Brown University Dorms: A Comprehensive Guide to On-Campus Living
Choosing a dorm is a significant part of the Brown University experience. This guide provides an overview of the various dorms available, primarily focusing on those populated by sophomores and the first-year student housing options. From location and amenities to social atmosphere and room specifics, this guide aims to help you navigate the housing lottery and find the best fit for your needs.
Sophomore Dorms: A Detailed Look
Sophomores often face challenges in the housing lottery due to their lower seniority. As a result, they tend to populate specific dorms that are comparatively less popular among upperclassmen. Here’s a breakdown of some of the common sophomore dorms:
Barbour Hall
Located a bit farther from the main campus, past Jo’s but close to East Side Mini Mart, Louis, and Bagel Gourmet, Barbour offers spacious rooms and large windows. Its proximity to the DPS department building is a notable feature. This dorm consists of suites with private kitchens and bathrooms, making it one of the nicer options available to sophomores.
Caswell Hall
Caswell is known for its prime location on Ruth Simmons quad, making it exceptionally convenient for accessing essential amenities. The Ratty, Faunce, Main Green, and SciLi are all within a five-minute walk. The rooms are of decent size with large windows. The downstairs kitchen and lounge space are spacious, making it ideal for social events and study groups. Some rooms even have fireplaces, which cannot be used but add to the overall aesthetic. However, be aware that the bottom floors sometimes attract centipedes during warmer months.
Chapin Hall
Situated on Patriot’s Court, Chapin houses Theta Delta Chi (Thet) fraternity and Harambee House, a program house for Black celebration and community. The dorm includes a mix of doubles, singles, and a few suites.
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Diman Hall
Located on Wriston Quad, Diman is home to Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta) sorority and Social Action House. Its central location provides easy access to the Ratty and the Main Green. The rooms are of decent size, typical of Wriston Quad dorms, with both doubles and singles available.
Goddard House
Goddard House is located on Patriot’s Court.
Harkness House
Also located on Patriot’s Court, Harkness is affiliated with Kappa Delta sorority and Tech House. It is the closest dorm in Wriston/Patriot’s Court to Jo’s and Thayer Street. The rooms are similar to others in the area.
Hope College
Hope College is highly sought after due to its prime location on the Main Green. Situated to the left of Faunce, it offers large, spacious rooms. However, securing a room here is challenging due to its popularity. The dorm also has a cool basement lounge, though it is not as big as the Caswell lounge. Not many people live here and the dorm is generally considered to be a good choice considering the size of the doubles, which lean to the larger side. There are even some very large singles here. A few drawbacks include a lot of bees (not sure why) as well as many residents being more prone to quiet residents, so this is probably not a great place to throw lots of parties.
Littlefield Hall
While not as centrally located as Hope, Littlefield is situated in a convenient area across from the Ratty. The Blue Room is across the green, and the Rock and SciLi are nearby. Although the dorm is older, the high ceilings enhance the sense of space. This place is a very low-key choice, with not many people living there and even less having visited. The rooms are mainly doubles ranging from small to medium-sized. This is a place where you will certainly not have parties or even a lot of company. It is also located in the back of a department building, so too much tomfoolery is out of the question.
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Marcy Hall
Marcy is located on Wriston Quad, closest to the Ratty on the right-hand side. It houses Beta Rho Pi and Zeta Delta Xi fraternities, both known for their unique characters. It is the second most coveted sophomore dorm due to its location.
New Pembroke Hall
Located on North campus near Thayer Street, New Pembroke offers standard-sized rooms. While being on Thayer has its drawbacks, such as early morning delivery trucks, it also offers the convenience of nearby amenities like CVS.
Olney House
Olney House is the first house on the right when entering Wriston Quad from Wayland Arch. It is home to Sigma Chi and the newly created Beta Omega Chi (BOX) fraternities. Olney, like its Wriston counterparts, has moderate/sizeable doubles and singles.
Perkins Hall
Perkins is often the most likely destination for sophomores due to its location being the furthest from the main green. Despite the distance, it is near upperclassmen housing in Young Orchard and close to the theater at TF Green and Orwig. However, it is far from most food options, with Jo’s being the closest.
