brown essay supplemental

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories .

adrienne maree brown’s New Essay Collection Loving Corrections Offers a Realistic, Compassionate Script for Liberation

Products are independently selected by our editors. We may earn an affiliate commission from links.

In Loving Corrections , activist adrienne maree brown ’s new collection of essays, the often fraught work of correction—which is to say, effecting some personal, professional, and/or political change, sometimes by confronting other people espousing harmful ideas—is rooted in a place of mutual trust, and a shared vision for the future.

This isn’t to say that the vision is always rosy. The author, who uses she/they pronouns, speaks openly about the dangers that racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, anti-Blackness, climate denial, and other social scourges pose to our very survival—but never without emphasizing just how much adjustment and healing can accomplish. Vogue spoke to brown about drawing inspiration from Grace Lee Boggs and Octavia Butler, making “loving corrections” within familial relationships, and finding political solidarity in their home base of Durham, North Carolina. The conversation has been edited and condensed.

Vogue : How did the process of putting this book together compare to previous projects?

adrienne maree brown: This one felt more like realizing: Oh, I’m up to something in the writing that I’m doing, and I could pull all of that something together and understand it better. I had been writing these essays, a lot of which came out of some heartbreak or some moment of feeling like, We’ve got to do better than this , and one came out as a word for white people relinquishing the patriarchy . I’d also been writing a column for Yes! magazine called Murmurations that was really giving me a chance to dive in deeper about accountability. As I was looking at those sets of work, I was like, there’s something aligned here, which feels very rooted in the way I used to facilitate. That’s the loving correction—the thing of, okay, we’ve gone off course, and we can get ourselves back on course. There’s a way that I can hold your hand and we can disagree, and we can keep moving forward towards something that lands with us together, rather than something that lands with us at war.

For those who haven’t read the book yet, would you be able to offer an example of an opportunity for “loving correction” that might come up in everyday life?

One of my favorite pieces in the book is a conversation I have with my sisters. We noticed that every time we would get together for a family gathering as adults, as much as we anticipated being together or could not wait to be in each other’s presence, we would get in a fight within the first 24 hours. It would be explosive, petty, irrational, you know? And we were like, Why is this happening? Then after the fight, we would cry, we would make up, and after the storm, we would find out all these things that were happening in each other’s lives that were impacting our capacity to show up. We decided to shift our process, so now, whenever we land with each other, we make time on the front end of the visit and everyone in the family knows the sisters are going to go do their sister check-in. We take our hour and a half—usually there’s three of us—to share the headlines of our lives and where we really need support, where we need flanking, where we just need to be seen. We talk about what has changed in us and what’s moving on the tectonic plate level since the last time we were together, and it has really transformed what it means for us to all be in the same space.

Do you have favorite writings or pieces of art that helped guide you in putting Loving Corrections together?

It’s hard to be self-referential, but Emergent Strategy is a text that, even though I wrote it, I’m constantly trying to understand it and practice it, so almost all my other books try to dig into some aspect of that book. Work from Grace Lee Boggs and James Boggs, who were Detroit organizers and part of the Black Power movement, were really influential for me. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz has always been a really moving text for me, in terms of its asking, What are the simplest ways we can be in right relationship with each other ? And then I’ve been really working with Buddhist texts. I was really working with looking up the belief systems of the Anishinaabe peoples when I was living in Detroit and trying to understand interdependence. And then there’s always Octavia Butler’s work, which provides seeds for thinking about what it means to be in a community that intends to stay together and have a future.

The essay collection talks a lot about the power of community—politically speaking, but also between siblings, friends, and comrades of all types. What are some of your favorite community-minded practices that keep you going, artistically and personally? I just moved from Detroit to Durham in 2021, and one of the practices I’ve been in here is game nights. I regularly invite people—most of them are from social justice movement spaces, but there’s also artists and writers and other folks that I’m getting to know here—so that we can all just be people. This emerged for me after that initial phase of pandemic lockdown, where even as an introvert, I was really hungry for other people’s presence and for laughter in the home and the kind of unexpected things that happen in the kitchen when the group is in the living room—you know, the humanity. I really love that practice. And then I would say solidarity is my other major community-building practice, where I don’t want to be asking people to have to make a case to me why their people matter, or why their issues matter. I really take seriously when people ask me to show up in solidarity with them, and think about how I can do that in a way that’s meaningful, and how I can let it be a place that I learn.

I know there’s a lot to feel dismal about in the world right now, but are there examples of that kind of solidarity that are giving you hope?

I tend to try to look for the seedlings even in times of war or devastation, and some of the things that I’ve been really moved by are Palestinians figuring out ways to desalinate ocean water and grow food even under the onslaught that they’re under. Then in the US right now, I’m finding a really beautiful solidarity happening where people who are really struggling in this election season are turning toward the most vulnerable, here and abroad, and asking, “How do we make sure that the moves we’re making actually attend to their needs?” And I find that really moving. Solidarity doesn’t mean that we choose one community over another; it means that we have to hold all the different communities we’re part of in the balance, and I see that right now with Black folks showing up with Palestinians in solidarity, showing up with anti-Zionist Jewish people in solidarity, showing up in solidarity with trans people, showing up in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people, showing up in solidarity with children who could get pregnant in the next four years. I live in Durham now, and I’m really moved to be in a city that passed a ceasefire resolution. I’m really moved to be in a place where music and culture and mothers were at the center of that organizing.

Is there any group you particularly hope this book makes it to?

I hope it makes it to your racist uncle. [ Laughs .] There’s a wide range of places where we can use this technology of staying connected while having different opinions and moving through them. It’s not always a polite or gentle thing to do, but it is a necessary part of our humanity, I think, to learn this skill. I want this book to be something that everyone who sees themselves as part of movements for change can pick up to remember that the ways people interact in comments online are not necessarily the ways we’re going to change the world. I hope that people who do social justice work find that this book is useful for reaching beyond our normal spaces and reaching back to family, reaching out to community, and bringing more people in. We need to be growing, not shrinking, and shaming and yelling at people shrinks them. We want to be growing people’s souls. We want to be growing people’s values, and we want to be growing our community.

Loving Corrections

Vogue Daily

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Vogue. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

My Son and Gus Walz Deserve a Champion Like Tim Walz

By Tina Brown

Ms. Brown is the author, most recently, of “The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor — the Truth and the Turmoil."

The sight at the Democratic convention on Wednesday night of Tim Walz’s 17-year-old son leaping to his feet, with streaming eyes, a hand to his chest with a cry of “That’s my Dad” was heart piercing.

As the mother of Georgie, a 38-year-old on the spectrum who still lives with me, I recognized him immediately as one of “ours,” a sweet, unfiltered, slightly bewildered-looking young man who wasn’t quite sure what was expected of him in this epic moment of political adulation.

Gus Walz has, according to his parents, a nonverbal learning disorder, A.D.H.D. and an anxiety disorder, all of which they regard not as a setback but as his “secret power,” that makes him “brilliant” and “hyperaware.”

I know exactly what they mean. One of the joys of my life in the social churn of New York is living with a son whose inability to read the room makes him incapable of telling anything but the truth. Once, as my husband, Harry Evans, and I left a pretentious social gathering in the Hamptons, Georgie told the host sunnily: “Thank you very much. No one spoke to me really, so it was a very boring evening. The food was OK. I doubt I will come again.”

“I have never been prouder of you in my life!” shouted my husband in the car. How many times have all of us wanted to say that as we gushed about the fabulous time we just hadn’t had? Then there was the moment he went up to Anna Wintour at one of my book parties and asked if she was Camilla Parker Bowles. And the time at the intake meeting for a supported work program, when the therapist asked Georgie, “Has anyone ever molested you?” “Unfortunately not,” he replied. Georgie teaches me every day how much we depend on social lies to make the world go round. His sister — his forever best friend — and I feel so lucky to have him in our lives. So did his dad, who died in 2020.

And yet for people who are different and have no support, the world can be bleak. Their loneliness can be agonizing. Some people assume the school days are the hardest, but it’s the years after that are the social desert. Having a friendly, forgiving workplace to go to is critical. It’s often their only taste of community and what makes them such reliable and rewarding employees. The work from home movement has been a killer for people with special needs, often depriving them of the only social connections they have.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Brown University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 3

Brown University 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 3  essays of 250 words; 4 short answers

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Community , Activity, Diversity

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 pursue them at Brown. (200-250 words)

This prompt sounds simple enough: describe what you want to study and why you like it—but not so fast. First things first: the Open Curriculum , a.k.a. the requirement-less Holy Grail, coveted by many applicants. It’s not enough to say, “I want to go to Brown because of its uniquely flexible curriculum.” You need to explore exactly how this curriculum—among Brown’s many other assets—will benefit you specifically. Is it because your areas of interest are so varied? Is it because greater flexibility will help you manage a learning difference? While you might be tempted to get technical or poetic, this essay will be more personal and memorable if you can share a story. What excites you and why? When was the last time you got drawn down a Wikipedia rabbit hole and what was the topic? While you don’t need to recount the unabridged origin story of your interest, try to zero in on a formative experience: the best book you’ve ever read, the first time you spoke French to an actual French person, that one time when you used PEMDAS in the real world! Then marry the concrete details of your story with Brown’s academic offerings, and you’ll knock your response out of the park!

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. (200-250 words)

Brown wants to accept students from a range of backgrounds who will contribute to their University community, so tell admissions about what makes you you and how you will be a meaningful addition to the student body. Think about times when you were challenged by or found strength in your identity, background, or skills. Maybe you were the only South Asian family in a predominantly white area and found inspiration by practicing classical Kuchipudi dance, which you intend to continue at Brown. Perhaps your aging grandparent moved in with you, and the changes to your household prompted you to take on more responsibilities, sparking a passion for leadership. What do you hope to share with others about your lived experience? How will you incorporate this element of your identity into your college experience? Show admissions that you’re eager to make your mark in their community. Bonus points if you can reference a specific component of the Brown experience (think clubs, the curriculum, volunteer opportunities, etc.) to demonstrate your interest and fit.

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)

Try not to overthink your response to this question. Admissions even goes so far as to say that the focal point of your response can be big or small. So, go with your gut. Maybe, you love watching the sunset on your grandmother’s porch over a pitcher of lemonade and a game of checkers. Or, perhaps, you want to tell admissions about the look on your sister’s face everytime you agree to a custom makeover (neon eyeshadows only). If you want to write about something bigger, maybe it’s the app you’re building to help people find volunteer opportunities in their community or the scientific discovery you made last spring. Whatever it may be, be true to yourself, and you’ll ace this response.

Help us get to know you better by reflecting briefly on each of the questions below. We expect that answers will range from a few words to a few sentences at most:

What three words best describe you (3 words), what is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it (100 words), if you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be (100 words), in one sentence, why brown (50 words).

Short answers like these give you a chance to show something that isn’t apparent in the other parts of your application, such as different aspects of your personality, background, and interests. The key to nailing this section is brainstorming. Free your mind and spend a few minutes jotting down as many answers as you can think of for each prompt. Literally set a timer and force yourself to keep your pencil moving (or fingers typing) for the entire time. The more you go with your gut, the more likely you are to come up with a unique and truly personal answer; in the end, that’s really what admissions is looking for. Sure, many applicants play extracurricular sports, but how is your relationship to your sport unique? For the final question, consider not only the research you’ve done on Brown, but also how you’ll fit in with the unique campus culture. The point is not to waste time agonizing over what you think admissions wants to hear, but to think about who you are as a person. Trust yourself. 

About Amanda Amah

View all posts by Amanda Amah »

Interested?

"[My child] just received acceptance to Brown’s PLME program! We are so happy! Thank you, thank you. This is such a great gift for [my child]. We couldn’t have done it without you!"

– CEA Parent, Brown University’s Program in Liberal Medical Education, Class of 2031

"I am writing to express my deep gratitude for your work with [my daughter]. Her Brown essays exceeded my wildest imagination. Best of all, they reflect the very best of her while still revealing the grit and street smarts that make her so unique."

– CEA Parent, Brown University, Class of 2025

Contact us for information on rates and more!

• I am a * Student Parent Potential Partner School Counselor Private College Counselor
• Name * First Last
• Phone Type Mobile Landline
• Street Address
• Address City State / Province / Region Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands Country
• Which best describes you (or your child)? High school senior High school junior College student College grad Other
• How did you find CEA? Internet Search New York Times Guidance counselor/school Social Media YouTube Friend Special Event Delehey College Consulting Other
• Common App and Coalition Essays
• Supplemental Essays
• University of California Essays
• University of Texas Essays
• Resume Review
• Post-Grad Essays
• Specialized Services
• Waitlist Letters
• Private School Essays
• General College Counseling
• School list with priorities noted:
• Anything else we should know?
• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

School Stats:

• Agnes Scott College
• Alvernia University
• American University
• Amherst College
• Babson College
• Bard College
• Barnard College
• Baylor University
• Bennington College
• Bentley University
• Berry College
• Bethany College
• Boston College
• Boston University (BU)
• Bowdoin College
• Brandeis University
• Brown University
• Bryn Mawr College
• Bucknell University
• Butler University
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
• California Lutheran University
• Capitol Technology University
• Carleton College
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Catawba College
• Centre College
• Chapman University
• Claremont McKenna College
• Clark University
• Clemson University
• Coastal Carolina University
• College of Charleston
• College of William and Mary
• College of Wooster
• Colorado College
• Colorado School of Mines
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Culver-Stockton College
• D'Youville University
• Dartmouth College
• Davidson College
• Dickinson College
• Drexel University
• Duke University
• Earlham College
• Elon University
• Emerson College
• Emory University
• Flagler College
• Fordham University
• George Mason University
• Georgetown University
• Georgia State University
• Georgia Tech
• Gonzaga University
• Hamilton College
• Hampshire College
• Harvard University
• Harvey Mudd College
• Haverford College
• Hillsdale College
• Hofstra University
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Illinois Wesleyan University
• Ithaca College
• Johns Hopkins University
• Kalamazoo College
• Lafayette College
• Lehigh University
• Lewis and Clark College
• Linfield University
• Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
• Lynn University
• Macalester College
• Manchester University
• Marist College
• Mary Baldwin University
• Meredith College
• Monmouth College
• Moravian University
• Morehouse College
• Mount Holyoke College
• New York University (NYU)
• North Carolina State
• North Park University
• Northwestern University
• Occidental College
• Oklahoma City University
• Olin College of Engineering
• Pepperdine University
• Pitzer College
• Pomona College
• Princeton University
• Providence College
• Purdue University
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Rice University
• Roger Williams University
• Saint Anselm College
• Saint Elizabeth University
• Santa Clara University
• Sarah Lawrence College
• Scripps College
• Seattle Pacific University
• Seattle University
• Smith College
• Soka University of America
• Southern Methodist University
• St. John’s College
• Stanford University
• Stevens Institute of Technology
• Stonehill College
• Swarthmore College
• Syracuse University
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Christian University (TCU)
• The College of Idaho
• The George Washington University
• The New School
• Trinity College
• Tufts University
• Tulane University
• UNC Wilmington
• University of California
• University of Central Florida (UCF)
• University of Chicago
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Colorado Boulder
• University of Florida
• University of Georgia (UGA)
• University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• University of Maryland
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• University of Massachusetts Lowell
• University of Miami
• University of Michigan
• University of Minnesota
• College of Mount Saint Vincent
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Oklahoma
• University of Oregon
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Richmond
• University of San Diego
• University of San Francisco
• University of Southern California (USC)
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Tulsa
• University of Vermont
• University of Virginia (UVA)
• University of Washington
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Vanderbilt University
• Vassar College
• Villanova University
• Virginia Tech
• Wake Forest University
• Washington and Lee University
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Wellesley College
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
• Yale University

Want free stuff?

We thought so. Sign up for free instructional videos, guides, worksheets and more!

One-On-One Advising

Common App Essay Prompt Guide

Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

• YouTube Tutorials
• Our Approach & Team
• Undergraduate Testimonials
• Postgraduate Testimonials
• Where Our Students Get In
• CEA Gives Back
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Private School Admissions
• International Student Admissions
• Common App Essay Guide
• Supplemental Essay Guide
• Coalition App Guide
• The CEA Podcast
• Admissions Stats
• Notification Trackers
• Deadline Databases
• College Essay Examples
• Academy and Worksheets
• Waitlist Guides
• Get Started

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

3 Top Tips for Writing Stellar Brown Supplemental Essays

College Essays

Brown admits around 5% of its total applicant pool every year. If you want to be one of those admitted students, you'll need to write amazing Brown essays as part of your application.

In this article, we'll outline the different types of essays you need to write for your Brown University application and teach you how to write a Brown supplement essay that'll help you stand out from the thousands of other applicants.

What Are the Brown Essay Prompts?

