How to get into Brown University: Admission Requirements 2023 (2024)

Nestled in the vibrant city of Providence, Rhode Island, Brown University has established itself as a renowned institution since its inception in 1764. With a rich history and a commitment to intellectual exploration, Brown stands as a beacon of academic excellence. Known especially for its unique Open Curriculum, Brown University offers a distinctive educational experience that fosters independent thinking and interdisciplinary studies.

It goes without saying that prospective applicants have long wondered about how to successfully navigate the Admission Requirements of Brown. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to get into Brown University.

A quick note on college rankings: we think they’re generally a bad way to think about where you should go to college. We talk about why rankings are bad in greater detail here, but essentially, a lot of college rankings don’t actually tell you whether you and the school would fit well together, or that the school is someplace you’ll thrive. That said, we also understand that many students/families are confused regarding and have questions about aspects of the application process, so we’ve built the post below to hopefully clarify things, so students/families can make informed decisions.

The biggest thing Brown focuses on is a student’s potential to thrive within the unique offerings of the university: they’ve directly stated that they are looking at what you have accomplished with the resources and opportunities available to you in your high school years. Yes, having competitive grades and test scores is important. But most students who get rejected from Brown have those kinds of scores—Brown University seeks students who not only possess exceptional academic achievements but also demonstrate a strong sense of intellectual curiosity and a passion for learning.

How do you know if you will thrive at Brown? And how do you demonstrate to the school that you will thrive once you are there?

Start by exploring Brown’s mission and values, both through its mission statement, through its discussion of its Open Curriculum, and through what it outlines in its discussion of its strategic plan. Notice, for example, how often the focus is on innovative thinking and intellectual curiosity: Brown wants to work with students who want “to think creatively and to develop innovative solutions to critical issues.”

How do you see yourself aligning with this mission and these values? What parts of your story demonstrate that you have already worked toward these things, and that Brown is the place for you to take your next steps? How will you and the Brown community make great partners in serving the community?

How else can you demonstrate that you can thrive at Brown? Think about your answers to these questions:

• How have you collaborated with others, and how can you showcase that to the Brown admissions committee?

• In what ways have you taken initiative in your education, and how will you continue to do so at Brown?

• Share a time when you took risks, developed resilience, and learned from failure. How will this mindset contribute to your experience at Brown?

• Where and how have you explored your creativity, and how have you applied innovative thinking to projects or personal endeavors?

• Why do you value community, and how have you actively fostered inclusivity? How will you engage with Brown's diverse community?

• How do you maintain balance in life, effectively managing time and commitments? How will you prioritize balance while navigating opportunities and demands at Brown?

To complete Brown’s supplemental essay requirements, applicants must answer three Brown University Specific Questions. Their prompts are below and the Brown University supplemental essay guide that they were sourced from can be found here.

PROMPT #1

Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue them while also embracing topics with which you are unfamiliar. (200-250 words)

PROMPT #2

Brown’s culture fosters a community in which students challenge the ideas of others and have their ideas challenged in return, promoting a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society. This active engagement in dialogue is as present outside the classroom as it is in academic spaces. Tell us about a time you were challenged by a perspective that differed from your own. How did you respond? (200-250 words)

PROMPT #3

Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

If you are applying to Brown’s PLME (Program in Liberal Medical Education) or The Brown | RISD Dual Degree Program you will need to answer the additional program specific questions below.

Check here for an in-depth guide to BS/MD program essays.

PLME (Program in Liberal Medical Education)

Committing to a future career as a physician while in high school requires careful consideration and self-reflection. What values and experiences have led you to believe that becoming a doctor in medicine is the right fit for you? (250 word limit)

This might not surprise you: a lot of young people want to be doctors because they think they’ll make a lot of money. Another popular motivation is family pressure. We’re not going to make any judgments about good or bad reasons to become a doctor, but you should be aware that Brown’s admissions panel, too, is aware of these not-surprising compulsions toward careers in Medicine. What this means for you is that you need to be particularly mindful in your response of being a reasoned, mature-sounding individual with an authentic interest in pursuing medicine.

Healthcare is constantly changing, as it is affected by racial and social disparities, economics, politics, and technology, among others. How will you, as a future physician, make a positive impact? (250 word limit)

Have you considered the larger context of a medical worker? That’s what Brown wants to know here. Yes, a doctor should probably be well-versed in the immune response, for example, but Brown doesn’t just want applicants who are able to recite all of the bones in the human body. Here is an opportunity for you to express your awareness of the societal implications of medical work, and how you see yourself navigating those complexities.

How do you envision the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) helping you to meet your academic personal and professional goals as a person and as a physician of the future? (250 word limit)

Think of this as a “Why us” essay that’s specifically for the PLME program. The goal here is to make clear how you and the PLME are a great fit for one another. The risk here is sounding like you’re excited about studying medicine in general. That’s not the goal here. Instead, focus on why studying medicine specifically in the PLME will enable you to accomplish your goals.

The Brown | RISD Dual Degree Program

The Brown | RISD Dual Degree Program draws on the complementary strengths of Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to provide students with the opportunity to explore diverse spheres of academic and creative inquiry, culminating in a capstone project that interrelates the content, approaches, and methods from two distinct learning experiences.

Based on your understanding of the academic programs at Brown and RISD and the possibilities created by the BRDD program's broadened learning community, specifically describe how and why the BRDD program would constitute an optimal undergraduate education for you. As part of your answer, be sure to articulate how you might contribute to the Dual Degree community and its commitment to interdisciplinary work. (650 words)