Guide To Applying To Brown: Questions You May Have - and Our Best Answers!


What is the most important part of the application?

Every component of the application, from the transcript to the recommendations and from the essays to the short responses, helps us piece together a candidate’s story. Because we believe it is the best forecast of what kind of Brown student you will be, what you have done as a high school student will have the most influence on our admission decision. In that regard, the transcript showing your courses and your performance in them is a key source of information, but no single part of the application can tell a complete story. That is why we read each student’s application file from cover to cover.


What kinds of awards or distinctions should I include in my application?

You should include those achievements of which you are particularly proud or help demonstrate the depth or breadth of your talents and interests. Keep in mind that a judiciously selected sampling may make a stronger impression than an exhaustive list.

For academic awards, you should include enough detail so that we will understand the context of your accomplishment. For example, if you have won a poetry contest or placed high in a math competition, let us know at least in general terms the number of entrants or competitors and whether your award is an individual or “team” achievement. You would not need to provide descriptions for common extracurricular recognitions, such as first chair of the orchestra, science club officer, sports team captain, or yearbook editor, but do note your title or role. If the activity or achievement is likely less familiar to those outside your community, you may wish to include a brief explanation.


May I submit examples of my academic work?

For the overwhelming majority of applicants, your academic records and the support of your recommenders will provide all the information we need, but you may choose to submit, for example, an abstract describing a science or math research project for which you have been recognized. Talented creative writers might send a few carefully selected pieces (or excerpts). As a general rule, though, keep in mind that we favor quality over quantity in an application—extra “stuff” can sometimes be a distraction!


May I submit supplemental materials to demonstrate special nonacademic talents?

It is certainly not necessary or expected that you provide anything other than a thoughtfully completed application. If you have reached a high level of accomplishment in a particular area, such as music or art, you may send a representative sample of your talent, typically in the form of a Compact Disc (CD). You can find details about submission of music recordings of individual performances and art portfolios here.

All supplementary items, including creative writing samples, should be clearly identified and sent directly to the Admission Office. We will arrange for faculty in the appropriate department to review the samples and alert us to applicants who show unusual promise.

Should you have unique skills that do not fall into the categories of music, art, or creative writing, you are generally advised simply to describe them within your application rather than to send videos or other materials. Because we cannot return any supplementary materials, please do not send your originals!


Are performing arts auditions (music, dance, drama) required?

No. Our performing arts faculty do not offer auditions. However, you may make inquiries about the available opportunities for training and performing at Brown by contacting the Departments of Music or Theatre, Speech, and Dance.


May I submit additional letters of recommendation?

In our experience, the required counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations provide all we need to make a thoughtful, informed admission decision. Additional letters tend only to echo the observations we already have in hand, so we do not encourage you to seek out extra letters. If, however, someone has unique knowledge of your strengths or accomplishments that would not be addressed in the required recommendations, you are welcome to have another person write on your behalf. Keep in mind, though, that a stack of extra letters will almost never influence an admission officer in a positive way.


How do I submit standardized test results?

You will have the opportunity to indicate the colleges to which you would like SAT or ACT results sent at the time you take the tests. You should be sure to indicate that you wish Brown to receive official results.


If my test results appear on my secondary school transcript, do I need to submit official results?

Yes. Before we make a final decision on your application, we must have your official test results.


Are both the SAT and ACT required?

No. We require the SAT Reasoning Test and two SAT Subject Tests or the ACT with the writing component. If you happen to submit the SAT and the ACT, we will consider both.


Does Brown prefer the SAT over the ACT or vice versa?

No.


If I hope to play a varsity sport at Brown, how do I express that desire?

You should contact the coaching staff for the sport you wish to play. They can discuss with you the characteristics of the program and the ways you can demonstrate your potential for contributing to the team. You can find a listing of all of Brown’s varsity athletic teams and their coaches here.


Is the admission process different for prospective students who wish to play varsity sports?

No. All students apply to Brown in exactly the same way and have the same application requirements and deadlines. Our athletic coaches will let us know which applicants have special athletic talent and would be welcome additions to their teams, but all admission decisions are made by the admission staff.