Brown requires you to complete a total of three short-answer questions if you're applying to its undergraduate program. If you're applying to Brown's eight-year medical program or the five-year dual degree from RISD, you will have to write additional essays , which we'll also cover in this article.

Each of the three undergrad Brown essay prompts has a 250-word limit . For the three additional essays for the Brown medical program, two have a word limit of 250 and one has a word limit of 500 . For the dual degree RISD program, there's only one extra essay, with a 650-word limit .

All these essays are specific to the Brown application—you won't find them on any other college or university's application.

They're also all of equal importance and should be treated as such. Each of your Brown essays should be the strongest example of your work.

The Brown essay questions offer you plenty of opportunities to show off your qualifications as an applicant and wow the admissions committee.

2022-2023 Brown Supplement Essay Questions

All first-year applicants to Brown are required to answer the following Brown supplement essay questions:

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)

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)

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're applying to Brown's eight-year Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) or five-year Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program (BRDD) you must complete the special program essays.

Three essays are required for applicants to the PLME:

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)

Health care 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) 

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)

And one longer essay is required for applicants to the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program:

The Brown|RISD A.B./B.F.A. 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 word limit)

All the 2022-2023 Brown Supplemental Essays, Analyzed

In this section, we'll be looking at the 2021-2022 Brown essay prompts in depth.

Remember that with the Brown prompts, you don't get to choose which essay you would like to write —you need to answer all the questions required for your particular program of study.

Let's take a look at each of the Brown essay questions and go over how you can write something meaningful for each.

Brown Essay Prompt 1

This essay question is fairly straightforward. Brown wants to know what you're interested in pursuing academically, where those interests comes from, and how you plan to explore it at Brown—specifically, through Brown's Open Curriculum .

You need to understand what Brown's Open Curriculum means before writing this essay. Research Brown's academic model so that you can speak about it confidently and accurately.

Although Brown makes it clear that you may write about more than one subject, we suggest limiting yourself to one or two topics . 250 words is not that many—you'll want to speak in depth about your interests and you simply won't have that ability if you choose more than two.

Try to share a personal experience that relates to your potential area of study. For instance, if you want to study English literature, you could talk about a family trip to London that piqued your interest and how you want to take advantage of specific literature classes at Brown. Or, if you're studying math, you could talk about how winning a competition felt like an incredible reward for years of hard work.

Finally, the prompt also asks how you’ll use the Open Curriculum to embrace topics you’re unfamiliar with, so your response needs to show that you’re considering how to expand your academic interests to include new topics while at Brown. For instance, say your core interest is in biology but you want to integrate that with visual arts in the future. Writing about your desire to explore science through the lens of art will show that you’re prepared to use the Open Curriculum to make meaningful connections across academic disciplines, which is a core value at Brown. 

Brown Essay Prompt 2

This essay prompt is asking you to tell a story that showcases how you respond to differences and challenges when you come face-to-face with them outside of the classroom. Brown wants to know that you’re committed to intellectual engagement and dialogue with your peers not only in the classroom, but outside of it too. 

Your response here is your chance to show that you’ll be an active participant in the intellectual community at Brown even when you’re not in class . To do this, write about an experience you’ve had addressing tough issues or exploring complex ideas with people in your community, whether that’s with your friends, family, a faith community, an online group, or somewhere unexpected! 

Don’t mistake this prompt for an invitation to outline your political affiliations or beliefs. Instead, you should describe a specific scenario in which you were challenged by a new or different perspective. Highlight who was involved, how the situation emerged, and, most importantly, how you responded. Brown wants to hear about what you learned from this experience and how it changed you. 

The way you responded to the challenge will give Brown a window into your ability to engage with different perspectives. Are you willing to argue your perspective while remaining kind and empathetic? Do you fly off the handle and leave the conversation when you’re challenged? Your response to this question will help Brown see what kind of community member you’ll be as a student at Brown. Make sure your response shows that you’ll fit right in.

For more tips on writing the "Why Brown?" essay, check out our full guide .

Brown Essay Prompt 3

This is the fun prompt and a chance to let your personality and the experiences that have most influenced you win the admissions committee over.

You should write from the heart. The admissions committee should feel your deep connection to whatever you choose to describe as bringing you joy .

Remember the old grade school axiom: show, don't tell. Rather than explaining the reasons why your special something brings you joy, tell a story that portrays you experiencing that joy in real-time . Include vivid descriptions of how the experience or thing makes you feel and what it is about it that makes you feel that way. 

Finally, try to make a connection between your joy-bringing thing and how you’ll find joy as a student at Brown. This will show Brown admissions that you’re prepared to find meaning in daily interactions and discoveries during your future at Brown, not just your past. 

Brown PLME Essay Requirements

Applicants to the eight-year PLME at Brown must complete three special program essays.

PLME Essay Prompt 1

Make your answer as specific as the prompt itself. Choose a real-life example to describe here, which can be anything from a personal experience to a news story you followed closely.

Being authentic will make this essay really shine. Don't say that you want to be a physician for the job stability or the chance to be featured in a medical journal. If you have never seen a person suffering from cancer up close, don't pretend that you have—the admissions committee will smell inauthenticity from a mile away.

Instead, truly reflect on something medically related that impacted you . Maybe you had a great experience with a doctor who helped you recover from a sports injury or loved interacting with your pediatrician who let you play with his stethoscope. Whatever you choose, it should be about you and how your experiences with medicine have impacted you, not what you think Brown wants to hear. 

PLME Essay Prompt 2

There are two prompt options here, and you only need to respond to one. While they seem very different at first, both of these prompts are essentially asking: how does inequity, either in society more broadly or in your personal experience, affect your perspectives on health care?

The first prompt asks you to write about how you will take social issues and inequities into consideration in your future as a physician in order to make a difference. This prompt can feel intimidating. How can someone outside the medical profession answer this prompt with honesty, integrity, and no guesswork?

Rest assured that there's no right or wrong answer here. The admissions committee is simply looking to see that you understand that there’s more to being a doctor than just doing surgeries and making diagnoses. Your response should show that you’re reflecting on how broader societal issues affect the work that doctors do , and how you’ll navigate those issues to make a positive difference in people’s lives. 

For instance, maybe you’re concerned about the spread of misinformation surrounding treatments for certain health issues. You could write about those concerns in your response, and talk about your dreams for what you might do to combat misinformation in healthcare in the future. You don’t have to know everything about the issues you choose to write about in order to make your response authentic --you just have to be honest, passionate, and mean what you say. 

The second prompt is actually quite similar. If there are things in your personal background that give you a unique perspective on healthcare, you should pick this prompt. These things don’t necessarily have to pertain to inequities, but if you have personal experience with social disparities, you can definitely write about that here. 

For instance, if your racial identity or economic situation impacted your family’s access to healthcare growing up and that motivated you to pursue a career in medicine, you can write about those experiences (to the extent that you feel comfortable). 

There are many other types of experiences that are applicable here as well. If you have a legacy of physicians in your family, you can write about how you want to carry on that tradition. 

The bottom line here is that whatever you choose to write about should truly be unique. This isn’t the place to write about how you loved your pediatrician or were inspired by the doctor who saved hundreds of people from contracting ebola. Your experience needs to be something that few other people have had. If something isn’t really jumping out at you, respond to the other prompt!

PLME Essay Prompt 3

For this prompt, you need to do your research about the PLME program at Brown. Don't be daunted by the length of the word limit—view it as an opportunity to show how much you know about the school.

The word limit for this essay is telling: the admissions committee at Brown wants to make sure that you are serious about the program—and serious for the right reasons. So be honest!

Reference professors you are excited to work with or classes that stand out as thought-provoking or supremely fun. What does Brown's medical program offer its students that other medical programs don't? Be sure to mention specific pieces of information.

You should also discuss why you're interested in PLME versus pursuing a typical undergraduate degree and then applying to medical school. PLME is a unique program, so highlight why this model is the right fit for you.

Brown-RISD Dual Degree Essay Requirement

One essay is required for applicants to the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program:

The Brown|RISD A.B./B.F.A. 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 word limit)

For the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program essay, you'll need to pick out specific aspects of both Brown and RISD that appeal to you . Identify features of each school that you're attracted to, like particular classes or professors.

You should also indicate how you'll take advantage of each school. If you just wanted to study design, you'd apply to RISD. If you just wanted to study something else, you'd apply to Brown. So why do you want to go to both schools?

Describe how your work at one school will impact your work at the other. Perhaps your study of ancient Greek at Brown will inform the sculptures you make at RISD. You should depict how you see your studies at each school intersecting, and what this could possibly mean to the Dual Degree community and interdisciplinary research more broadly.

How to Write a Great Brown Supplemental Essay: 3 Tips

Regardless of which Brown supplemental essays you're responding to, you should keep in mind the following tips for how to write a great Brown essay.

#1: Use Your Own Voice

The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond your test scores, grades, and honors. Your admissions essays are your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the essay readers and to present yourself as a fully fleshed-out person.

You should, then, make sure that the person you're presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don't try to emulate what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you're not.

If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere , which will diminish its effectiveness. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are and not who you think Brown wants you to be.

#2: Avoid Cliches and Overused Phrases

When writing your Brown essays, try to avoid using cliches and overused quotes or phrases .

These include quotations that have been quoted to death and phrases or idioms that are overused in daily life. The Brown admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays that state, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Strive for originality.

Similarly, avoid using cliches, which take away from the strength and sincerity of your work.

#3: Check Your Work

It should almost go without saying, but you want to make sure that your Brown essays are the strongest possible example of your writing skills. Before you turn in your Brown application, make sure to edit and proofread your essays.

Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors. It's a great idea to run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit them.

You should also have someone else read your Brown essays. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, a teacher, or a friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check to ensure you haven't missed any typos or small writing errors. Having a second opinion will ultimately help your work be the best it can possibly be!

Recap: Key Tips for the Brown Supplement

The Brown supplemental essays cover a wide range of topics. Regardless of the questions you're answering, remember to follow these basic dos and don'ts as you're writing your essays:

• Be authentic and honest.
• Be specific when citing people, places, and experiences.
• Do your research about Brown and its unique academic model.
• Base your essays on what you think the Brown application committee wants to hear.
• Use cliches or broad sweeping statements.
• Try too hard to be funny and original—be genuine and your positive attributes will be visible to the committee

What's Next?

If you're getting ready to apply to college, it's time to learn what colleges expect from you . This article will help you better target your application to suit what each school you apply to is looking for.

Worried about how to write an amazing college essay? Read our step-by-step guide on how to write a college essay and take a look at our analysis of 100+ real college essays to get a feel for what colleges want—and don't want—to read in an application.

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Undergraduate Admission

Supplementary materials.

Applicants are neither required nor expected to provide additional materials as part of the admission process, but the opportunity to do so is available to any candidate.

• First-Year Applicants

Music or Visual Art Submissions

If you are accomplished in music or visual art, you may include additional supplements with your application in the Common Application through SlideRoom . You do not need to wait for access to your Brown Applicant Portal to upload music or visual art materials to SlideRoom.

When submitting through SlideRoom, you must create your SlideRoom account and submit your material on or before November 4 for QuestBridge Match applicants, November 4 for Early Decision and January 6 for Regular Decision. All QuestBridge-affiliated applicants submitting a music and/or visual arts portfolio(s) should use the QuestBridge program(s) in SlideRoom; this includes QuestBridge College Match finalists who did not match with a college in the fall but are using the QuestBridge Application to apply through Brown's Regular Decision process. 

We cannot assist students with issues submitting their supplements unless they have created an account in SlideRoom and started their portfolio by November 4 (QuestBridge Match applicants), November 4 (for Early Decision) or January 6 (for Regular Decision applicants). Creating a SlideRoom account and starting your portfolio well before submitting your material is strongly recommended to ensure that you are able to meet the submission requirements. 

Music Submission Details Visual Art Submission Details

Academic Paper/Research Abstract

If you have completed an advanced academic paper or significant research project that you want to include as part of your application, you may upload that document or an abstract to your Brown Applicant Portal under the category of Academic Paper/Research. Please include a brief note to provide us with context for your submission, for example: approximate date(s) you were involved, whether you worked on this independently or as part of a team, what external recognition you may have received and anything else you want us to know. 

Dance, Theatre Arts and Performance Studies

While many Brown students are accomplished in the performing arts and pursue dance and theater in and out of the classroom, auditions and portfolios are neither required nor reviewed for students interested in Dance and Theatre Arts and Performance Studies.

All Other Supplementary Materials

We prefer that you upload all other supplementary materials to your file after you receive access to your Brown Applicant Portal.

We recommend that you do not send a collection of award certificates or similar materials.

If you have a YouTube video you'd like to share, or maintain an online presence that showcases your background, talents or creativity, please include that link in the Brown University Questions (Activities) section of the Common Application.

One optional letter of recommendation may be requested and submitted through the Common Application. Any additional supplementary recommendations should be sent directly by your recommender, either as a PDF emailed to [email protected]  or by fax to 401-863-9300. Be sure to ask your recommender to include your full name, date of birth and high school in their letter so that we can match the letter to your application.

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

Brown Supplemental Essays 2024-25 — Prompts & Advice

July 29, 2024

Applicants to the Brown Class of 2028 were greeted with just over a 5% acceptance rate, similar to the year prior. Given that 19 of every 20 applicants are turned away–even many valedictorians with perfect test scores–aspiring Brown undergrads need to find a way to stand out from a pack of similarly credentialed teens. Fortunately, Brown provides exactly this kind of opportunity by offering three 200-250 word essays and a handful of short answers that provide applicants a chance to showcase their writing ability and craft responses that are genuine, compelling, and potentially needle-moving to the admissions staff at this Rhode Island-based Ivy. In the following blog, we will offer a detailed look at each of the Brown supplemental essays.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Brown University? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Brown: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

You’ll find the Brown supplemental essay prompts for the 2024-25 admissions cycle listed below. The College Transitions team will also share their advice about how successful applicants approach each of the Brown supplemental essays.

Brown Supplemental Essays 2024-25

1) brown open curriculum essay.

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 pursue them at Brown. (200-250 words)

Let’s begin by explaining exactly what Brown’s  Open Curriculum  is…in the university’s own words, the Open Curriculum allows students to “develop a personalized course of study — they have greater freedom to study what they choose and the flexibility to discover what they love.” Getting to be the architect of your own college program is a rare opportunity that few schools other than Brown offer. With this great privilege comes great responsibility and Brown wants to know precisely how you might take advantage of this virtually unparalleled undergraduate freedom.

What topics keep you up at night? Which subject makes you read books and online content until your eyes bleed? Are there particular interests that you’ve started exploring—either in or outside the classroom—and would like to continue pursuing? If you could address one problem in the world, large or small, what would it be? Moreover, if you’re interested in several areas (which is 100% welcome at Brown) how might an interdisciplinary approach benefit you? After you’ve selected your interest area(s), you’ll then want to connect them to specific resources or offerings at Brown, which could include academic departments , classes , professors, research opportunities , study abroad programs , or internships , to name a few.

2) Brown Supplemental Essay – Background

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. (200-250 words)

This prompt asks you to not only share a particular life experience or element of your background/cultural identity but also describe why that experience or element of your identity will help you contribute to Brown in general. Essentially, it’s asking you to take your essay’s reflection one step further—you’ll need to share why the experience or element you’ve chosen has inspired or challenged you as well as why/how you believe it will allow you to positively impact the Brown community.

Brown Supplemental Essays (Continued)

First, choose a key aspect of your experiences, background, or identity that reveals something deep and meaningful about you. (Although you could choose more than one, we’d advise against it, given that you only have 250 words in which to respond.) As you brainstorm, consider the following avenues:

• Your role in your family.
• A challenge you’ve faced.
• A formative experience or realization.
• Important aspects of your upbringing.
• Cultural, religious, community influence.

Second, you’ll need to describe both personal and future impact. Make sure that your answer reveals something about how you will live out Brown’s values or contribute to an academic/social community ( note : this should be different from the offerings discussed in your Open Curriculum essay). For the latter angle, you could name a specific  course ,   research opportunity , or extracurricular club , to name a few—perhaps living in a beach town has heavily contributed to your passion for the world’s oceans, and you seek to bring that perspective to the biology department’s research opportunities. Alternatively, you could discuss something more intangible—perhaps Brown’s mission to create inclusive communities resonates with you, and you hope to bring your experience of growing up with a neurodiverse sibling to on- and off-campus tutoring opportunities.

3) Brown Joy Essay

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)

What brings you glee, exuberance, jubilation, delight, elation, bliss…joy? There are a multitude of universal and highly relatable experiences that bring joy to one’s soul. For example, it could involve family, pets, hobbies, habits, scenes of natural beauty, literature, travel, etc. However, you could also talk about dreams for the future, more bittersweet moments, abstract thoughts, moments of glorious introversion, or a time that you  unexpectedly  felt joy.

