Visit Report by Sectumsempra (Member since August 01 2007 with 81 posts) Visit Date - November 2007
Visit to Brown University in November 2007 by Sectumsempra (Student, HS Class of 2008)
Visit Activities:
Admissions Interview:
Yes - I was contacted for an interview approximately a week after I submitted my early app. Met with the alum at a coffee shop in Back Bay (I live in Boston) on a thursday evening. Alum in his late 20s Information Session:
Yes - don't be turned off by these, for god's sake! Both times I went (once with mom, once with dad), the admissions rep was less than fascinating/knowledgeable
but do not be discouraged by the Campus Tour:
Yes - the students were infinitely more knowledgeable and engaging than the official admissions people, and gave a fairly standard interview Classroom Visit:
Yes - visited a biology lecture
the professor was really really helpful and even met with me for half an hour after class...
we just talked about the state of the university and why Brown is awesome :)
Brown University Campus:
Friendliness/Courtesy of Students: 5 - Excellent -
that legendary Brown laid back and happy attitude is very real indeed
Friendliness/Courtesy of Staff: 5 - Excellent -
I only had contact with one faculty, but she was incredibly willing to help out a prospective applicant
Appearance of Campus: 4 - Very Good -
Brown's campus achieves this perfect synthesis of urban location (it's just up the hill from Providence) and a quiet college campus
the buildings are Ivy League-looking and add that atmos
Building/Facilities Maintenance/Cleanliness: 3 - Good -
perhaps because Brown isn't as wealthy, some of the buildings are a little cramped and "dated" on the insides...
still there are plenty of brand new facilities (the new science build
Dormitories: 2 - Fair -
most of them seemed quite spacious, although the furnishings/common spaces left much to be desired
Security/Safety: 3 - Good -
the "sketchy guys" can certainly be seen if you walk just a block from campus, but overall they do a decent job with security
Overall Campus Impression: 4 - Very Good -
it's certainly a pretty place to be at
the state of certain facilities are better than others, to be sure...
Off-Campus:
Area Immediately Around Campus: 3 - Good -
Thayer Street is overrated in my opinion (although I come from Harvard Square, so I might be a little spoiled)...
City/Town/Community: 5 - Excellent -
Providence is the perfect size for a college city, I think
big enough to find activities, but also not so large that it draws everyone off campus on the weekends
Boston's only 45min by train
Campus Visit Notes for Brown University:
Visit Description:
Brown's got its share of flaws, and you'd be disappointed if you were looking for the type of ridiculously perfect campus that Yale and Princeton can offer
what you'll find is really nice surroundings and a campus with "character"
Hotel/Lodging Recommendations or Comments:
n/a
Dining/Restaurant Recommendations or Comments:
I've heard that due to the Johnson and Wales college nearby, Providence has a huge number of fine restaurants
apparently it's also got the most coffee shops per capita in the country
Other Comments (Transportation, local attractions, parking, etc.):
amtrak's close by
and there's also a bus
-
that legendary Brown laid back and happy attitude is very real indeed
-
Brown's campus achieves this perfect synthesis of urban location (it's just up the hill from Providence) and a quiet college campus
the buildings are Ivy League-looking and add that atmos
-
perhaps because Brown isn't as wealthy, some of the buildings are a little cramped and "dated" on the insides...
still there are plenty of brand new facilities (the new science build
-
most of them seemed quite spacious, although the furnishings/common spaces left much to be desired