown clique-ish (I heard from one source that it is). Do you have any regrets about going to Brown?</p>

4

<p>Everyone is extremely friendly – that’s one of the things that really stood out to me when I visited as a prefrosh. You have to remember that all incoming students are in the same boat during orientation, so you can strike up a conversation with anyone and not have it be the least bit awkward. And it’s not like upperclassmen have any sort of superiority complex and will avoid you. Basically, it’s a very open, amicable environment.</p>

<p>I don’t think my personal experience has been as cliquey as I thought it would be (based on hearsay), but I do know some more cliquey circles of people so it’s definitely a case-by-case thing.</p>

<p>No regrets whatsoever :)</p>

5

<p>Thanks blueroommjunkie.</p>

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<p>Hahaha I now understand why your username is blueroomjunkie…I think I might become one soon!</p>

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<p>It grows on you, doesn’t it? :D</p>

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<p>I would love a blue room muffin right now</p>

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<p>Gotta get one for breakfast tomorrow.</p>

10

<p>I want a blue room focaccia sandwich like woah.</p>