successful brown supplemental essays

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.

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.

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?

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 confidence & ease. We publish the best college admissions essays from successful applicants every year to inspire and teach future students.

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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.

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

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).

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How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essays

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:

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.

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.

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.

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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)

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)

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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 .

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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:

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.

Want to write the perfect college application essay? We can help. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will help you craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay to proudly submit to colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

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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.

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How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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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.

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Brown University Supplemental Essay Examples That Stand Out

Reviewing Brown University supplemental essay examples can be very helpful for students who are getting ready to write their own college supplemental essays . Whether you are planning on applying to Brown University - one of the most selective schools in the United States, or a different institution altogether, you will definitely be inspired by the prompts that brown uses for its essays.

If you want to get into a top college, having a high GPA and a few extracurricular activities on your high school resume is no longer enough. College admissions have gotten more competitive, and the process has become more holistic. This means that if you want to stand out, you must submit compelling essays that show the admissions committee why you should be accepted.

Reviewing different college essay examples can help you do that. So, without much further ado, let's take a look at these six Brown supplementary essay examples below.

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Article Contents 9 min read

Brown supplemental essay example #1.

Books have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents read to me at least once every day when I was a child, and in middle school, when my siblings wanted to have fun with their friends instead of their little sister, they kept me busy with books. So, it didn't surprise anyone in my family when I told them that I wanted to become a literature teacher one day.

My favorite thing about books is the fact that they allow you to travel to distant lands and discover new worlds from the comfort of your living room. I remember very clearly the first time that I read So long a letter and started imagining what it would be like to walk the streets of Dakar in Senegal. My curiosity was piqued from that moment, and I developed an interest in traveling and discovering new cultures.

Isaac Asimov once said that science can amuse and fascinate us all, but it is engineering that changes the world.

I have been fascinated by the laws of physics and chemistry my entire life. I was that annoying child that could not simply enjoy toys for what they were; I needed to know how they functioned the way they did. I remember getting in trouble for taking apart the brand new toy car that my grandma gave me for my birthday because I wanted to understand how it was running if it didn't need gas and didn't need to be charged.

"They're basically fried caterpillars," my friend Suzanne said this casually as she put a spoonful of fried insects on her plate. All the blood had drained from my face, and I was trying my very best not to be rude by insulting something that was obviously a part of her culture. I obviously wasn't doing a good job because she started laughing at me a minute later.

I assumed that her laughter meant that she had been joking and told her that no one actually ate insects. It turns out that I was wrong, but she was not offended by my remark. Instead, she told me that she'd heard many people say that but that the reality is that in many cultures outside of the US, people eat many different insects.

That evening when I got home, I researched it and found that Suzanne was right. In Mexico, it is common to use worm salt for a specific food. In Congo, where my friend Suzanne is from, fried caterpillars are a delicacy often enjoyed with rice and vegetable stew.

Bugs remain a traditional food in many cultures across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Learning this about the little creatures made me think about them differently, and the next time I was at Suzanne's, I did not see an insect on her plate; I saw food in the same way that I'd see chicken or beef.

Eventually, I tried some of it, and it was pretty delicious . (248 words)

I was born and raised in New Jersey, but my parents are from Nigeria. They both moved to the United States in their twenties, and although they have lived here longer than in Nigeria, they are still very traditional. This means that my siblings and I grew up in a bicultural household where English and Yoruba are spoken simultaneously, and Pizza is just as common as jollof rice for dinner.

In addition to the fact that my parents are traditional, the community I grew up in is full of immigrants who have a story that is quite similar to mine. Only once I moved to Connecticut for boarding school did I realize how different my upbringing was from other American children.

I remember being asked to stay after class at the end of the first week because my teacher worried that I did not participate in class. She thought that I was shy or nervous because I didn't shout out my answers in class when she asked questions. I had been raised not to shout, especially at an elder. So, I was very confused by the fact that she wanted me to.

I was so confused that I actually researched it online, thinking it was maybe a practice specific to this boarding school. That is how I started learning about different cultures and how they affect our interactions. That experience taught me to always pay attention to the way people communicate and respect cultural differences. (250 words)

Brown is one of the many schools that use common app. Check out this video to learn more about the common app essay:

Brown supplemental essay example #5

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)

Butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, and if you want to get fancy, a little baking soda, corn starch, and chocolate chips. Those are the ingredients that I need to create magic, or as most people call it - chocolate chip cookies. I first learned how to make them on a Sunday afternoon with my mom. I remember making a mess in the kitchen and having a stomachache because I ate too much cookie dough. Most of all, I remember that incredible feeling that I had when my siblings and I sat around the kitchen island and took our first bites.

The art of baking has had a special place in my heart since then. I have learned how to use other ingredients to create different forms of magic, from cakes and cake pops to bread and loaves, cupcakes, and muffins, and so much more. I enjoy the finished products, of course, but my favorite part is the process of baking itself. Baking reminds me of art and my other passion, mathematics because it is all about numbers, precision, and creativity. I enjoy experimenting with different ingredients or different amounts of the same ingredients to create various baked goods that bring joy to the people around me and myself.

I can spend hours baking because it brings me comfort, and I love the fact that it gives me a chance to share a little slice of happiness with the people around me. (241 words)

I saw my dead mother's body when I was twelve years old. She was lying utterly motionless in her casket as friends, family members, colleagues, and strangers passed by and touched her cold hands or kissed her forehead. I remember thinking that she would have hated that. I kept waiting for her to get up and tell all these people that she didn't know where their hands had been, but that never happened.

The sadness and confusion I felt that day are the reason I first became interested in medicine. I remember asking so many people to tell me what had happened to my mother, and my cousin Bobby had to explain to me what malaria is.

As soon as I got home, I went to google and started researching. I wanted to understand what caused malaria and how I could ensure it didn't kill someone else's mother. In researching malaria and how to care for it, I learned how important it is to have access to good healthcare.

I wanted to join the efforts of those who strive to provide that healthcare every day, and the more I learn about medicine, the more I want to pursue it as a career. My love for science, puzzle-solving skills, and desire to help people make medicine the perfect fit for me. Furthermore, as a naturally curious person, the idea of a profession where you never stop learning especially appeals to me. (240 words)

Want to know what the key to a great personal statement is? Check out this video:

Conclusion

Now that you know what a Brown supplemental essay should look like, you can start working on your own essay.

If you are unsure how to write a college essay , we suggest you start by brainstorming. Research the school you will be applying to and think back to your experiences and interests so that you can connect the traits and qualities that the school cares about with your values, strengths, and experiences. For example, you may have noticed that a love for learning and open-mindedness are two qualities that keep coming up in the essays that you just read, and that is because those are both valued by Brown.

You can learn more about the school you want to apply to by spending time on their website. Pay attention to their mission statement and the recurring themes on different pages on their website. Those are usually the things the school values and wants to see in its students.

After brainstorming, you can outline your essay and start writing. Remember to use specific examples and anecdotes to humanize your essay and make it more memorable. If you want to maximize your chances of success, you can work with a college essay advisor during this process. You can also write your initial essay and then reach out to a college essay review service for assistance.

Either way, the key is to make sure that you have reviewed, edited, and proofread your essay enough times to ensure that there are no grammatical or spelling mistakes. Remember that your college essays play a significant role in the admission committee's decision, so you want to make sure that you submit supplemental essays that are as memorable as they are compelling.

Brown is one of the most selective universities in the country, with an acceptance rate that is lower than 10%. To get in, you will need to submit a strong application and ace the admission interview if invited for one.

Yes, Brown University is one of the eight schools in the Ivy League.

Brown asks most first-year applicants to write three supplemental essays. Students applying to the eight-year Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) or the five-year Brown-Rhode Island School of Design Dual Degree Program (BRDD) have to write additional program-specific essays as well.

You can make your supplemental essays stand out by having a strong opening statement, using specific examples or short anecdotes in your story, and making sure your essay reflects the traits that Brown values.

Brown provides prompts or questions for you to answer in your essay. Follow those instructions and connect your response to your suitability for Brown.

While Brown does not have a minimum GPA requirement, the average GPA of the recently admitted first-year class is 3.94. This means that you should aim for a similar or higher GPA if you want to be a competitive applicant.

Brown looks for students with a strong academic background who are open-minded, community-driven, and eager to learn.

You should start your essay with a memorable statement such as a quote, a fun fact, or something funny. Go back to the examples above and pay attention to the opening lines for some inspiration.

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Command Education Guide

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

young asian woman looking at mirror looking happy

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.

three female students talking joyously inside a library

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.

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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.

View of a student using her laptop while writing.

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.

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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.

Essay Questions for 2024-25 PLME (Program in Liberal Medical Education) Applicants

Two essays are required for applicants to the plme in addition to the three essays required of all first-year applicants: , 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) .

