Hungry As a Bear: Let’s Go to the Mall

Providence Place (Photo credit: Mr. Ducke)

Be honest.  One of the things that scares you the most about going to college is not knowing what the food is like.  If you are worried about what you will be eating on campus once you arrive at Brown, look no further than Hungry as a Bear with Corrine Szczesny.

Providence is not only an education mecca, it is also home to some of the finest restaurants in the country.  There are a lot of great dining options on College Hill, but there are also great options if you are willing to venture down College Hill.  A great stop off College Hill is the Providence Place Mall.  An amazing retail and dining experience awaits you at the mall, which is a popular place for Brown students during the weekend.

Providence Place Mall is located in the heart of Providence.  Walking from campus is generally the easiest way to get to the mall, but there is also a RIPTA bus that will take you from Thayer Street to the bus station in downtown Providence, which is only a few blocks from the mall.

Now on to what this blog is really about, the food…

A Fresh View: Feeling Small?

Don’t let yourself feel like you’re one of those tiny people out there!

Hello Everyone!

My name is Emily Schell, and I’m the freshman behind “A Fresh View.” You get to read my attempts to tell jokes and blog for the next year – but at least hopefully you will get something out of it! While you all struggle through the college application process, I get to struggle through the trials and tribulations of being a freshman. So there you have it: neither of us is alone. This blog is just a little bit of Brunonia to brighten up your week!

It’s that time of year again for us Brown students – MIDTERMS! That means libraries full of stressed out kids, studying furiously for that exam that they probably really should have read the textbook for. Also, for many of you, it’s the third quarter, and as someone who just got out of high school, I know for many of you that means the impending doom of AP tests, and for you seniors, an epic fight against senioritis that by now you are probably losing. Sounds bad for everyone all around, right? Not so much! Here at Brown, you’ll be happy to know that when you’re feeling stressed out as a freshman, there are many different outlets you can seek out to get the physical, emotional, or mental help that you may need. I’m just going to go over a few of them today so that you know that WHENEVER you are feeling small or just not like yourself that day, you can go to any of these resources to get that little pep talk that you need.

(1) RPL System: Here at Brown we have a group of Residential Peer Leaders, often called by other schools “RAs” (Resident Advisors), who actually live in the same dorms as you do, so they are available at all times for your convenience! Each dorm is split into “units,” and each “unit” is assigned each kind of RPL – a WPC (Women’s Peer Counselor), a MPC (Minority Peer Counselor), and a RC (Residential Counselor). Fun fact: I actually am going to be a WPC next year, so fingers crossed that I’ll get some of you beautiful people as my residents in my unit! ☺ While the different names for each role (WPC, MPC, and RC) may make the roles seem binary (i.e. Women’s Peer Counselors only cover women’s issues, Minority Peer Counselors only cover minority issues, etc.) that really is not true. While I, as a WPC, may have specific training in regards to gender and sexuality issues plaguing both men and women in college, I am available for all of your needs! If you become closer to your MPC than the RC or WPC on your floor, then go to him or her with your problems – it is all about what makes you comfortable. RPLs are there to help you make that tough transition into college – we are happy when YOU are happy (cheesy but true!)

(2) Meiklejohn Peer Advisor: Here at Brown, freshmen also have access to a really great academic resource – your Meiklejohn. Many other schools have instituted systems of advising that involve a professor being paired up with a group of students. That professor will help students get academically acclimated to the rigor of college courses, because that is also a tough transition from high school to college that many students may not expect. Brown also has that system of faculty advising, where you are paired with a professor based on your “declared” academic interests (don’t worry – we know those are not set in stone yet!) However, we also have a Meiklejohn Peer Advisor to help supplement your academic advising freshman year. Meiklejohns are students who have gone through some of the exact same thing as you will be – the first semester registration woes, the “OHMYGOSH WHAT IS THIS ESSAY I CANT EVEN?!?” freak out moment, and the myriad of professors and courses you will find yourself sifting through, many of which you will actually want to take. They are a great resource to use because they are students too and they can help you understand which courses are actually good, which professors might just kill you with reading, and other similar academic matters.

Last, but not least is…

(3) CareerLab: I will be the first to admit that I have not used CareerLab’s resources nearly as much as I should. Every few weeks, CareerLab will hold seminars with faculty about some of the basic aspects of college life that you will learn to use, such as “Visiting a Professor’s Office Hours,” “Conquering the College Essay,” “Time Management.” For example, last weeks CareerLab seminar was on “Getting Through College Reading,” a skill that I especially have found very useful, considering that I am a humanities major and yes, the rumor really is true, we do read a book a week in many classes. BUT FEAR NOT – that’s why this kind of academic support exists.