Does Brown award credits toward graduation based on Advanced Placement exams or for courses completed at another college?

Any work you have done beyond your high school curriculum is valued as part of our consideration of your candidacy, but Brown does not grant course credit based on exam scores or college credits earned before enrolling as an undergraduate. However, strong AP exam results (and certain other credentials) or advanced coursework may allow students to forego certain course prerequisites so as to progress more quickly to upper level Brown offerings.


Does Brown use a formula to evaluate academic credentials?

No. There is no formula we can think of that would accurately capture the academic ability and qualities of thought that we value most.


What are the grade and score ranges for successful applicants?

You can go here to see a chart indicating the range of credentials for admitted students. The figures are meant to provide a broad perspective of the academic strength of our pool of applicants—they are not a set of requirements, nor should they be used to predict “odds” of admission.


Is there a minimum grade average or class rank expectation for applicants?

No. However, we are fortunate to be able to select from among a group of students who tend to do exceptionally well, so there may be an illusion that only students with all “A’s” are admitted. For one thing, grades at one school are not awarded in the same way as they are in another school, so it does not make sense for us to be unduly focused on comparing applicants’ grade averages. The same applies to class ranks. Everything else being equal, students with mostly high grades often stand out among our applicants, but we do not make our admissions decisions based on a grade average or class rank without also considering the many other factors that help us gauge students’ academic promise.


Are there minimum standardized test requirements or expectations for applicants?

No. As with grades, we do receive many applications from students with high test scores, and do consider standardized test results in the context of all the other information we have about a candidate. Many of our applicants demonstrate strong academic potential in spite of relatively modest test scores.


How does Brown evaluate standardized tests?

We look at your test scores along with other information about your academic promise as we read your complete application. We do not attempt to assess test results in a formulaic way. If you have taken tests more than once, we concentrate on your highest scores. For the three components of the SAT, we focus on your best scores, regardless of the date you had taken the test (we do not calculate averages, nor do we look at the sum total of the components).


Does Brown allow the “Score Choice” option for reporting SAT results?

Yes. However, because we require both the SAT Critical Reasoning tests and two SAT Subject Tests, it is very important that you have those results available to us when we begin reading completed Regular Decision applications in December. That means you must not wait to see December or January test results before making your score choices. You may select among any test scores you have up until and including the results of the November SAT test administration. Keep in mind that we automatically focus on our highest test scores anyway; in that sense we exercise “score choice” for you, and always in your favor. You should also know that we do consider test results from the December and January SAT exams; the scores will reach us in time for us to see them before our final decisions are made in late March. Early Decision applicants are strongly urged to complete the SAT Critical Reasoning and Subject Tests by the October 10th test date. The November administration of the SAT may submitted and will be considered as well. The ACT with writing component may be used to substitute for the SAT Critical Reasoning Test and the SAT Subject Tests.


How does Brown evaluate my high school record?

The most important consideration in our determination of your academic potential at Brown is your high school performance and preparedness. By “performance” we mean not only whether you have high grades, but how well you have been able to master certain skills associated with learning. For example, we review your teacher recommendations to get a sense of your curiosity, problem-solving abilities, openness to different points of view, ability to express yourself orally and in writing, work ethic—and a few dozen other qualities. By “preparedness” we mean the depth and breadth of the academic learning you have undertaken (both in the classroom and outside). We want to know the extent to which you have taken advantage of the courses available to you in your school, whether you have challenged yourself in advanced classes, or have stretched yourself with outside-of-school educational opportunities. We know that it is impossible to assess your talents and potential fully and perfectly, but we try to look well beyond a checklist of high school courses and the number of A’s and B’s earned along the way.


What kinds of courses should I take to best prepare for Brown?

First of all, we believe that you should take all the courses that make a high school education valuable in its own right. For many years, the staple curricular “diet” for college bound students has included the following:

English 4 years

Math at least 3 years, preferably 4 years

Science at least 3 years, including 2 years of lab science

Social Studies at least 2 years of history, including American history

Foreign Language at least 3 years, preferably 4 years of a single language

We also encourage study in music or art.