If we know anything about applying to medical programs, it is this: everyone wants to help people; everyone wants to make the world a better place; everyone wants to make a meaningful contribution. Few fields lend themselves to service-oriented clichés and platitudes as readily as medicine does, so to safely navigate the minefield of hackneyed generalizations, start with something personal! What’s one eye-opening experience that made you believe healthcare could be your calling? Perhaps it was a single moment, like watching an ambulance come to your neighbor’s house. Or maybe it was something more long-term, such as navigating your school in a wheelchair after knee surgery and realizing you want to improve patient outcomes by researching physical therapies. Whatever the case, use your personal story as the backdrop for your argument. What did you learn? What problems do you hope to tackle? What change do you hope to help create? As we said, it’s not enough to just want these things; your job is to show admissions why medicine interests you personally. Once you’ve accomplished that, be sure to address the role PLME will play in your plan for the future. In other words, why do you want to study medicine at Brown in particular? A wise applicant will do some research so they can infuse their response with specific details that demonstrate meticulousness and drive.

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 .

This is a great option for students with a very clear idea of how they want to contribute to medicine upon graduation. Looking back at the required essay, try to expand upon your motivations for joining the field and identify some concrete ways you hope to make a difference. Perhaps you’re concerned about mental health among young adults and plan to open an inner-city psychiatry clinic for underserved youth. Maybe you aim to pioneer new laser surgery treatments that will significantly decrease recovery times for common procedures. Because the question builds so readily on the required essay, try to avoid repeating yourself; if you can identify specific impacts you hope to have that go beyond the first essay, you’ll have a strong, persuasive response.

How has your personal background uniquely shaped your perspective on the field of medicine?

While many schools ask what makes you you , Brown is taking it a step further: they want to know how your personality, experiences, and identity have affected your view of the medical field. So start by articulating that perspective. What are your opinions, beliefs, and impressions of medicine? Then, think about how your own background and experiences contributed to those impressions. For example, maybe watching doctors brush off your mom’s chronic pain over and over showed you that practitioners can be prejudiced, inspiring you to join the field to improve care for Black women. Perhaps you were hospitalized with Covid-19 and were amazed by the innovations in treatment and care, which inspired you to join the forefront of medical research. The goal of this prompt is to learn more about both you and your views on the medical field as a whole, so make sure your answer encompasses both.

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Brown University Supplemental Essays Guide: 2021-2022

Brown University supplemental essays are a key part of your application to Brown University. Not sure how to approach the Brown University essay prompts? With tips from a current Ivy League student, CollegeAdvisor.com’s guide to the Brown supplemental essays 2021 will show you exactly how to write engaging Brown essays and maximize your chances of admission.

For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on Brown, click here . Want help crafting your Brown supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a free consultation by calling (844) 836-8250.

Brown Supplemental Essays 2021 Quick Facts:

Brown has an acceptance rate of 7%— U.S. News ranks Brown as a highly competitive school.
We recommend answering all Brown supplemental essays—optional Brown University essay prompts included—comprehensively and thoughtfully.

Does Brown have supplemental essays?

In order to apply to Brown University, you must submit your primary personal statement, typically through the Common or Coalition Application . Additionally, Brown requires three shorter Brown supplemental essays for first-year applicants.

This guide to the Brown supplemental essays 2021 does not include the additional Brown University essays that you must complete for Brown’s Program in Liberal Medical Education or the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program . However, the Brown University essays covered below will provide the guidance necessary to complete those other Brown University supplemental essays.

Need tips on writing your Common App essay? Check out our blog article .

What are the Brown supplemental essays?

Specific details on the Brown supplemental essays 2021 can be found on Brown’s Undergraduate Admission page . The Brown University essay prompts are also available on the Common App site.

How do you write a Brown supplemental essay?

First, you’ll need to decide which topics you want to write about in your Brown supplemental essays. You only have a limited number of Brown University essay prompts to communicate whatever you may want Admissions Officers to know about you, so avoid making your Brown essays repetitive.

The Brown supplemental essays 2021 should highlight a different side of you as a student and as a person. For instance, if your personal statement focuses on your passion for social justice, you might write about your love of the piano in one of your Brown University supplemental essays. You want to emphasize certain characteristics, interests, and activities throughout your application: that’s your application narrative. However, it’s also important to highlight hobbies, community involvement, and other experiences that tell more about you in your Brown University essays.

Although these Brown supplemental essays will ultimately be shorter than your personal statement, you should plan on dedicating just as much time and effort to them. Each of the first-year Brown University essay prompts is only 200-250 words in length. This means that you’ll have to be very intentional about what goes into the final product. Aim to be as concise as possible by asking yourself which details are truly important and how you can express them in a clear, straightforward manner. In these Brown supplemental essays, content should be your main concern; you can focus a bit more on style in your personal statement.

Does Brown have a “Why Brown” essay?

The Brown supplemental essays 2021 do not include a traditional “Why Brown” essay. However, the first of the Brown University essays for first-year applicants does ask students how they may use Brown’s unique curriculum to their educational advantage. See more details on Question 1 below.

Brown Supplemental Essays—Question 1 (Required)

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)

This first of the Brown University supplemental essays puts a bit of a spin on the customary “Why Brown?” question. It narrows the scope and focuses specifically on Brown’s signature Open Curriculum . The university’s unique course of study frees its students from the constraints of general education requirements and allows them to fill their schedules with courses they are passionate about. Admissions officers want to see that you will truly take advantage of this academic flexibility if you attend Brown.

One key component of Brown essays, including this prompt, is connecting your personal interests back to Brown. These connections should be clear and concrete. Rather than using this space to discuss the benefits of the Open Curriculum, show that you’ve done your research. Cite a fascinating Brown course that you wouldn’t consider if you had to worry about requirements. Write about all of the different facets of your prospective major that you’ll get to explore if you’re not bogged down with other obligatory classes. Your goal is to communicate why the Open Curriculum is the right fit for you as specifically as possible.

Keep in mind the balance of this essay when drafting it. 3Additionally, double-check that Brown actually offers the majors or classes that you bring up in this essay!

Brown Essay Draft Key Questions:

Have you included both your existing academic interests and some potential new interests as well?
Are your interests linked clearly and concretely to Brown’s Open Curriculum?
Do your descriptions reflect your genuine passion for these subjects?

Brown Supplemental Essays—Question 2 (Required)

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)

The most important thing to keep in mind while writing this essay is respect. Brown is known to be a very inclusive and accepting community (you can find the mission statement from their Office of Institutional Equity and Inclusion here ), and you want to demonstrate that you are a good fit. Admissions Officers want to see that you are open-minded, no matter what your specific beliefs may be. Even if the differing perspective in question did not change your own, you must demonstrate respect for everyone involved. Remember, you never know the identity and beliefs of those evaluating your Brown University supplemental essays.

Moreover, sometimes insensitive stories may not appear to be insensitive at first glance. In your Brown University essay prompts, beware of privilege narratives that may come off as ignorant and condescending. For instance, avoid writing about an interaction with a poor person that led you to realize that the working class works harder than you initially thought. Though you may write this kind of piece with the best of intentions, Admissions Officers will likely see you as short-sighted when it comes to your own privilege. To avoid mistakes like this, make sure you get several pairs of eyes on your Brown essays.

To make your Brown University supplemental essays more engaging, you’ll want to “show, not tell.” This common writing advice encourages you to include sensory details in your piece in order to draw your reader into the world of the story. This is especially important to keep in mind when writing this essay—otherwise, it can quickly become very general and therefore less compelling. Some potentially successful examples could include an enlightening debate in class, a brand new kind of work experience, or a transformative conversation with somebody in your community. Whatever the scenario may be, zooming in and then out can add intriguing layers to your Brown University essays.

Have you clearly communicated what your perspective was both before and after this challenge arose?
Do you include some sensory details that draw the reader in?
Have you demonstrated that you are open-minded and able to grow?

Brown Supplemental Essays—Question 3 (Required)

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)

Brown University supplemental essays are spaces where you can be your most creative. While there is certainly no right answer here, consider exploring a topic other than your academics or extracurriculars, especially those which you’ve already discussed in other Brown University essays. The most important thing here is to be genuine. True joy comes through in a piece of writing, and Admissions Officers will be able to tell if you’re only worried about impressing them in your Brown essays. One potential pitfall would be writing about how you find satisfaction and meaning in volunteering. Not only is this an overused response to these kinds of Brown University supplemental essays, but it may also be seen as virtue signaling. Read more on the CollegeAdvisor blog about how to write about your service experiences .

Keep in mind that this essay will also be used to assess who you are as a person. There is no need to try to be as profound as possible, but your topic should say something about you. For example, let’s say you’re a prospective computer science major and a dedicated tennis player. You may use this opportunity to discuss your love of watercolors: while it’s not one of your primary extracurricular activities, it’s a pastime that truly brings you joy. In this theoretical essay, you might expand upon how painting encourages you to appreciate the beauty of the world around you. Think of the things that make you unique and show that you care deeply.

Does this piece reflect a side of yourself that you haven’t yet written about?
Have you defined what joy looks like for you and expressed it toward the subject that you’re writing about?
Does this thing that brings you joy say something about who you are?

What does Brown look for in essays?

