Brown Visiting Days

[Enide]

Hi all,

I've finally signed up after silently lurking on this forum for a couple weeks now. I'm just wondering if there are any Brown admits on gradcafe planning to go to the visiting days on the 11th and 12th. I'm planning to attend and thought it'd be cool to get a conversation going beforehand.

[strokeofmidnight]

Hi all,

I've finally signed up after silently lurking on this forum for a couple weeks now. I'm just wondering if there are any Brown admits on gradcafe planning to go to the visiting days on the 11th and 12th. I'm planning to attend and thought it'd be cool to get a conversation going beforehand.

I want to visit, but I'm not sure that I can get take the time off...I'm still waiting. I do know the program reasonably well and may be able to put you in touch with two other Brown acceptees (I think they're both be at the visitation week[end]) and one or two current grads.

I'm an 18th centuryist, so I'll be in Area 2, according to Brown's divisions. I take it that you're leaning towards Area 1? Are there specific faculty that you'd like to work with?

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

Not a brown acceptee (I haven't heard from them at all)

But I know the Brown area very very well (my dad is a prof there) so if anyone wants to pick my brain about Providence and the Brown neighborhood, feel free to PM!

[Enide]

I want to visit, but I'm not sure that I can get take the time off...I'm still waiting. I do know the program reasonably well and may be able to put you in touch with two other Brown acceptees (I think they're both be at the visitation week[end]) and one or two current grads.

I'm an 18th centuryist, so I'll be in Area 2, according to Brown's divisions. I take it that you're leaning towards Area 1? Are there specific faculty that you'd like to work with?

hey strokeofmidnight, I feel you about time off...I couldn't get Tuesday off and I'm coming from San Francisco, so it's going to be a real pain getting there. But I really don't want to miss it. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that you get the time off too. To answer your questions, yes, I'll be in Area I. And I requested to meet with Elizabeth Bryan, Melinda Rabb, and Jean Feerick. Are you familiar with them/their work? I was disappointed to hear that Coppélia Kahn is on leave and I won't meet her until the fall, though. And how about you? Are you especially excited about anyone in particular? And I would love to be in touch with your two friends, if they're interested.

Rebeccavee, yay! I'm glad you're going; I'm excited to meet everyone! Where are you coming from? And I hope they tell us more about housing soon too. Since the initial call and email from Tim Bewes, I haven't heard anything. How long do you plan on staying in Providence?

[Enide]

Not a brown acceptee (I haven't heard from them at all)

But I know the Brown area very very well (my dad is a prof there) so if anyone wants to pick my brain about Providence and the Brown neighborhood, feel free to PM!

Hi Branwen, thanks for the offer -- I would absolutely love to pick your brain! My husband is coming out on Friday and we're going to stay the weekend to explore the area and try to figure out where to look for apartments. We're coming from San Francisco and I've never been to RI before. Do you have recs for neighborhoods we should check out? I'm also not sure what to expect re cost. Do you know how much two bedrooms go for, in nice neighborhoods close to public transit?

BTW, I love your profile name

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

Hi Branwen, thanks for the offer -- I would absolutely love to pick your brain! My husband is coming out on Friday and we're going to stay the weekend to explore the area and try to figure out where to look for apartments. We're coming from San Francisco and I've never been to RI before. Do you have recs for neighborhoods we should check out? I'm also not sure what to expect re cost. Do you know how much two bedrooms go for, in nice neighborhoods close to public transit?

BTW, I love your profile name

Thanks

Ok - here goes. I'm not completely sure about rent prices and such (I haven't lived there as an adult) - but here's some info about Providence:

It's actually a nice little city. Brown is located in a neighborhood called "The East Side" - which is the most "prestigious" area of providence. Lots of old houses, two private schools (Moses Brown and Wheeler - and may Wheeler be burnt down to the ground, amen. sorry. personal grudge). Brown sits right near Thayer St. - a cute little street with interesting funky shops, a starbucks (required for any school area), a good greek restaurant, a hippie head shop (for those who partake hahah), a CVS, two bookstores (The Brown Bookstore, where you can get both your textbooks and regular reading books, and College Hill Bookstore - my favorite haunt as a child. I used to spend HOURS at the College Hill bookstore when my dad was in the office). Thayer is also home to a great little movie theatre, with awesome foreign films and art-house movies (the cinaplexes are out in Seekonk, MA - a 15 minute drive).

The entire East Side is walkable - and some of the old houses have been "cut up" to smaller apartment units. There are also condo complexes in the area (north of campus). I do know that Brown is EXTREMELY HELPFUL with housing - when my dad moved there from Boston to his tenure-track, they gave him a HUGE list of places to look at for housing. Buses from Thayer st. go pretty much everywhere (downtown, train station, etc), I think, but Providence is NOT FAMED for it's public transport. If you end up renting in the East Providence area, you may have to go by car. However, the area around Brown itself is easily walkable, and overall, Providence is QUITE small.

The campus itself is lovely, and a bit spread out. The basic quad looks like Harvard / Columbia / Yale (i.e. classic Ivy), only a bit smaller. There are additional buildings spread out all over the area. From what I've seen, Brown students are a funky bunch - lots of birkenstocks and vintage clothing walking around Thayer, or sitting in Starbucks glued to their laptops .

Brown sits pretty much on top of the "hill" - its a 10-15 minute walk away from RISD (which is at the bottom of the hill - and it's a STEEP hill - but being from San Francisco, you're used to steep hills ), there is an excellent chinese restaurant as you walk towards RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), as well, highly recommended, and its about a 20 minute walk from the river (and the Downtown area) and the mall across the river (Providence Place. Has a good sized Borders. Yes, I'm all about the bookstores when I go visit). Twice a year, there are "Fire-Water" shows on the river - I think for New Years eve and fourth of July - quite lovely.

Anyhow, the Brown area is pretty amazing! You actually don't feel like you're in a city, with all the old houses and trees...

Congrats on getting in!

Edited March 5, 2010 by Branwen daughter of Llyr