I just want to reiterate – all of these resources are here to help YOU! If you feel like you don’t need to use any of them, don’t worry about it, we will not force them upon you. These different resources are just there in the occasion that you do need that perk me up. At Brown, I promise we won’t ever let your work make you feel small.

As always, if you all have any questions, want me to cover a specific topic, or just want to rant about the college application process, feel free to shoot me an email at emily_schell@brown.edu.

Ever true to Brown,

Emily Schell

Hungry As a Bear: Deciphering Brown’s Meal Plans

Be honest.  One of the things that scares you the most about going to college is not knowing what the food is like.  If you are worried about what you will be eating on campus once you arrive at Brown, look no further than Hungry as a Bear with Corrine Szczesny.

Welcome back!  It has been a long few months since my last post, and luckily campus no longer looks like it does in the above photo.  During the fall semester, I highlighted the eateries around campus.  The choices are practically endless and there is something on the menu for every student.  Although it might be easy to pick a place to eat each day, it can be a little tougher to understand how to pay for your meal using your meal plan.  It is mandatory for first year students to select a meal plan before moving in, so it is important to understand each meal plan.  This blog will hopefully help you decide which meal plan is right for you.

More about meal plans after the jump!

A Fresh View: Welcome Back!

Photo disclaimer: Unfortunately, its February, so Brown doesn’t look like this quite yet. But I’m posting this picture up here in the hopes that Spring will come (soon.)

Hello Everyone!

My name is Emily Schell, and I’m the freshman behind “A Fresh View.” You get to read my attempts to tell jokes and blog for the next year – but at least hopefully you will get something out of it! While you all struggle through the college application process, I get to struggle through the trials and tribulations of being a freshman. So there you have it: neither of us is alone. This blog is just a little bit of Brunonia to brighten up your week!

Oh hey, look who’s back?!?!? That’s right. I’m back at school and have been back for a good month now! And you’re back to reading this, which means one of two things: (1) you’re a student who has been admitted or (2) you are a prospective student desperately waiting for that fabulous letter that will change your life forever (but not actually.)

I’d just like to give a brief shout out to you if you fall into the number 1 category – CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING ADMITTED EARLY DECISION! I can’t believe that there is a Class of 2017 already. It’s weird not being a total baby anymore. I personally was an ED kid for the Class of 2016, so I can empathize with how happy you all must be feeling right now. I can also empathize with your senioritis. The struggle is real. Just don’t turn into a truant or run away from home or something like that and you should be in good shape! ☺

For my number 2s, DON’T WORRY! Your time in the light is almost here. Waiting on college decisions is a stressful and nerve-wracking time. We all have to go through it and we will always be going through that because, unfortunately, the applications don’t stop there. It’s just a basic rite of passage. Like the old adage – what’s worth having is never easy to get. Just take solace that around the world there a million other kids going through the exact same feelings you are and that soon enough you will know too (and be HAPPY wherever you get in! I promise!)

And as for me… oh me. What have I been doing this semester? (Gee, thanks for asking!) Other than hanging out with the awesome friends I made first semester (that will be you too), I’ve been quite busy this semester actually. One thing I have learned from this past month back at school – just because you thought you could do everything your first semester of freshman year doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a smart idea to do everything + 1 your second semester. I’m learning that the hard way. But, as with everything in college, it is a learning experience! What I love about second semester is that it is your time to really really explore what Brown has to offer. First semester you think you’re exploring, but you’re really not. You’re just getting to know the campus, get your footings with the new aspect of living in a dorm, and immersing yourself in the social and cultural scene here at Brown – and that is exactly what you should be doing first semester! Second semester, you’ve kind of got it worked out. I guess you could say I’m a pro (except that might just be the biggest lie ever).  However, what that does mean is that you can really take advantage of the different community service, music, visual art, acting, interning, DJ-ing, tutoring, partying, discussing, marching, frolicking, cavorting and AWESOME activities that Brown has to offer. By the way, I’ve done all of those thus far at Brown, minus the DJ-ing and frolicking part (but I’m getting there) and all of those things have been amazing opportunities! Second semester is my chance to pick out what I like and what I don’t like, when I have the new-found ability to actually know what I’m doing while at the same time still being able to use the excuse that I’m a naïve freshman. So yes, I am ridiculously and crazily overscheduled this semester! But I love it – because it’s the kind of exploration that is totally fine. So, lessons from Emily Schell (part 3923890), first semester is the time to get your footing. Don’t feel bad if you feel as if you haven’t totally gotten involved in every possible aspect of the Brown community right then and there. You will have more than enough time in second semester to figure out what you really want to pursue and what you really don’t. ☺ So, welcome back to reading about the adventures of Emily as she tries not to fall too many times running from activity to activity!

As always, if you all have any questions, want me to cover a specific topic, or just want to rant about the college application process, feel free to shoot me an email at emily_schell@brown.edu.

