Graduate School

Preparing for Your First Days in Providence

Breadcrumb

We know that arriving in a new country and new city can be daunting, so we've put together a list of resources to help you as you settle in during your first few weeks.

  • Follow any instructions, as you arrive, from your program, the Graduate School and the University.

Getting to Providence from the Airport

Accommodations (Short or Long Term)

Groceries

One of the first things you may do when you begin to settle in Providence is to identify where to buy your groceries. There are a lot of options, with some grocery stores accessible by bus, and some that deliver.

The following grocery stores are accessible by RIPTA buses (RIPTA buses are free to all Brown ID card holders):

The On-Call Shuttle will do pick-ups and drop-offs at a number of food and grocery stores, including East Side Marketplace, Stop & Shop, and Walmart. See coverage map.

There are a number of ways to have groceries delivered to your residence. This may be especially helpful for any student who may be quarantining. Some supermarkets deliver directly and some supermarkets work with a third-party delivery company (Instacart). Please note that not all deliveries will be made on the same day as you order, so you may need to plan in advance.

  • Stop & Shop (large supermarket chain; online selection of items, placing in cart, and delivery for next available time slot or for specific times)
  • Instacart: Third-party delivery service that partners with a number of stores for delivery: 
    --Aldi (discount supermarket chain)
    --Shaw’s (large national supermarket chain)
    --PriceRite (large national supermarket chain)
    --America’s Food Basket (Family-owned supermarket chain)
    --BJ’s Wholesale Club (some grocery items, but not primarily a food store, offers also electronics, household items, and more)
    --Target (some grocery items, but not primarily a food store, offers also electronics, household items, and more)
    --CVS (small selection of grocery items; primarily a drugstore for toiletries; prescription orders would need to be placed directly with CVS, see below, rather than through Instacart)
  • Whole Foods (delivery only available to Amazon “Prime” members; more upscale supermarket)
  • Urban Greens (local cooperative market; curbside pickup)
  • Eastside Marketplace (affiliated with Stop & Shop; offers separate delivery services, though requires calling or emailing your order, and doesn’t offer the ability on their website to review available items and prices)

Pharmacy Delivery

For delivery of prescription medicines, shampoo, toothpaste and other toiletries (some of the toiletries can also be ordered from grocery stores, as well, or by some of the stores listed under Household Necessities).

  • CVS Pharmacy (National pharmacy chain: Delivery is by mail, plan on around 2 days; also delivers by Instacart)
  • Greenline Apothecary (A local pharmacy; delivers with drivers)

Restaurant Delivery

There are a number of delivery services that will deliver from a number of local restaurants for an additional fee. It is customary to add a tip for the deliverer. Many services allow you to add a tip when you order; this will also allow you to do contactless delivery, allowing the delivery to be left at your door.

Restaurants that deliver (some deliver directly and some use the third-party services above). You can find reviews of restaurants and search for restaurants that deliver on Yelp. Some popular local restaurants that you can order for delivery are:

Household Necessities

We know you might need everything from toothpaste to an air mattress to pots and pans. These are just a few online resources that will deliver these items to you quickly. Be sure to check with your landlord, hotel, or airbnb host to find out the best way to get packages delivered to you.

Health and Wellness Resources

A full list of resources can be found on the Campus Life Resources website.

  • University Health Services: Students can call 401-863-3953 for questions about symptoms or health concerns or to arrange an appointment via telehealth.
  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides a range of mental health services to the Brown community, with services available for all current Brown students — undergraduate, graduate and medical — both on or near campus as well as those who will remain away from campus.
    --CAPS continues to provide services for urgent situations. In those cases, students should access one of the urgent help options immediately, including calling CAPS directly at 401-863-3476. Those who call should follow the prompts to be connected to someone who can help — this is available 24/7, every day of the year, and it can be accessed by Brown students from anywhere.
  • Student Accessibility Services: SAS coordinates and facilitates services for students with physical, psychological and learning disabilities. For new students, the SAS website includes a registration form and information about how to provide documentation. If you have any questions about documentation, please reach out by email or phone 401-863-9588 during weekday business hours. Please review their FAQ and their Graduate Student FAQ.
  • Student Support: Student Support Services deans are available to assist all students with a wide range of issues and concerns. Deans can serve as a sounding board to help students consider their options and can help connect students to the right set of resources at Brown. The Student Support Services team will continue to be available to students via phone, email, and video conferencing during weekday business hours. Please call 401-863-3145 or email studentsupport@brown.edu for assistance. Graduate students may also reach out to Associate Dean of Student Support, Maria Suarez, in the Graduate School.
  • Chaplains and Religious Life: The Chaplains of the University are holding the Brown community in our prayers and remain fully available to all graduate students. Please check their website for details on programming and meetings. Brown community members may send requests for counsel, support, information, or prayer by email to the Chaplain of the University: Janet_Cooper-Nelson@brown.edu. Individual members of the OCRL team can also be reached directly at the addresses listed on their website. 

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