4) Brown Supplemental Essays – Short Answer Questions

Help us get to know you better by reflecting briefly on each of the questions below. We expect that answers will range from a few words to a few sentences at most.

What three words best describe you?

No tricks here—the prompt literally only allows for three words. As such, make sure those three words are pulling their weight. For example, “interesting, hard-working, dedicated” could likely describe any number of Brown applicants. Instead, try to think of descriptive or evocative words that capture what makes you unique or what you most value—perhaps it’s your wit, your bibliophile tendencies, or your generosity, to name a few.

What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)

Out of everything you’re involved in, what stands out? What activity is near and dear to your heart? What activity has enabled you to grow the most or learned important lessons? If you could choose one of your activities to continue doing in college, which one would it be? After you’ve chosen, think about why this activity is the most meaningful or important to you—what it has allowed you to accomplish, how it has brought you personal fulfillment, and/or how it has pushed you outside of your comfort zone, among others.

If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words)

Firstly, you’ll want to select a course centered around a topic about which you are an expert or hope to become an expert. The admissions reader is well aware that you are a teenager and not someone who has yet earned a Ph.D. Therefore, being a self-taught, informal expert is perfectly fine. You’ll then want to explain “why”—why will (or should) your passion be made relevant to a wider audience? Here are a few additional tips to keep in mind:

• Quality answers often involve the intersection of two or more disciplines.
• Course creation essays can and should reveal your ability to connect and synthesize information.
• Make sure that the topic of your course is not overly broad or already offered. The topic should not be akin to a 101 college course like Intro to Psychology…be creative (this is Brown, after all)!

In one sentence, Why Brown? (50 words)

Here, think about why you believe Brown is the best fit for you overall . To accomplish that, list every reason why you’re applying to Brown and how you believe Brown will help you reach your goals. There should be at least a few that stand out, which you can integrate into one (very long) sentence. While you can reiterate reasoning shared on other parts of the application (such as how excited you are by the linguistics department) you don’t want this response to be a straight-up repeat. As such, the strongest answers will include academic as well as social or ethos-related elements, and can reference your own short or long-term goals as well.

How important are the Brown University supplemental essays?

There are a whopping 7 factors that Brown considers to be “very important” to the evaluation process. These are: rigor of secondary school record, character/personal qualities, class rank, GPA, recommendations, extracurricular activities. However, the most relevant to this blog is, of course, the Brown supplemental essays. The essays undoubtedly play a significant role in the admissions process at Brown University. They can help the committee decide whom to admit when choosing between similarly credentialed (GPA, test scores, etc.) applicants.

Want Personalized Essay Assistance with your Brown University Supplemental Essays?

We have over a decade of experience helping students compose essays that help them gain acceptance to Brown. If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Brown supplemental essays, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

Need additional college essay resources? Check out the following blogs:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

• 2-Year Colleges
• ADHD/LD/Autism/Executive Functioning
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Data Visualizations
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Homeschool Resources
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Outdoor Adventure
• Private High School Spotlight
• Research Programs
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Teacher Tools
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

• [email protected]
• (650) 338-8226

Cupertino, CA

• Our Philosophy
• Our Results
• News, Media, and Press
• Common Application
• College Application Essay Editing
• Extracurricular Planning
• Academic Guidance
• Summer Programs
• Interview Preparation

Middle School

• Pre-High School Consultation
• Boarding School Admissions

College Admissions

• Academic and Extracurricular Profile Evaluation
• Senior Editor College Application Program
• Summer Program Applications
• Private Consulting Program
• Transfer Admissions
• UC Transfer Admissions
• Ivy League Transfer Admissions

Graduate Admissions

• Graduate School Admissions
• MBA Admissions

Private Tutoring

• SAT/ACT Tutoring
• AP Exam Tutoring
• Olympiad Training

Research Programs

• Science Research Program
• Humanities Competitions
• Passion Project Program
• Ad Hoc Consulting
• Athletic Recruitment
• National Universities Rankings
• Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings
• Public Schools Rankings

Acceptance Rates

• University Acceptance Rates
• Transfer Acceptance Rates
• Supplemental Essays
• College Admissions Data
• Chances Calculator
• GPA Calculator

National Universities

• College Acceptance Rates
• College Overall Acceptance Rates
• College Regular Acceptance Rates
• College Early Acceptance Rates
• Ivy League Acceptance Rates
• Ivy League Overall Acceptance Rates
• Ivy League Regular Acceptance Rates
• Ivy League Early Acceptance Rates

Public Schools

• Public Schools Acceptance Rates
• Public Schools Overall Acceptance Rates
• Public Schools Regular Acceptance Rates
• Public Schools Early Acceptance Rates

Liberal Arts

• Liberal Arts Colleges Acceptance Rates
• Liberal Arts Colleges Overall Acceptance Rates
• Liberal Arts Colleges Regular Acceptance Rates
• Liberal Arts Colleges Early Acceptance Rates

Brown Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

By Eric Eng

For prestigious institutions like Brown University, supplemental essays are windows into the applicant’s personality, aspirations, and fit. As we delve into the Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024, it’s essential to understand their significance, how the university perceives them, and how you can make your application stand out.

How many supplemental essays does Brown have?

Brown University requires all first-year and transfer applicants to complete three supplemental essays as part of their application process. These essays allow students to convey their unique stories, academic interests, and personal reflections, providing a comprehensive view of their candidacy beyond the standard application materials.

Each essay is designed to capture different facets of the applicant’s experiences and aspirations, allowing the admissions committee to understand the individual behind the application better. Brown seeks to identify students who demonstrate academic excellence and embody their community’s diverse and dynamic spirit with these three essays.

What are the Brown Supplemental Essays 2023-2024?

The Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024 reflect the university’s commitment to holistic admissions and its desire to understand applicants beyond their academic achievements. This year, Brown University has presented three thought-provoking prompts that delve into the applicant’s academic interests, personal background, and sources of joy.

Each of these prompts offers a unique lens through which the admissions committee can view the applicant, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their potential fit with the university’s ethos and community.

The following are the prompts for Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024:

• Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you and how you might pursue them at Brown. (200-250 words)
• Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on their origins. 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. (200-250 words)
• Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and significant discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essays 2023-2024?

According to Brown, the prompts are designed to elicit specific information from applicants, which helps the admissions committee evaluate the applicant’s suitability for the program. Brown’s extensive experience in admissions has led them to believe that careful consideration of each prompt is crucial to crafting a well-rounded application.

Brown Supplemental Essay Prompt 1 (Open Curriculum)

When diving into the Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024, it’s essential to understand the ethos behind each prompt. The Open Curriculum essay showcases your academic interests and demonstrates how you would thrive in an environment that offers academic freedom.

Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you and how you might pursue them at Brown.

Remember, the admissions committee seeks students who will benefit from the Open Curriculum and contribute to the academic community. Therefore, balancing what you hope to gain and what you can offer is crucial.

Understanding Prompt 1

Brown University stands apart from many other institutions with its distinctive Open Curriculum, a philosophy rooted in the belief that students should be the architects of their education. Instead of adhering to a rigid set of general education requirements, Brown believes in fostering a love for learning by allowing students to explore subjects that genuinely intrigue them.

This approach stems from the idea that when students are genuinely invested in their coursework, they are more engaged, innovative, and successful. The Open Curriculum also promotes interdisciplinary learning, encouraging students to draw connections between disparate fields and cultivate a holistic understanding of the world. As you approach the Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024, it’s essential to grasp this philosophy, as it’s at the heart of Brown’s academic experience.

Brainstorming Your Response: Prompt 1

When brainstorming your response to the first prompt of the Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024, it’s crucial to reflect on your academic passions and how Brown’s Open Curriculum can help you explore them. Here’s a listicle of ideas to kickstart your brainstorming:

• Identify Your Academic Passions: List subjects or topics that genuinely excite you. These could range from specific disciplines like Astrophysics or Comparative Literature to broader themes like environmental sustainability or social justice.
• Explore Interdisciplinary Connections: Think about how your interests intersect with different fields. For example, if you’re interested in Computer Science, consider how it intersects with healthcare, education, or art.
• Research Brown’s Unique Offerings: Look into Brown’s specific courses, departments, and faculty members that align with your interests. This could include unique majors, special research programs, or innovative course offerings.
• Consider Extracurricular Opportunities: Beyond academics, think about clubs, organizations, or projects at Brown that could complement your academic pursuits. This might include specific clubs, community service groups, or research opportunities.
• Reflect on Personal Experiences: Recall any past experiences, such as projects, internships, or readings, that fueled your interest in these areas. Consider how these experiences have shaped your academic journey.

Structuring Your Answer for Prompt 1

Once you have a clear idea of your academic interests and how to pursue them at Brown, the next step is to structure your answer effectively. Start with an engaging introduction that briefly introduces your main academic interest or the unique intersection of multiple interests. Use a narrative style to make your introduction compelling – perhaps start with a moment or experience that sparked your interest in the subject.

The body of your essay should delve into how you plan to explore and deepen this interest at Brown. Discuss specific aspects of Brown’s Open Curriculum that appeal to you, such as the freedom to design your course of study or the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary learning. Be sure to mention specific Brown courses, programs, or resources that align with your interests, demonstrating that you have done your research and are making an informed decision.

Conclude by tying your academic interests to your future goals. Explain how pursuing these interests at Brown will help you achieve your long-term objectives, whether they are career-oriented, academically focused, or centered around personal growth. This conclusion should leave the admissions committee with a clear understanding of why Brown is the right fit for you and how you intend to make the most of its opportunities.

Brown Supplemental Essay Prompt 2 (Upbringing)

The prompt about upbringing is particularly poignant, as it seeks to understand the nuances of an applicant’s background and how it might influence their contributions to the Brown community. When addressing this essay, it’s essential to be reflective and authentic.

Students entering Brown often find that making their home on College Hill naturally invites reflection on their origins. 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.

The key is to narrate your story in a way that highlights its significance to you and underscores its potential influence on your future interactions and contributions at Brown.

Understanding Prompt 2

Every individual’s worldview is a mosaic of their experiences, teachings, and interactions, deeply rooted in their background. Our upbringing, encompassing our cultural, socio-economic, and familial contexts, plays a pivotal role in molding our beliefs, values, and perspectives.

It influences how we perceive challenges, how we interact with diverse groups of people, and how we approach learning and growth. For instance, someone raised in a multicultural environment might develop a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives, while someone who has faced economic hardships might value resilience and hard work.

As you approach the Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024, it’s crucial to recognize and articulate the unique lens through which your background has shaped your worldview and how this lens can enrich the Brown community.

Brainstorming Your Response: Prompt 2

For the second prompt of the Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024, you are asked to reflect on your upbringing and how it has shaped you. This prompt invites you to delve into your personal history and share a unique aspect of your life that has influenced who you are today. Here’s a listicle of ideas to help you brainstorm:

• Cultural Heritage: Reflect on how your cultural background has shaped your worldview. Consider traditions, languages, or customs that have significantly impacted your life.
• Family Dynamics: Think about your family structure and dynamics. How have they influenced your character, values, or goals?
• Geographical Influences: Consider how the place you grew up in has affected your perspective. This could be a city, a rural area, a specific neighborhood, or even a country.
• Educational Experiences: Reflect on your unique educational experiences or opportunities and how they’ve shaped your academic interests or career aspirations.
• Challenges Overcome: Think about any obstacles or challenges you’ve faced and overcome. How have these experiences made you stronger or changed your outlook on life?

Structuring Your Answer for Prompt 2

When structuring your response to this prompt, start with a clear and engaging introduction that sets the scene for the aspect of your upbringing you will discuss. This could be a brief anecdote, a vivid description, or a reflective statement that draws the reader into your world.

In the body of your essay, delve deeper into how this aspect of your upbringing has inspired or challenged you. Be specific and provide details to paint a clear picture for the reader. Discuss the lessons you learned and how these experiences have shaped your character, values, or goals. This is your chance to show personal growth and self-awareness, essential qualities Brown looks for in its students.

Next, discuss how these experiences will allow you to contribute to the Brown community. Think about the skills, perspectives, or ideas you can bring to campus. This could be in leadership qualities, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, a unique artistic or creative talent, or an ability to foster dialogue and understanding among different groups. Make a clear connection between your upbringing and the contributions you envision making at Brown.

Conclude your essay by reflecting on the importance of these experiences in your life and how they align with your future aspirations at Brown. This conclusion should tie back to your introduction and provide a cohesive end to your narrative, leaving the admissions committee with a clear understanding of who you are and what you will bring to their community.

Brown Supplemental Essay Prompt 3 (Approach to Life and Learning)

The prompt about one’s approach to life and learning is particularly insightful, as it delves into what truly brings joy to the applicant. When addressing this essay, think about the moments, big or small, that have brought you genuine happiness.

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

As you narrate your story, ensure that it offers a window into your personality and how you might engage with the Brown community and its values.

Understanding Prompt 3

Personal joys, whether from monumental achievements or everyday moments, offer profound insights into an individual’s character and values. They highlight what one cherishes, what motivates them, and what they prioritize in life.

For instance, someone who finds joy in volunteering might value community and empathy, while another who delights in reading might prioritize continuous learning and introspection. As you reflect on the Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024, it’s essential to recognize that this prompt is not just about the source of your joy but also about the underlying values and character traits it reveals. By understanding and articulating these, you present a more authentic and comprehensive picture of yourself to the admissions committee.

Brainstorming Your Response: Prompt 3

For the third prompt of the Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024, you are invited to share what brings you joy. This prompt lets you showcase your personality, passions, and what truly matters to you. Here’s a listicle of ideas to help you brainstorm:

• Hobbies and Interests: Reflect on any hobbies or activities you are passionate about. This could range from painting to coding or gardening.
• Academic Pursuits: If a particular subject or field of study excites you, discuss why and how it brings you joy.
• Community Engagement: Consider any community service or volunteer work you do. How does contributing to the community make you feel fulfilled?
• Personal Achievements: Think about any personal milestones or achievements that have brought you joy, whether overcoming a challenge or reaching a goal.
• Interpersonal Relationships: Reflect on your relationships with family, friends, or mentors. How do these relationships contribute to your happiness?

Structuring Your Answer for Prompt 3

When structuring your response to this prompt, start with a compelling introduction that vividly describes the source of your joy. This could be a detailed description, a narrative of a specific moment, or a reflective introduction that sets the tone for your essay.

In the body of your essay, delve into why this particular thing brings you joy. Describe your experiences, feelings, and impact on your life. Be specific and use descriptive language to bring your narrative to life. This is your opportunity to connect with the reader emotionally and show a side of yourself that goes beyond academic achievements and extracurricular activities.

Next, consider expanding on how this joy shapes your perspective on life or influences your approach to learning and interacting with the world. This is where you can connect your happiness to the broader context of being a student at Brown. Discuss how this aspect of your life will contribute to your experience at Brown and how it aligns with the values and community at the university.

Conclude your essay by reflecting on the importance of this joy in your life and how it will continue to inspire and motivate you. This conclusion should tie back to your introduction and provide a cohesive end to your narrative, leaving the admissions committee with a clear understanding of what brings you happiness and how it shapes who you are.

Additional Essays or Short Answer Questions?

Beyond the primary essay prompts, the Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024 also include concise answer questions designed to glean more specific insights into the applicant’s personality, passions, and perspective.

While shorter, these questions are equally significant in the admissions process. They offer applicants the opportunity to showcase different facets of their character, experiences, and aspirations in a more focused manner. Given their brevity, it’s essential to approach these questions with clarity and precision, ensuring that each word is chosen deliberately to convey the intended message.

Brown Additional Short Answer Questions

The short answer questions for the Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024 are as follows:

• What three words best describe you? This question seeks to capture the essence of the applicant succinctly.
• What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? Here, the university is keen to understand the activities that have had a profound impact on the applicant outside the classroom.
• If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? This question delves into the applicant’s passions and expertise, offering a glimpse into what they value and cherish.
• In one sentence, Why Brown ? This is a direct query to understand the applicant’s motivation and fit for the university.

The Purpose Behind These Additional Writings

Including these concise answer questions in the Brown supplemental essays 2023-2024 serves multiple purposes. Firstly, they allow the admissions committee to gain a more holistic understanding of the applicant quickly.

The university can glean insights into the applicant’s character, values, passions, and motivations by asking short questions. Secondly, these questions test the applicant’s ability to concisely convey complex ideas and emotions, a valuable skill in academic and real-world scenarios.

Lastly, they offer applicants the chance to showcase aspects of their personality or experiences that might have yet to be covered in the primary essays, ensuring a comprehensive portrayal of their candidacy.