Ideally, Brown undergraduates will have studied at least one foreign language for four years (or the equivalent) in high school. Their science studies will have included biology, physics, and chemistry, and they will have had at least an introductory level course in calculus. Applicants who are planning to concentrate in science, math, or engineering will certainly benefit from a solid preparation in calculus, and most have had advanced work in one or more areas of science (especially chemistry and physics for prospective engineers).

There are no specific course requirements for admission to Brown, but applicants without a full complement of these fundamental courses may be at a disadvantage, particularly because we feel they are essential preparation for university-level studies. Students who stretch themselves with advanced courses in one or more academic areas may stand out among applicants who choose a less demanding route. After all, we are looking for students who are exceptionally eager to learn and willing to accept academic challenges.


How important are my senior year courses and grades in the admission process?

Your senior year is not only a full one-quarter of your high school career, but it often includes some of the most substantial college preparatory coursework. So, from our standpoint, your senior year curriculum and performance are important indicators of your potential as a Brown student. Students who take a lighter course load or who show signs of underperforming academically are often passed over in favor of applicants who (at least) maintain the rigor of their program and their best academic work. (Even admitted students should take care not to catch “senioritis.” We review all the grades for both Early Decision and Regular Decision admitted students to make sure they are not demonstrating a level of decline that might cause us to have second thoughts about our decision!)


How important are the alumni interviews?

There are many dimensions to an application to Brown, and the conversation with a graduate of the University is just one. Our alumni write to us about the strengths they see in candidates based on that relatively brief encounter. Rarely will an interview be the determining factor in an application, but we suggest that you view it as an opportunity to learn more about Brown and to further convey your best qualities as a student and person.


Are interviews with admission officers offered on campus or in my area?

Given the large number of candidates and our small staff, we are not able to conduct individual interviews on campus or elsewhere. We try to save as much time as possible, though, to answer questions from visitors and callers, and to provide group information sessions and tours to students and their families who come to the campus.


Does Brown favor Advanced Placement courses over International Baccalaureate courses or vice versa?

No. There is a wide range of curricular programs represented among the more than 5,000 high schools from which our candidates apply. While we are happy to see our applicants take whatever challenging courses are available to them, we do not have a preference for one curricular model over another. When such courses are available, though, our most promising applicants will probably have taken advantage of them.


Does Brown take into account the level of competition at different high schools?

Yes. Communities vary widely in what they can provide in their high schools, but there are excellent, highly motivated students in every community, and we encourage them to apply.


Does Brown “rank” high schools?

No. We consider the characteristics of the high school from which our candidates apply, especially the level of academic offerings and rigor, but we concentrate on how well students have used the resources available to them. We do not start with the assumption that students from a certain school are better candidates than those from another school.


Does Brown take into account the range of curricular offerings available at different schools?

Yes. We know that curricular offerings vary from school to school. Our strongest candidates have taken full advantage of what is available to them in their own schools.

Highly motivated students often find outside learning opportunities (e.g., local college courses, independent study) to supplement their high school curriculum, especially when they have exhausted available courses.


Does Brown limit the number of applicants who can be admitted from a school or geographic area in a given year?

No. We view our applicants as individuals, regardless of the number of candidates from a single school or area. We often hear rumors about “patterns” of admission for an individual school. Please trust us when we say that we never place a school limit on the number of students we might admit (nor do we guarantee that we will admit a minimum number of applicants!).


Do students with relatives who have attended Brown have an advantage in the admission process?

Brown takes into account the natural affinity for the University that often emerges among family members of our graduates. In particular, we will note when an applicant has a parent who has attended Brown. While such a relationship may be a consideration when it comes to choosing among equally strong candidates, the mere fact of being the son or daughter of Brown alumni does not assure admission to The College. Brown has a strong responsibility to create a new generation of successful college graduates.


Does Brown have admission quotas for any “category” of applicant?

No. It may be useful at times to describe a student population in terms of certain characteristics (for example, the number of men and women, potential engineers, Oklahomans, students of color, international citizens, home schoolers, and so on), but there are no quotas of any kind.