Your Brown essays (both your personal statement and supplements) are perhaps the most important element of your application because they are the part over which you have the most control. They round you out as a person and allow you to introduce new facets of yourself into your application. No college wants to admit a robot that can only churn out good grades—they are interested in the human who is applying to be a part of their community. Strong writing can even offset lower grades and test scores on your application. Your Brown University supplemental essays are your opportunity to show off any side of yourself that you desire.

Additionally, Brown is intentionally a very diverse community. Therefore, there are no “correct answers” to the Brown University essay prompts. Try to put your best foot forward, of course, but remember to stay true to yourself.

To see examples of essays written by our advisors who were admitted to Brown, check out this article .

Brown Supplemental Essays: Final Thoughts

Writing Brown University essays is an important commitment, and the process can create a lot of stress. However, keep in mind that Admissions Officers are excited to hear about your interests and experiences and want to see you succeed.

Use this Brown supplemental essays 2021 guide as a way to help you craft engaging Brown University essays with as little stress and confusion as possible. You also have the help of your family, friends, teachers, and counselors to guide you through. Remember to allow plenty of time to review and revise your Brown essays before submitting them. Most importantly, remember to stay true to yourself throughout the application process.

This 2021-2022 essay guide for Brown University was written by Chloe Webster . For more CollegeAdvisor.com resources on Brown, click here . Want help crafting your Brown supplemental essays? Create your free account or schedule a free consultation by calling (844) 836-8250.

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How to Write the Brown University and PLME Essays 2024-2025

Brown has one of the more extensive supplemental essay packages out there, with three 250-word supplements and four shorter responses required for all applicants. In addition to these seven prompts, applicants to the dual degree program with Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) will need to explain their interest in the program through a 650-word personal statement, and applicants to the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) will need to do the same through two 250-word essays.

Even if you aren’t applying to either of these specialized programs, you still have seven prompts to respond to, so make sure you leave yourself enough time to give your Brown application the attention it deserves. In this post, we’ll break down how you want to approach each prompt, so you can be confident that your essays will help set you apart even within one of the most competitive applicant pools in the country.

Read these Brown essay examples written by real students to inspire your writing!

Brown University Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants.

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. (200-250 words)

Prompt 2: 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)

Prompt 3: Brown students care deeply about their work and the world around them. Students find contentment, satisfaction, and meaning in daily interactions and major discoveries. Whether big or small, mundane or spectacular, tell us about something that brings you joy. (200-250 words)

Prompt 4: What three words best describe you? (3 words)

Prompt 5: What is your most meaningful extracurricular commitment, and what would you like us to know about it? (100 words)

Prompt 6: If you could teach a class on any one thing, whether academic or otherwise, what would it be? (100 words)

Prompt 7: In one sentence, Why Brown? (50 words)

RISD Dual Degree Applicants

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 words)

PLME Applicants

Prompt 1: 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)

Prompt 2: 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):

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

All Applicants, 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. (200-250 words) . .

This is essentially a “ Why This Major ” essay, designed to understand your academic interests and how you might take advantage of the Open Curriculum.

The first step is to take the time to ponder what it is about your selected subject that you really gravitate towards, and try to establish exactly why you want to study that subject (or subjects). The prompt urges you to think about why you are excited by your academic interests, so push yourself to think beyond “I’m really good at it” or “I have an excellent teacher.”

The short essay is only 250 words, so aim to focus your interests on a maximum of two areas. Once you have established your key interests and taken the time to ponder why you’re drawn to them, examine your reasoning and try to find an underlying connection between the two fields. Alternatively, consider presenting an interdisciplinary field that connects the two subjects, and emphasize the opportunities presented at Brown through its particular courses/programs/majors that would allow you to pursue your interdisciplinary interests. If there isn’t a connection between the two subjects, that’s totally okay, too!

While this prompt might appear to only ask about your academic interests, it is also asking what you would like to study while at Brown (it is a Brown supplemental essay, after all). Admissions officers also want to know how you’ll use Brown’s resources (and the Open Curriculum) to achieve your academic goals.

But what about those who are undecided? There’s no need to worry if you’re not sure what you’ll study. You can simply mention your top 1-2 interests and why Brown is a good fit for you to develop those interests. It might be helpful to know that Brown is one of the few universities that allows you to construct your own major; if applicable, you can mention your desire to turn your multiple interests into a unique interdisciplinary major.

Below are several examples to illustrate meshing two seemingly contrasting interests into a potential future academic pursuit at Brown:

Example 1: Perhaps you’re interested in biology and geology. You could weave your interests together by emphasizing your insatiable curiosity for understanding both living and physical systems, and reference an example of something your desire to understand systems-thinking has led you to do in the past, or reflect on how this experience challenged your assumptions, etc. Your narrative could incorporate experiences that illustrate your interest in each subject – you can talk about a science fair project you worked on, a class you struggled in but overcame, a lab experiment you participated in, or a younger student you tutored, etc. Focus on the common reasons you are attracted to both subjects. You can mention the opportunity to pursue the joint Geo-Bio degree offered through the Department of Earth, Environment, and Planetary Sciences at Brown, without abandoning your interests in poetry and anthropology through the opportunities presented by the Open Curriculum.

Example 2: Let’s imagine that you are interested in politics, activism, or community work, but you also are passionate about music and have been playing piano for many years. You could discuss your experiences on a political internship or your role in your school’s model UN, and discuss the opportunities available at Brown, through the Brown in Washington program or the Swearer Center for Public Service. However, you could also discuss the piano concert you organized and performed in to fundraise for your community’s homeless shelter. Whenever possible, selecting an example that bridges your seemingly contrasting interests can create a very compelling essay. You could conclude by explaining that you are aiming to use the Open Curriculum to explore the impact of music on the influence of political campaigns and a candidate’s perception, or on exploring the connection between music, Alzheimer’s, and memory, etc.

All Applicants, Prompt 2

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).

Brainstorming Your Topic

While the phrasing is a little different, this is essentially a Diversity Essay . You want to share something about who you are that sets you apart from other applicants to Brown, and explain how it would make you a valuable addition to Brown’s campus community.

Before you start brainstorming which part of your identity you want to write about, do remember that the way colleges evaluate race specifically will be different this year, and moving forward, after the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action in June. Schools are not allowed to factor race into their broader admissions strategies, but they can consider it on an individual level through the essay. So, if your racial identity is an important part of who you are, this is a good opportunity to share it with admissions officers.

Of course, you are also welcome to write about a different part of your identity. The things that make us diverse aren’t just race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and the other features that normally first come to people’s minds when they hear the word “diversity.” Even the prompt itself casts a wide net, with the phrase “an aspect of your growing up.” In addition to the features just listed, that could also refer to hobbies, interests, your family culture, and pretty much any lived experience. Less traditional topics in this vein could include:

Teaching yourself Elvish, the fictional language from Lord of the Rings
Biking to school every day while your friends drove or took the bus
Baking all the birthday cakes in your family from the time you were seven
Raising chickens in the backyard of your suburban house

The only real rule here is that you choose a part of your identity that will help Brown admissions officers better understand who you are, and what you’ll look like as a college student. So long as that’s the case, anything is fair game.

Tips for Writing Your Essay

Once you’ve selected a topic, the thing you want to make clear in your actual essay is how this “aspect of your growing up has inspired or challenged you .” Like “aspect of your growing up,” “inspired or challenged” gives you a lot of flexibility, but what Brown admissions officers are saying is that they want to understand not just what sets you apart from other applicants, but why that thing is crucial to understanding who you are as a whole.

In other words, you don’t just want to say “I live with my grandparents, who spent most of their lives in Germany, and don’t speak very good English.” You want to go deeper, explaining how this dynamic made you feel, and how it shaped your personality and overall perspective on the world.

There’s no one right way to do that—only you know how this piece of your identity has impacted you. The most important thing is to just be honest, rather than trying to structure your response around what you think Brown wants to see. If you try to force a connection to a particular value, that disconnect will show. To illustrate our point here, compare the following two excerpts from hypothetical essays:

Excerpt 1: “I sometimes felt awkward when I had friends over, as my grandparents could do little more than wave and stumble over a heavily accented ‘How are you?’ But I always got over my embarrassment quickly, because cultural heritage is something to celebrate, since the only way we can learn is from engaging with those who are different from us.”

Excerpt 2: “When I was little, I didn’t see any issue with my grandparents not speaking English: they were my family, and that was all that mattered. But when I got older and started having friends over, their perplexed reactions to my grandpa’s heavily accented ‘How are you?’ caused me to feel a twang of shame—and then, a pinch of anger with myself, for being ashamed of my own family.”

While celebration of cultural differences is of course a wonderful thing, in the first excerpt the writer seems to be skipping ahead to their appreciation of this value, and glossing over a more complicated emotional journey in the process.

In the second example, on the other hand, they are unafraid to be vulnerable, and share their true feelings about this experience. As a result, we have a much clearer sense of both who they are and how they became that person, which are exactly the questions admissions officers want you to answer in your essays. Plus, if they talk later on about the appreciation for cultural difference they eventually took away from this experience, we will have seen exactly how they developed this appreciation, which will make their connection to this value feel much more genuine.

