<p>Part of the experience, my friend, all part of the experience, and you’re going to have it at pretty much any Uni as a freshman. Sorry to come off as harsh, I have a tendency of being that way while frustrated at work.</p>
<p>In my experience (from CTY, etc.), what tends to happen most nights is either that one roommate wants to go to bed way earlier than the other, in which case he works quietly at his desk or goes somewhere else and quietly reenters the room later, or that both roommates want to go to bed at approximately the same time, in which case one of them just stays up a little bit earlier or later.</p>
<p>Most people get along with their roommates, anyway, which means that unless they have work, chances are they’ll be talking right up until they go to bed, which means first that they’ll both stay up later than they anticipated, and second that once one of them goes to bed, the other doesn’t have anything to do.</p>
<p>Finally, they actually do read that roommate survey we all filled out… if you go to bed early, and can’t sleep with the light on, they’ll try to pair you with someone else who’s like that too. And whatever you wrote on your survey, this is college, so if you don’t learn to sleep through people talking, doors opening, lights going on and off, etc., then you’re probably not going to get much sleep.</p>
<p>The moral of this story: Don’t worry about it. Unless you and your roommate hate each other, you’ll very quickly see that having someone else in the room who you trust (and most people do end up trusting their roommates, and who you can talk to at almost any time, is actually a very pleasant change from being alone.</p>
<p>(And if you really hate it, then sophomore year you can get a single. :)</p>
<p>Or you could apply to the University of Pennsylvania. They give out a fair number of singles to freshman. And, freshman are allowed to apply to programs like “Healthy Living,” which guarantees a single freshman year…</p>
<p>For anyone thinking about this, I definately definately definately reccommend getting a roomate, wherever you go. It is important to learn to live with someone and compromise and stuff like that, and it helps with making new friends and being social.</p>
<p>Is there a list of textbooks for each course available online somewhere? I’d like to get an early start on buying books for courses that I know I’m going to have to take (Chem 33 for example).</p>
<p>I doubt it. Most of the time the books will be up on WebCT (which you don’t have access to yet) or will be given out on syllabi. Plus, finding books and then waiting in line to buy them (if you wait too long and go when everyone else is) is part of the experience! I met some of my best friends at the bookstore!</p>
<p>What was the essay question when you applied MTM? Was there just one essay or some short answers or what? I’m kind of busy working this summer and senior year is gonna be kind of busy for me so I’d really like as much time as possible to work on my Brown application but it’s not out yet. Does the application usually change from year to year? Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Its usually something that is basically telling you to write about whatever you want. There is just one essay but I sent in an extra one because I had two that I really liked, they were ok with that. I think it will probably be the same thing next year. No promises though.</p>
<p>asterstar, the Chem 33 textbook is up on their website from last fall. </p>
<p><a href=“Chemistry | Brown University”>Chemistry | Brown University;
<p>It’s Zumdahl, Chemical Principles, 5th ed. I already bought mine from a vendor on Amazon and saved about $70. I did the same thing for my other classes. If you search hard enough through past course preview websites, you can usually find what books you need. I saved a bunch of money buying books from vendors on Amazon.</p>
<p>ah cool, thanks very much! Just curious, in case you decide not to go through with some of your courses, what are you going to do with the books? Resell them on amazon?</p>
<p>Do people tend to care more about grades or learning? (or a balance of both?)</p>
<p>MoatToMoat, if you’re registered for a certain course (aka a calc course) and more specifically a certain section, is it possible to switch sections when classes start?</p>
<p>jenz129, are you sure? I just looked that book up on the Houghton Mifflin site and the 6th edition came out this year, available for fall 2005 classes. How do you know they’re still going to require the 5/e?</p>
<p>*<strong><em>, Zumdahl is what we used in my AP Chem class. The book isn’t that bad, but it’s a big ass *</em></strong>er for a semester to cover. I’m hoping they just shuffle to a few of the more difficult topics and that’s it. Probably going to be more of a “Math in Chemistry” class to remind us of all the calculations and formulas, not so much a “Structure” but more “Equilibrium and Rates”. Good thing, because I am terrible with buffers and ksp.</p>
<p>“Do people tend to care more about grades or learning? (or a balance of both?)”
Hard to answer for everyone at Brown and of course there is a variety of attitudes, but I would say the overall balance leans towards learning. That’s sort of what part of the Brown culture is all about.</p>
<p>“If you’re registered for a certain course (aka a calc course) and more specifically a certain section, is it possible to switch sections when classes start?”
Yes, just talk to the professor during shopping period and then change it with the registrar.</p>
<p>I just checked to see what classes I have been preregistered for. Is it easy to replace courses, or do people find that some classes are full after preregistration. Is this true for large lecture classes? Thanks.</p>
<p>Very easy. I’ve never had a course be too full for me to get into. It OCCAISIONALLY happens with very popular specific sections of a course. If its a strictly limited course like a First Year Seminar or something it may be more difficult (though if you beg the professor you can probably get in), however for a large lecture class you will undoubtably be able to get in.</p>
<p>New to the thread- I tried to look through and see if my question was asked. I visited Brown last week and I was very impressed. Anyway, I have a question about the student body. I know Brown is notorious for being very liberal, both in the school’s approach (no requirements, etc.) and in the student body (very diverse). I’ve heard all sorts of things, such as all the students “walk to the beat of their own drum”, “individuals”, and “artsy-fartsy”. Is the diversity of the student body live up to the exaggerations I’ve heard? Is the diversity so ridiculous that it’s annoying? I’m a white, upper-middle class guy from upstate NY that plays sports, leans towards the right, and is very sociable. I’m all for diversity, and acceptance, but will I be able to exist socially at Brown? Will I find some people that are like me, and not just tons of people that are completely different from me? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>You’ll have a great time. You sound a bit like my old roomate who probably enjoyed Brown more than any other person I know. I don’t know how diversity could be annoying, since you could just avoid the annoying people since the atmosphere would be so diverse, but whats nice about Brown is that all social spheres and strata are represented - from the keg loving jocks to the non-drinking studiers and everyone and every viewpoint in between. You will find people like you, but I also think you will have a blast with people who are not like you. I suggest visiting when school is in session on the weekend and seeing how the atmosphere is then. Any other specific questions I’d be glad to answer.</p>
<p>Some schools have singles for freshmen (Wesleyan does, if you want them), but most have doubles.</p>