Community and Student Life

We asked two BRDD students in different fields and at different points in their studies: How do BRDD students integrate within both campuses and communities without feeling like they are always in between/in a sort of limbo?

Njari (BRDD 2024; Sculpture, Modern Culture and Media) shared, “It's hard to escape the BRDD limbo, especially in your first year of the program; however, it's not impossible. I think the best way to do it without overextending yourself is to join clubs one or more on each campus. Clubs, in my experience, provide a bit of structure that can help you familiarize yourself with the kind of people at each school without getting swept up in their abundance of people, events, opportunities, etc.

We asked two BRDD students in different fields and at different points in their studies to reply to the questions: Do BRDD students spend more time at Brown or RISD? How do BRDD students choose where they spend their time?

Njari (BRDD 2024; Sculpture, Modern Culture and Media) wrote, “Finding a home here tends to dictate where most Dualies spend their time. I spend more time at RISD because I'm in my studio a lot, but it differs from person to person. Some are more balanced than others, but I think most Duelies dedicate their time to the things/places where they are most passionate.”

 

What is housing like for Dual Degree students?

In their first-year, BRDD students are housed on one or two floors together in the RISD Quad.  There are predominantly shared rooms (doubles or triples) in the Quad, though single rooms may also be available. Students go through the RISD roommate pairing process and can elect to room with another BRDD first-year student or with a RISD first-year student. Learn more about RISD first-year housing.

What kind of mental health resources are offered at Brown and RISD?

Dual Degree students have access to both Brown and RISD resources.  Students can choose to meet with a therapist in Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on either campus.  Both offices offer individual appointments, groups, medication management, referrals to local providers, and 24/7 on-call crisis services. More information can be found online: Brown CAPS and RISD CAPS.  

How do current students balance the workload of studying both at Brown and RISD?  Do they have free time and time to be involved socially and with co-curriculars?

Each student in the Dual Degree Program manages the balance of coursework and prioritizes co-curricular and social involvement differently.  Sometimes it takes students a few semesters to determine whether there is specific combination of coursework that works best with their learning style.  For example, some recognize that it is best for them to distribute the type of demands their courses require in a certain way, whether that be limiting the number of reading/writing heavy courses they take per semester, considering the number of credits they are taking during the semester when their is