One last tip here: try to rely on specific anecdotes as much as possible to illustrate your points. Both excerpts above draw on a tangible example of a moment (having friends over and their grandparents being unable to greet them) that made them wrestle with their identity. That specificity gives us a much clearer sense of how this student grew through this experience, whereas a general line like “Sometimes, I was proud of my heritage, but other times I was embarrassed” would leave us with a lot of questions about what caused the student to feel this back-and-forth.

Mistakes to Avoid

The biggest potential pitfall in a diversity essay is only sharing part of your identity, and not taking the next step outlined above of explaining how it’s relevant to understanding what kind of college student you’ll be. If you don’t get to this deeper level of reflection, admissions officers may find themselves saying “Okay, we know [x] about you, but how does that help us figure out whether or not you’re a good match for Brown?”

All Applicants, Prompt 3

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

This essay prompt is very similar to the extracurricular essay archetype. However, there is a subtle difference in that this prompt allows you to discuss out-of-school activities and academic subjects. This would be a good place to demonstrate your love for a specific topic or activity that you included in other parts of your application. Or, if there is a very important part of your personality that hasn’t been captured by the rest of your application, you can write about that here.

Pick a topic that genuinely interests you. Don’t write an essay about how you love titrating acids and bases to sound “impressive” or “intellectual” if you groan every time you walk into the chemistry lab. Admissions officers have read enough essays to tell when a student’s tone and details depict a genuine interest in a topic. You are given so much freedom, so you really should write about whatever brings you joy.

Maybe you love trying styling hair and nothing brings you as much joy as when you are backstage at your school show and you are styling, braiding, and pinning all of the actors’ hair. A topic like this is unique to the student, and since they are genuinely passionate about hairstyling, it will shine through in their writing.

A strong extracurricular essay will either show your emotions and state of mind when you participate in your activity, or how that activity has helped you develop new skills and personality traits. A great essay will do both. Like the other prompts, there is a limited word count to convey not only why you enjoy this activity so much, but how you have improved as a result of this activity. Here’s an example that accomplishes both of these:

“It was a hot day in New Orleans and the crowd stuffed together certainly didn’t make things better. Necks were craning to see the spectacle in the middle of the circle. I tugged on my dad’s shirt, and he placed me on top of his shoulders for the best seat in the house. My heart raced every time the daring performer threw a sword up – I really thought he’d eventually slice his hand open. But it was perfect every time.

By the end of our trip, I had tried my hand at juggling everything from toothbrushes to balls of socks. My mom was not as enthusiastic when I collected everybody’s knives at dinner to mimic the juggler’s final trick. When I finally got a juggling kit for my next birthday, I devoted every second of my free time to practicing moves I saw on YouTube. With more and more practice, I could tell how long it would take for an object to reach its zenith just by the weight in my hand.

At times, the level of control and focus I put into juggling is exhausting, but if I lose focus for one second, I run the risk of serious injury. Some tricks have taken years to perfect, but the gratification when I’ve mastered a new skill makes all my patience worth it. Nothing will be as thrilling as the day my audience’s hearts race with me as I catch a sword in my hand.”

In this example, the student’s passion for juggling is tangible. The reader sees what sparked this student’s interest, how it has developed, and how juggling has affected the student. By tying the conclusion back to the anecdote at the beginning, the essay has a satisfying conclusion that makes the reader feel this student is highly motivated by their passion and dreams, which is exactly what Brown is looking for.

If you’d like to see some examples of good responses to this prompt, check out our blog post breaking down “joy” essays written by real past applicants to Brown!

All Applicants, Prompt 4

What three words best describe you (3 words).

This prompt is as clear, straightforward, and short as you could ask for, but with supplemental essays, that unfortunately doesn’t automatically mean writing your response will be easy. Obviously, you have no space to elaborate on why you chose the three words you did, so you need to give yourself time to think deeply about your words.

The best advice we can give is to, as you brainstorm, remember two of the main purposes of the college essay. First, to set yourself apart from other applicants with strong academic and extracurricular resumes. Second, to give admissions officers information that can’t be found elsewhere in your application.

Keeping these two ideas in mind will hopefully help you use your three words as effectively as possible. For example, you don’t want to use flattering but vague adjectives like “smart,” “talented,” “funny,” or “creative” because those are words that most other applicants to Brown would also use to describe themselves. You also want to avoid highlighting a feature of yourself that already comes across in another part of your application—if your activities list says that you’ve earned 10 varsity letters, admissions officers already know you’re athletic, so don’t waste one of your precious three words on repeating that here.

Instead, try to pick descriptive, precise words that pick out some feature of your personality that, for whatever reason, doesn’t yet come across in your application. Only you know how to apply that advice to yourself, but here is a list of words that communicate a clear, tangible personality trait, and thus would teach admissions officers something substantive about who you are:

Sentimental
Adventurous

Hopefully, this list gives you a clearer sense of what kind of words you should be considering. You only have three, so use them wisely!

All Applicants, Prompt 5

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

This is a textbook example of the “Extracurricular” essay , which is one you may well have already written for another school. If you do already have a version of this essay on hand, you are welcome to write about the same topic. However, you will still need to dedicate time to this prompt, as this essay’s word count is likely much lower than that of your other essay (usually, this kind of prompt has a word count in the 200-250 range), and you don’t want your essay to feel like an abridged version of another one. We’ll get into how to avoid that in the next section.

If you haven’t yet written this kind of essay, or if you have but want to write about something new, note that “most meaningful” can be read in a variety of ways. Perhaps you are inspired to write about classic extracurricular activities, like a sport, a club, volunteer work, or a part-time job. Those are all fantastic options, but you can also write about more unconventional activities if none of those things feel quite right, as “extracurricular activity” can refer to just about anything you do outside of the classroom.

For example, you could write about how you make trinkets out of the feathers that get left at your bird feeder. You could also write about your neighborhood’s caroling group, and how going door to door each year is your favorite part of the holiday season. Or you could describe teaching baseball to your much younger neighbor after watching you practice made him want to learn the sport.

While you probably don’t do any of these things, hopefully these examples of more unusual activities help you brainstorm things you do in your own life that could work for this prompt. Remember, like any college essay, the point of this prompt is to help admissions officers better understand who you are, so as long as your activity will help you do that, it’s fair game here.

If you’re writing about the same topic as another essay, you can certainly use that other one for inspiration, and potentially even use some of the same lines. There are only so many hours in the day, and recycling previous work can be a good time-saver.

However, you want to make sure this essay feels like a cohesive, independent unit, not like a Frankenstein’s monster pieced together from parts of another essay. So, don’t just pluck enough sentences to get you to 100 words and call it good. Rather, think about the ideas you express in that essay, and try to capture those same sentiments in a smaller package.

As noted above, that may involve using a sentence or two from the other essay, but you will almost certainly need to generate new sentences, or rephrase existing ones, and of course pay attention to the structure to make sure the flow, progression from one idea to the next, and so on all make sense.

If you’re starting from scratch, the most important thing to do is make sure you answer the second half of this prompt: what do you want admissions officers to know about this activity? In other words, don’t just tell them “I do [x] in my free time.” Rather, explain how this activity has helped you grow, so that Brown admissions officers can see why your involvement in it is relevant to the kind of college student you’ll be.

Obviously, you don’t have a ton of room to do this, but you still want to rely on the old adage for college essays, “show, don’t tell,” as much as possible. Usually, that means describing specific anecdotes or life experiences in enough detail that you don’t have to tell your reader directly how the activity shaped you, because they can see it for themselves. Here, you don’t have the space to provide a ton of detail, but you still want to at least reference tangible examples to illustrate your points, as otherwise your essay may end up feeling cheesy or impersonal.

To see the difference between the two approaches, compare these two example responses:

Example 1: “ When I started volunteering at the Everett animal shelter, I wasn’t that excited about a lot of the tasks I had to do. I mainly just wanted something to do on the weekends. But as time went on, I started to find joy and fulfillment in duties that had previously just bored me. Now, I have a much more positive outlook when I try new things, because this experience taught me that learning and growth can happen in a lot of different ways–often ways you never even expected up front.”

Example 2: “My first day volunteering at the Everett animal shelter, I couldn’t help but wrinkle my nose and try to hold in my vomit as I scrubbed the cages of kittens and puppies that weren’t yet potty-trained. But gradually, I stopped noticing the smell as much, and instead started paying attention to how joyful the animals were afterward to be able to play freely, without avoiding soiled areas. Today, I try to approach everything in my life with the mindset that even tedious or gross tasks can be fulfilling if you consciously focus on the greater purpose of what you’re doing.”

The ideas conveyed in these two examples are the same. But the second one includes a specific example of a task they found unpleasant (cleaning cages), and describes what exactly made them start to change their mindset (seeing the animals happy in their clean cages). As a result, we get a more engaging story, which teaches us not just what the student learned from this experience, but also how they learned it.

The main thing you want to be on the lookout for here is using your space inefficiently, since you already have so little of it. Specifically, remember that this essay is not the only thing in your application, so you want to give your reader new information about yourself, rather than repeating details that can already be found elsewhere.

