Brown University Admissions: Key Requirements and Advice

Brown University, one of the top Ivy League schools, has an acceptance rate of just 5.4%, making admission highly competitive. But that must not dishearten you. Actually, students from India get accepted every year at Brown. With the right approach, you would also become one of those lucky students.

Just having good grades won’t get you into Brown; instead, you have to show who you are as a person, what drives you, and what you might be able to bring to the university. If you have a passion for learning, a track record of academic success, and personal stories that are uniquely your own, you’re off to a great start in this competition.In this section, we will delve further into the requirements of admission and the process, hopefully helping you to make the next step.

 

Basic Admission Requirements for Indian Students

Academic Background and High School Diploma

For Brown University, you must have completed Class 12. Whether it’s CBSE, ICSE, or any state board, what matters is that you’ve taken relevant courses and performed well in them. You will need to upload official transcripts that document your performance in Grades 9 through 12.

This is what you want to highlight:

• Challenging Curriculum : Brown values students who challenge themselves academically. For Indian students, it would mean taking challenging courses, especially in the field of their intended major. If you are targeting a STEM subject then you need to do well in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. Similarly, if you are a humanities applicant, evidence of strength in a history, literature, and language stream would form an important part of the application.

If you’re not sure what you want to study, we’ve designed a tool to help you figure it out. Take our Ivy League psychometric career counseling test

• Top Grades : Brown does not have a minimum GPA, but the admitted students are usually at the top of their classes Aim for an average score of 90% or higher in your Class 12 exams or equivalent. If you make one or two slip-ups, no need to worry since Brown primarily looks at the overall trajectory and consistency of your performance.

Standardized Test Scores

Brown University reinstated the standardized test score requirement for first-year applicants starting with the 2024-25 admission cycle. The successful applicants score in the range of 1480 to 1560 on the SAT and 33 to 35 on the ACT. Be sure you score in this range for a strong application.

English Language Proficiency

Since Brown’s primary language of instruction is English, Indian students must be able to demonstrate competence in the language. You may meet this with evidence of one of the following tests:

• TOEFL: Brown values a minimum TOEFL iBT score of approximately 100.
• IELTS : At least 7.0 on IELTS.
• Duolingo English Test: That is also accepted, and Brown typically requires a score of 120 or more.

International applicants to Brown University might be able to request a waiver for the English proficiency requirement if they meet certain criteria:

• They attend a school abroad run by an American college or university.
• They have a degree from a university in a country where English is the main language of instruction.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required for admission to Brown University. The letters should be from individuals who are well acquainted with you and can attest to your academic and personal qualities.

• Teacher Recommendations: Two of your letters must come from teachers who have taught you core academic subjects. Ideally, these teachers should have known you for at least a year and be able to give specific examples of your intellectual curiosity, leadership, and work ethic. For instance, your teachers can tell how you led a group project in science class to help your classmates better understand the material.
• Counselor Recommendation: Apart from the letters from your teachers, you will need one letter from your school counselor. The letter should explain how you have contributed to your school and community. For instance, your counselor may say about the charity event you organized and collected money for a local cause; hence, showing your leadership capabilities and community service.

Essays and Personal Statements

Brown puts a lot of value in your application essays as they provide one of the few opportunities available for you to express yourself beyond grades and scores. You will have two essays to write:

• Personal Statement: There is a personal essay on the Common Application of 650 words that every applicant has to write. That is where you get to tell an interesting story about yourself, perhaps about an experience that may have defined you, a challenge that you may have surpassed, or some passion that propels you forward.
• Brown Supplemental Essays: You will also be given a few short-answer questions specific to Brown. You will want to ask yourself why you’re interested in Brown and how you see yourself utilizing the open curriculum. And, what is it about your personality or experiences that you would like to share with the Brown community? The more you tailor your answers to Brown programs, the professors, and the activities at Brown, the more impressive it will be for Brown admissions officials.

Here are a few sample essay prompts:

Prompt 1: Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might pursue them at Brown.

Prompt 2: 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)

Prompt 3: What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)

Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities form an important part of the application process at Brown University. These must reflect your interests, leadership, or commitment to your community. Here are a few examples of extracurricular activities you can pursue to stand out:

• Sports: By participating in your school’s sports team, qualities such as teamwork and leadership may be developed. For example, if you are the captain of the cricket team, it not only shows your athletic skills but also speaks of your leadership and strategist skills.

 

• Cultural Clubs: The participation of cultural activities highlights how creative and passionate you are for the pursuit of an art. For example, if you are engaged with the classical dance forms of Bharatanatyam or Kathak, that reveals the creativity and your expressions for your heritage.

 

• Volunteering: Taking time for community service like at Teach For India, which educates underprivileged children whom you teach, will point to your commitment toward societal causes and the difference you are going to make for society.
• Student Government: On the student council, I held a leadership position and was either Secretary or Treasurer, demonstrating that I am able to lead my classmates and work together to manage and sponsor school events and projects.

 

• Academic Competitions: Participation in the National Science Olympiad or math competitions helps mention your academic strengths. For example, a medal from the International Mathematics Olympiad shows how you grapple with problems and how dedicated you are to finding analytical solutions for problems.

 

• Internships and Work Experience: One will gain practical skills and on-the-ground experience by, for example, taking an internship at a local startup or volunteering for an NGO, such as gaining insight into your field of interest, like learning how to strategize SEO at a marketing agency.

 

Application to Brown University

Choose Application Platform

One can either apply to Brown University through Common Application or Coalition Application

Fill Application Form

Once you have chosen your application platform, you will have to fill out general information about you such as personal details, academic record, and extracurricular activities among others.

Submit Brown-Specific Essays

As mentioned earlier, you will be required to write several supplemental essays specific to Brown that will reveal insight into your values, goals, and unique perspective.

Submit Required Documents

You should collect and submit the following documents to finalize your application:

• Completed Application Form via Common or Coalition Application
• Brown-Specific Essays
• Official Academic Transcripts (Class 9-12 academic records)

Letters of Recommendation

Two from teachers in core academic subjects

One from a school counselor or principal

Standardized Test Scores (SAT or ACT)

English Proficiency Test Scores(if applicable, such as TOEFL or IELTS)

Application Fee ($90) or a fee waiver

Submit Your Application

Check everything before you submit! The deadlines are:

• Early Decision: November 1
• Regular Decision: January 5

Admission Decision

Results come out in mid-December. Regular Decision results come out by early April. If accepted, you have to confirm your place by May 1.

How AddedEducation Can Help You Get Into Brown University

Getting into Brown University from India is not an easy thing, but with the right guidance, you can do much better. AddedEducation has one-to-one counseling focused on the identification of the special “X factor” that is unique to each student, which they can then portray to Brown University admissions. 

From stand-out essays to interview preparation, you will find our expert counselors here to support you in all aspects of the process. AddedEducation will be assisting you in building your very own strategy for your effective application in the fiercely competitive landscape of admissions. Let’s make your dream of joining Brown University come true!