Plantations House
Plantations House accommodates only around 15 people and is equipped with amenities such as a kitchen and laundry machines. The rooms are large, and it is located between Andrews and New Pembroke.
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Sears House
Sears is located on the left-hand side of Wriston Quad when entering from Wayland Arch. It houses Alpha Chi Omega sorority and Delta Tau fraternity. It is known as a quieter and well-kept dorm.
First-Year Dorms: An Overview
For incoming first-year students, Brown University offers several distinct dorm options, each with its own unique atmosphere and amenities.
Andrews Hall
Andrews is often considered the physically nicest dorm on campus. While located on Pembroke Campus, the walk to the main green is only about 7 minutes. It boasts superior food options at the Andrews Cafeteria, known for its pizza and salad bar. Residents can access the dining hall without stepping outside. The dorms are spacious with high ceilings, two walk-in closets, and a sink inside the room. Andrews also features a dedicated study space and an outdoor patio with a fireplace.
Emery-Woolley Hall (“Em-Wool”)
Emery-Woolley, or “Em-wool,” is known for its social and tight-knit community. Although the dorms may appear more hospital-esque, they are significantly bigger and offer access to semi-private bathrooms. There is a nice study lounge on the first floor and close access to the V-Dub dining hall.
Keeney Quadrangle
Keeney is comprised of Jameson/Meade, Archibald/Bronson, and Everett/Poland houses. It houses a significant portion of the freshman class and is conveniently located near the Rock (library) and Wriston Quad. Keeney is known for its social scene, though its reputation as the only “party dorm” is a misconception. The Keeney quad is a scenic place to do work or tan and Arnold lounge is a great study space on Keeney quad. It is equipped with vending machines.
Metcalf and Miler Halls
Situated next to Andrews, Metcalf and Miler are recently renovated dorms. However, they do not include sinks or walk-in closets like Andrews.
Morriss-Champlin Hall (“Mo-Champ”)
Morriss-Champlin, or “Mo-Champ,” underwent renovations in 2017 and now offers comfortable living spaces. The dorms are spacious and have direct access to the Mo-Champ lounge, which includes a fireplace, pool table, and ping pong table.
Wayland House
Technically separate from Keeney but located on Wriston Quad, Wayland offers a central location.
General Dorm Information
Most on-campus residence halls at Brown University include singles, doubles, and suites. Floor plans vary from residence hall to residence hall.
Common Areas
Suite common rooms and apartment living rooms are furnished with a combination of couches, chairs, and occasional tables. These furnishings are the property of the University and should not be removed from common areas. Removing furniture from common areas is considered theft and can result in disciplinary action.
Kitchens
Residence hall kitchens include a sink, refrigerator/freezer, and microwave. Some kitchens also include an electric stovetop and oven. Refrigerator and freezer controls are set by the University and are not to be adjusted by residents. Residents are expected to clean up after themselves in the kitchen. For health and safety reasons, kitchen cabinets or drawers may not be locked. When cooking, the exhaust fan should be turned on and off when finished. Be extra careful when cooking with grease and always remove pizzas from the box before reheating in the oven.
Tips for the Housing Lottery
Navigating the housing lottery can be stressful, so here are a few tips to help you prepare:
- Make a Long List: Create a comprehensive list of dorms you are interested in with your housing lottery group. This will help you stay organized and make quick decisions when your number is called.
- Consider Location and Amenities: Think about what is important to you in a dorm. Do you prefer to be close to classes, dining halls, or social spaces? Consider the amenities offered by each dorm, such as private bathrooms, kitchen facilities, and study lounges.
- Visit Dorms: If possible, take a tour of the dorms you are interested in. This will give you a better sense of the layout, size, and overall atmosphere.
- Embrace the Experience: No matter where you end up living, try to embrace the experience. Each dorm has its own unique community and opportunities for making friends and getting involved.
- Don’t Panic: Everything will work out wherever you end up living. Just embrace the experience!
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