Elevate Your Brown University Application with AdmissionSight

Ready to make your Brown University application stand out? With the competitive college admissions landscape, having expert guidance can make all the difference. At AdmissionSight , we specialize in helping students craft compelling narratives, ensuring their applications resonate with authenticity and impact.

From refining essays to offering personalized strategies, our team is dedicated to your success. Don’t leave your dream school to chance. Partner with AdmissionSight today and confidently step towards your future at Brown University.

Want to assess your chances of admission? Take our FREE chances calculator today!

Why College Admissions Isn’t Perfect

US News Rankings

The Personal Statement: The Holy Grail of College Admissions

The Modern Day 4.0 and 1600 SAT Score Student Is No Longer Impressive

The Competitive Nature of College Admissions for Asian Americans

The College Application

Our Comprehensive Approach

Ivy League Schools

How Early Should You Prepare for College?

Featured in US News & World Report Best Colleges Publication

Congratulations to AdmissionSight Students and their Acceptances!

College Rejection

College Rankings

College Consultants Could Make A Difference

College Admissions Scandal and Higher Education

Here Are the 7 Best Colleges for Sports

What is the Princeton Early Action Acceptance Rate for 2024?

Graduating with Honors in High School: A Complete Guide

Does Harvard Have Sororities? All You Need to Know

Discover the High School Classes That Ivies Require

What Exactly Is Dartmouth’s Mascot?

What Is the Columbia ED Acceptance Rate for 2024?

Everything You Need to Know About UCLA’s Campus Tour

Discover the Best Calculators for Calculus

Everything You Need to Know About Interact Club

Fun Facts About UCLA: A Deep Dive into One of America’s Top Universities

20 Fun Debate Topics for High School Students

Discover the Best Film Schools in California this 2024

Everything You Need to Know About an AB Degree

Why Brown University? 6 Reasons to Consider

How to Get a 1500+ on the SAT: Insights and Tips

Best High School Clubs for Ivy League Admissions

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Articles

Here Are the 7 Best...

What is the Princeton Early...

Graduating with Honors in High...

Does Harvard Have Sororities? All...

Discover the High School Classes...

What Is the Columbia ED...

Everything You Need to Know...

Discover the Best Calculators for...

Fun Facts About UCLA: A...

20 Fun Debate Topics for...

Sign up now to receive insights on how to navigate the college admissions process..

Admissions Counseling

• Academic & Extracurricular Profile Evaluation

Copyright © AdmissionSight 2024

Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

6 Brilliant Brown University and PLME Essay Examples

What’s covered:.

• Essay Example #1 – The Open Curriculum  
• Essay Example #2 – Joy in Drawing

Essay Example #3 – Differing Perspectives, Studying English

Essay example #4 – differing perspectives, gun control, essay example #5 – differing perspectives, artistic freedom, essay example #6 (plme) – why medicine, where to get your brown essays edited.

Brown is a highly selective school, so it’s important to write strong essays to help your application stand out. In this post, we’ll go over some essays real students have submitted to Brown, including to the even more competitive Program in Liberal Medical Education, and outline their strengths and areas of improvement. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Alexandra Johnson , an expert advisor on CollegeVine, provided commentary on this post. Advisors offer one-on-one guidance on everything from essays to test prep to financial aid. If you want help writing your essays or feedback on drafts, book a consultation with Alexandra Johnson or another skilled advisor.

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Brown essay breakdown for a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental essays.

Essay Example #1 – The Open Curriculum

Prompt: 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)

My mother exclaimed in shock as she saw the title American Murder: The Family Next Door as the latest title on our Netflix watch list. “Why on earth would you want to watch that?” It made no sense to her that I spent free time watching documentaries about the psychopathic tendencies of serial killers.

From listening to neuropsychology podcasts on my long runs to reading Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, I’ve been eager to explore the intersection between neuroscience, society, and the role they play in human nature. Brown’s Open Curriculum would allow me to double concentrate in Neuroscience and Science, Technology, and Society with a theme in Health and Medicine. Classes like Philosophy of Biology and The Moral Brain would begin to answer my questions about the relationship between neuroscience and human ethics. Perhaps I’ll finally understand why Raskolnikov thought he could get away with his crimes.

As an eight-year Latin scholar and five-time Percy Jackson reader, I hope to take classes in the Brown Classics department. I’m also intrigued by Ancient Greek Philosophy, and I plan to explore classic texts such as Plato’s Symposium in Introduction to Greek Literature. Courses like Hippocratic Medicine would allow me to learn about connections between the Classical world and medicine today. 

The brain’s unique composition creates an intricate link between science, history, and modern society that I can only explore at Brown. More importantly, Brown’s diverse environment would introduce me to people with entirely different opinions about Raskolnikov’s motives.

What the Essay Did Well

This essay is structured incredibly well. The author uses an anecdote to explain their interests in the opening paragraph. “My mother exclaimed in shock,” is the beginning of an opening sentence that draws the reader in, as the reader wants to learn the reason behind the mother’s shock. This opening allows the writer to speak about an interest of theirs, murder documentaries, then tie it to what they’re interested in studying. 

When discussing an academic interest, the author does a great job of providing specific examples connected to Brown. This allows the writer to share how they plan to take advantage of Brown’s unique Open Curriculum. They write, “ Classes like Philosophy of Biology and The Moral Brain would begin to answer my questions about the relationship between neuroscience and human ethics.” By sharing specific classes, it’s clear that the author has done some research about Brown and is truly interested in attending. 

The writer chooses to spend their last paragraph sharing more interests and how they could pursue these interests at Brown. They did a great job sharing a variety of interests, and they made it fun by writing that they’re a “five-time Percy Jackson reader.” Sharing details like this about yourself can help make your essays stand out because you come across as relatable, and your essay becomes more engaging and entertaining for the reader!

What Could Be Improved 

While it’s nice that the writer mentions various interests, including both neuroscience and classics, there doesn’t seem to be a strong connection between the two topics. The essay would be better if the author improved the transition between the second and third paragraphs. They could say how it’s not common to be able to study both neuroscience and classics because of how different the subjects are but that Brown’s open curriculum lets you pursue both.

More simply, the writer could share why they want to study both topics. Will they both be relevant for their career goals? Are they just curious about exploring a variety of subjects and classes at Brown? No matter the reason, a connection between their interests and a better transition would strengthen this essay.

Additionally, the essay prompt asks students to talk about both topics that interest them and “embracing topics with which you are unfamiliar.” It’s always important to keep the prompt in mind when outlining or writing it. This student wrote a lot about their interests, but it’s a little unclear how they plan to embrace topics with which they’re unfamiliar. Clarifying which topic in this essay the writer hasn’t studied would improve the response and ensure that it directly answers the prompt.

They could say, for example, that the open curriculum allows them to formally study crime, which they’ve always been interested in from listening to true crime podcasts. If the author chooses to include this in their essay, it’s important that they do so to ensure that they’re properly answering the school’s prompt.

Essay Example #2 – Joy in Drawing  

Prompt: 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)

My dusty sketchbook must dread the moments I decide to take it off my desk. Every time I pick it up to use, it results in piles of graphite and eraser shavings everywhere in my room. I’ve gone through so many boxes of pencils, I think Ticonderoga must know me by now. The sketchbook of mine has seen better days – days where it looked pristine and without blemish. 

I love to draw. Yes the final result provides fantastic amusement to my eyes, but the process of the entire drawing allures me to this hobby. The second the fine point of my pencil hits the devoid paper, wonders only comparable to music begin to formulate. Each stroke of the pencil leaves a mark surpassing in magnificence to the one before. The freedom to pour out my thoughts into a sheet of paper astonishes me and provides me with a feeling of bliss and comfort.

Each sheet of paper is brimmed with portraits; my loved ones, friends, even strangers take up the space in my book, but for good reason. After I finish each drawing, I simply give it to them. I do cherish the journey I take with my art, but the smile on their faces when I give them my art is nothing less than beautiful. Even the most majestic of artists wouldn’t be able to capture the raw nature of that smile. For that is where I am given the most joy, in the smiles of others.

What The Essay Did Well

This essay does a superb job of using particularly sophisticated and vibrant language! The word choice is memorable and striking, which both keeps readers engaged and demonstrates the author’s broad vocabulary. Vivid images like the dusty sketchbook and the eraser shavings, or the notebook brimming with drawings, draw us in, before phrases like “wonders only comparable to music” and “the raw nature of that smile” drive home the applicant’s deep personal connection to their topic. 

The author’s confident, unique voice is another strength here. From the playful tone in the beginning of the essay, to the impassioned description of the student’s process, and finally, the reflection on the humanity of drawing, we get to know the author’s personality. They come across as funny, thoughtful, and generous, thanks to the details they include and the tone they use when presenting them.

Most importantly, the command of language and the personal tone come together to convey the author’s true passion for drawing, and the joy they find in that activity. Ultimately, any college essay needs to address the prompt, which this one does clearly and comprehensively. The mastery of language and vibrant personality are what take the essay from good to great, but the real key to this essay’s success is its connection to the prompt, as without that, Brown admissions officers wouldn’t get the information they’re looking for. 

What Could Be Improved

With an essay this strong, it’s tough to imagine what could make it better. At this point, changes would mainly make the essay different, not necessarily better or worse. However, considering alternative approaches can still be productive, since everyone has a slightly different way of telling their story.

For example, the student could have spent a little more time explaining their decision to give their portraits away. Right now, the essay ends with something of a plot twist, as we learn that what brings the student the most joy is in fact not the act of drawing, but the smiles of others after receiving their work. 

This “cliffhanger” ending is striking and memorable, but we also miss out on learning more about the student’s personality. Drawing is usually a solitary pursuit, but for this student, it’s clearly a more social activity, and they could have spent a bit more time exploring this aspect of their art to further set themselves apart from other applicants.

Again, though, this suggestion is more likely to subtly shift the tone of the essay than make it drastically better. Calling a college essay “done” can be stressful, but this essay is a good reminder that, at a certain point, your energy is going to be more productively spent on other aspects of your application.

If you’d like to see some more strong examples of the “joy” essay, check out our post dedicated exclusively to this supplement!

Prompt: 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)

“Spend $300,000 to study ENGLISH!?” my friend chucked. “And do what? Teach A for Apple, B for Buffalo to primary kids?

“B for Ball” I whispered to myself. On my way home, I kept mulling. “Everyone knows English, what’s the need to STUDY it?” his words echoed in my head. Since I was young, I had been intrigued by the beauty of language. Fresh parchment was my petrichor. I could almost smell the raw, crisp paper sending pheromone-releasing signals to my brain, luring me to wield my pen and spill beads of ink on the virgin sheet of emptiness. Words were woven threads of thought, emanating the ineffable processes of the mind. Poetry was my mode of escapism; debate -my partner in crime. “’A for apple, B for ball’, I sadly pondered. 

We got down at our houses and I waved him goodbye. My imminent desire to ‘respond’ cowered back into its hole. But maybe I didn’t have to reply. Because curiosity prefaces career and we all have varying definitions of both. Maybe the reason why our choices are challenged is to test if we would hold on to them. This tiny incident taught me 2 crucial lessons- A: Silence is a sign of maturity, not cowardice, and B: Having faith governs the prowess to excel. The next day when I met my friend, I simply smiled and said “The reason we can converse critically is because someone taught us the alphabet. Maybe being a teacher isn’t a bad idea after all.”

This essay is incredibly well written and does a great job of using dialogue throughout the story. The writer begins with an exclamation that grabs the reader’s attention: “Spend $300,000 to study ENGLISH!?” The use of capitals really emphasizes that the problem idea being challenged isn’t the amount of money being paid, but rather that the writer wants to study English. 

The dialogue continues as the student describes their internal thoughts and remembers what their friend told them. This is a great way for the reader to learn exactly what the author is thinking and how they feel about what is being said.

The use of “A for apple, B for ball,” becomes a theme and a symbol throughout the essay, as it’s used to symbolize both the writer’s interest in the teaching profession and their friend’s belief that it’s not a good idea.

Finally, the essay ends with dialogue as the writer counters their friend’s doubts and becomes more secure with their own goals. “Maybe being a teacher isn’t a bad idea after all.” This ending reveals how the author ultimately chose to respond to their friend, as well as that the author ultimately remained strong in their own beliefs. 

The “A” and “B” theme comes up again when this student spells out the two lessons that they ultimately learned from this experience: “A: Silence is a sign of maturity, not cowardice, and B: Having faith governs the prowess to excel.” This does a great job of summarizing the lessons that the author learned and how they chose to respond to the situation. It’s nice to have this concrete conclusion in an essay containing a lot of lines on thoughts and feelings. 

This essay is beautifully written; however, it could be improved by better answering the prompt. The prompt wants to know about how students handle intellectual debate so that Brown University can “promote a deeper and clearer understanding of the complex issues confronting society.”

It seems more like this student’s decision to be a teacher was challenged, rather than a belief about a complex issue. Whether the student should be a student is not presented in this essay as an issue with two reasonable sides, but rather one student’s condescending and unsupported belief that teaching is not a worthy profession. 

This is further evidenced by one of the lessons the student takes away, “Silence is a sign of maturity.” Brown University is seeking an essay about a topic that can be debated, not one where the response is silence. The university wants to see how students will handle learning from others who have different views about politics, for example. 

If the writer wanted to stick with this topic, then they would need to present the other student’s view as one with which they could have a discussion. Maybe the other student presented valid points about education being a path to increase one’s earning potential. Then, the writer could have a debate with them about the purpose of higher education and its role in their own life.

Make sure that your answer to a prompt like this shows the university how you will handle discourse at their university as you encounter others with views different from your own.

During the earliest stages of my Political club, I was faced with a question by a peer. The club was in a discussion about gun laws in the US and what everyone’s view was on the topic. This specific student seemed very passionate about the issue and made it known that he wanted guns in this country. He began citing examples with store owners protecting themselves from armed robberies and overall self defense in general. He was well versed in the topic but that came to my realization once he asked me what my view was. I subconsciously knew guns were destructive, of course they were, and I wanted to state that. But I couldn’t think of any evidence to support myself. I wasn’t educated in the issue of guns in America other than my raw opinion of guns being “bad”. 

But experiences like this motivated me to take that step, I wanted to educate myself on this issue that plunders America. Instead of conforming to his view, I took this opportunity to establish my own foundation and learn of the different instances in our history that would support my opinion. I versed myself in information from resources on the Internet and finally came to my club ready for discussion. But it didn’t end in the transformation of any opinions, instead he understood my judgment and respected it. When challenged with this perspective against my own, I’ve learned that with enough evidence and research, any opinion can be deemed correct. 

This essay is a great response to Brown’s dialogue prompt, and a big part of why is how well-chosen this anecdote is. The gun control debate is a contentious and familiar one, so admissions officers will already know the contours of the argument, which saves the writer space by not needing to give much background context. With just 250 words available to you, don’t underestimate the importance of being efficient with your space.

Gun control is also an issue that readers are likely to connect with on a deep, emotional level, which means they’ll take the essay seriously. Additionally, they’re likely to view the author as well-informed and engaged in current events–the fact that the essay’s setting is a politics club underscores the student’s commitment to understanding pressing contemporary issues.

This essay also reveals a few other important aspects of its author’s personality. Chief among these are the author’s humility, self-awareness, and regard for others. For example, when the writer acknowledges their surprise at how well the other student argued his point, and their own lack of knowledge, they show that they can recognize where and how they need to grow. 

Being vulnerable in college essays can be difficult, since you’re obviously trying to put your best foot forward. In reality, though, showing you’re aware of your flaws gives admissions officers confidence that you’re going to take full advantage of your time in college, to grow as much as possible. Trying to present yourself as too perfect can come across as clueless or even arrogant.

Finally, the essay’s ending is unexpected and thought-provoking–rather than resolving the issue by having one student “win” the argument, this student explains that the two understood and respected each other’s opinions without changing their own. As a result, the overall narrative isn’t about an argument and final confrontation, but about the author’s lack of information, and their response to it. 

This unconventional approach to this prompt tells us a lot about how this applicant approaches complex issues–namely, with the open-mindedness and willingness to learn Brown highlights in the prompt–and, stylistically, helps the essay stick in a reader’s head, which in turn will help this student stand out from the crowd of other applicants. 

One of the bigger flaws in this essay is the lack of an obvious takeaway. It’s unclear what exactly the author means when they say that any opinion can be deemed correct. It seems like the point they’re trying to make is that many different opinions can be valid and supported by evidence. This is quite a different statement than saying any opinion can be correct. The former is a reasonable point, and a good lesson to take away from this experience. The latter is a very big, absolute statement, that isn’t really supported by the story. 

Though this is just one line in a 250-word essay, endings carry a lot of weight, since they’re obviously the last thing admissions officers read, and thus are likely to stick in their mind. Spending a bit more time making sure that your ending accurately reflects the ideas of your essay is definitely going to be worth your while.