For example, if you already wrote your Common App essay about your experiences volunteering at the animal shelter, you’ll want to pick a different topic for this essay. Even if you feel you can shine a different light on the experience, you’ve already spent 650 words on it. Use these 100 to introduce Brown admissions officers to something entirely new about yourself.

Additionally, remember that, if you’re writing about something that appears in your activities list, admissions officers already know how long you’ve been involved in it, and how often you do it. So, an introductory line like “During my sophomore year, I started volunteering at the animal shelter every week,” is a waste of 13% of your space, as admissions officers already know that.

Even if you choose an extracurricular that doesn’t appear in your activities list, you don’t really need to provide these kinds of factual details unless they’re essential to understanding the point you’re trying to make. For example, maybe you were feeling overwhelmed your freshman year of high school, and teaching your neighbor baseball helped remind you that you do have things you’re good at. Otherwise, those words could be used more efficiently.

All Applicants, Prompt 6

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

You’re not even a high school graduate yet, and here Brown is dropping you into a professor’s shoes—what an amazing opportunity! As you think about which course you’re going to offer, note that Brown is casting an incredibly wide net with this prompt: you can teach about any subject, even a non-academic one. Admissions officers want to see your creativity, because once you get to college, you will be able to take a much, much wider variety of classes, and admissions officers want to see that you’re ready to take advantage of that freedom.

Plus, like with any college essay, your goal here is to share a side of yourself that isn’t reflected in any other part of your application, and the looser nature of this prompt makes this a great opportunity to share something that wouldn’t appear in a transcript or activities list. So, don’t be afraid to think outside the box and have some fun! Do you have any interests that are a huge part of your life, but unrelated to your academic or extracurricular passions? Tell us about them here! Is there something you’ve always been inexplicably fascinated by, to the point that it’s shaped how you’ve grown up? This is the place to describe it!

To give you a sense of just how creative you can get, here is a list of example topics you could write about:

Using statistics to account for potential injuries when drafting your fantasy football team
Theories and conspiracies about how the pyramids were built
The incredible variation in Italian food from one region to another
The chemistry behind making the perfect, sticky-but-not-too-sticky, sushi rice
Extreme climates, like a desert in Chile that hasn’t gotten rain in hundreds of years

While the prompt only explicitly asks what you would teach about, the thing to bring out in your response is the implied “and why” at the end. You don’t want your response to be just about the history of making sushi rice. While that might be informative, it won’t help Brown admissions officers visualize you as part of their campus community.

Instead, use your topic as a lens to shine light on some feature of your personality. In other words, ask yourself what your interest in this subject says about you overall. For example, maybe dealing with the randomness of injuries to highly drafted players in your fantasy league has helped you accept that some things are ultimately outside of your control, no matter how hard you try to account for them. Alternatively, perhaps learning about the most extreme climates on earth makes you feel awe for the variety present in nature, which in turn inspires you to think about the variety of things you could do with your life.

The most important thing is that your interest in this topic is clearly connected to your growth and development. If that connection is vague or doesn’t seem particularly logical, your response may feel disjointed or impersonal. But so long as your explanation is honest and thoughtful, admissions officers should come away from your essay with a more comprehensive, nuanced understanding of what makes you tick, both intellectually and personally.

Really, the only thing you want to avoid in your response is not taking advantage of this opportunity to be creative. Even if you want to write about a conventional academic subject, like math or English, approach it from an unusual angle, like the example listed in the “Brainstorming” section about using statistics to help you in your fantasy football draft. That will prove to admissions officers that you aren’t just smart, but also curious and imaginative, and also show them a new side of you—the side that plays fantasy football—that probably doesn’t show up anywhere else in your application.

All Applicants, Prompt 7

In one sentence, why brown (50 words).

While writing the supplements for the other schools on your list, you have likely come across this “Why This College?” prompt. However, because Brown is giving you only 50 words, the usual approach to this kind of essay—citing several school-specific resources and explaining how they’ll help you achieve your goals—doesn’t work, as you just don’t have room to do that.

That being said, you still want to be precise in your response. The classic rule for this kind of essay, that you shouldn’t be able to swap in another school’s name and still have your response make sense, still applies. And 50 words is more than you think. While you don’t have space to incorporate academic, extracurricular, and social opportunities at Brown the way you normally would, you can still highlight one particular resource at Brown that interests you and give admissions officers a sense of why you’re drawn to it.

Here’s an example of a response that accomplishes everything laid out in the previous paragraph:

“Brown’s spirit is making interdisciplinary connections, which I would do through the Brown in Bologna program by further exploring the Italian culture my grandparents preserved even after immigrating to Boston, and simultaneously informing myself about another country’s educational system so that I am better prepared to solve global educational inequalities.”

This response is exactly 50 words, and uses them efficiently to show admissions officers this student is a good fit for their school by explaining how they would take advantage of the opportunities available at Brown. To do the same in your own response, just make sure that you choose a resource that directly and concretely connects to your goals for college, rather than something you’re only sort of interested in. If you don’t already have a clear sense of what you want to say, 50 words isn’t enough to explain why you might be interested in something—you need to already know you are, and why.

One last note: “the Open Curriculum” doesn’t work as the kind of school-specific resource we’re talking about. While this is one of the school’s most famous distinguishing features, remember that the point of any college essay is to help set yourself apart from other applicants, and anyone who applies to Brown is at least somewhat drawn to the Open Curriculum.

To give admissions officers a clear sense of how you personally would fit into Brown’s campus community, you’ll need to get more specific, by instead referencing a research opportunity, particular academic offering, or study abroad program (as in the example above). Then, explain how that resource reflects the broader culture of Brown, and how it connects to your own priorities and hopes for your time in college. Fitting all of this in isn’t easy, but again, it can be done. We believe in you!

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 words).

The Brown-RISD Dual Degree program is an intense, highly selective (2-3% acceptance) program in which students must get accepted to both Brown and RISD based on their respective criterion, and then be approved by a joint committee. Students in the program exhibit an intense degree of intellectual rigor, as well as a broad ranging curiosity for both an arts and liberal arts education. The key here is to convince the readers that you are a good fit in this specific program, rather than as a Brown student who takes a few RISD classes or a RISD student who takes a few Brown classes.

In this essay, you must be specific about why you would be a better fit spending five years getting degrees from both Brown and RISD rather than getting one degree from either of the schools. You must show that it is necessary for you to get both degrees, and how you would like to use the knowledge you gain from both schools in your future. It’s incredibly important to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of your goals, as this is specifically called out in the prompt.

With 650 available words, this essay should feature the same depth as your Common App essay, and should complement it. Although the two should not overlap in content, you can definitely expand on topics you briefly touched on in one essay in the other. Here are a few possible avenues you could explore in this essay:

(1) Students in the program stretch the gamut of possible Brown + RISD major combinations: furniture and applied mathematics, computer science and industrial design, and comparative literature and painting. The program prides itself on this diversity, so explain how your passions and interests are disparate, but also connected to your overall identity. Talk about how being surrounded with other Brown-RISD students will foster your wide-ranging intellectual and artistic curiosities even further.

(2) If you ultimately want to become an artist, you could talk about how important the liberal arts have been and will be for you. Maybe you find literature critical for escaping into the worlds you want to create visually, and you want to dive deeper during your undergraduate years.

(3) Maybe you want to study both biology and industrial design, because you want to base your design work on biomimicry. You could talk about how you would draw equally from both fields, and how you want to design better transportation devices that take from the best methods of nature.

(4) Say you’ve always been interested in your Korean heritage and finding ways to express that through art. As a result, you want to study East Asian history at Brown, where you will understand the context that your parents immigrated out of, and textiles at RISD, where you can craft bojagi (Korean wrapping cloth) with a sensitivity to its historical context.

(5) Maybe you’ve always been passionate about both art and liberal arts, but have no concrete connection between the two, and that’s also perfectly fine. You could talk about how you want to further explore and hone in these passions, so that by your second year of undergrad, you’ll have a stronger idea of what specifically you want to study.

Your art portfolio, Common App essay, and other supplemental essays will also speak volumes about who you are, so make sure to use this essay to highlight parts of yourself previously unmentioned. You’ve also probably spent the previous essays explaining “why Brown,” so use this essay to delve deep into why you would thrive in an arts and design centered environment in conjunction with Brown’s liberal arts curriculum.

PLME Applicants Only

Brown’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) is a prestigious 8 year BS/MD program which gives students the opportunity to be admitted to Brown’s undergraduate program and Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School simultaneously.

This is one of the most selective programs of any kind in the country, with an acceptance rate below 2% in recent years , so essays that show your true affinity and aptitude for medicine are absolutely essential.

PLME Applicants, Prompt 1

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 prompt falls under the Why This Major essay archetype, as it asks you to provide two layers of reflection on why you’re applying to the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME).

