It is hard to get into Brown’s Engineering School. TBH, it's hard to get into the Providence, Rhode Island-based Ivy League school generally. However, engineering is one of the most competitive majors at top schools. Last year, Brown’s acceptance rate was around 5.4%. While Brown doesn’t publish a specific admissions rate for their engineering school, it may even be lower. The Brown University School of Engineering has around 400 undergraduates, meaning it plans to accept only around 100 students per year. So, what do you need to do to get a shot at being one of this elite group? We are glad you asked. You need to be a highly competitive candidate, which means taking several steps.
Get the Grades
Brown is looking for A+ students. If you aren’t getting a 4.0 or very close to it, Brown might not be the school for you. If you are applying to the engineering school, you especially need to be crushing it in your math and science classes. Ideally, you are also building a challenging transcript by taking APs, Honors, or IB classes (again, especially in STEM fields). A great transcript lets Brown know that you will be a good fit academically, and that’s incredibly important.
It is also a good idea to get some strong standardized test scores. Brown is currently test-optional, but 85% of applicants submitted scores last year. The 50th percentile was 1540 for the SAT and 35 on the ACT. You should be shooting for similar scores, especially doing well on the math sections (the 50th percentile for just the math sections was 780 or 34).
Build a Niche
Which student would you rather accept, an applicant who wants to do “something engineering related,” or a student who is passionate about Chemical Engineering and has a resume that backs up that interest? The choice should be clear, and you should make Brown’s job as easy as possible. Being interested in engineering generally won’t impress Brown. You need to be specific and intentional in your academic choices. Ideally, it should be clear exactly what your interests are just by looking at your application or resume, but building that niche can be confusing. We have a couple of steps that you should take.
Courses and Reading
You need to show that you are exploring your academic interests outside school. Two great ways to do this are through supplemental reading and classes. The more you know about your niche, the easier it will be to pursue and write about successfully. We recommend reading books specifically. A lot of students don’t read books outside of class; you can separate yourself from the herd by making yourself a reading list. While we love books most of all, you can supplement them with journal articles, podcasts, tech news, etc.
Taking a class is another great way to learn more about your niche. Many universities offer online courses through resources like Coursera. Online classes are a great way to start exploring your interests. You can also check out your local community college or a summer program. Taking extra classes outside of the usual school day shows your passion and curiosity for your niche and helps you build a history of exploring it.
In-School Extracurriculars
You should join school clubs that connect to your engineering-focused niche. For example, if you are interested in mechanical engineering, you should join your school’s robotics team. Great initial clubs for engineers include science Olympiads, solar car teams, robotics teams, and computer science clubs, among others. If your school doesn’t have a related club, ask the administration about starting one.
Just joining a club isn’t quite enough for Brown. They are looking for students who take on leadership roles and commit to their extracurriculars. Challenge yourself to rise in the organization’s ranks. Trust us, Brown will be much more impressed with “President” than “member” when it comes to school clubs.
Out of School Extracurriculars
While you can do out-of-school extracurriculars all year long, you need to make sure your summers are helping your resume. We recommend doing an academic program at a university (Brown has its own popular summer program), doing an internship, and/or doing research. There are, of course, other opportunities that will also help you build a great resume, but generally, these three are always great choices.
Just like your in-school activities, your out-of-school extracurriculars should connect to your academic niche. For example, try not to just take any internship. Look into engineering companies, science companies, science museums, local NGOs in the science space, science camps, etc. If you are volunteering, volunteer at a repair cafe or to tutor kids in STEM. If you are doing independent research, make it connected to what you hope to study in college. The more overlap you can show between your resume and what you hope to do at Brown Engineering, the better.
Build Something Cool
You need some skills to be a great Engineering student. Whether it's computer programming or soldering, you can show what you know by building something cool. We have had students build computers, drones, solar panels, and many other projects. Building something related to what you hope to study isn’t only a great activity, but it also shows and strengthens your real-world skills. Push yourself to learn new skills and use them to build something you can be proud of.
Apply Early
We buried the lead earlier. We said that last year, Brown’s acceptance rate was just over 5%. However, that is their overall rate. Last year, their Early Decision acceptance rate was 14.4%. Make no mistake, 14% is still highly competitive, and you need to be an outstanding candidate, but it is still your best chance at getting into Brown. We highly recommend applying early if Brown is your top choice. If you are applying this year, don’t wait to start applications (especially if you hope to apply early). This summer is your chance to set yourself up for success!
Applying to Brown Engineering isn’t easy, but if you feel overwhelmed, we can help. Whether you are a rising senior or a rising freshman, we can help you get a competitive edge when applying to top engineering schools.
Reach out to us today!