Additionally, in a few subtle ways, the writing in this essay isn’t as fluent as it could be. It’s still a well-written essay, but overall, the structure and flow of the writing is a bit off. 

For example, when the author talks about debating with a friend in a club, they say “He was well versed in the topic but that came to my realization once he asked me what my view was.” The word but implies that the second part of the sentence contradicts the first, but that’s not true here.

Similarly, while many students feel the urge to show off their vocabulary as much as possible, clarity in your essay is ultimately the most important thing, and some word  choices in this essay don’t work as well as others. To give an example, when the author says “this issue that plunders America,” the verb “plunders” seems a bit off, given its definition: to steal goods. Snags like this can be caught by an editor, or by reading aloud to a friend or oneself.

Let’s now compare this essay’s strong and weak points to those of the following essay, which is a different response to the same prompt. 

I learned a new slur during my first day on my slam team.

The “M-word,” coined by the former president, was “melanin.” To her, Black poetry was overdone, so she advised Black teammates to avoid racial topics, fearing they would “bore the judges.”

“We get it— you’re black,” she quipped, “can you talk about anything else?” Following that meeting, I avoided Black poetry. My racial experience was a broken record— an earworm of sob stories over events only read about in history books.

However, after experiencing all the distinctive, poignant Black pieces at my first slam competition, I realized that we do art a disservice when we try to police or limit others’ creations. Moreover, I learned that seniority should never eclipse core values.

This insight stirred my young POC writers initiative years later— a global support system for marginalized creatives. Complete with virtual open mics, advice forums, and resource directories, my goal was to create a safe haven for underrepresented writers and be the mentor I craved during my first slam meeting.

However, respecting my former president’s intentions, I urge my creatives within the initiative to chase uniqueness in their art. Today, I play with several nuances of racism in my writing. In one piece, I explore Black boys as recyclables in the prison system. In another, I use evolutionary theory to hypothesize a truly “post-racial” America.

During my first day as president of my slam team, I taught my poets a new phrase: artistic freedom.

What This Essay Did Well

In this essay, we learn a lot about who this applicant is, and what matters to them. We learn not only about how they respond to different opinions, but also about their passion for slam poetry, their appreciation for Black artistry, and their mentoring of younger peers just getting into slam poetry. The anecdotes are well-chosen, as we continuously learn new details about the applicant throughout the course of the essay.

A strength that contrasts with the first essay is this example’s fluency and command of language. Unsurprisingly for a slam poet, the writer utilizes creative, accurate vocabulary, diverse and sophisticated sentence structure, and a cohesive narrative flow. The author is clearly a great writer, and this essay demonstrates that. 

Finally, this applicant’s introduction has an unusual, provocative angle that grabs readers’ attention right from the first sentence. This hook ensures that we are engaged and invested in their story from beginning to end, as we wonder whether this odd piece of advice will be accepted or rejected. 

Like the previous example for this prompt, the author takes an unexpected route. Though they ultimately reject the mandate not to write about race, they acknowledge and appreciate the idea behind this rule, before reframing that rule in a more positive, affirming way, which encourages young slam poets to tell unique, diverse stories, rather than imposing a blanket ban on any one topic.

The fact that this student is pioneering that outlook within the club says a lot about them as a leader by example who grew from their own experience and refuses to limit their peers the way they were once limited. 

One thing about this essay that may come across differently than the author hoped is their mention of the so-called “m-word.” While this stands for ‘melanin’ in their essay, there is a real life “m-word,” which is considered a slur against people with dwarfism. 

Though the author immediately clarifies that they are using the phrase “m-word” to refer to a completely different word, their use of the term may initially be off-putting to those familiar with the actual slur. Since admissions officers read these essays so quickly, you want to avoid potentially coming across as ignorant, even for just a second, as that can throw them off and take them out of the flow of your story.

There are other ways to start off this essay that preserve the overall provocative, unique feel, and don’t run the risk of unintentionally offending. For example, the student could have said something like “I always thought ‘four letter word’ was the right slang for swear words, but on my first day on my slam team, I learned a seven-letter bad word: melanin.”

When using invented or uncommon language, especially something as potentially offensive as slurs, it’s best to do your research and ensure that the term you’re using doesn’t have another meaning that may change the light in which an admissions committee views you or your essay. 

Prompt: 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? (200-250 words)

I never wanted to be a doctor. When my South Asian grandparents claimed that women have to go into medicine, I promised them that would never happen in my case. This irrational hatred continued until a certain opportunity contributed to a change in my perspective. 

I decided to volunteer at a local medical center, initially to earn volunteer hours. But the more I delved into the high-speed environment, the more it seemed to fit me. I was confident when talking to hospital staff and found myself always trying to learn more from the radiologists or surgeons I met. I was ready to learn what the white region on the CT scan was, or the risks of a certain procedure a patient was going through.

My persona also changed when speaking to patients, my voice becoming clear and soothing. When a patient was agitated that he couldn’t get out of his wheelchair, I rushed to his side, calmly encouraging him while nurses helped the patient get on his feet. My reaction to working at the hospital was unexpected but perfect, making me realize that I would be a good fit for this career.

I know I will succeed as a physician because I disliked the field before I loved it. I look forward to improving someone’s life and being a part of a team that puts patients first. I know my ability can be used to change the lives of my patients, making me a perfect candidate for a future physician.

This essay, which is essentially a “Why Major?” essay (the actual question is “Why Career?” but most of the same principles apply) grabs the reader’s attention right from the start, with an unusual premise that is sure to stand out to admissions officers. The author crafts a deeply personal story about their path to medicine, through which they demonstrate true commitment to patients and a passion that came from within, not others telling them what to be. 

Another powerful moment in this essay is the ending, when the author summarizes all that will make them a good physician. Here, they recap the values they’ve shown in this essay: caring for patients, putting them first, and changing lives. Remember, the conclusion of your essay naturally carries additional weight, since it will be the last thing in your reader’s mind. With their final line, this author shows not only the skills they possess, but their view of these skills as crucial for any good doctor to have. We learn not just about the applicant, but about how they view the practice of medicine as a whole. 

One thing that we would’ve loved to see is a bit more explanation around the sentence “I know I will succeed as a physician because I disliked the field before I loved it.” This is a compelling sentiment, which is definitely unlikely to show up in many other PLME essays, but the lack of further explanation is definitely a flaw. 

Why would disliking the field before loving it lead to a better career as a physician? After all, many doctors have always been drawn to medicine–are they worse at their jobs as a result? If the author were to spell out what they mean more explicitly, or spend more time unpacking the implications of this idea, their point would be much stronger.

More broadly, it can definitely be tempting to include these kinds of bold statements in your college essays, as they are certainly attention-grabbing. But if you do, you want to make sure they are fully supported, either by the narrative itself or a couple of lines of explanation. Otherwise, they may come across as edgy just for the sake of it, rather than demonstrating that you are a creative, sophisticated thinker.

Another thing that could strengthen this essay would be a deeper dive into some of the applicant’s other qualities illustrated in this essay. For example, when talking about their volunteer work, they briefly touch on their affinity for the fast-paced environment. A little more detail here would go a long way towards helping us envision them in the hectic environment of a hospital one day, especially since at this point in the essay, they’re explaining how they went from disliking medicine to enjoying it. This shift is the crux of the whole essay, so it’s crucial that readers fully understand how it happened.

Or, just a few sentences later, they say “I was ready to learn what the white region on the CT scan was, or the risks of a certain procedure a patient was going through. ” This curiosity and passion for knowledge are even more examples of their fitness for the medical profession, and they would do well to expand on them–again, so that we can more clearly imagine them eventually working as an actual doctor.

Do you want feedback on your Brown essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

6 Brown Essays That Worked + Why Brown Examples

For students writing the Brown supplements for Fall 2022, here is your guide to successful Brown essays.

In this article, I've gathered 6 essays written by admitted students to Brown.

I'll share examples of how regular high-achieving students who got into Brown recently by having stand-out essays.

Are essays all that matter? No, but especially for competitive and test-optional schools, your essays are a very important factor.

Let's jump right in.

What is Brown University's Acceptance Rate?

This past year, a record 46,568 students applied to Brown and just 2,537 students got accepted. Which means Brown had an overall admit rate of just 5.4%.

Since its known as a top Ivy League school, most students applying to Brown already have strong test scores, grades, and extracurricular activities.

Brown University Acceptance Scattergram

That's why its even more important to write essays that help show why you should be accepted.

Especially for Ivy League and other top schools like Brown, your essays make a difference.

What are the Brown Supplemental Prompts for 2022-23?

To apply to Brown University this year, you are required to write three short essays of 50 to 250 words each.

You can find your Brown writing supplement along with your Common Application essays on your portal.

Here's the Brown supplemental prompts for 2022. The questions on this page are being asked by Brown University:

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)

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)

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)

6 Brown University EssaysThatWorked

Here are 6 of my favorite Brown essay examples from admitted students.

These essays respond to past and current writing supplement prompts for Brown. I've also included some examples of personal statement essays that worked for Brown.

If you need help getting started writing, this is a perfect way to get inspired and see what's worked.

Table of Contents

• Brown Essay Example #1
• Brown Essay Example #2
• Brown Essay Example #3
• Brown Essay Example #4
• Brown Essay Example #5
• Brown Essay Example #6

Prompt: Open Curriculum

Brown university essay example #1.

Prompt: 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)

My primary interest is in languages and linguistics, specifically Spanish, Portuguese and the descent of these languages from Latin which I explored in my IB Extended Essay. Thus, something that excites me about the complete freedom of the Brown curriculum is the opportunity to learn about Hispanic and Lusophone culture, literature and language in an intersectional way through a concentration in Latin American studies combined with classes and undergraduate research in Linguistics. I intend to supplement my language acquisition with practical application through study abroad opportunities at PUC-Rio, Brazil and in Santiago, Chile, perhaps through the Engaged Scholars Program which will allow me to forge deeper connections with the communities and cultures I am studying. I am also attracted by the possibility of a 5-year BA/MA course in Linguistics which will permit me to conduct meaningful and extensive research on a topic I am truly passionate about.

However, I also have an interest in Biochemistry and Molecular biology. The Open Curriculum will enable me to pursue this avenue of study and research without detracting from my principal focus on languages. Therefore, perhaps what I am most excited for is interdisciplinary study at Brown and the possibility of forging unforeseen connections between disparate academic areas and weaving them together into a program of study that will engage, thrill, and inspire me towards a lifelong path of academic inquiry. For example, I am interested to explore how languages and sociolinguistics can be used to promote medical research and provision in Latin America.

Why This Essay Works:

Naming things unique to the school shows you have genuine interest. Listing specific programs, courses, or majors shows you've done your research.

The author's reasons for "Why Brown?" fit into their background and identity. This makes their reasons seem genuine and compelling.

What They Might Improve:

The essay is divided into two parts with distinct answers. Showing how those reasons relate could make the essay more cohesive.

Ending with a sentence "For example..." leaves more to be desired and explained.

Prompt: Brown's Community

Brown university essay example #2.

Prompt: At Brown, you will learn as much from your peers outside the classroom as in academic spaces. How will you contribute to the Brown community? (200-250 words)

At my high school, I reinvigorated and reinvented the linguistics society with the help of a friend, transforming it from a dull discussion of past exam questions to a seminar-style session where I have presented and analysed various interesting aspects of language. In a similar vein, I intend to be a leader and an innovator at Brown, and to create opportunities for likeminded people to discuss shared interests such as linguistics. However, other than creating clubs, I hope to use my experience as a camp counselor and a diving coach to support others within the community, and to set a good example of dedication, energy, and compassion.

Additionally, I have volunteered as a Spanish teacher at a local primary school for three years. Volunteer service is something I would definitely like to continue to undertake at Brown, perhaps through the Community Corps that will allow me to help address social inequality within Providence, or as a teacher and classroom assistant in the Elementary Afterschool Mentoring program at D’Abate school. I can draw on my previous experience and knowledge to hopefully enrich the education of underprivileged children in the local community.

Finally, as an international student, I will bring an element of unique culture to Brown’s campus. Having grown up in the buzzing metropolis of London but visiting America frequently to see family, I have the privilege of a truly dual nationality, and the resultant worldview and cultural references that I hope will enrich the diverse Brown community.

• Variety of Reasons Given: Providing multiple reasons for how you'll contribute shows you aren't one-dimensional. People are complex and showing nuance in your character is important.
• Showcasing Past Experiences: With each point, the author gives examples from their activities and resume. Referencing specific extracurriculars helps build their case and is "proof" of how they'll contribute.

What They Might Change:

• Flow and Writing Style: Listing activities can come off as robotic and uninteresting. Rather, try to find a balance between showing off your achievements and writing in an interesting way.
• Structure: The last paragraph is most compelling because it deals with the author's personality and background, rather than just what they've done. Organizing the essay around your character is better than focusing solely on your achivements.

Learn the Secrets of Successful Top-20 Applications

Join 4,000+ students and parents that already receive our 5-minute free newsletter , packed with T-20 essay examples, writing tips & tricks, and step-by-step guides.

Prompt: Why Brown?

Brown university essay example #3.

Prompt: Why Brown, and why the Brown Curriculum? (200 words max)

I believe any college should equip you with tools as you embark upon your journey. Brown provides the necessary. That is what the capstone experience does (not to mention the importance of internships given to Brown Students). You can never know everything about anything. But quench the questions is exactly what the Capstone Experience fosters.

The Open Curriculum was obviously the first thing that caught my eye. In school, you are sometimes forced to take the subjects you don’t like. College shouldn’t be the same. It is supposed to be a fresh start and that is exactly why you should be allowed to take the courses that appeal to you. Here is where the S/NC option was interesting. Only if you know perspectives from all subjects, can you determine a solution; S/NC promotes this. Group Independent Study Projects is also unique. Getting into the course is something hard. But creating your own course is amusing.

I would love to be a part of The Society of Women Engineers because I had to fight with my own family to study Computer Science in the United States. If it means providing the help for people I wish I'd got, never better.

• Ideas and Beliefs: Rather than just saying what aspects are appealing, the author explains why they are attracted to those things. By explaining your perspective, admissions officers are better able to understand your thinking and character.
• Specific to Brown: Listing aspects that are unique to Brown is important to show your interest is authentic. By naming things like the Capstone Experience and S/NC, the author shows their knowledge of Brown and makes their reasons more compelling.
• Writing Style: Some parts of the essay are clunky in wording and could be written more clearly. But the author is an international student, so it is understandable and not the end of the world.
• Structure and Conclusion: There isn't a clear conclusion sentence that ties the essay together. How can you relate the last sentence to your beginning?

Prompt: Area of Study

Brown university essay example #4.

Prompt: Why are you drawn to the area(s) of study you indicated? (150 words max)

There was a time when I was low and afraid to be with myself. That’s when I dived into programming. I always sat with my laptop. But unlike others on Instagram or Snapchat, I was coding. I always kept myself occupied so I wouldn’t think about hardships. But as I was solving those little Instantiation and StackOverflow errors, I realized that any problem in my life had a solution. I could either modify the code and right the wrong, or just keep compiling them, producing no output. So, life is not all that different. That is why I want to pursue Computer Science. I know I can work to keep myself happy. Inevitably, what makes me happy is Computer Science, which is what I want to pursue.

• Intriguing Backstory: Telling a compelling story is about setting the scene. This essay creates vivid imagery by naming specific programming-related things.
• Connects to Bigger Picture: Rather than just saying their major or interest, the author connects it to a more universal idea. Showing the deeper "why" behind your interests makes it relatable and more interesting.
• Writing Style and Flow: Some words are unnecessary, and a few sentences could be made more smooth to read.
• Doesn't Use the Full Word Limit: With 23 words left, the author could have included a sentence or two more. Every word is valuable with short word limits, so use them carefully.

Prompt: Where You've Lived

Brown university essay example #5.

Prompt: Tell us where you have lived - and for how long - since you were born; whether you've always lived in the same place, or perhaps in a variety of places. (100 words max)

I was born in California, USA. When I was about 7 months old, I moved to Bangalore, India. I've lived in Bangalore all my life, until two years ago. I started attending a boarding school, in the same state, but far away from my house. I chose to leave everything behind, even my phone, because I didn't want to be pampered. I wanted to fold my own blanket; to wipe my own tears; to carve my own name; to befriend people my way; to create my destiny. My parents weren't happy at first, but I convinced them.

• Poetic Writing: Interesting writing comes from interesting ideas. And the second to last sentence especially is compelling because it expresses their ideas elegantly.
• Answers Prompt Directly: For supplements especially, make sure to answer exactly what the prompt is asking.
• Be More Concise: Use as few words as possible to say the most you can. Especially for short prompts like this one, every word matters.
• Word Choice: Swapping out words like "house" for "home" can make the tone more natural.

