Brown University RI 2006 (Off the Record)

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Introduction from the Author

When I began to look at colleges in my junior year of high school, I knew very little about the specific schools of the Northeast. Being from Tampa, Florida, large Northeast schools were something few of my classmates were considering and even fewer applied to. I knew the big cities were New York and Boston, so I started my search there. After a few months, one of my teachers, a Brown alumnus, suggested that I should check out Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Although I knew Brown was an Ivy League school, and was supposed to be academically impressive, I knew very little about the school and even less about Providence. But now, after four years here, I have become an expert on Brown and Providence.

As you head toward Brown on Interstate 95, first you may be struck by the quaint New England factory towns, and then Providence’s downtown emerges from the horizon. Getting lost in the maze of local one-way streets lined with historic houses and buildings is all part of the Providence experience. Providence’s self-proclaimed “Renaissance” features fresh paint and smooth roads that clash with winter torn streets and century-old houses that make up the historic east side neighborhoods around Brown.

Once you are on campus, you will see students swarming along the greens, the streets, and the sidewalks even on the bitterest days, rushing in and out of the Rockefeller Library until 2 a.m. Most people should be able to point you towards the admissions building, only two blocks away from the Rock, and will chat with you once you ask them for directions. Go on the tour first so you don’t miss anything wandering around by yourself, but do yourself a favor and don’t fully base your opinion of Brown on a one-hour rehearsed speech.

While the tour gives a digest of the University layout, you don’t really get to meet the students. If you really want to know the school, meet the students. That’s why I’ve written this book. Being a Brown student myself, my voice in this edition will help you know at least one Brown student’s view. In addition, and more importantly, the hours of transcribed interviews let you know what life on campus is really like. It will give you insight into how Brown students feel when it comes to the issues that most concern them. This book will give prospective students a sense for the school without ever stepping foot on campus. Also, if you come to visit Brown, it will help you get the most out of your trip.

Good luck and enjoy the read.

Matthew Kittay, Author
Brown University