Studying: Biology, Visual Art

Email: matthew_vigilante@brown.edu

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Questions about Academics and COVID-19

 

What were your classes like in your first year or in your major/concentration, especially transitioning from Shen? 

In terms of pure difficulty, nothing was too shocking about my first-year course load. I specifically remember the first day of General Chemistry, sitting with 300 other nervous freshmen and hearing the professor say, "After working so hard to get here, it's time to relax a little!" Because of Brown's open curriculum, I was able to take courses like Arabic, Biological Design, and History of Czech Animation in my first year, while friends at other colleges were stuck re-learning things from high school.

 

Because of AP and college classes at Shen, I was able to skip a handful of otherwise-required intro courses, and generally felt confident in my academic background (although my study habits needed significant adjustment). It was refreshing to pivot from grades out of 100% to letter grades, easing a lot of the pressure that made high school so stressful. Brown's grade inflation isn't as prevalent as some people joke, but getting good marks is never impossible.

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What academic experiences have stood out to you at your college in either positive or negative ways?

Brown prides itself on having an open curriculum, where students are given control to design an academic program of their liking. For me, this means I can pursue two vastly different concentrations and still explore unrelated interests. This system isn't for everyone, but if you're curious, independent, and love to break the rules then you'll fit right in.

 

In general, I've found the academic environment at Brown to be quite inviting and noncompetitive, unlike many Ivy+ schools. In this same vein, tutoring services (whether with peer mentors, faculty, small groups, etc.) are accessible and widely used, primarily for STEM and writing.

 

It's usually quite easy to find research gigs as an undergrad, both for STEM and humanities. Also, professors are always looking for students to help make undergraduate coursework more engaging and innovative - this is a great way to build connections with faculty!

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How was your online learning experience at your college? What resources did your college provide you during this time?

Not great! My professors each had different methods (and levels of competency) for teaching online, ranging from daily Zoom meetings to recorded lectures to essentially making all assignments optional. Brown extended the deadline for choosing a grading method, but students here already have the choice between A/B/C and Pass/Fail, irrespective of online learning/COVID. The school itself provided very little framework for online learning, and left most decisions up to instructors themselves. Speaking anecdotally, most courses either had typical final papers/projects or take-home finals that took place within a 48-hour window. Most professors were considerate of personal circumstances and granted extensions accordingly, but certainly not all of them.

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What did your college do well or poorly to support students and communities when COVID-19 first hit?

Brown refunded a significant portion of students' room and board, as well as providing biweekly paychecks to everyone on financial aid that lost an on-campus job. However, my positive comments stop here. For all its merits, Brown consistently fails to meet the needs of its lower income and otherwise less-privileged students (during this pandemic and in general). Brown only gave students 5 days notice to evacuate campus, failed to implement universal pass, and lacked transparency and efficacy in their communications.

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Questions about Student Life

 

If students are interested in your major/concentration, what extracurricular activities do you recommend they do at your college?

Brown is a big place with a lot of opportunities, so I can only speak to my own experiences! I'm an active member of the club running team, and can confirm that athletics of any level are a great way to meet new people here. There are numerous music ensembles, all of which are of outstanding quality (I've personally played viola in the Brown University Orchestra and with Brown Opera Productions). For more serious/academic stuff, I've been on the programming board for Ivy Film Festival (world's largest student-run film festival) and I make educational animated videos with a group called SciToons.

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What are common things to do on weekends? Do students commute back home for the weekend or are there events on campus?

I can't say Brown is a huge party school, but there's always something fun to do on the weekends. Providence has a thriving arts scene, awesome restaurants, and nightclubs of many kinds, so exploring the city is always fun. Brown is just a 45 minute MBTA ride from Boston ($10 round trip on weekends), and there are lots of awesome parks and beaches in Rhode Island (accessible by free public transit). Parties, concerts, and the like happen every weekend (and most weekdays, if I'm being honest) on campus, but they tend to be more intimate and spread out rather than huge campus-wide events.

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Are you involved in athletics at your college? How do you balance sports, academics, and extracurricular activities?

I'm involved in club sports, so I can't necessarily speak to the experience of varsity athletes. Travelling every weekend for track meets can be exhausting, although it's an excuse to escape the bubble of campus. Balancing sports, academics, and other activities is not an easy task, but I find that prioritizing my sleep and mental health ultimately helps my performance in all areas.

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Do you have a job during the school year, or is it common for students to have on-campus jobs? What is that experience like?

It is very common to have a job (or jobs) on campus. I am a studio monitor in our art department, basically meaning that my job is to sit around and make sure no one severs a limb or lights the building on fire. My job and many others like it (e.g. dining services) allow students to get paid without too much stress or time commitment. I usually just do homework while at work!

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Extra Questions

 

What advice would you give to current Shen students when applying to your college?

Don't work too hard, and don't set your expectations too high (I don't mean to be cynical - it's just unbelievably hard to get in, and the result doesn't reflect your character!). I'm pretty sure I spent the least time and effort on my Brown essays out of all college applications. And hey, it worked out! If you have an art practice, play an instrument, or have some sort of online presence, definitely submit a supplement with your application. According to our local admissions officer, my art portfolio was the main thing that set me apart!

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What makes your college special to you?

Brown is the perfect combination of a small liberal arts college and a powerful research institution. Classes are small and intimate, while resources and networking opportunities are abundant. Also, my peers amaze me every day! Everyone here (literally every single person) is incredibly talented, multifaceted, and has a bright future ahead of them.

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What do you wish you knew about your college when you were a senior at Shen?

I wish I realized how rich the average Brown student is. Out of all aspects of college life, the biggest culture shock was realizing how much wealth is present on campus (even more so than other Ivies...I'm pretty sure the /median/ family income is over $200,000). This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be frustrating at times to see how financially divided the student body is.

 

How is the financial aid situation at your college?

If your family is middle-class (like most families in Clifton Park), financial aid will not be kind to you. Choosing Brown was a difficult financial decision, because I was weighing a life-changing opportunity with a price tag that was (and continues to be) beyond reach. I'm taking on a non-trivial amount of student loan debt, but this is a burden I'm willing to take for Brown's incredible education. My one piece of advice: be admitted to other highly competitive universities! Brown will absolutely improve your financial aid package if you show them a better offer from a competitor school.

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