Prompt: Communities and Groups

Brown university essay example #6.

Prompt: Communities or groups: pick one and tell us why it is important to you, and how it has shaped you. (100 words max)

My dad lost his parents when he was young. My mom also quit her job to take care of me. So, if you look at it, she should loathe me. But she doesn’t. She has dedicated her whole life to me. That is why I want to provide a purpose to their lives. Every competition I won, even a small word of praise would lighten their mood. When I am happy they are euphoric; when I am sad they are distraught. It's like they (for)give and forget. So why not follow their footsteps and give it all I got?

• Vulnerable and Authentic: Being vulnerable is an important part of great essays. Talking about sensitive, but real and human topics, makes you more relatable and humanized.
• Explains What Motivates Them: Admissions officers want to know why you're driven to do things. Showing your "why" helps give insight into your character more deeply.
• Doesn't Answer Prompt Directly: Make sure to answer exactly what the prompt asks. Although this essay explains their background and motivations, it doesn't answer the question exactly.

If you're trying to get into Brown in 2022, your essays need to make you stand out from the competition. These 6 Brown essays that worked showcase great examples of what it takes to get accepted into Brown.

There are many lessons and tips to be learned from these supplements:

• Being authentic and genuine is key
• Name aspects unique and specific to the school
• Showcase your motivations and the "why" behind things
• Don't be afraid to be vulnerable
• Use every word carefully and make each word count

If you enjoyed reading these Brown supplements, you'll also like the essays for similar Ivy League schools like Princeton and Columbia University .

What did you think of these Brown University essays?

Ryan Chiang , Founder of EssaysThatWorked.com

Want to read more amazing essays that worked for top schools?

Hey! 👋 I'm Ryan Chiang, the founder of Essays That Worked.

Get our 5-minute free newsletter packed with essay tips and college admissions resources, backed by real-life examples from admitted students at top-20 schools.

Meet the Author

Ryan Chiang

I'm Ryan Chiang and I created EssaysThatWorked.com - a website dedicated to helping students and their families apply to college with confident. We publish the best college admissions essays from successful applicants every year to inspire and teach future students.

You might also like:

7 University of Pennsylvania EssaysThatWorked

6 Dartmouth College EssaysThatWorked

5 Columbia University Supplemental Example Essays (2024)

5 Princeton Supplemental Essays That Worked

What do outstanding essays have in common? Here are our 23 most effective strategies based on lessons from admitted students.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

By signing up you agree to Terms and Privacy Policy

Now available for August 2024 ...

The College Essay Workshop

Join my on-demand step-by-step course for crafting outstanding college admissions essays, plus 1-on-1 help.

Here's everything needed to write essays worthy of Top-20 colleges.

Google Rating

Join our students who have earned acceptances to schools like...

See exactly how students wrote admitted essays for top schools.

Our 231 essay examples show you how ordinary students wrote outstanding essays that helped their applications - all in their own words.

These aren’t just essay examples - but real acceptance stories, from real students who share their most intimate details with you - down to their real essays and exact profiel stats.

How do I find a unique topic? How do I write a great essay? And how do I stand out?

Our 231 essay examples break down these exact questions. Every type of essay prompt, student, and school.

You’ll realize these students are just like you - and that, deep down, you can do it too.

Princeton Admitted Essay

People love to ask why. Why do you wear a turban? Why do you have long hair? Why are you playing a guitar with only 3 strings and watching TV at 3 A.M.—where did you get that cat? Why won’t you go back to your country, you terrorist? My answer is... uncomfortable. Many truths of the world are uncomfortable...

MIT Admitted Essay

Her baking is not confined to an amalgamation of sugar, butter, and flour. It's an outstretched hand, an open invitation, a makeshift bridge thrown across the divides of age and culture. Thanks to Buni, the reason I bake has evolved. What started as stress relief is now a lifeline to my heritage, a language that allows me to communicate with my family in ways my tongue cannot. By rolling dough for saratele and crushing walnuts for cornulete, my baking speaks more fluently to my Romanian heritage than my broken Romanian ever could....

UPenn Admitted Essay

A cow gave birth and I watched. Staring from the window of our stopped car, I experienced two beginnings that day: the small bovine life and my future. Both emerged when I was only 10 years old and cruising along the twisting roads of rural Maryland...

Over 200 more admitted essays like these...

Learn the secrets behind outstanding application essays.

College essays are confusing. And it's not your fault. You're not taught how to write them in school.

How should I structure my essay? Can I use humor? What makes a truly great essay?

There's so much conflicting advice out there.

And with people selling "magic formulas" and "structures" to follow... it's easy to be led astray.

You’ll get access to courses, live events, a dedicated essay coach, and countless resources to help you write your best essays.

You finally have a place where you can ask these questions, get advice, and see exactly how admitted students before you did it.

You’re no longer figuring out everything on your own. You're no longer stuck wondering.

Everything you get

231 essays analyzed

Explore our database of 200+ admitted essays from top-20 colleges. Filter by prompt, school, topic, word count, and more. Get expert insights into why they worked and what you can learn from them.

Exclusive access to essay editing

You'll get access to our essay editing services, which is only offered for members. You can get your essays reviewed personally by me (Ryan). I'll give you detailed feedback on how to improve your essays and make them stand out.

Dedicated essay coach & support

You'll get access to our private community, where you can ask questions and get help from me directly. I'll be there to answer your questions and provide unlimited personalized advice.

44 in-depth video lessons

Learn the secrets behind outstanding essays. We break down the entire process, from brainstorming to writing and editing. You'll learn how to write amazing college essays for any prompt, with step-by-step guides and actionable tips.

26 downloadable guides

Get our best tips and tricks in easy-to-read guides. Learn what makes great essays, how to brainstorm your best topics, and how to write specific parts like a powerful hook and memorable ending.

Tons of bonuses

Get the Ultimate College Application Planner, my 154-Point Essay Checklist, and more. You'll also get a free copy of my eBooks, including 23 College Essay Tips to Stand Out and more.

Don't take our word for it

Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of our students and parents.

" Ryan, I want to express our great appreciation to you for your help on George's application essays. You have provided invaluable resources! P.S. I will certainly recommend you to our friends. "

" Ryan—David got into The University of Michigan!!! Only 4 kids got in out of 200 that applied at his school!!! Thank you so so much for everything "

" Thank you for the incredible help Ryan - both Hannah and I have said repeatedly that we could not have done it without you! "

" Thank you for your help with my essays back in November, including my Yale supplements. Just wanted to let you know I ended up getting into and committing to Yale! "

" I feel so much more reassured to press the submit button now. I wish I knew about your site sooner! "

" ... Invaluable to me during the college admissions process! It gave me a different perspective to look at my essays. "

" Initially I was skeptical about my essay's idea and whether it was properly reflected in my writing. This gave me a clear direction! "

Don't miss out on writing your best college essays.

© 2018- 2024 Essays That Worked . All rights reserved.

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions , Privacy Policy , and Cookie Policy .

We have no affiliation with any university or colleges on this site. All product names, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners.

Brown University Essay Examples (And Why They Worked)

The following essay examples were written by several different authors who were admitted to Brown University and are intended to provide examples of successful Brown University application essays. All names have been redacted for anonymity. Please note that CollegeAdvisor.com has shared these essays with admissions officers at Brown University in order to deter potential plagiarism.

For more help with your Brown supplemental essays, check out our 2020-2021 Brown University Essay Guide ! For more guidance on personal essays and the college application process in general, sign up for a monthly plan to work with an admissions coach 1-on-1.

Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about an academic interest (or interests) that excites you, and how you might use the Open Curriculum to pursue it. (150 word limit)

Brown’s open curriculum, along with its great emphasis on interdisciplinary concentrations is unique among universities. As a student interested in courses like NEUR 1740, The Diseased Brain: Mechanisms of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders and ANTH 0300: Culture and Health from two seemingly unrelated concentrations, I would love to take the opportunity to explore widely as an undergrad at Brown. Doing research under professors like Dr. Mason, exploring anthropological viewpoints in class and looking at the stigma surrounding HIV testing in Taiwanese/Chinese culture would allow me to draw upon my own cultural experience.

The cultural and social nexus also fits issues I encountered at Teen Line; callers talked about their own community’s condemnation about LGBTQ identity. The attention to social issues found at Brown will become my home away from liberal California where I can speak to mental health issues in various cultures.

Why this Brown University essay worked, from an ex-admissions officer

This essay worked because it is very specific. The applicant clearly did their homework in terms of the types of classes that are offered down to the individual courses that resonated with them. From there, the author connected these classes from different fields to demonstrate their particular academic curiosities and their desire to take advantage of the freedom to pursue them in a way that suits the author’s needs.

This essay is also successful because it gives a glimpse into the social issues that concern this student and how they have dedicated some of their time in high school to supporting the LGBTQ community. They demonstrate the desire to not only make connections to their personal experiences from a cultural perspective, but to understand how others experience similar issues within their respective culture.

This author was successful in demonstrating their fit by giving the admissions officers a strong sense of how they will apply what they learn in the classroom as well as how they will contribute to and enhance the Brown University community.

As someone who places great emphasis in words, the idea of analyzing the cognitive aspects behind linguistics, whether philosophically, psychologically, or computationally fits my ideal of using interdisciplinary methods to study human behavior holistically.

I am also concerned with quantitative methods. For example, AP Psychology allowed me to talk about the ethics and methodology. I had read about the Asch conformity tests. But when my teacher set up the experiment with three classmates as subjects and the rest of us as confederates, two subjects did not conform; our ratio of nonconformity was lower than Asch had found. Could it be a trait of the magnet population and experience?

Should I remain pre-med, a strong background in neuroscience will support my study of anatomy and help me become a better physician. Directly linking biology and behavior, Cognitive Neuroscience will contribute to my holistic view of my patients.

Exploring specific majors/course offerings is crucial to writing an effective Brown University essay. Use our College Search Feature below to learn more about Brown’s wide range of majors!

This essay is great because it shows how multifaceted the author truly is in terms of their intellectual pursuits. By highlighting their various interests alongside the interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum at Brown University, the author successfully demonstrates their academic fit. The reader understands that this student enjoys questioning and analyzing methods, theories, and concepts for a deeper understanding.

This student has a strong sense of what they want to do but also has a high level of self-awareness and knows that they might change their mind in terms of their career aspirations. Either way, it is evident to the reader that this student has depth and will positively contribute to Brown’s academic community.

To many, mathematics is little more than calculating how much flour Mrs. Smith needs to bake her famous apple pie. I felt this same way until I got to calculus. There, I was examining the fundamentals of change, infinity, and nothingness daily.

During one discussion with my teacher, he expressed his belief that the Fibonacci sequence was a proportion of divine handiwork. I’d never considered any application of mathematics outside of hard sciences. As I sat at my kitchen table that night calculating the instantaneous velocity at time t , I understood that mathematics, despite a well-defined set of laws, contains the philosophical ambiguity I find so stimulating.

Though finding the volume of a sphere may not fit the traditional idea of aesthetics, it serves the same purpose — as a study of structure and order. This intersection between mathematics and philosophy is one I hope to continue to explore.

This essay is effective because, being one of the “many” the author refers to, it drew me in and piqued my curiosity. Whereas another reader who enjoys math would probably feel excited about this connection to philosophy.

Despite the author’s self-proclaimed propensity for the ambiguous, this essay is anything but. Besides clearly pinpointing what they want to study, the essay also provides a glimpse into the kind of student the author will be, one who is engaging and eager to make connections. The author’s excitement about learning is clearly conveyed throughout this essay.

At Brown, you will learn as much from your peers outside the classroom as in academic spaces. How will you contribute to the Brown community? (250 words)

The summer of 2013, I participated in a Brown Leadership Institute course on Identity, Diversity, and Leadership that challenged me to consider my social values and individual identity. After those two weeks, I felt more motivated than ever to make a change in my society. I believe Brown is a place for students who, like me, are passionate about leading initiatives that can make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Brown is the place where all the aspects of my personality would thrive. In addition to stellar academic programs, its emphasis on free inquiry and global engagement really speak to me. It is vital for me to attend college where both academic rigor and openness to the world are widely promoted. In addition, the Swearer Center for Public Service is an amazing resource. Service has always been important to me, and I would like to continue in this path throughout college. Brown students and faculty are motivated, active, and inspiring in the ways that inspire me. At Brown, I would grow both academically and socially in an international and open-minded environment. It would be an honor to spend the next four years in such an incredible college.

This essay works because the author effectively demonstrates fit with the Brown community. This applicant clearly lays out their values, characteristics, and interests and matches them to what Brown University has to offer. Furthermore, the author demonstrates their commitment to service and desire to continue their efforts throughout college, thereby providing a glimpse into the type of student they will be on campus. You get a strong sense of this student’s self-awareness and interest in learning from, and contributing to Brown’s diverse and open-minded community. Furthermore, they find a true value in this type of environment both inside and outside of the classroom.

Tell us about a place or community you call home. How has it shaped your perspective? (150 word limit)

I don’t feel that I necessarily belong to one specific place due to my international background. However, I feel I belong the most to a specific group of people: my immediate and extended family. My parents and my older sister are an inspiration to me, and I look to them for guidance and advice. My grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins are also a very important part of my life. Like us, an American-Lebanese- Colombian family living in Madrid, my extended family all have very international backgrounds and have lived all around the world. I have American-Lebanese-Austrian cousins living in London and American-Lebanese-Belgian cousins living in Hong Kong. Even though we all have lived very different lives, we have something in common – the feeling of being citizens of the world, immersed in a plethora of distinct cultures, yet being part of one close-knit family.

This essay works because the author exemplifies the spirit of community and diversity. Although “family” is a fairly standard response, it’s the explanation of how varied and spread out her family is, with a common American-Lebanese thread and shared experience, that makes them a community. This essay shows that there is not one clear cut definition of community, and it’s certainly not bound by location.

These essay examples were compiled by the advising team at CollegeAdvisor.com . If you want to get help writing your Brown University application essays from CollegeAdvisor.com Admissions Experts , register with CollegeAdvisor.com today.

Personalized and effective college advising for high school students.

• Advisor Application
• Popular Colleges
• Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice
• Student Login
• California Privacy Notice
• Terms and Conditions
• Your Privacy Choices

By using the College Advisor site and/or working with College Advisor, you agree to our updated Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy , including an arbitration clause that covers any disputes relating to our policies and your use of our products and services.

• Get Started
• Join Our Team
• (212) 262-3500
• Initial Consultation
• IvyWise Roundtable
• School Placement
• Test Prep & Tutoring
• Early College Guidance
• College Admissions Counseling
• Academic Tutoring
• Test Prep Tutoring
• Research Mentorship
• Academic Advising
• Transfer Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• School Partnerships
• Webinars and Events
• IvyWise By The Numbers
• Testimonials
• Dr. Kat Cohen
• IvyWise In The News
• IvyWise Gives Back
• IvyWise Blog
• Just Admit It! Podcast
• Admission Statistics

How to Write the 2024-25 Brown Supplemental Essays

In addition to the personal statement, students must prioritize the Brown University supplemental essays when compiling their application. Keep reading to learn more about the supplemental essays that Brown requires, as well as what it takes to write a top-tier personal statement.

What Essays Does Brown Require?

Like most colleges, Brown University requires applicants to submit a personal statement as part of the Common Application . Students can choose from the list of prompts and compose a response of approximately 650 words.

Brown University has a series of supplemental essays that students must answer in addition to the required Common App essay . For first-year applicants, there are three questions, and each response should be approximately 200-250 words. For students applying to Brown’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), there are also three questions, two with a 250-word maximum and one with a 500-word maximum. Finally, Brown|RISD Dual Degree applicants must answer one question with a 650-word limit.

2024-2025 Brown Supplemental Essays – Analyzed

The Brown University supplemental essays may change from year to year, which is why it’s so important for students to stay up to date on current application requirements. If you’re wondering  how to get into Brown , the supplemental essays are a key “soft factor” of your application that reveal your personality and how you will fit into the Brown community.

For the 2024-25 admissions season, Brown’s supplementary essay prompts for first-year and transfer applicants are as follows:

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 pursue them at Brown. (200-250 words)

Like most colleges, Brown University will affirm applicants with a demonstrated passion in specific subjects or fields. This essay gives students an opportunity to write about what interests them most and pinpoint specific Brown University courses that may help them further their expertise in the subjects in which they are passionate. It’s important to note the duality of this question: in addition to subjects you already know and love, include some fields you are currently unfamiliar with but look forward to learning more about.

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. (200-250 words)

This prompt was added for the 2023-24 college admissions cycle. Since the Supreme Court struck down the use of race-based affirmative action in college admissions, some schools have responded by adding additional prompts or changing existing prompts in their Common Application supplemental requirements. Here, Brown gives students an opportunity to discuss how race may have impacted their education or life.

