Emma Watson, who will be a Freshman in college Fall, made her quiet arrival in Providence, RI this weekend to acquaint herself with her new university, Brown. Here are photos of Emma on campus (chillin’ with new friends and with her boyfriend Jay Barrymore) on the Brown University campus this weekend:

‘Harry Potter’ star Emma Watson dressed down for her first day at university in America at the weekend. But any attempt at blending in with her fellow freshmen at Brown University failed when the 19-year-old actress reportedly turned up in a helicopter. Watson, who plays Hermione Granger in the blockbuster series, will study literature at the prestigious Ivy League college in Providence, Rhode Island. Miss Watson, who looked anything but the global movie star in simple denim shorts and a white T-shirt, is likely to have to get used to having her own fan club on campus. Classes start on Wednesday after Saturday’s check-in and several days of orientation and activities. Before hitting the books, new students can attend yoga and games night, a midnight organ concert and kickball game. But it isn’t all fun: The students will also get the chance to ‘take part in discussions on diversity, sexual assault and Brown’s role in the transatlantic slave trade’. She said recently: ‘But I do hope that it will be only a short time before I am known as “Emma Watson, the student from the UK” rather than “Emma Watson who starred in those Harry Potter films”.’ Without confirming that Watson is actually attending Brown this autumn, Mark Nickel, the school’s director of communications, said: ‘We do whatever we need to do to ensure safety and privacy, and that applies pretty much to all students.’ Asked if the school might take extra precautions to protect a young wizard, he added: ‘Sure.’ It is one of the top colleges in the United States, boasting alumni including former presidents, diplomats, royalty and a heavy sprinkling of celebrities’ offspring. Most recently, George Harrison’s son, Dhani, attended Brown. Brown was recently been ranked number 1 for America’s ‘Happiest College Students’, according to the Princeton Review 2010 rankings. It was also named ‘the most fashionable school in the Ivy League’ by the fashion trade journal Women’s Wear Daily. Miss Watson achieved straight As in her A-levels. However, she’s not completely leaving the world of showbiz behind. She will have to return to the studio during her holidays to film the last two instalments in the Harry Potter series.

I understand there was a ridiculous rumor that Emma arrived at Brown U via helicopter (which this article from the Daily Mail repeats) which turned out to be wildly untrue. I don’t expect that there will be much more ridiculous rumors flying around during her first term at Brown but, well, one can never be sure. I’m quite confident that once the novelty having Emma Watson on campus dies down (very soon, I expect) she will be able to blend in with the rest of her classmates and enjoy quiet college life. Welcome to the US, Emma! You’re an honorary Yankee now!!

[Photo credit: INFdaily; Source]