Brown values diversity—what does that mean in the admission process?

We look for applicants from throughout the world who are intelligent and highly motivated from all walks of life, backgrounds, interests, and cultural heritages.

 

If I am admitted to Brown but wish to defer enrollment, is that possible?

Yes. Should you decide to spend a year traveling, working, serving the community, or engaged in some other activity, we ask only that you write to us to request the deferral.

Deferrals for one year are almost always granted, provided you do not intend to enroll in a degree program at another college. However, students admitted from our waiting list would not be eligible for deferral.


Does Brown admit freshmen for entry at mid-year?

No. We believe that the first year is best experienced as a coherent whole, so freshmen must begin their time at Brown in the fall semester.


What are the possible Early Decision outcomes?

Happily, we are able to offer admission to a portion of the applicants. At that point, their college search and application process is completed. We do turn down some students who, based on our experience, are clearly less academically strong in the overall pool of applicants. A good number of early applicants will have final decisions on their applications deferred until the spring when they will be considered anew among the Regular Decision candidates.


If I apply and am admitted using the Early Decision option, am I committed to attending Brown?

Yes. That means that you should consider your choices carefully.


If I apply Early Decision to Brown, may I also apply to other colleges?

Yes and no. You MAY submit “Regular Decision” or “Regular Action” applications to any other colleges as long as you immediately withdraw those applications if you are admitted to Brown. You may also apply to colleges that have a “rolling admission” process, again provided that you withdraw such applications if you are admitted to Brown. You MAY NOT submit an “Early Decision” or “Early Action” application to any other college and still be considered an Early Decision candidate at Brown.


Are my chances for admission increased if I apply Early Decision?

Our pool of early applicants tends to include an especially high proportion of exceptionally talented students, and the typically higher rate of admission reflects that phenomenon, not an automatic advantage for all early candidates. We admit those Early Decision applicants whom we are confident we would take whether they applied in the early or regular process.


What does a “deferral” to the Regular Decision process really mean?

Students whose Early Decision applications are deferred are well-qualified for study at Brown. A deferral should not be seen as an indication of shortcomings. We are very fortunate to have an abundance of exceptionally capable applicants, which provides us the benefit of choice, but it also means we cannot admit all of the students who tend not only to be qualified for admission, but are considered outstanding in their schools and communities. We hold on to those candidates to be considered anew among the Regular Decision applicants, with the aim of admitting the most capable and most diverse group of students with respect to interests, backgrounds, and potential for contributions to the Brown community and beyond.


May I submit additional or updated information if I am deferred?

You may certainly let us know if there is any new significant accomplishment or a noteworthy change in your circumstances, but you should not feel that it is necessary to amend your application as a matter of course. Remember that a deferral does not mean that an applicant has fallen short in terms of qualification for admission. Do make sure, though, that your counselor has the Mid-Year Report form so we can receive your fall term grades and any updates your school would like to provide.


What if another college offers me admission and requires a commitment before I have heard from Brown?

Our Early Decision notification occurs by mid-December and Regular Decision applicants are notified on or near April 1 st. We are not able to give advance decisions, primarily because we are fully engaged in piecing together an entire group of admitted students and not merely determining one by one whether to admit an individual applicant.

You should contact our office if you are presented with an unusual dilemma, but colleges are almost always willing to allow students the opportunity to receive notification from other schools to which they have applied.


The application asks whether I was suspended or expelled from school—would disciplinary action automatically disqualify me for admission to Brown?

No. However, we do ask for an explanation for any disciplinary action so that we can better understand the circumstances and your perceptions of any such action.


The Common Application Secondary School Report and Teacher Evaluation Forms ask that I indicate whether I wish to waive my right to see the recommendation—does my choice have any consequences in the admission process?

It is your right to view such documents if you are admitted and ultimately enroll. You also have the choice to waive that right, which your recommenders might appreciate as a sign of trust, and we appreciate as an indication that the recommender is providing unfiltered observations.


How and when do I pay the application fee?