Ever true to Brown,
Emily Schell

Winter Break

To our devoted followers:

As the end of 2012 approaches and we all head home for the holidays, the blog is going on holiday as well. We should be back to regular posting in February of 2013.

In the meantime, we may have some spontaneous, winter-activities related posts, but we will generally be absent and out playing in the snow!

Have a great new year, and looking forward to 2013, when we get to continue to tell you how much we love Brown!

 

Go Bruno!

The Bruin Club

A Fresh View: Why Brown?

Hello Everyone!

My name is Emily Schell, and I’m the new freshman behind “A Fresh View.” You get to read my attempts to tell jokes and blog for the next year – but at least hopefully you will get something out of it! While you all struggle through the college application process, I get to struggle through the trials and tribulations of being a freshman. So there you have it: neither of us is alone. This blog is just a little bit of Brunonia to brighten up your week!

The final month — its here! December! Fear not, pre-frosh. Your stressful college application journey is almost over. If you aren’t quite at the point of being a senior in high school, then maybe you should take a bit of a rest from exhausting the college search engines, in the spirit of the holidays.

Now, around this time last year, I was finding out about Early Action and Early Decision schools (yeah, Brown!), but I know many friends of mine were deciding whether or not they should take the time to apply to “x” school or “y” school. One thing that you have probably already discovered by this time is the “senior year college washout” syndrome. That means that you have thoroughly explored every colleges website from head to toe, let your mother or father drag you on multiple collegiate tours, even to the ones you had zero interest of attending. Eventually, after all this research, all the colleges start to look the same right? Every website says their school is the best for some formulaic reasons. While websites are a good first place to start, they really are not unique enough to shape your decision to take the time to apply to a school. I’m here to help! Over the past few days, I have asked real life Brown students “Why did you choose to come to Brown?” and attempted to reign in the variety of answers I received down to these few things: the open curriculum, the happy, passionate people, Brown not being as pretentious (compared to other similar caliber schools), and Brown’s unique choices for majors.

Also, a few answers that were not as common but equally important and/or humorous include, “[t]he tour guide/girls at Brown are hot,” “PLME,” and “[t]here is not a typical Brown student.”

Now the answers that were the majority in that “answer pile” were the reputation of Brown students being incredibly happy and Brown’s famous open curriculum.

I’m not going to force you to read yet another informational snippet on the open curriculum. I’m sure if you have been on any other Brown University related shenanigans, you are well aware of the open curriculum and what is does.

However, I am going to break down a few of ideas that I just threw at you, such as the happy, passionate people and Brown’s unique choice of majors. You can look at any ranking system for “happiness” and they’ll generally find some strange formula to plug into a computer to get a “ranking” for “happiness.” But lets be real — happiness cant be put into a number. Happiness is a feeling. And I can guarantee that Brown has it. Brown is one of the best schools in the nation in terms of students who attend the University as well as the caliber of the education. Despite this, you wouldn’t necessarily be able to peg how stressed the students are at this institution because they all are so happy. Walking around the Main Green doesn’t make you want to go hit the books some more, like it did at other schools I visited for college tours. Rather, it makes you want to go out and talk to people, do your work in the sunshine, and other actually healthy, happy things! In terms of Brown’s unique choices of majors, although I am only a lowly East Asian Studies and International Relations Double Concentrator (just kidding, I love both my prospective majors and would recommend them to anyone if they are interested!) A few majors that I know my friends are considering and really enjoying are Brown’s Egyptology major and Archaeology major. How does Modern Culture and Media sound? Or BEO, Browns Program in Business and Entrepreneurship? Those are a few very interesting and awesome options for majors (or, in Brown speak, concentrations) that Brown can offer you!

Hopefully these answers from friends of mine helped you decide whether or not you want to apply to Brown or finish up those last few essays on the application (which by the way, you should ) Want to find out why I chose to apply and GO to Brown (aka. Disney World. Aka. the best place on Earth)?! …you’ll just have to wait till next week to find out. Until then…

Happy reading! Good luck with the college application process! If you all have any questions or want me to cover a specific topic, feel free to shoot me an email at emily_schell@brown.edu.

Ever true to Brown,

Emily Schell

Hungry As a Bear: Vegetarian Bears

Be honest.  One of the things that scares you the most about going to college is not knowing what the food is like.  If you are worried about what you will be eating on campus once you arrive at Brown, look no further than Hungry as a Bear with Corrine Szczesny.

What better way to end the discussion of on-campus eateries than with the Ivy Room?  Located on Wriston Quad, below the Ratty, The Ivy Room is open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 am to 1:45 pm and Sunday through Thursday from 7:45 pm to midnight.  Don’t let the location fool you, the Ivy Room has little in common with the Ratty and is packed with great food options, including an all vegetarian menu at night.

More about the Ivy Room after the jump!