You aren’t like a regular Ivy League student; you are a cool Ivy League student. We are just kidding; while Brown University is sometimes seen as the artsiest and quirkiest Ivy, make no mistake: it is still very much an Ivy League school.
Brown is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Known for its flexible Open Curriculum, collaborative culture, and tight-knit community, Brown is a favorite for students looking for an elite yet flexible education. Brown has a reputation for being the Ivy with the least competitive campus culture; however, that vibe only applies after you get in. Getting accepted is extremely competitive. Last year, their acceptance rate was only around 6%.
To get into Brown, you need to be the total package. This means outstanding grades in rigorous classes, a dynamic resume, terrific test scores (they are no longer test-optional), and engaging essays. It is a lot, but thankfully, if you need help, we have you covered. We work with students no matter where they are in the college application process to ensure they are the kind of applicant that colleges like Brown are looking for. From strategic planning to resume building to pressing that submit button, do it all! Contact us today.
If you are applying to hyper-competitive schools like Brown, we highly recommend working with a counselor. It really can make the difference. Still, we wanted to share some of our favorite tips for writing the Brown supplemental essays. It is a bit of a long supplement, so lock in!
“There is something distinctive about Brown students. It is a blend of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and humility. A commitment to collaboration. An openness to new ideas and perspectives. A desire to make the world better. And it is resilience: the ability to recover and thrive after experiencing difficulties.” President Christina Paxson 2025 Convocation Address How will you use these characteristics or others to shape your approach to the Open Curriculum? (Suggested 150-250 words)
We kind of hate questions that start with a long quote because it makes questions seem harder than they are. This question really boils down to “how will you use the Open Curriculum?” The first thing you need to do is learn about the Open Curriculum if you have not already. Brown is really proud of their curriculum, and you need to be an expert on it before you take on this question.
Once you have done your research, there are a couple of ways to approach this question. Our favorite has to do with intellectual curiosity and using the Open Curriculum to follow an academic interest outside of what you hope to major in. For example, we had a student who wanted to study Philosophy but had an interest in physics. He wrote about how the Open Curriculum would let him explore both. He also connected the two subjects to his curiosity in understanding how the world works through different lenses.
The more you can tell a story about how your academic exploration connects to your interests or goals, the better. One of our favorite answers to this question came from a student who wanted to study art history and chemistry. He wanted to be an art restorer one day and would use the Open Curriculum to learn the skills needed while studying art history. He spoke to specific opportunities such as classes, professors, and labs and connected them to his experiences in museum work and art history classes.
The best versions of this essay have a well-defined, interesting, and specific exploration of your academic path.
Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on where they came from. Share how an aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you, and what unique contributions this might allow you to make to the Brown community. (Suggested 150-250 words)
This is essentially asking you to share a value or life lesson that would help you at Brown and how you learned it or employed it. This is pretty broad. For example, we had a student who wrote about how growing up his mother loved hosting and how he started hosting dinner parties in high school. These dinners helped him build community and show people he cared about them (a skill he would also bring to Brown). Another student wrote about being shy and how she forced herself out of her own box, which made her a good conversationalist. We liked both of these essays especially because they were based on new information that Brown wouldn’t have from a resume or elsewhere in their application. Really try to bring the reader into your world and who you are.
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. (Suggested 100-150 words)
We love when students use this question to zoom in on a small moment of joy. This essay has a short word count. A mundane joy, when explored correctly, makes for a very sweet answer. Former students have written about perfectly sharpened pencils or the subway commute to their glass blowing studio in Brooklyn, NY. What makes these stories work is really the craft of writing. The joy has to feel palpable and real. If you aren’t a strong writer, working with a professional can really elevate these types of essays.
If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (Suggested 100-150 words)
There are two routes to answering this question. No matter which you take, you should give it a name and add either a course description and/or a short story about why you would teach this class.
The first is the academic route. This is your chance to nerd out about a specific subject tied to what you intend to major in. For example, our student who wanted to be an art restorer wrote about a restoration ethics course. He named the class, “The Ship of Theseus: An Ethical Exploration of When We Need To Stop Restoring.” He then shared his research into restoration issues and why he was fascinated by the topic.
The other route is to have a little fun. Think of a non-academic talent you have and turn it into a class. For example, we had a student who wanted to teach, “Advanced First Impressions.” He has spent several years working on his interpersonal skills and packaged that experience into a class complete with a course description.
Brown’s supplement isn’t easy, but it can help you stand out. With only a 6% acceptance rate, many highly accomplished candidates do not get in. You need to be strategic! We help our students write the type of eye-catching essays Brown is looking for.
Let us help you achieve your Ivy League dreams. Reach out today.