The Yearly: Brown student taking questions thread

[modestmelody]

So, with admissions decisions for RD students coming this week and ED already past, I figured I'd start off the Brown Student Taking Questions thread that we've had the past couple of years that have been a huge help to prefrosh.

There are quite a few of us on here ready to answer any of your questions about the school, various logistics, etc. So shoot.

Only one rule-- since it is two days before admissions decisions are out right now I'm going to make this clear-- NO CHANCES POSTS IN THIS THREAD. They will be ignored.

[Jeremybeach]

Hi modestmelody! Thank you for giving us all the opportunity to ask Q's. I guess I could be the first question-asker?! Ok, here goes :

1). I hear there are no class ranks at Brown-true or false?
2). How hard is it to make an independent concentration?
AND
3). Would you trade your Brown experience so far for any other (as in are there flaws or is it all perfect and buttercups bloom from all windows ?) :P

[brumaire]

How's the music scene, both in terms of local bands and frequency with which larger shows swing through Providence?

[modestmelody]

Jeremy-- there is a designation of Magnum Cum Laude which requires you to get a certain number of As over a certain number of semesters. It's not an honor many get and not even one that many are all that aware of, but it's the closest thing to a rank we have. Basically, no, there are no ranks, I didn't evne know colleges have ranks.
2) ICs are as easy as anywhere else if not easier. You have to meet with the proper advisors and discuss with them why your concentration doesn't lie within a conventional concentration etc. Basically, considering that concentration filing is a 2 sheet one time deal basically, ICs are really not all that difficult but the idea is to have a clear set out plan and the ability to explain why your course of study can't be covered in some other way.
3) There are flaws with anyting in life, but there is nowhere I'd rather be and I wouldn't change where I am if I had the chance.

Brumaire--

There are several great venues nearby. Check out Lupos online and the shows listed on WBRU to check that out. As a guitar player I've had a hard time finding a band but others I know are pretty active in bands on campus.

[RaboKarabekian]

There's also phi beta kappa, into which you can be elected in your junior or senior year.

There are many things at Brown that can be improved. However, I don't think any other college has fewer or would have offered me a better experience.

[fredmurtz2]

2). How hard is it to make an independent concentration?

Okay, Robo had it a little mistaken. Don't get me wrong it is easier than at many other schools...However, the process does take up some time..I spent a month getting my proposal together and that is on the shorter side than is normal. Still, it is a rather generous policy because, they are thinking about letting you choose your major. The key distinction is that the administration at Brown works WITH you not AGAINST you

AND

3). Would you trade your Brown experience so far for any other (as in are there flaws or is it all perfect and buttercups bloom from all windows ?) :P

Nowhere is nirvana. College is a recurring set of intense ups and downs but, I couldn't see myself happier elsewhere. Not by a longshot.

[OceanNightSkies]

Any fast food places nearby?

[modestmelody]

Not really Ocean. At least, not the traditional chain fast food. We do have two pizza places, a wings and hot dog place, an express sushi bar, a borrito place, a crepe place, a burger place, and two Mediterranean wrap (falafel, gyro, etc) places on Thayer that are all basically fast food. No Taco Bell, Wendy's, McDonalds, etc around though.

There is a Subway actually-- and there is a Subway and Taco Bell at the mall...

[RaboKarabekian]

Dunkin' Donuts? That might count...Jo's pretty much takes the place of fast food if you live on that side of campus, same burgers, spicy chicken sandwiches you might get at mcdonalds except it's on your meal plan.

[fengshuibundi]

How's the mall?

And I'm actually glad there aren't any traditional fast food places though... good to try random new things.

[modestmelody]

The mall is quite large and has a pretty solid range from more "normal" mall stores to some of the more boutique shops (though nothing like the really upscale malls). I dislike the fact that you have to go up 6 sets of escalators to get to the top floor, though the movie theater at Providence Place is quite nice. What makes a good mall to you? It'll be quite different if you're a Jersey girl versus a guy mall rat...

[fengshuibundi]

Just the more "normal" apparal stores should be fine (express, hollister, the likes)

SIX!? haha. Are there many movie theaters in Providence?

A good mall is a place where you can run into people whenever you go, you feel safe, you want to spend money in... it's pretty... not cluttered or dirty... it's packed on weekends and a good place for casual hanging out. And it's not ever like dead. Oh! Good places to eat too. And natural lighting/lots of skylights.

How about parks and trails and stuff of that nature in the area?

[modestmelody]

Sounds like you're set with the mall because it's definitely safe, clean, has plenty of natural life and is generally busy. The food is pretty average for a mall, far from being the ideal, but far form being hte worst. There are only three theaters I know of in Providence, and two of them, the Avon and Cable Car, are more specialty theaters. It doesn't really matter though since Providence Place has 20 screens + the IMAX.

Parks and nature stuff is not really obviously accessible, though I know there are various ways ot get involved with that kind of thing through campus groups. I'm not an expert there as I haven't really sought it out since at Brown so I'll tag in someone else for that one...

Btw, I'm a NY guy mallrat, hence my discussion above...I assume you're a girl? I don't know too many guys who ask about the local mall .

[colormehappy]

How big of a shocker are the classes coming from highschool (i.e. Will my first paper be more red pen ink than computer ink?) and how helpful are the professors during the adjustment? I go to a highschool where I have gotten A's pretty easily while taking the top classes (public, noncompetitive, private schools here are even worse).

[modestmelody]

It depends on the professor and the class, and that's honestly the best I can tell you. As far as I can tell, all the students I've met at Brown were ready to take on the challenge that Brown can provide if they choose to.