Take some time to reflect and think carefully before responding to this question. To make the most of this Brown University supplemental essay, students will need to reference a time or aspect in their life that may have influenced who they are. This prompt provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate what financial, socio-economic, cultural, or other constraints they may have struggled with or overcome.

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)

Don’t think that you must write about your biggest accomplishment to compile a strong response to this question — how you analyze and grow from the concept that brings you joy is much more important than the actual thing itself. Whether it’s greeting your neighbors as a local grocery store cashier or watching your community garden grow, strive to pick something that has had a positive impact on your community at large.

Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) Essays 

In addition to the above prompts, students applying to the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) must also complete two essays using the following prompts:

Committing to a future career as a physician while in high school requires careful consideration and self-reflection. Explain your personal motivation to pursue a career in medicine, and why the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) will best meet your professional and personal goals . (500 words)

This essay gives students an opportunity to let their passion for a future medical career shine. Use it to articulate what excites you about the profession, what has inspired you to pursue this track, the impact you hope to make in the future, and how the PLME program will help you achieve your goals.

Healthcare is constantly changing as it is affected by racial and social inequities, economics, politics, technology and more. Please respond to one of the following prompts (250 words):

• How will you, as a future physician, make a positive impact?
• How has your personal background uniquely shaped your perspective on the field of medicine? 

If you answer the first prompt, keep in mind that admissions officers want to get a clear picture of exactly what type of impact you’re going to make and what you will bring to the medical profession. For the second prompt, they want to know more about your story and the influences that drive your interests in the medical field.

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Essay 

For students applying to Brown’s Dual Degree Program with Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), there is one additional required prompt:

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 and engage with diverse spheres of academic and creative inquiry. The culmination of students’ five-year program is a capstone project that relates and integrates content, approaches, and methods from two distinct learning experiences. Considering your understanding of the academic programs at Brown and RISD, describe how and why the specific blend of RISD’s experimental, immersive combined studio and liberal arts program and Brown’s wide-ranging courses and curricula could constitute an optimal undergraduate education for you. Additionally, how might your academic, artistic and personal experiences contribute to the Dual Degree community and its commitment to interdisciplinary work? (650 word limit)

Since the Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program is a very specialized academic offering, students need to make sure that their response to this question is equally tailored. The strongest responses will articulate how the student will take advantage of both Brown and RISD courses and the impact they will have across both campuses.

Brown Supplemental Essay Examples

Need some inspiration for what successful Brown supplemental essays look like? Check out the following example below that was written by an IvyWise student who was accepted:

In 10th grade, I was cast as a chorus member in my school’s production, Les Misérables. I’d never performed before, so while my experienced castmates clustered near the stage during our first rehearsal, I lingered in the back of the theater. But our female lead shocked me with her soaring voice as she sang “I Dreamed a Dream.” As I inched closer to the stage to join the cast for the next number, I felt less intimidated and more grateful to perform alongside such talented peers.

Moments like these motivated me to improve myself. Though I’d never sung before, I practiced diligently. Dancing, too, was scary at first, but memorizing each intricate choreography soon felt like a triumph shared with my castmates. I even rehearsed walking in my “character shoes:” heels which, when paired with a corset and a ballgown, made dancing a formidable challenge.

Yet the joy of exploring new modes of expression with friends was rivaled by the rewarding experience of performing Les Misérables live. As opening night drew nearer, I grew nervous, but my doubts subsided as my castmates crept silently onto the darkened stage. The band struck the opening notes, and our voices swelled from the stage as one, engulfing the tiny theater in song.

In that moment, it felt like so much more than just a school play: we were living this story of inspiring unity, revolutionary resistance, and personal redemption. This experience cemented my love for all forms of storytelling, from page to stage.

3 Tips on How to Write a Great Brown Supplemental Essay

If you want to write Brown supplemental essays that will help you stand out from the pack like the example above, there are a few tips to keep in mind, including:

#1 Use Your Own Voice

Many students mistakenly believe that the best essays are those that sound “academic” or use impressive words. While an expansive vocabulary is always an advantage, what matters most is that the essay sounds authentic and reflects the voice of the student who is writing it. Prioritize writing the same way you speak so that the admissions office gets a deeper sense of who you are as a person.

#2 Strive for Authenticity

Admissions officers read hundreds, if not thousands, of these essays each year. As a result, they’ve become experts at distinguishing fact from fiction and will be able to tell who is sincere in their Brown supplemental essays. Instead of trying to guess what you think you should say, focus on writing statements that genuinely represent your thoughts, beliefs, and goals for the future.

#3 Have Someone Else Read Your Essay

One of the best essay writing tips for students, regardless of what they’re working on, is to have someone else review their work once completed. Even the most careful writers might miss a typo or fail to see a minor grammatical error. Having another set of eyes can help ensure that your supplemental essays are coherent and free of errors.

How to Ensure Your Place at Brown University?

Applying to Brown University? First and foremost, you should know what Brown looks for in its applicants. IvyWise’s team of experts are here to help!  L earn how IvyWise can help you secure your place at Brown with our college admissions services.  

Related Topics

Related posts.

• How to Answer the “Why This College?” Essay Prompt
• Harvard University Supplemental Essay 2024-25 Prompt Guide
• How to Write Princeton Supplemental Essays
• 2024-25 Common App Essay Prompts
• How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay
• Admission Rates
• Choosing a College
• College Admission Advice
• College Planning
• In the Press
• Just Admit It Podcast
• Student Life

Home » IvyWise College Admissions Blog » College Admission Advice » College Essays » How to Write the 2024-25 Brown Supplemental Essays

The Common App is Open! Get your application done over a weekend with the College Application Booster​®.

Command Education Guide

How to write the brown university supplemental essays, updated for 2024-2025.

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 pursue them at Brown. (200-250 words)

Explanation:

A hallmark of Brown’s commitment to liberal arts education, the Open Curriculum allows students to take ownership of their education by giving them the freedom to design their own course of study without the constraints of traditional general education requirements. This means you can explore broadly across disciplines while also diving deeply into the areas that most interest you, from business to education, sociology, music, and more.

Your response to this prompt should first reflect a depth of knowledge about the Open Curriculum, then explain how its flexibility will enable you to pursue your academic passions. Mention specific courses, professors, departments, or research opportunities at Brown that align with your interests. For example, if you’re planning to study astrophysics, you could write about wanting to conduct research on atmospheric composition alongside a specific Brown professor or engaging with a center or institute that does similar work.

Following this up with a discussion of an interest in a field unrelated to your intended concentration—or perhaps an interest outside your intended concentration that could still inform your main work—can show exactly how the Brown Open Curriculum will help you pursue your multifaceted academic interests. Brown wants to understand how you plan to take ownership of your education, exercise your intellectual curiosity, and embrace an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving in your discipline.

Growing up, I was always told that if I like to think analytically, I’m left-brained, and if I resonate more with my creative side, I’m right-brained. The problem is that I’m an Aristotilian, so the whole of my brain is greater than the sum of its parts. In that case, I’m just brained.

And thankfully, Brown’s Open Curriculum does not discriminate on the basis of one’s cerebral leanings. As a metaphysically whole-brained human, the academic flexibility that the Open Curriculum affords makes it possible for me to explore my dual interest in both philosophy and neuroscience and the intersections in between.

At Brown, I look forward to the opportunity to conduct research at the Carney Institute for Brain Science to continue my research efforts in pathogenesis, while drawing from the deep knowledge of philosophy professors like Dr. Christopher Hill to make connections to topics in the philosophy of mind. Since I also plan to continue writing for my Brain Philosophy blog, I look forward to partnering with students to write for Impulse, the largest undergraduate research journal focused on neuroscience.

Outside philosophy and neuroscience, I also anticipate cross-registering for graphic design courses at the Rhode Island School of Design to continue in my passion for designing aesthetic neuroimages. Coupled with Brown’s famous Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming and Computer Science course, I plan to explore the possibility of creative neuroimaging through code.

Whether I like it or not, I’m whole-brained—at Brown, I look forward to continuing being just that.

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. (200-250 words)

This prompt requires you to think deeply about your identity—your roots—and how that has shaped who you are today. For example, perhaps you were born into an immigrant home that constantly moved across enclaves—an experience which has sparked in you a passion for sociology. Maybe you were raised by an ultra-conservative grandma who still encouraged you to think freely, which inspired your current belief system. Or, if you come from a diverse multicultural community, you might explain how this environment fostered your appreciation for different perspectives and your commitment to inclusivity. Where you started from doesn’t have to define where you’ll end up, so it’s best to show your open-mindedness as you prepare to engage with other students of all backgrounds and trajectories in college.

Lastly, illustrate how these experiences will contribute to Brown’s melting pot of a community. Does a particular aspect of your identity lead you to gravitate toward a particular academic area or extracurricular activity? How might the way you think now disrupt or challenge current modes of thinking on campus and lead to a more flourishing community? Wherever you came from, and whoever you are now, give Brown a glimpse of how you might leave your unique imprint on campus.

It was an ordinary trip down to the Philippine Foods market…until it wasn’t. As a curious but naive 7-year-old, my eyes peered toward the top shelf on Aisle 6, where a glass jar containing light-purple jam sat in brilliance. “Why is the jelly so bright?” I exclaimed. With a helpless sigh followed by her classic Filipino death-stare, my mom corrected me: “It’s not jelly, it’s ube.”

To any other Filipino 7-year-old born and raised in America, the jar of mashed purple yam, known as “ube,” is simply “jelly”—but apparently not the type you’d want on your PB&J. But it was a common misconception, or rather, ignorance, that many Fil-Am kids had whenever they interacted with a part of themselves that was simultaneously so close and yet so far.

I’ve never been to the Philippines, nor do I speak Tagalog. But it’s this dissonance that has empowered me to learn about the things that still make me, me. Brown is committed to celebrating people for who they are while helping them uncover, deconstruct, and step into parts of their identity that ignorance or a lack of opportunity may have shielded them from. Whether it’s by joining Brown’s Filipino Alliance or exploring unique histories through Brown’s Ethnic Studies concentration, it’s my goal to continue reclaiming the identities I feel far from as well as the ones I have yet to discover, and empower others to do the same.

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)

This question is designed to give the admissions committee unique insight into what excites you. For this reason, avoid topics that may bring anyone joy, unless the reason you enjoy them is incredibly unique. Don’t feel like you need to take this question too seriously! The prompt expressly allows you to write about things that bring you joy that may seem mundane to others. Focus on presenting an authentic viewpoint that will allow your excitement to shine through in your writing. Think about your favorite things, what you enjoy doing in your free time, what books you love to read, or the YouTube rabbit holes you get lost in. For example, you could write about how walking into your favorite coffee shop and chatting with the same barista every morning brightens your day or how corgis bring you joy because, despite everyone literally looking down on them, they always have a smile on their face!

Once you’ve settled on your topic, try to write about why it brings you joy. Describe the way it makes you feel, your curiosity, or what makes it special to you. Explain how the happiness and satisfaction you derive from this activity or experience spill over into your daily interactions and major discoveries. You might mention how it helps you manage stress, fuels your creativity, or inspires you to pursue related interests. Highlight any positive impact it has on your relationships, academic pursuits, or personal growth.

The purples, the ambers, the baby blues. They’re hues of brilliance and awe—radiant, majestic, a work of art that’s common to us all. It’s an escape from fast-approaching deadlines, a balm to a long day at work, an added joy to the already joyous. The sky is altogether pure, untainted by human hands or motives or politics or greed. It hovers over the well-off and the less fortunate, the just and the unjust, over folks of every color. It’s the same sky that everyone watches—a reminder that while we are different, we are yet the same.

As a student who’s moved from country to country, the sky connects me to distant friends in ways that feel more real than instant messaging or social media. And as we enter into a technological age of AI, I fear that we are heading toward a time when much of what we think is real is not. We tend to exchange well-being for technological progress by conflating the two, but we often fail to find something more constant, more eternal, more grounding like the sky. The sky feels tangible even though I can’t feel it at all.

The sky brings me joy because it is equitable. It’s always there and available to anyone. It may be purple, or black, or red, or blue, but it’s our sky; we all share it.

Short Answer Questions:

First-year applicants are also asked to reflect briefly on each of the very short answer questions below. We expect that answers will range from a few words to a few sentences at most.

What three words best describe you? (3 words)

The best words to use are ones that are uncommon in colloquial usage. They’re the words that string together complex issues or illustrate something very specific. However, as you select unique words, be sure that you fully understand their meaning rather than quickly selecting them from a list in the thesaurus.

Instead of thinking about common adjectives that may describe you, think about bigger ideas, hobbies, and identities that resonate with you. Then narrow them down to phrases, and then, finally, words.

• Ornithophile
• Anthophobic

What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)

The key term in this prompt is “meaningful.” It’s easy to talk about the most impressive activity you’ve participated in or the commitment that you have dedicated the most energy to during your high school years, but prestige and time do not always indicate that an activity is the most meaningful to you. For instance, if the weekends you spent cleaning basketball courts with your community service club altered your perspective and brought you joy, then share that experience—even though it may not be the most impressive on your resume. Brown’s admissions committee will already have a baseline sense of your extracurricular portfolio through your activities list, so this is your chance to provide a more dynamic sense of your commitments.

As a fellow resident of the concrete jungle, I don’t feel that I’m around nature often (unless you call rats and dog poop nature).

But it was for that reason I started my school’s Varsity Birdwatching Club. Now, this isn’t your typical sport. It’s one that requires deep concentration and more patience than a man stuck in NYC traffic on a Friday night. Birdwatching empowers students to actively participate in something that might seem boring, but it also teaches them—myself included—the importance of slowing down, taking deep breaths, and taking breaks from the rush of city- and secondary-school life.

If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words)

This prompt requires you to think about what you’re passionate about, whether that’s related to your academic focus or something completely unrelated. Some good questions to ask yourself are: What could you talk about for hours? What quirky interests do you like exploring on the weekends? What do you think about when you zone out in class? What do you feel everyone in the world should know? Feel free to make this as serious or as silly as you’d like.

Every year on my brother’s birthday, we go out to eat—or at least we try to. One…two…three hours go by, and the indecisive 12-…13-…14-year-old still has no idea where he wants to eat. The worst part of it all is that it’s his birthday, so you can’t rush the young lad. It’s an issue that I believe many, many families face today.

In honorable commemoration of June 21st, I present thee: “The Not-So-Complicated Philosophy of Food (In)Decision: How To Choose Which Restaurant To Eat At So The Entire Family Doesn’t Starve While Waiting For You To Make Your Decision.”

In one sentence, Why Brown? (50 words)*

To effectively answer the “Why Brown?” prompt in one sentence, under 50 words, you need to be concise yet impactful. A stellar answer to this question will show Brown that you’re able to zero in on specific details that are indicative of what Brown has to offer. Reflect on what draws you to Brown. This could include the Open Curriculum, a particular program or department, the campus culture, research opportunities, or the inclusive and collaborative community. Naming these things without excessively elaborating will demonstrate an awareness of the school’s culture and offerings within the limited word count allotted. Make sure each word adds value and directly addresses why you are excited about the prospect of attending Brown.

I’m drawn to Brown’s unique environment, where things clash in harmony; the bustle of Thayer Street alongside the Quiet Green, a Gendo Taiko performance before a peaceful night of studying, or riveting discussions on the quad that manage to connect seemingly unrelated topics such as cosmology and neuroimaging.

Your response to this prompt should first reflect a depth of knowledge about the Open Curriculum, then explain how its flexibility will enable you to pursue your academic passions. Mention specific courses, professors, departments, or research opportunities at Brown that align with your interests. For example, if you’re planning to study astrophysics, you could write about wanting to conduct research on atmosphere composition alongside a specific Brown professor or engaging with a center or institute that does similar work.

Following this up by discussing an interest in a field unrelated to your intended concentration—or perhaps an interest outside your intended concentration that could still inform your main work—can show exactly how the Brown Open Curriculum will help you pursue your multifaceted academic interests. Brown wants to understand how you plan to take ownership of your education, exercise your intellectual curiosity, and embrace an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving in your discipline.

Growing up, I was always told that if I like to think analytically, I’m left-brained, and if I resonate more with my creative side, I’m right-brained. The problem is that I’m an Aristotilian, so the whole of my brain is greater than the sum of its parts. In that case, I’m just brained. And thankfully, Brown’s Open Curriculum does not discriminate on the basis of one’s cerebral leanings. As a metaphysically whole-brained human, the academic flexibility that the Open Curriculum affords makes it possible for me to explore my dual interest in both philosophy and neuroscience and the intersections in between.

