Together, they bring a remarkable diversity of experience and perspective that enriches every corner of campus life, said TRUE Program Advisor Avery Danage Jr.

“They represent the best of Brown,” Danage said. “These are students who are applying to school with the audacity of knowing that there might be something better for them out there.” 

This year’s cohort stands out to Danage because of their academic curiosity. In one-on-one advising sessions, the vast majority expressed interest in exploring an independent concentration.

“They really speak to the mission of what Brown’s Open Curriculum is able to provide,” he said. “They’re unlimited in their desire to learn — and with the Open Curriculum allowing them to be the architect of their own education, why not be unlimited?” 

Finding belonging at Brown

Crucially, TRUE Orientation offers students — especially those who are in a traditional college classroom setting for the first time and who may be older than many of their peers — a chance to find community. 

For Brown University senior Ishan Khurana, those kinds of opportunities to connect were invaluable. A transfer student himself, Khurana arrived at Brown in January 2024 and remembers the isolating feeling of setting foot on an unfamiliar campus in the dead of winter. It’s part of why Khurana has been working with the TRUE program since his arrival, currently serving as its student manager for program execution and peer advising. 

“I wanted to meet other transfers who had come in before me, and I wanted to make friends with the new transfers who would come in after me,” Khurana said. “The opportunity to show new students around Brown, to share my academic experiences and to make that path a little bit easier to walk, helped me find my own place here.”

That kind of support is making a difference for students like Krish Vasudev, a new member of the Class of 2028 who transferred from Washington University in St. Louis. 

“People are very welcoming and supportive,” said Vasudev, who is pursuing pre-med. “I appreciate the peer network, and having peer advisers walk you through different aspects of what life will be like as a transfer student for the next couple of years is especially helpful.” 

Max Zimmer, a member of the Class of 2027 who transferred from Ithaca College, echoed the sentiment and said he’s already finding common ground with his fellow students. 

“I’ve met a lot of new people who are in the same boat, coming here with similar experiences to mine,” Zimmer said. “We’ve all agreed that it’s somewhat like being a freshman again. You’re adjusting to a new place.” 

Khurana said that by building connections and learning how to access comprehensive support, TRUE students position themselves to chase big ideas and embrace the myriad opportunities available to them at Brown. 

“The perspective that TRUE students come with is very much one of, ‘I’m going to do everything I possibly can with this limited time that I have,’ which brings such a cool energy to Brown,” he said.  

That’s the case for Zimmer, who plans to pursue a concentration in modern culture and media. Aiming to secure a career in the film industry while continuing his years-long love of rowing, he said the University’s distinctive balance between exploration, creativity and career preparation stood out to him. 

“Brown has this balance of making sure a student has a lot of fun while they’re in college, while also preparing them for once they’re in the real world in their post-graduate days,” said Zimmer, who hopes to walk on to Brown’s men’s crew team.   

Like many new arrivals, he’s eager to experience what lies beyond the Van Wickle Gates. 

“I’m really excited to be in Providence,” Zimmer said. “This is a wonderful city, so there’s a lot of great places I can’t wait to explore.”