The Yearly: Brown student taking questions thread

[addy189]

Are the dorms for upperclassmen any nicer? In terms of location, room size, architecture, etc.?

[modestmelody]

Overall almost always better, sometimes there are trade offs. Many of the nicer upper classman dorms are further (Young O, Barbour, even New Dorm and Grad Center when compared to say, Keeney), but many are just as close or closer (Slater, Caswell, Hegeman), etc. They are often larger, often singles, often have private bathrooms shared only amongst friends or common rooms (or both), etc. Every place is different.

[musechick2007]

On the topic of dorms, how are the theme-houses? (Namely the art house and the environmentally-oriented one, but stuff about others is welcome also).

[daveb]

This is off the dorm topic, so answer them first...

How would you describe classes at Brown? Are they intellectually stimulating, or do people sit there and look brain dead? Do they actually challenge and excite you, or do you find yourself bored?

A friend of mine recently visited and sat in on a class. She said the professor was attempting to engage the students in discussion, but no one wanted to participate. The room was silent. On my visit, I didn't get the chance to view a class (I was there on a Sunday and Monday, but in the middle of mid-terms), so I have nothing to compare this to. Can anyone provide some sort of disagreement with what she saw? I really liked Brown and was disheartened by what she told me.

[modestmelody]

Generally, Brown students are very likely to engage-- almost all classes, especially in the humanities and social sciences, are taken by a student solely because that is their desire. However, let's be realistic, there are many reasons why some classes may not be as good as others.

Time of day, particuarly uninteresting topic or reading for that week, one of the few classes people are in because they have to be (methods of research class, random intro class requirement), etc. Could be hte time of the year too-- people are more likely to be drained around say midterms time.

I find all the people I meet to be engaging, and I find this to be true in and out of class. That being said, not every class has the perfect dynamic of interacting, excited, prepared, students with a professor who knows how to speak to those students interests while teaching them important info, etc etc etc.

[daveb]

Thanks for the quick response. That's a big relief for me, since I'll be going into an English concentration, wherever I wind up.

Another quick question—what's the music scene like? Do you get a lot of shows in Providence, or do you have to take a bus to Boston to see things? For example, if Radiohead were touring the area, would they have a stop in Providence?
(Yes, I know Radiohead is a big name, but I figure if Radiohead stops in Providence, most other groups would too)

[modestmelody]

Um... a good amount of groups hit up Lupos and the Dunkin Donuts Center. I recently saw Third Eye Blind, Brand New is coming through soon...

I'm a guitar player myself and I find it pretty important, but considering WBRU and it's ability to bring in alt-rock acts Lupos does quite well.

[addy189]

Do they care if you take an extra year to graduate b/c you are unsure if your major or you just wanna take as many classes as possible?

[modestmelody]

I'm not sure how that works, though I've heard a few people wanting to just not take a class they need for their concentration so they can stay another year. I think they generally care and will strongly urge for you not to do it, but in the end I'm not sure they can stop you. If you want to get an ScB/AB you can definitely stay the fifth year, so that's probably the "best" way to get an extra year here at Brown.

[RaboKarabekian]

Re: class participation, sometimes professors just ask obvious questions, or questions that are answered on the powerpoint behind them, and not many Brown students are really eager to be "that guy" who says really obvious things in class, and therefore there are some awkward silences. Not many classes, but I've had a few. Sections too.

[daveb]

I'm a little unfamiliar with some of the terms you're using. Are sections the groups you are split into when you are in a large class, like an intro course? Also, if not in classes, where are you seeing this?

[RaboKarabekian]

Yes, sections are when the class splits into small groups led (usually) by a TA. Sections usually meet for about an hour outside of normal class time.

[modestmelody]

It's also worth noting that while that's the way we commonly use sections, technically, a section is the specific class you take-- for instance, there are two professors teaching orgo each semester, each with their own section that you sign up for. The breaking up into groups, according to the registrar, is called a conference, but that term is rarely used. Most classes that break into conferences only have one section a semester, so everyone calls their conference their section.

Not to be confusing, but to be clear, if you take a look at course information on Mocha or something.

[daveb]

Ah, I see. Last question (for now): is the newspaper taken seriously, or is it never read? I've been involved with my school newspaper for two years (will be editor-in-chief next year), and it's something I have interest in doing in college... But I don't think I'd want to invest so much time in it if the paper is a laughingstock. I've read quite a few articles on the website, and it seems respectable enough, but I'd like to hear a student's take on it.

[modestmelody]

The BDH is very widely read throughout the dining halls. All of my friends read it every day, I know very few people who don't.

That doesn't mean we always respect it, and actually, the student body is quite critical of hte BDH and especially its editorials, however, the readership is probably higher here than just about any college newspaper (percentage wise).