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

The Ultimate Guide to 2022-2023 Brown Supplemental Essays

The recording will load in a moment., about this livestream.

Join college consultant Shane Niesen and CollegeVine co-founder Vinay Bhaskara in this stream all about the Brown supplemental essays!

Shane and Vinay will be going through every detail you should know to successfully answer these prompts and be taking your questions along the way. Don't miss this opportunity to receive advice directly from experts!

Shane Niesen

Specialties, other recordings by shane niesen.

How to Write Your Common App Essay

The Complete Guide to Financial Aid

Live Essay Review with Shane Niesen

Get into a Data Role with a 3 month bootcamp

New Bootcamp Alumni Story: QA Engineer at Ubisoft (Gaming)

Make the Most of Your Summer Break with the NSLC!

Popular recent recordings

Bootcamp Alumni: UX Design at Apple/Google…

From High School to UX Design Bootcamp to Product Designer at Cloud Campaign

College + Bootcamp Success Story: Sr Software Engineer at Disney

How to Write Your Best College Essay

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary site menu

Search form

Brown | risd dual degree program.

Prospective Students

Fall 2023 BRDD Admissions Webinar - Wednesday Oct. 18

Brown and RISD partner up for an in-depth discussion about our institutions and how they merge in the Dual Degree program. You'll learn about advising, hear from current "dualies", and learn about admissions and financial aid.

Fall 2023 Ask Admissions Anything Session - Thursday Nov. 2

Still have questions about the Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program (BRDD)? Join RISD Admissions, Brown Admissions, and current BRDD students for an open discussion guided by your questions.

Please sign up if you wish to receive email notifications about upcoming virtual admissions events, which occur each fall!

Students who wish to apply to the five-year program must submit separate applications to RISD and to Brown, as well as submit the supplementary essay for the Dual Degree Program at the time of application. Each admission office will conduct a separate evaluation before joint consideration for the Dual Degree Program. Consequently, it is possible that a student could be admitted to RISD only, to Brown only, or to both Brown and RISD but not to the Dual Degree Program. Students accepted into the Dual Degree Program will be enrolled in both Brown and RISD and will be required to complete existing degree requirements for both institutions.

Brown | RISD Dual Degree Application Supplement

In addition to applying to both Brown and RISD separately, students who are interested in the Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program must also complete a separate application supplement for the program itself. All applicants must respond to the following prompt:

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 and engage with diverse spheres of academic and creative inquiry. The culmination of students’ five-year program is a capstone project that relates and integrates content, approaches, and methods from two distinct learning experiences. Considering your understanding of the academic programs at Brown and RISD, describe how and why the specific blend of RISD's experimental, immersive combined studio and liberal arts program and Brown's wide-ranging courses and curricula could constitute an optimal undergraduate education for you.  Additionally, how might you contribute to the Dual Degree community and its commitment to interdisciplinary work?

Students who plan to apply Early Decision to either institution must submit their Brown|RISD Dual Degree application supplement with the application for the school to which they're applying Early Decision in addition to the institution to which they're applying Regular Decision.  

The Brown|RISD Dual Degree supplemental essay should be the same essay submitted to both institutions.

Early Decision

Applicants may choose to apply to either Brown or RISD under their respective Early Decision Programs, with the understanding that if they are admitted via Early Decision, they agree to matriculate regardless of the outcome of their applications to the other institution and the Dual Degree Program. If admitted through the Early Decision Process to either Brown or to RISD, the applicant is permitted to apply to the other institution through the Regular Decision application process.  In mid-March of the application year, the Dual Degree Admission Committee will convene to discuss the applications of any Regular Decision applicants to the Program, and the applications of any Early Decision applicants who have been admitted or deferred. Final decisions will be mailed in late March or early April, immediately following the regular decision mailing date.

Portfolio Submission

• Brown Supplementary Materials: Visual Art Submission
• RISD Application Requirements

Students cannot accelerate graduation with AP credits. This is a five-year (ten-semester) degree program. Upon approval of deans from RISD, AP credits may be applied toward fulfilling certain distribution requirements. However, they cannot be used to shorten the length of the program.

• AP credits at RISD
• AP credits at Brown

For deadlines, please consult Brown Admission and RISD Admissions .

Timeline for the 2024-25 Admissions Process

• November 1, 2024: Early Decision application deadline for both Brown and RISD
• Mid-December, 2024: Early Decisions communicated by both Brown and RISD
• January 3, 2025: Regular Application deadline for Brown
• January 15, 2025: Regular Application deadline for RISD
• Early April, 2025: Dual Degree final decisions communicated (with Brown decision letter)
• May 1, 2025: Commitment deadline for BRDD Program

The number of dual degree students admitted is strictly limited. We seek to enroll a class of 15 students each year.

Other Details

Students can not transfer into the Dual Degree Program, nor can they apply to it after they have matriculated to Brown or RISD. Additionally, not all combinations of majors at RISD and Brown may be possible because of the rigorous demands of the Dual Degree Program. The following are not available with the Dual Degree Program: Brown’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) and RISD's Architecture major.

We are happy to answer questions about the BRDD Program.

Brown Admission 401-863-2378 [email protected]

RISD Admissions Office 401-454-6300 800-364-RISD (364-7473) [email protected]

How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

Subscribe to our newsletter for college app advice!

As a prestigious liberal arts and Ivy League institution, Brown University has high expectations from its applicants regarding the quality of their written essays. However, these supplemental essays are by no means unapproachable. With proper planning and execution, successful essays can reflect extremely well upon an applicant. You have the opportunity to showcase multiple facets of your personality and demonstrate the abilities that will help you thrive at Brown. In this article, we will guide you through how to write the Brown University supplemental essays. 

Brown University’s 2024-2025 Prompts

Supplemental essay prompts, 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 pursue them at brown. (200-250 words), 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. (200-250 words), 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), brief reflection prompts.

Note that these prompts are found in the Common App as part of Brown’s writing supplement, and are required questions. Instead, they are not found in the Common Application section of Brown’s “How to Apply” web page.

What three words best describe you? (3 words)

• What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words or fewer)
• If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words or fewer)
• In one sentence, Why Brown? (50 words or fewer)

General Tips

One of the key features about each of these Brown University supplemental essays is their length: they are short. Limiting each response to 250 words maximum can be challenging, especially when discussing complex interests or topics about which you are passionate. The key to writing a succinct yet impactful essay is to limit the words spent on narrative or objective descriptions and instead devote space to emotions, thoughts, and reflections. For instance, compare…

“Painting brings me joy. When I was five years old, my father bought me my first set of paintbrushes. Since then, I have painted every day, joining art clubs in middle and high school and collaborating with peers on projects in the community. We painted murals and posters for events and local exhibitions, learning and meeting new people as we did so. My skills have improved over time, and I aim to continue my development as an artist and a creative in college and beyond.”

…to the following:

“Painting brings me joy. Ever since receiving my first set of brushes at five years old, I have embraced the challenge of setting color to paper to create brilliant images. As I improved over time, I searched for ways to share the satisfaction of art with others. Orchestrating community projects allowed me to connect with peers and express my gratitude for my hometown. As I continue to develop my skills, I will spread that joy to an even broader audience in college and beyond.”

These two passages have the same word count. However, the second much more effectively gives the reader a sense of who the writer is and what they value about their interest in painting . Instead of simply listing the factual details of an interest or event, academic or otherwise, you can give the reader a glimpse into your emotions and thought processes. Doing so will increase the impact of each word, allowing you to convey your meaning more succinctly.

Brown University’s Supplemental Essay Prompts

This first prompt is an iteration of the common “Why X University?” essay type. What makes this prompt unique is that Brown’s Open Curriculum is highlighted. Students are expected to demonstrate a basic understanding of the core tenets of this curriculum in their essay responses.

Essentially, the Open Curriculum at Brown University allows undergraduates to forego the general education and distribution requirements mandated by most colleges and universities and instead enables students to formulate their own paths of study. Some students even develop their own majors based on personal interests that they enter with or discover along the way. This first essay asks applicants to consider how they would make the most of this unique flexibility.

First and foremost, research the Open Curriculum . Read about how current and past students have approached this opportunity, and consider how you would do so yourself. Then, brainstorm. Write out a list of your academic interests. Let these interests range from your intended major to potential interests that you would like to develop further, and everything in between. For now, the more the merrier!

Consider browsing the academic offerings to find departments, courses, or tracks that align with your interests. Lastly, and arguably, most importantly, look for connections between your areas of interest and explore how you could connect them. This is the greatest and most unique benefit of Brown’s Open Curriculum: you can craft your own unique educational experience.

Be sure to delve into the why: Why combine the interests you choose? What added benefit do you gain by studying simultaneously across disciplines? This interdisciplinary emphasis on exploration is central to Brown’s values as a university.

This second prompt asks Brown applicants to discuss their backgrounds, past adversity, perspectives, growth, and/or community involvement. But 200-250 words is not much room to tell the story of your upbringing! If possible, choose a specific 1-3 anecdote(s) to share. Your anecdote(s) should be from your childhood and involve details about your unique upbringing.

If you have a cultural background, unusual childhood experience, or significant period of growth in your personal history, now might be the time to bring it up in your application. This essay gives you the meaningful opportunity to engage with a part of your past that otherwise wouldn’t have made it into your application. Generally, applications focus on high school experiences, but this essay can (and probably should) focus on an experience before high school.

One pitfall that many students fall into when writing this essay is cliché. It is really easy to describe your childhood in a generic way. But the more personal and, frankly, odd you can get in this essay, the better. Authenticity will go a long way to helping the reader remember your essay long after reading it.

Consider these questions to get your brainstorming going:

• Did you have a weird childhood habit or hobby that ended up teaching you a life lesson?
• Did you suffer bullying and come out stronger, more empathetic, and/or more sure of who you are?
• Did you have a mentor who shaped you?
• Did your hometown have a unique tradition that influenced your worldview?

Remember, growth is key in this essay. After you’ve selected your specific topic and your discrete, brief 1-3 anecdotes, make sure you clarify at the beginning of the essay who you once were. Then, by the end of the essay, clarify who you are now. Displaying growth will not only evidence your maturity but also demonstrate your college readiness and ability to answer a challenging essay question.

Lastly, this third supplemental prompt is the most open-ended. This is not just a simple “extracurriculars” or “other interests” prompt, because it is so broad in its scope. As long as it brings you joy, any topic is on the table, academic, artistic, intellectual, philosophical, culinary, athletic, or otherwise. If you feel that your application so far has not done justice to an important part of yourself, then this is the time for you to address what’s as yet unsaid.

The prompt goes so far as to note that the topic can be “big or small, mundane or spectacular.” Therefore, if something specific comes to mind as you read this, then chances are it would make a strong essay, whatever it may be. The most important consideration in choosing a topic for this essay is to select something that truly does bring you joy . Readers can tell when the excitement in your tone is genuine, and that realness is what sells your essay.

As you brainstorm ideas for this essay, restrain yourself from writing about a topic that you think you “should” write about. If your true passion is baking chocolate chip cookies for your little sisters when they are feeling down, but you feel like you should write about coding because it seems more “sophisticated” or “academic,” choose the former. A genuine essay will stand out every time.

As you describe what brings you joy, try to draw the reader into your excitement. Invite them to enjoy the activity or the project with you and show them why it is that you love it. Make them love it too! Vivid descriptors and sensory details can go a long way in essays like this one. This is especially if your passion has a sensory component. Allow yourself and your readers to be swept up in “contentment, satisfaction, and meaning.” Joy is infectious, so fill your essay with as much of it as possible.

Brown University’s Brief Reflection Prompts

This brief reflection prompt asks you to distill your personality into a short list of descriptors: this is a huge challenge if you want to bring any nuance to your three words. However, on the flip side, although there are many “wrong” answers and many “right” answers, you’re more likely to put down a neutral answer than a “wrong” answer. In other words, if you pick three random positively connoted adjectives, for instance, those words’ impact on your application will probably be neutral or positive.

That said, there are things you can do to increase your chances of positively influencing your application with your three words: Be consistent and inconsistent.

Being consistent with the rest of your application is great, and 1-2 of your words should somehow be synonymous or consistent with the rest of your application. If you have an amazing academic record, maybe one of your descriptors is “hardworking” or “driven.” If you’re applying to study English or Creative Writing, maybe one of your descriptors is “writer” or “reader.” These are consistent descriptors, so that your response feels like it is part of the same application as the rest of your materials.

Being inconsistent allows you to add new value to your application. Maybe you’re applying to study Neuroscience, but one of your words is “illustrator” or “artistic.” Maybe your application deals with really serious topics all throughout, and yet you put that you’re “cheerful” or “playful.” Adding dimension to your personality through these words allows you to bring something new to this essay, even though it’s so short: every response on your application can help you out!

What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)

Like all of your other essay responses, this brief reflection is another moment to provide something to your application reader that they can’t get from reading the rest of your application. Note the wording of this prompt: “What would you like us to know about [your most meaningful extracurricular commitment]?” This question implies that what you would like the reader to know is something they can’t possibly already know.

In the case of some students, this brief response is the opportunity necessary to clarify something about their extracurricular commitment. For instance, maybe your most meaningful extracurricular has a weird title, and you’re concerned that your activities list in the Common App can’t possibly do it justice. Or perhaps your commitment hours for this extracurricular look strangely high or low, and you’d like the chance to explain it.

In the case of other students, the activities section of the Common App does their activities justice, and thus this essay is a bonus to bring more nuance to their most meaningful activity. If that sounds like you, here are some tips to make this essay response the strongest it can be.

• Answer your FAQ(s). If you describe this activity to your friends, do they all ask the same silly question? For instance, if you’re a coxswain on a rowing team, and people always ask you “What’s the point of your position and why do you need to train?”, you could take this essay as an opportunity to explain the importance of your position and why you train with the rest of the team.
• Make it personal. College admissions officers have seen a lot. Moreover, they have probably seen many applicants with the same or similar extracurricular as you. Clarify why you as an individual find meaning in this extracurricular, and how this extracurricular fits into your life.
• how you’ve grown through this activity
• how this activity has changed you
• how you have changed the activity
• how your growth has impacted your relationship with the activity.

If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words)

This final prompt toes a fine line: many students who answer this question earnestly end up sounding full of themselves. There are three main ways to answer this question. First, you can suggest teaching a class on something you legitimately have deep knowledge of. Second, you can suggest teaching a class on something you obviously have no knowledge of. Or, third, you can suggest teaching a class on something you might have some knowledge of.

If you already have deep knowledge of the subject of your imaginary class , then humbly clarify this before listing your reasons for wanting to teach a class on it. Specifically, these should be reasons other than “I am (already) an expert in this topic.” For instance, you might be an extremely talented potter, but your pottery talents don’t come up elsewhere in your application. Thus, you’ll need to discuss your pottery talents briefly, authentically, and modestly before describing why you’d like to teach a pottery class.

If you obviously don’t have knowledge of the subject of your imaginary class , then you’ll want to briefly express why you’d like to know about this topic before explaining why you’d like to teach a class on it. And again, your reasons for teaching this class need to be more than just that you’d like to be an expert who is capable of teaching a class in it. For instance, if you’d like to teach a class on how to safely jump out of a plane, you’re going to first want to clarify why you’d like to be an expert in jumping out of planes before explaining why you’d like to teach other people how to jump out of planes.

If you have some knowledge of the subject of your imaginary class , then you’ll want to clarify the limited extent of your knowledge before explaining why you’d like to learn more about this topic and teach a class on it. For instance, if you would like to teach a class on particle physics, you’ll want to briefly express how much/little you know about the topic. Then, you’ll want to explain why you’re compelled to learn more and to teach people more about particle physics.

When wrapping up your brief reflection, you may want to give an indication of how you will teach the class and/or to whom you would like to teach the class. That said, this is totally up to you and depends on how many words you have left over.

In one sentence, Why Brown? (50 words)

This deceptively simple prompt requires you to distill your reasons for applying to Brown into just one sentence. Although you can compose up to 50 words in your response, make sure it’s all one sentence. Moreover, don’t feel pressure to get close to meeting the 50-word maximum.

Specificity is key in this answer. Many students may feel compelled by Brown’s open curriculum, extensive research opportunities, and beautiful New England campus. However, the best essay responses will stand out from the crowd. Therefore, it’s key that you identify why you specifically are drawn to Brown. Are there specific courses you hope to take? Is there a professor you hope to work with? Does the PLME program provide your ideal educational experience? Whatever your reasons, you’ll likely need to do some research in order to identify them. As long as you’re specific, clear, and genuine, though, you’ll do well in this essay.

If you need help polishing up your Brown University supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

Sign Up for More College App Tips

Subscribe to the Next Admit newsletter, a weekly newsletter where you'll receive our best college essay and college app advice. You can unsubscribe at any time!

Students Also Read