First, explain why you want to become a physician – dig into your experiences, interests, and values to demonstrate a clear and compelling motivation for committing to such a demanding career at a young age. Then, explain why Brown’s PLME is the right program for you, as opposed to some other BS/MD program . You’ll need to demonstrate your understanding of PLME’s unique structure and illustrate how it aligns with your academic, professional, and personal aspirations.

PLME is a huge commitment for 17 and 18 year olds, who are essentially saying that they know what they want to do for the rest of their lives before even beginning their undergraduate studies. Brown admissions officers understandably want to accept candidates who have tangible reasons for wanting to become doctors, such as clinical or lab experience, or a specific ailment you hope to help cure, rather than just a vague interest in science or in helping people.

Consider the following questions as you brainstorm for each part of the prompt.

Personal Motivation :

When did you first become interested in medicine, and what sparked that interest?
Have you had any significant experiences (volunteering, shadowing, personal/family health issues) that solidified your desire to pursue medicine?
What qualities do you possess that make you suited for a career in medicine?
How do your values align with the responsibilities and ethics of being a physician?
How does the interdisciplinary nature of PLME align with your interests outside of medicine?
What specific aspects of PLME’s curriculum (e.g., the freedom to explore diverse academic interests) appeal to you?
Are there particular faculty members , research opportunities , experiential learning programs , or other resources at Brown that resonate with your professional goals?
How do you envision your future career as a physician, and how will PLME help you realize that vision?

Reflecting on your past experiences related to medicine is especially critical. Whether that is shadowing a pediatrician at your local hospital for a summer, volunteering with an organization like the Red Cross, or doing lab research on pancreatic cancer, let the admissions team know that you know what engaging in clinical or laboratory work is like, and that those experiences strengthened your desire to enter the medical profession.

You can also bring in personal experiences with healthcare, such as seeing a loved one hospitalized, if they contributed to your desire to enter the field. However, you want to avoid clichés like witnessing an older relative, usually a grandparent, pass away due to illness, and afterwards deciding to pursue medicine as a career.

In cases such as these, make sure to make the experience as unique to you as possible, and to connect it to other health-related activities you’ve done as well. Focusing on just your sadness won’t do much to set you apart from the other talented students applying to one of the most selective programs in the country.

Instead, you could talk about, for example, how your grandfather made efforts to extend his life by cutting sugar and caffeine out of his diet in his 60s, and how you became curious about the interplay between genes, diet, and longevity, which inspired you to participate in a summer program focused on nutrition research.

Regardless of which anecdotes you highlight, you should also brainstorm your key values, and make sure that you integrate them into your story of how you decided to pursue medicine. If you aren’t sure of your values, think back to how you have spent your time, and look for trends.

For example, if you volunteer sorting clothes at goodwill, or care for your younger siblings, or tutor your peers, chances are you value looking beyond yourself and caring for those in need, both of which are critical traits of good doctors.

Or, maybe you write for your school paper and enjoy reading autobiographies. Those endeavors show that you have a love for interacting with other people and learning about them, which also speaks well of your potential as a doctor, so make sure to illustrate this point in how you describe your experiences.

Regardless of what your personal values are, using concrete things you’ve done in the past to illustrate them is much more powerful than just stating “my values are helping those in need.”

Finally, a strong response will describe both your background and future in the field of medicine from the viewpoint of PLME. Demonstrate how your personal values and aspirations align with what PLME specifically has to offer, to paint a clear picture of not just your future as a physician, but also how PLME will help you meet the incredibly high intellectual and ethical expectations of this career.

PLME Applicants, Prompt 2 Option A

How will you, as a future physician, make a positive impact (250 words).

Your essay should look to the future and answer how you will address a specific issue you see in health care today. Maybe you are concerned with high maternal mortality rates among mothers from lower socioeconomic statuses, and you want to work as an OBGYN in underprivileged areas to provide mothers with more attentive care. Possibly you are interested in developing a pill that will instantly stop bug bites from itching, because after years of your family’s annual camping trip you know how pesky bug bites can be.

Once you identify this specific aspect of health care which you are interested in and why you are interested, you should go into detail about how you hope to improve this issue. A student who already has experience with their issue might write about how in high school she tried to deter students from vaping by forming a Students Against Nicotine club at her school. However, once she has a medical background, she plans to specialize in respiratory illnesses so she can give talks at schools about the science behind what vaping does to a person’s lungs.

Another student might not have prior experience with racial disparities in health care, but they know that they want to address the toxic stress minority communities face which contributes to major health complications. This student could discuss their plan to popularize a method for identifying and prescribing toxic stress as a medical condition.

It’s important that your response to this prompt includes what you are interested in doing as a physician, where you learned about this issue or what sparked your interest in this specific topic, and how you plan to make a difference one day. You can further strengthen your response by describing how specific resources and opportunities (classes, researching with professors, clubs and organizations, etc) at Brown will allow you to reach your goals and address the issue.

Given the limited amount of space, it’s okay if you aren’t able to include resources at Brown, because your main focus should be on your aspirations and how you plan to solve a problem. Plus, you already have Prompt 1 to talk all about the specific things you hope to take advantage of through PLME.

One common mistake that students will make when it comes to this prompt is creating a potential impact in medicine that is not strongly reflected in the rest of their application. You don’t necessarily need to have worked in a hospital or a lab to connect the issue you are interested in to the rest of your application. You could have attended lectures and seminars on the topic, taken a class at a university about it, or read scientific journals and papers that discussed it, and make your connection there.

However, don’t claim you want to investigate the impact of biased artificial intelligence radiology tools in providing care for people of color without being able to explain where your interest and knowledge of this issue came from.

PLME Applicants, Prompt 2 Option B

How has your personal background uniquely shaped your perspective on the field of medicine (250 words).

This prompt asks you to reflect on how your personal background—be it cultural, familial, socioeconomic, or another aspect—has influenced your view of medicine. It’s an example of the diversity archetype , which seeks to know more about your personal background and its impact on your worldview.

With this kind of prompt, the most important thing to keep in mind is that identity can encompass a broad range of characteristics, including cultural background, values, beliefs, and even personal passions and hobbies. So long as the personal trait shapes your worldview, influences your actions, and defines you as an individual, it can be a strong topic.

One thing that makes this particular prompt a little different is the admissions committee is looking for insight into how your unique experiences will shape your approach to being a physician. You can still write about just about anything, but you want to make sure there’s a clear connection between the aspect of your identity you select and your future in healthcare.

As you brainstorm, think about your cultural, ethnic, racial, and religious background; socioeconomic status; hometown; any illnesses or disabilities; and interests and hobbies. The questions below could be a useful guide:

Is there a specific value or belief that drives your decisions and actions?
Are there any personal passions that are central to your identity?
Which aspects of your identity most impact your relationships with others?
Has some part of your identity helped you overcome challenges or achieve goals?

Identity encompasses all the aforementioned attributes, so you have a lot of flexibility here. The most important thing is to choose something that will allow you to showcase individuality in your response. This prompt, like all the others, is an opportunity to set yourself apart from other academically qualified applicants, by sharing your unique perspective on life.

Don’t just list accomplishments or vague, box-checky markers of your identity. Instead, really dive into how this aspect of who you are influences your daily life and why it’s so meaningful in the context of your professional ambitions.

Next, to address the intersection between the classic Diversity archetype and the specific context of your medical education within PLME and eventual medical career, ask yourself: How has this part of your background provided you with a unique perspective of the field of medicine?

This perspective could be related to healthcare disparities, patient care, medical ethics, or another relevant area. Go into detail about how your background will influence your approach as a student and physician. How will it help you become a better physician? What insights or skills will it give you that others might not have?

In other words, this essay isn’t just about explaining your background–it’s about making a direct connection between who you are and how you will approach medicine differently because of concrete features of your identity. The most compelling responses will make this link unquestionably clear and convincing.

Avoid vague or cliché references, and don’t overemphasize obstacles you’ve faced or achievements you’re proud of without connecting these experiences back to how they shape your understanding of medicine and your future as a physician. The most important thing with this essay is that the relevance of your background to your interest in medicine in particular should always be clear.

Where to Get Your Brown Essay Edited For Free

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, brown supplemental essays that worked: where to find.

Hi everyone! I'd like to see some Brown supplemental essays that worked to get a sense of what successful applicants have written in the past. Please share any resources or personal experiences! Thanks!

Hello! It's always a good idea to look at successful essays to get a better understanding of what works. While I can't share personal experiences, I can point you in the direction of some resources where you can find examples of successful Brown supplemental essays.

1. Brown University's admissions website: Sometimes, the university itself publishes essays that they thought were particularly strong. You might find some examples on their website or in their admissions materials.

2. Books: There are books available that compile successful college essays, some dedicated to particular universities, like Brown. You can search for these books on online retailers like Amazon or in your local library.

3. CollegeVine: CollegeVine offers resources, including successful essay examples, to help students with their college applications. You can find examples of successful essays and other tips on their website.

4. Student publications or forums: Some current Brown students or recent graduates might have shared their successful essays online, in blogs, or on forums like Reddit or College Confidential. A simple Google search can often lead you to these personal accounts and their essay examples.

