The windy reputation at Brown is a combination of it being at the top of an extremely steep incline (think S.F. Type incline and the base of the incline being a river. The combination leads to an extremely cold wind whipping in relative terms up College Street through the gates and throughout campus.
Not really that bad by NE standards but cold. The wind and the food at he “Ratty” are the only two complaints I have heard and in both cases they are described as; “we are college students, do you really think we won’t find something to complain or protest about”.
I think a lot of the extreme mythology around Brown’s ultra PC, social activism, no core, hippie culture while rooted in some reality is dispelled quickly once on campus. The reality is just like in the movie “The Breakfast Club” there are brains, athletes, basket, cases and princesses plus most who don’t fall into any one category. Common theme being they all tend to be smart and passionate about at least one if not several causes or areas of study.
I can’t speak to engagement in broad terms, but those kids I have encountered do seem to be near universally happy. Most of the kids in attendance choose Brown amongst several options and do their homework when making the decision. I am sure there are exceptions but the “happiest students” claim in my experience seems well founded.
It was an “in” college when I was applying as well, early 80s, because the perception was that there were no grades, so what could be better than that!
Lol, there are grades. But it’s harder to get a grade below C.
I still say, what wind. It’s occasional. You know you’re going to college in New England and dress accordingly. This is no Cornell, where distances are further.
There’s one road that goes uphill, could be a challenge to a student (by the Pembroke campus,) but once up, that walk ends at the RISD border. It’s a straight shot from the dorms to the quad, doesn’t compare to SF, imo. If you’re on the Pembroke side, it’s rather flat over to the quad. It’s RISD kids who face the constant climb. The steepest part is on their side.
Add the dorms to the complaints. The notion they are truly the happiest? Lots of kids on lots of campuses are happy.
College Hill is no where near as steep as many of the streets in San Francisco imho. I feel like I can get around that campus without encountering many hills. I have heard that some of the dorms are pretty awful. I can vouch that the pool is pretty amazing though!
I spent four years in Providence and don’t remember it as being notably windy. I do, however, remember that in the winter when it would be snowy in other places, it would be 32 degrees and raining in Providence.