The application fee of $75 is due at the time you submit your application. You may use a credit card by following the instructions on the online application or you may send a check payable to “ Brown University” directly to the Admission Office.


Can the application fee be waived?

If the fee will present a considerable financial hardship for you and your family, you may ask your guidance counselor to submit a Fee Waiver Request at the time you apply for admission.


What if the Application Summary page on the Brown Admission Web site indicates that my application is incomplete and I am certain that the missing document(s) had been submitted?

You should immediately arrange to have a duplicate document sent to the Admission Office—in the case of paper documents, of course. It may be that an item was delayed or lost in the mail or even that your name was smudged on a form and we were unable to match the document with your file. Whatever the reason, you should take the safest option and simply send a duplicate copy.


May I call the Admission Office to check that items have been received?

We strongly prefer that you use our online Application Summary site to check whether items have been received and filed. With many thousands of documents and files, it is very difficult for us to stop and check for individual items. We understand that you might be anxious about your application, but please rest assured that we will not make a decision on your candidacy until we have all the components of your application. Please keep in mind, too, that it takes up to two weeks or more for mail to be opened, sorted, filed, and recorded in the days surrounding our application deadlines. That means you should not expect the Application Summary site to be updated instantly. Patience is a virtue!


What should I do if I have technical problems while working on the Common Application or when I submit the forms online?

Please visit Technical Support here.

 

Especially for Students Applying from Outside the United States:  

Is the admission process different for international applicants?

No. We do not use a different process or apply different standards based on the nationality of our candidates. (Please note, though, our policies regarding non-U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents who apply for financial aid. Also, students whose first language is not English should see comments below regarding the TOEFL exam.)

All of the application requirements and deadlines are the same, regardless of students’ nationalities or in which country they are studying. However, we do take into account that many international applicants are studying in secondary school systems that may be quite different from the typical “American” model. We are familiar with the full range of foreign curricula and examinations and we are aware that other aspects of international students’ high school experiences may not match perfectly those of students studying in the United States. We do not attempt to “translate” foreign credentials into American credentials in any systematic fashion; instead, we consider applicants’ academic promise in the context of their own learning system.


How does Brown evaluate non-US credentials?

We are familiar with the various academic credentials, exams, and educational systems around the world. In cases where we may be less knowledgeable, we do some research to better understand the system. Though the credentials may be quite different from those commonly used in the United States, we are still looking for the same evidence of academic ability and genuine interest in learning. Although we tend to admit those students who have achieved at what would be considered the highest levels in their own systems of education, we look well beyond the bare numerical results achieved in examinations and exam predictions.


My final “grades” are exam results that will not be available until the end of my secondary school studies—how does that affect my application to Brown?

When final examination results are not available until after our admission decisions are made (e.g., British A-Levels), we rely on the predicted results as provided by your school officials and on any other academic credentials that are already available. We trust that your actual examination results will reasonably match the predicted outcomes, and we do review those results with care. We must reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission in the event that actual results do not meet the predictions.


Must I take the SAT if I have taken or will take other examinations in my own country?

Yes. The SAT (or the ACT) is the single measure that is consistent for all candidates, regardless of from where they are applying. It is worth noting that these tests are unlike most international exams in that they are not designed to measure knowledge gained by the conclusion of a specific course of study. Instead, they are intended to indicate students’ accumulated general knowledge and thinking ability overall (e.g., SAT Reasoning) and in certain broad subject areas (e.g., SAT Subject Tests).


How would Brown view an SAT Subject Test in my native language? (e.g., French)

We place no specific requirements on your choice of Subject Tests, but you would be wise to take tests that will display your strengths in other areas. The SAT Subject Tests in languages are designed for students for whom a non-English subject is a foreign language. For you to do well in the Subject Test in your native language would not provide us with helpful information.


Does the TOEFL replace the SAT?

No. The tests have very different purposes.


Must I take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)?

You should take the TOEFL if English is not your native language, regardless of your citizenship. If your score on the SAT Reasoning test is 600 or above, it is not necessary to take the TOEFL.


Can tests be waived?

No. However, in countries where taking our required tests is impossible or presents a significant hardship, students may still apply, and we will evaluate the applications without the tests.


