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i got to my aunts house in Mass. at about 4 o' clock from ADOCH...

ADOCH was pretty cool..it was very laid back and they let the kids run wild..at the talent show they told us to go have fun, party, and get drunk..lol...the Brown students i encountered all loved it there, and the Ratty is THE place to be apparently...overall, i had a great time (except for the part that everywhere i wanted to go was across campus form each other, not to mention they are not joking when they say Brown is on Campus HILL..the whole thing goes up and down and up and down..my feet were ACHING when i got home)...BTW, i was the kid in the crooked black yankees hat the whole time (the florida kid on the train)..

what about you?

By Lovetheriver (Lovetheriver) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 09:34 pm: Edit

it was good, i guess. i came this morning so i didn't see what happened the other night. Seemed like a cool place, except Providence sucks. ALso, my feet ache as well walking up and down that hill.

but seriously, Providence is not the place to be. There definitely needs to be some more government funding on public projects.

By Jolt21 (Jolt21) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 10:18 pm: Edit

what was around Brown was not really providence...you were on teh east side...all of the good stuff is on the west side

By Lovetheriver (Lovetheriver) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 10:20 pm: Edit

really? good stuff like what?

By Jolt21 (Jolt21) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 10:22 pm: Edit

the Providence mall (AMAZING), dave and busters, movie theaters, shops..its a real city..

By Kato04 (Kato04) on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 11:40 pm: Edit

I wasn't at ADOCH (even though I'm still considering Brown) but I thought I could offer some insight into Providence, as I live right near there. It's no New York or Boston, but in general I think it's a great little city. The area right around Brown (the east side) is VERY residential... Thayer's nice, but beyond that there's not much there at all.
The downtown area is reviving... it had been pretty "down and out" but it's really come back (partially under Cianci who's now in jail, but that's a different story). The main addition was the Providence Place Mall, which is a really really nice mall. The arts are decent, there's waterfire on the river in the summer, which draws a lot of people. There are some clubs (not my area of expertise), and some good shows come as well (I saw O.A.R. downtown the other day).
I don't know if anyone was interested or if that helped, but I thought I'd offer my two cents.

By Jnatkins (Jnatkins) on Thursday, April 22, 2004 - 12:22 am: Edit

ADOCH kicked some serious ass. Nuff said.

By Jolt21 (Jolt21) on Thursday, April 22, 2004 - 06:22 am: Edit

the mayor is in jail? he was speaking to us kids at ADOCH on Tues. night...hmm..

By Nereid (Nereid) on Thursday, April 22, 2004 - 11:56 am: Edit

Cianci was mayor from 1991-2003, but while he was in office he helped revitalize the downtown area.

By Wo4567 (Wo4567) on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 06:15 pm: Edit

oh get over the hills. what's wrong with exercise? ADOCH 2004... so good. Much fun was had? Who went to ImProvidence?

By Jschuman3 (Jschuman3) on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 07:00 pm: Edit

IMPROVidence was the funniest thing ive ever seen.

they must be better than other schools because theres nothing that could be better than they were.

go to brown simply to see them if you must.

By Angelinaoceana (Angelinaoceana) on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 04:56 pm: Edit

I saw improvidence- hilarity abounded- also saw an improv group at yale last weekend and i found many similarities- both did skits that took place under water- both did skits where one character did not have an essential body part (knees, hands)... both very good...very witty...

I loved Brown- its where my heart is- but also loved Yale- really did. Any suggestions? Yale gave me a bit more financial aid, so I suppose I could haggle a bit...anyone else suffering through yale v. brown decision?

By Jschuman3 (Jschuman3) on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 08:17 pm: Edit

I was in that exact position earlier this year when deciding where to apply early. I am doing IR and I feel like Brown has a better IR program and more kids study abroad so I liked that. I also have always loved the laid back atmosphere at Brown and the types of kids who would chose to go there, plus Providence is a nice little city and close to the beach. In the end, if you are going to grad school, the difference between Brown and Yale is small enough to make up with work and charisma, so you might as well go where you are happy. But come to Brown, come on! Also, if you call Brown and tell them about the aid they probably will match Yale.

By Jschuman3 (Jschuman3) on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 08:22 pm: Edit

I was also depressed by Yale's architecture and campus environment, though many will probably disagree. Who had the better improv group?

By Burutzagiuribe (Burutzagiuribe) on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 12:50 pm: Edit

Jschu, I like how you already understand some of the ways Brown trumps Yale. ;)

Sure, Yale has more laymen's prestige. But Harvard has more prestige than Yale, and certain regional schools have more prestige than both of them, depending where you are. And overseas....