Remember that while it's helpful to read successful essays, your own essay should be unique to you and your experiences. Use these examples as inspiration, but make sure to keep your voice and ideas front and center. Good luck with your Brown supplemental essays!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

Math with Bad Drawings

Lover of math. Bad at drawing.

Is Memorization Necessary, Evil, or Both?

At The Atlantic today, I have an essay weighing in on the decades-long debate over memorization, trying to cut a middle path between two extremes:

1. “Memorization is the enemy. It’s the antithesis of critical thinking and conceptual learning. Memorization’s defenders are wilfully blind soldiers marching for an outdated tradition.”

2. “Memorization is an essential tool for students. It’s the surest path to retaining important facts. People who denounce it are letting liberal orthodoxy get in the way of our children’s achievement.”

I’d summarize my view along these lines:

3. “Memorization is a generally-not-great shortcut. It’s better than not knowing at all, but it’s not nearly as enduring, effective, and powerful as meaningful learning.”

In math, the classic example of a thing that “must” be memorized is the times tables. Amidst the din of debates about education, the one agreed-upon truth seems to be that all kids ought learn their times tables. It’s comparable to the moral rightness of Brown v. Board of Education –a universally accepted belief.

That makes the times tables a good test case for whether memorization is really necessary. So here’s my times-table story, in which a colleague succinctly captures the entire point of my Atlantic piece:

A friend who teaches Physics once told me that, growing up in Moscow, he’d never learned the times tables. “I don’t really get the American system, with the flashcards and the multiplication facts,” he told me.

“Really?” I said. “You don’t know 9 times 7?”

“63,” he said without hesitation. “I just picture ten 7s, which is 70, and then I take away one 7, which leaves 63.”

“You can’t be thinking it through like that,” I said. “You answered too fast.”

“Well, that’s how I learned it at first. But if something makes sense to you, and you use it enough, you don’t need to memorize it.” He shrugged. “You just know it.”

Anyway, go check out the piece !

EDIT 9/11/2013: Just wanted to address two criticisms of the piece, each quite valid, I think. First:

@benorlin May not have been intent, but opening of piece read a bit like you were proud to catch & fail student, which I found unfortunate. — Patrick Honner (@MrHonner) September 11, 2013

I regret writing so flippantly about that case of cheating. It’s a complex, sad story (mine was far from the only test he cheated on), and I’m relieved to say it has a happy ending. The student learned his lessons, got into a good college, and I know he’ll do great things in the future. He won back my respect, and then some, to the point where I’m very proud to have known and taught him.

Second, the more common complaint:

Sometimes, memorization is really useful. Even necessary.

It depends on how you define memorization. If you accept my (admittedly debateable) definition, then “memorization” refers to the combination of rote learning and memory tricks (like mnemonics). These are almost never ideal. Memorization treats facts as arbitrary and interchangeable, which is silly. You’ll remember facts better, and use them more effectively, if you treat them as the interconnected web they are.

The exception–which nobody, from what I’ve seen, has really prosecuted–is vocabulary. By nature, words in a language bear only an arbitrary, symbolic relationship to the concepts they signify. For learning vocabulary (especially in a foreign language), memorization is a useful tool, even under my limited definition.

34 thoughts on “ Is Memorization Necessary, Evil, or Both? ”

Your example is a good one. But, your Russian friend has indeed memorized the multiplication facts. He has memorized in a different, and better, way than most students in America, but without automaticity of basic facts, he wouldn’t today be a Physicist.

Great example. The difference is that he has a way to work it out when he doesn’t know the answer straight away. Students who memorise often don’t.

Definitely! That’s a major advantage of acquiring knowledge this way, instead of by rote: it’s much easier to reconstruct.

(Most memory works by reconstruction, anyway–our methods should probably embrace that fact.)

I think the only difference is how we define “memorization.” I define it as “learning a fact through deliberate effort, in isolation from other facts.” Under that definition, my friend didn’t memorize anything, and in general, memorization is rarely the best alternative.

If you use a broader definition–like “taking steps to remember something long-term”–then my friend’s strategy counts as memorization, and in general, memorization of that type is very valuable.

Memorization is where to start from and build upon- the template which serves as guide and reference for all later information…

I think that’s a fair stance–one of the reasons memorization isn’t totally evil.

Sometimes, the rote memorization comes first and then as we use the recalled facts, the connections and non-rote features of what we’ve memorized have a chance to surface. This was certainly true for me with the multiplication tables.

That’s true, and well-said.

For some students, these connections will inevitably surface, given enough time. For other students, it takes deliberate effort on the teacher’s part to bring them to light. It’s for the latter students that rote memorization poses a greater danger–once they’ve learned a fact, they feel that they know it, and have no need to inspect it further, which closes the door on understanding deeper features.

Whenever I’m teaching my math classes, I try as hard as I can to try and explain not only how to do each step, but WHY I am doing each step. I can’t speak for other subjects, but I feel like a) most math teachers don’t bother to explain the ‘why’, and b) most students don’t care about the ‘why’.

So how do we fix those issues? I haven’t fully figured it out yet.

I think both issues are not mutually exclusive (yay math terms!), either. The students’ lack of caring about deep understanding in mathematics leads to frustration and abandonment of its teaching. I think every math teacher has done it — exasperated, you exhale loudly and go “You do this and get the answer.” It’s pretty discouraging to do.

For example, I was teaching my Algebra II students the other day how to work with fractions in equations (I have a saying — ‘fractions are your friend’ — oh, no? well, at least be their acquaintance). My method is getting them to find a common denominator for each term, put each term in that common denominator and finally rewrite the equation with only numerators, essentially making the denominators — and fractions — ‘disappear.’ At first I introduce it as a trick, like a magician, but I make sure to explain many times exactly what mathematical procedure I am doing (multiplying each term by its now common denominator). I explain that it comes into play in other topics — like literal equations and finding a single variable — when multiplying by a denominator is important. I’d like to think that this explanation helped their understanding more than just saying “hey guys, remember the trick I taught you!” but I really can’t be sure.

The way I try to assess deep understanding is a written or verbal explanation of the problem. (Oh my gosh, writing and speaking in math?! NEVER!) Sometimes, I’ll have the kids get up and ‘teach’ the class and make them explain exactly what they did. I’m there for support — moral and mathematical — but hearing a student be able to explain it like I do is, to me, the final level of understanding.

I also hate memorization of formulas. I am getting ready to teach factorization of the difference of cubes, and, as I write this, I don’t remember the formula. This is the first time I’m teaching it. I’m a math teacher…so what’s the point of making a bunch of juniors memorize it? Knowing when to use it is the most important aspect.

Anyway, it’s sometimes difficult to translate abstract concepts to their usefulness in everyday life — which, largely, is problem-solving skills in the real world. When will you need to be able to factor the difference of cubes? Likely never, but knowing how to problem solve will be extremely useful later in life.

Agreed. I certainly didn’t know the formula for factorizing a difference of cubes the first time I taught it–which is fine, because it’s easy enough to determine if you just divide the original expression by the linear factor.

I know that resigned feeling of, “Ugh, fine, here’s how you do it.” I try to avoid it when I’m teaching a class, but when you’re tutoring another class, or preparing a kid for a test, it’s sometimes hard to escape.

One reason to seek computational proficiency in our students–not a very highminded reason, but a real one–is to prepare them for later math classes. You need strong algebra skills to thrive in college math, and while you might not need college math to thrive in the real world, it sure opens a lot of doors.

Ben Loved The Atlantic piece. Shared it with my department and was just discussing some of the issues with my physics teacher colleague. I have to admit that after 27 years I have not come to peace with the balance between valuing facts and equation recall with believing (REALLY believing) that testing thinking needs to be my primary goal. You seem to advocate the formula sheet in the article – do you allow it/recommend it in practice? I do agree with some of the commenters there that a well put together formula sheet rarely gets referenced due to its helpful organizing power. How do you handle this in your day to day class life?

Glad you enjoyed the piece!

The irony of my essay is that, even after the cheating experience I describe, I still didn’t allow a formula sheet. In trigonometry, I make a few concessions, giving them the Law of Cosines and sometimes the formula for cos(a-b) (but none of the related formulas).

I expect them to deduce the rest of their formulas. All the trigonometric identities are variations on a few key ones (sin^2 + cos^2 = 1, cos(pi/2 – x) = sin(x), cos(a-b) = cos(a)cos(b) + sin(a)sin(b)). Having spent several weeks in class seeing how these formulas connect, and using them nightly on the homework, students should know them cold for quizzes and tests.

Sometimes I’ll assign a formula sheet for homework, because I do agree that making the sheet can be a helpful exercise. But I don’t allow them to refer to it during assessments.

I have to confess that some students probably memorize those formulas in precisely the way I counsel against in the piece. But I urge them NOT to memorize by rote or by mnemonic trick, and most seem to heed that advice. They mostly retain them by what I consider better methods–repeated use, and meaningful connections to other knowledge.

