July 15, 2011
Course Preferences, Lotteries, Pre-Orientation Programs
Greetings from Brown!
This week’s email is quite lengthy, but please read it carefully: It contains a link to an online course preference form that will help you plan your first semester of study at Brown, an update on lottery results and the Visual Arts lottery, information about upcoming registration deadlines for some of our pre-Orientation programs, and a reminder to write to your advisor.
* Course Preference Form *
As a new Brown student, we’d like you to plan out a full semester plan of study, however tentative. Below are some tips on how to begin choosing courses, and a link to the website where you'll enter the courses.
Brown has 44 academic departments housing almost 80 different concentrations. Now is the time to get a bird’s-eye view of them, along with the 2,000+ courses we offer each year. To find courses that interest you, browse the Course Announcement Bulletin (http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Registrar/CAB_Final_2011_2012.pdf) and the Course Scheduler, which is available through self-service Banner (https://selfservice.brown.edu/ss/twbkwbis.P_WWWLogin). The Scheduler allows you to browse in a number of different ways, including by department, time, or curricular program. You can also go to Focal Point (http://www.brown.edu/Administration/focal-point/), our newest interactive web tool for exploring possible concentrations from multiple vantage points. Browsing on Focal Point will help you develop a sense of which departments and courses are of greatest interest to you.
No later than August 5, enter your tentative course preferences via ASK: https://apps.college.brown.edu/ask/course_preferences/. Remember that the courses you select are only a plan, and a starting place for your first conversations with your advisor and your Meiklejohn peer advisor. You will be free to register for courses that are not on your Course Preference Form.
* First-Year Course Lottery – 2nd Round Results *
If you entered the second round of the Course Lottery, you can find out your course placements by going to the lottery and clicking on the “My Placements” tab: https://apps.college.brown.edu/course_lottery/.
* Visual Arts Lottery *
The Visual Arts 0100 lottery opens today and closes August 5 at 5:00 pm. VISA 0100 (Studio Foundation) is a popular course suitable for potential VA concentrators and non-concentrators alike. You can enter the lottery through self-service Banner at the following location: https://selfservice.brown..edu/ss/twbkwbis.P_WWWLogin.
* Pre-Orientation Programs *
Brown offers three optional pre-orientation programs, described below. Click on the links to learn more about each program.
Third World Transition Program (TWTP) -- DEADLINE August 1, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, through Friday, September 2
Apply at http://brown.edu/Student_Services/TWC/TWTP/index.html
Started in 1969, the Third World Transition Program (TWTP) is a community-building event for entering students that promotes interracial understanding. The program helps students identify and increase their awareness of issues of identity (the "-isms") and college life. Housing and meals are provided free of charge to TWTP participants for the duration of the program. To register for TWTP, please visit the url provided above before August 1 -- space is limited!
Excellence at Brown
Sunday, August 28, through Friday, September 2 -- DEADLINE PASSED
Excellence at Brown is an intensive, five-day seminar program that orients incoming students to Brown’s academic culture. The program includes five classes taught by distinguished Brown professors from a range of academic disciplines. Students complete short reading and writing assignments and work one-on-one with graduate-student staff at Brown’s Writing Center. Social programming helps students build community and learn about Brown’s campus. For more information, contact the program director at 401-863-1404 or Douglas_Brown_1@brown.edu.
International Orientation Program (IOP) -- MANDATORY FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Wednesday, August 31, through Saturday, September 3
Apply at http://students.brown.edu/imp/
International Orientation offers a special welcome to our incoming international students and their parents. Hosted by University administrators and current Brown international students, the program provides critical information regarding academic expectations, campus life, and student immigration, and visa policies. International students are asked to arrive early on Wednesday, August 31, so that they may participate in the full program.
If you have questions about any of these programs, please contact the person identified on the appropriate website.
* Reminder *
Letter to your Advisor
Don't forget to write your letter to your academic advisor! You’ll find out who your advisor is when you arrive on campus. Please submit the letter by August 1, through our online advising portal, ASK: https://apps.college.brown.edu/ask/first_readings/. You can also visit the First Readings website at http://library.brown.edu/firstreadings/ for more information on the book and on author Leslie T. Chang.
Orientation Schedule
Curious about the events and activities that will take place during Orientation? Check out the full schedule on the Orientation website: http://www.brown.edu/College/orientation/.
We hope you're enjoying your summer!
The Advising Team