Point is, prestige is a nebulous, inconsequential factor. Go with your gut. If you were happier at Brown, GO TO BROWN!! You will be happier, and as I keep stressing in all my posts, that happiness has value in itself, and it spills over academically and socially. Your entire experience will be much better when you're not stressing about getting a B+ or A- and whoring yourself desperately for grades. That happens at Brown but only sporadically, because most of the students are by and large really cool and very laid back (they, like Stanford students, do a hell of a lot of work, but they don't brag about how much reading they have or how long their thesis was).

I also thought Yale's architecture was terribly depressing. Most would agree that Brown has a very unique and beautiful campus. Providence is no Paris, but New Haven isn't even as good as Hartford, and Hartford sucks....

Haha, you should go with your heart, go where you're going to have the best time. Brown will make sure all your dreams come true and that you're successful, but you have the added benefit of being around really cool kids that are cooperative and incredibly friendly (and no, they're not just friendly during ADOCH). A lot of my friends here (I think 11 or 12) chose Brown over Yale, and 6 chose Brown over Princeton. It just goes to show that what's most important is for you to decide what school is compatible with your tastes and yes, CALL THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AND BARTER. Brown will give you more money, because all Ivy schools have financial aid parity post-bargaining.

By Smhop (Smhop) on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 02:16 pm: Edit

YALE has that "respected everywhere" quality.. and brown.. well, many people don't even know its an Ivy. If you are looking for a "name" and recognition for future jobs, choose Yale.. it will help later in life. if you are looking for fun and a laid back atmosphere, pick Brown. It depends on how importnat your eventual goals are.

By Argus (Argus) on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 02:30 pm: Edit

I would disagree, Smhop. In my travels, most people have heard of Brown, and they know that it's an Ivy. And I've been all over: El Paso, eastern Kentucky, Newfoundland, Venezuela and southwestern Virginia. Yale is about as well known.

Unfortunately, Harvard is the only school that they've likely heard of in the African Bush or in the Amazon rain forest. If you're looking for a job in either of these places later in life, good luck with your Brown degree. It won't be of much help to you.

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 02:36 pm: Edit

Angelina -- i have a daughter at brown, but i would say if yale is giving you more $$, go there. you could ask brown to match if you really prefer brown, but i don't think it's worth paying extra $$ for brown over yale.

jmo.

By Argus (Argus) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 03:45 pm: Edit

Rhonda...(or perhaps you prefer to go by Ms. Killens?)

Oddly there are no students at Brown with your last name. You say your daughter attends Brown? Who is she?

I suspect this may be another identity of the ubiquitous Yale Troll.

Note to Angelina: If Yale is giving you more $$$, then fax the Financial Aid Office at Brown a copy of Yale's award letter. Brown can generally match the aid award of any other Ivy, as well as MIT or Stanford.

The phone number for the Brown Financial Aid Office is 401-863-2721. The fax number is 401-863-7575.

By Smhop (Smhop) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 04:29 pm: Edit

arqus... i have been to 40 states and 7 countries. My dad went to brown, my husband works in international student placement... brown comes up a lot in conversations,,, and no... most circles of people really have no idea what it is... they think its just another random big college.

oh well.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 05:12 pm: Edit

Argus, that was a cheap shot at Rhonda who I know is not Brownalum, the Yale troll. How you made that link is a bit much. And to say that nobody at Brown has the same last name? What century are you in? MANY kids today do not have the same last name as their parents!

I do not even think Brownalum, the Yale troll, is a parent.

Rhonda has a child at Brown. As a parent, she loves Brown and thinks it is a good fit for her child. NOWHERE on any post has she pushed Yale, like the Yale troll. Just cause her opinion is that the poster has two top college offers of admission that she likes and she is recommending if all else is equal, to take the better monetary package. I might have even said that myself and I love Brown and my D is entering next fall. Frankly my daughter also loved Yale. You know, one can have positive opinions about more than one school and not be a troll.

Susan

PS....to the person with the quandry between Yale and Brown, I know that Brown office of financial aid will let you present them with financial aid offers from other IVY league schools and if they are higher, they may match it. Good luck!

By Argus (Argus) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 05:57 pm: Edit

Smhop, you and I must run in different circles then.

Susan, you are free to your opinion and I am to mine. In my century the vast majority of kids share their parent's last name.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 06:21 pm: Edit

Many share their last name, true (my own kids do) but lots do not. Therefore to conclude that some poster on here does not have a child at Brown as claimed cause you do not see a child with that last name on their list, hardly prooves the child does not go there. Many kids my kids know have different last names than their parents so you could not rely on that alone.

Rhonda has shared with me about her child at Brown. She has never posted in favor of Yale on any post I have seen her write.