Are interviews offered outside the US?

Yes. We have alumni volunteers all over the world. However, we cannot guarantee that we will have an interviewer in your area. As with applicants from the United States, international students who are unable to have an interview are not at any disadvantage in the admission process.


Must the application forms be completed in English?

Yes.


Will Brown accept letters of reference in languages other than English?

If one of your teachers is more comfortable writing to us in his or her native language, that is fine, but you will need to arrange to have another person (preferably a school official) provide a written English translation along with the original letter.


Can I pay my application fee in a currency other than the U.S. dollar?

No. We must receive the fee in U.S. currency. (Using a credit card is most convenient for that purpose.)


Can a non-U.S. citizen request a fee waiver?

Yes. The same conditions apply as they would for applicants who are U.S. citizens. (Please see information about fee waiver requests in the Components of the Application section and general Questions You May Have section.)


How will I be notified of the admission decision?

You will be able to obtain the decision on your application from our Web site. If you are admitted, you will also receive a packet in the mail with important documents.


Are there quotas for international students?

No. We value the presence of international students in the Brown community, but we do not set targets or limits on the number of international students we might admit in any given year.


Can advanced standing be awarded to students based on certain international exam results or higher level study as a secondary school student?

Brown does not grant course credit based on international examination scores or “advanced” coursework completed prior to enrollment. However, strong exam results (and certain other credentials) or advanced coursework may allow students to forego certain course prerequisites so as to progress more quickly to upper level Brown offerings.


Is financial aid available to international students?

Brown meets full demonstrated need of all admitted students who have applied for financial aid. Financial aid for foreign citizens, however, is limited. If you wish to be considered for financial aid at any time during your four years at Brown, you should apply at the time of admission. All financial aid at Brown is awarded solely on the basis of financial need, which is determined annually by our analysis of applications submitted by students and their families.

International citizens who are not permanent residents should submit the International Student Financial Aid Application and the International Student Certificate of Finances. Canadian students should complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE application. United States citizens and permanent residents living abroad should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the PROFILE. All of these forms are available from the Office of Financial Aid. They must be returned to the Office of Financial Aid by February 1 of the year in which you wish to gain admission. Announcement of financial aid awards is made with admission decisions in April.

 

Especially for Home-Schooled Students:

Is the admission process different for home-schooled applicants?

No. If you are home-schooled you may not be able to present some of the required documents in exactly the same format that would be provided by most traditional schools, but our process of evaluation is the same for all applicants.


Who should complete my Secondary School Report and Teacher Evaluation forms?

The Secondary School Report form should be completed by the persons most responsible for guiding your overall learning. In addition to the provided prompts the Admission Office would be interested to know why you and your family have opted to pursue home schooling as an alternative to a more traditional public or private school education.

We would also be interested to know what resources you and your family have used to craft the home-schooling curriculum and to know what degree of liberty you the applicant have had in guiding your own education.

Generally speaking we would prefer to see letters of recommendation from instructors who have taught you in a traditional classroom setting and who can speak to your abilities and potential in a reliably objective way. For both of these reasons we would prefer not to receive letters of recommendation from your parents, immediate relatives or from academic tutors in the paid employ of your family. If all of your instruction comes from persons in one of these three groups then we will accept letters of recommendation from any of them.


What should I submit if I do not have a traditional high school transcript?

We need a detailed accounting of the entire curriculum that you have undertaken over the course of the last four years. This includes a full listing of subjects covered and a syllabus of books and other learning resources used. If you have taken courses at a local college, high school or through a distance education program you will need to submit official transcripts from those sources to supplement your self-designed transcript.


What other information should I provide?

Testing requirements and recommendation requirements are the same for home-schooled students as they are for any other applicant. That said, if you have chosen to pursue a home school education we invite you to submit the results of additional SAT Subject Tests or AP tests and one additional letter of recommendation – but only if it is submitted by someone other than your parents, your immediate relatives or a tutor in the paid employ of your family.

 

Admission Office
Brown University
Box 1876
45 Prospect Street
Providence, RI 02912