Even though I remember memorizing my times tables in the 4th grade, there are very few Products that I quote from memory. (7×8=56 is one example of strict memorization. I was having trouble remembering the answer until I realized that the four digits in the equation are a “straight” – 5678.) For just about every other combination of multiplier/multiplicand I feel like I don’t trust my memorization, such that even if I do remember the answer, I check it before proceeding… and I use tricks like your Russian friend.

In the case of 9 * x = 10x – x… the two operations on the right side of the equation are a lot easier and quicker to do in my head than the one on the left. BONUS: once you learn a trick like this with small numbers, you can apply it to tougher situations. For example, I can start with 45 x 9 and arrive at 405 very quickly by turning it into 450 – 45; and certainly a lot faster than “9×5=45, hold the 5, carry the 4, 9×4=36, plus 4=40, wait, what was the first digit I was holding?”. LESSON: It is better to memorize a single method (which you retain by usage) than several individual answers.

That’s a great example of how limited memorization’s power is compared with actual understanding. A memorized fact sits in place, isolated. But a deep understanding you can carry with you, and use it to acquire other facts.

This is why I don’t make my chemistry students memorize the periodic table. They already know a few elements (hydrogen and oxygen, from H2O), but probably haven’t grokked the association of O = oxygen before. They will learn a few more elemental symbols by the end of the first semester. But I really care about how they use the information. Just *knowing* that CO2 has carbon and oxygen in it tell you nothing about its behavior. Because of the elements’ positions in the periodic table, CO2 is likely to (and does indeed have) strong covalent bonds, is very non-polar, and therefore will interact well only with other non-polar molecules… now that’s more useful.

That makes sense–the parallels between chemistry and math seem pretty strong.

I remember my own (totally brilliant) high school chemistry teacher made us memorize the first three periods. That one’s an instance of memorization I think worked beautifully–it helped to have some structure at our fingertips as we learned the deeper content. But it’s only worthwhile if you actually GET to the deeper content, and I can see the advantages of not asking kids to memorize that.

When you say “memorized the first three periods”, did you memorize just element and symbol, or positions, or properties or…? Most people only memorize element and symbol, which is just an abbreviation. It’s like memorizing all of the two-letter state codes for the post office (which I had to do in 6th grade), and isn’t super useful, especially now that digital communication is much more prevalent.

Devil’s Advocate: Did memorizing the first three periods of the table help more than, say, just looking at a printed table while discussing deeper content?

What I memorized was a string of syllables (“H-He, LiBeB C NOFNe…”) that allowed me to reconstruct the positions of the first handful of elements. It wasn’t super-emphasized–just part of one night’s homework–and I don’t think it made a HUGE difference, though it lubricated the problem-solving a little to know off the top of my head that, say, Lithium and Sodium were both alkali metals. We always had access to a periodic table on tests, though.

Actually, I think that kinda proves my point. Your strings of syllables don’t tell you that Li and Na are alkali metals (because families run vertically, not horizontally). You remembered the alkali fact on its own.

Now, if we made student remember elements vertically, then it might be more helpful.

That’s fair–I think what we’re saying is compatible. Having facts at your fingertips can be valuable, especially early in learning a subject; but it’s a very small part of the picture, and absolutely shouldn’t preclude learning the important stuff.

Some thoughts on memorization:

Memorization is a stop-gap measure that allows you to use a fact while gaining enough experience to internalize it.

Rote memorization is important when you kind-of know something. For example, if you see sines and cosines repeatedly and know that sine/cosine takes things with {0,1,2,3,4,6,pi, /} to things with {0,1,2,3,/, sqrt}, then memorization helps you keep track of what exactly goes to what. For me, when I develop a general intuition about some fact, I’ve only really nailed down that fact in concept space to a small neighborhood of the fact I want to remember. Memorization helps distinguish the real fact from small deviations that might seem true based on my intuition.

Reconstruction doesn’t answer the question: if you can reconstruct 7*9 = 63 by a simple modification of 7*10 = 70, then you’re really just reducing the problem to rote memorization of another fact.

You can’t make connections between facts that aren’t in your head to begin with.

On this track, you have to start somewhere. When begins as an isolated fact, memorized purely for its own sake with no connections to other knowledge, later becomes a point of contact to which you attach new facts as you learn. When I learned European History, the year 1517 started out as a meaningless date that I needed to memorize and only later did I gather enough other facts to understand its importance. In fact, it became an anchor that secured my understanding of the Reformation.

That’s a good perspective. I think you’re quite right about the role of some memorization as an (often useful) intermediate step between ignorance and well-integrated conceptual knowledge. One might say that learning often begins with a small act arbitrary memorization, and by the end, the arbitrariness is gone, though the fact remains.

A rock-climbing analogy I use: A memorized fact is like a hand-hold. Memorize too little, and you can’t climb at all. Memorize too much, and you’re not really climbing.

Still, when possible (which isn’t always), it helps to elaborate on connections immediately, while the “arbitrary” new fact is still sitting in short-term memory.

For example: When I define “even function” for my students, I show them a verbal definition (“opposite inputs give the same output”), a symbolic definition (“f(x) = f(-x)”), and some sample functions, while asking them several quick questions (“If (2,1) is on the graph of an even function, what other point is?” and “Is f(x) = c even?”) By the time we’re done, 5-10 minutes later, they’ve internalized the definition by connecting the various representations of a function. There’s no particular need for memorization.

That said, your example (the values of sine and cosine for common angles) may be one where a little memorization really is the best course.

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I non potevo astenersi dal commentare . Perfectly scritto !

This post is worth everyone’s attention. How can I find out more?

Hi Ben, thank you for this blog. Truly. Have you seen the study on elementary students and arithmetic by Gray and Tall? http://homepages.warwick.ac.uk/staff/David.Tall/pdfs/dot1994a-gray-jrme.pdf They found that students who were successful in math (as judged by their teachers), used a combination of memorized facts and derived facts whereas less successful students relied on counting. Memorization does have it’s place, but only alongside reasoned thinking.

its not it’s!

If you understand everything but still sometimes at the exam time you might forget a bit for that memorising is a handy tool. I will say learn everything and then memorise it all that way you know it and remember small details for longer time and even get better marks .

My daughter had a hard time learning the multiplication table. So I wrote an android application to help her 🙂

Each exercise you solve helps you to feed the cute panda. You can get daily reminders to feed the panda (solve exercises) and you get rewarded with trophies upon goals completion.

This application helped her to learn the multiplication table without noticing 🙂

* Currently the application is only for Android phones * https://goo.gl/9QutZx

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John Brown's Notes and Essays

Monday, june 15, 2015, ping pong and polka dots in gorky park: moscow's garage gallery opens.

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How to Write the Brown University Supplemental Essays: Examples + Guide
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6 Brown Essays That Worked + Why Brown Examples
6 Brown Essays That Worked Why Brown Examples
Brown University Essay Examples (And Why They Worked)
For more help with your Brown supplemental essays, ... 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 ...
Brown Supplemental Essays 2024-25
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 ...
How to Write the 2024-25 Brown Supplemental Essays
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.
Brown Essays Examples
Brown Essays Examples #1. A Brown liberal arts education will let me combine my separate academic passions together, which makes me excited to enter undecided. Currently, I am interested in Brown's International Relations program, where I hope to use an interdisciplinary approach to study modern global issues.
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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 ...
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Successful Brown supplemental essays will hook the reader from the start and keep them engaged throughout. Of course, don't go off on an irrelevant anecdote when writing your Brown University supplemental essays. Rather, make sure to fully and comprehensively answer the prompts for each of the Brown University supplemental essays.
How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essays 2024-2025
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 ...
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8 Brilliant Brown University and PLME Essay Examples
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Brown supplemental essay example #3. 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 ...
The Ultimate Guide to 2022-2023 Brown Supplemental Essays
Description. 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 ...
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For the 2024-2025 application cycle, Brown University asks prospective students to write seven supplemental essays in total. Three are short essays of 250 words in length. The remaining four are even shorter, ranging from 3-100 words. As with any supplemental essays, be sure to take advantage of the seven essays to demonstrate your accomplishments, passion, and personality, and show Brown ...
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.
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The Brown supplemental essays 2021 should highlight a different side of you as a student and as a person. For instance, if your personal statement focuses on your passion for social justice, you might write about your love of the piano in one of your Brown University supplemental essays. ... Some potentially successful examples could include an ...
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How to Write the Brown University and PLME Essays 2024-2025. Brown has one of the more extensive supplemental essay packages out there, with three 250-word supplements and four shorter responses required for all applicants. In addition to these seven prompts, applicants to the dual degree program with Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) will ...
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Hello! It's always a good idea to look at successful essays to get a better understanding of what works. While I can't share personal experiences, I can point you in the direction of some resources where you can find examples of successful Brown supplemental essays. 1. Brown University's admissions website: Sometimes, the university itself publishes essays that they thought were particularly ...
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John Brown's Notes and Essays: Ping pong and polka dots in Gorky Park
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Prompt: Why Brown?

Prompt: Area of Study

Prompt: Where You've Lived

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

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How to Write the Brown Supplemental Essays 2024–2025

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What three words best describe you? (3 words)

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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)