I agree about Brownalum being a Yale troll and cannot figure him/her out. She/he is an alum of Brown but touts Yale every time there is a chance and then some to the point of putting Yale above all others. My child liked both schools and it is not a contest.

But truly I wish you did not accuse Rhonda cause I think you are mistaken. Also Brownalum has never spoken of having a child at Brown. Rhonda has posted on other threads, such as the parent one, about her child.

Susan

By Satman04 (Satman04) on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 09:49 pm: Edit

I don't know why people at CC are so obsessed with the prestige of schools. Anything in the top 30, is very respectable, as long as it's a good match.

Don't let anyone fool you into thinking Brown is just a regular university to the so-called "laymen" (which is a somewhat pretentious and elitist label to begin with.) People know that Brown is an Ivy League school and you have to be one smart cookie to get in.

I went to a job interview today at a local clothes store in hopes for summer employment, and the managers (one went to community college and the other a local college) were shocked once i told them I planned on attending brown in the fall. In all honesty, after I told them, the ambience of the interview immediately changed. It was as if saying brown just confirmed that I was an intelligent guy and probably was qualified to do the job.

So did brown help me in the interview? I don't know, but I'm sure it didn't hurt.

My point is this: don't split hairs about the prestige of two very fine ivy league institutions. Being accepted to any IVY league school shows that you are intelligent, and having diploma from one is very respectable for employers. Yale and Brown both have strengths and weaknesses in various areas. Focus on those areas that are important to you.

On the most basic level, the quality of education you will receive will most likely be about the same at both schools. Both schools have fine professors and intellectually charged student bodies.

Simply follow your gut and ignore the prestige factor. Attending any school with the tag "IVY league" will give you an enormous amount of credibility in the future. Money shouldn't be a major factor in your decision, since Brown typically matches the financial awards of other IVY schools. Like mentioned before, just call them and ask.

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 12:29 pm: Edit

(thanks soozievt)

Argus -- I do have a child who is a freshman at brown. she does not have my last name.

Also, i think brown is a great school, and she seems very happy there. i make sure people understand that in spite of brown's "laid back" reputation, my D and those friends of hers I do know all seem to work very hard -- all nighters are not unusual. I've said on another post here that perhaps brown students seem laid back because they're all so happy. It does seem like a very happy school. As someone who was rather unhappy at a top private university (not brown OR yale), I definitely value that.

As for yale, i have a sibling who went there (i've mentioned this on another post, too). She liked it a lot and had some very nice, down-to-earth friends (from what I remember when they visited our home). of course, this was about ten years ago. i personally think the yale campus is the most beautiful i've seen (along with bryn mawr's), but my D likes brown's better. all a matter of personal taste.

i stand by my advice, and would give it to anyone -- if yale is significantly cheaper, then i would choose it over brown. i don't think brown is worth the extra cost, and i would say the same if the facts were reversed -- yale wouldn't be worth paying more $$ for over brown. however, if you really prefer brown, it is certainly worth seeing if they will match yale's offer. i still don't understand why you took that statement as a crack against brown.

By Angelinaoceana (Angelinaoceana) on Friday, April 30, 2004 - 01:19 am: Edit

Well first of all, I would like to thank everyone so much for your valuable input. After much teeth gnashing and silent tears, I have made up my mind. I am going to Yale. I chose Yale because I think that I will run into happy, open-minded, liberal students at both schools. Also, after I spoke with a couple of Yale students, I have come to realize that the super competitive nature is a myth. Although Brown definitely attracts an attractive type of student in my mind, I know that I will find amazing, life-long friends at Yale as well. Also, Yale is giving me a little bit better financial aid. So there is my decision, as hard as it was to make. i used meditation for one of my first times, and it actually seemed to work!

p.s. the improv groups at both schools were awesome- simply spectacular. i have to say i enjoyed yale's a bit more however, b/c they had a piano player who added great background music as well as improved songs. but both were so witty, i'm still recovering.

with a tear in my eye, goodbye to Brown.

By Call_Me_Ishmael (Call_Me_Ishmael) on Saturday, May 01, 2004 - 01:17 am: Edit

i went to ADOCH, had an ok time, then left the next day for U of Chicago's accepted students' day. Chicago's was much more to my liking: the acapella group was hipper, the sketch comedy group was funnier (not to mention more insane-- several members nearly drowned themselves for one skit), the classes were smaller and more discussion-oriented, and the location . . . I mean, it's in Chicago! (which is significantly more chicago-y than providence).

So i've made my decision . . . i'm going to the place where fun goes to die, because . . . well, because i think i'd have more fun there.

Peace and love to all the kids i met at ADOCH. You guys rock my socks and i wish you the best of luck wherever you end up next year.