The undergraduate college at Brown University is an innovative program with an old-world vibe. As one of the 7,600 undergraduate students at Brown (and 11,000 students overall) you get all the romanticism of a New England college, but with greater freedom and more opportunities for exploration than most comparable colleges provide. A member of the vaunted Ivy League, it’s the only member of the most exclusive club of colleges in the world that has a fully open curriculum. Brown is a liberal arts school but without most of the strictures of liberal arts schools. Outside of your major, you aren’t forced to take anything. Instead, you get to follow your passions.
Brown is in Providence, Rhode Island — a large but approachable city along the east coast. The city is full of outstanding restaurants, museums, and cultural events. This has made Brown very popular among international applicants who want an urban experience that isn’t overwhelming, and they have a little over 1,000 international students at any given time. Brown is also a huge contributor to the Providence community, operating as one with it as opposed to simply being located there.
Brown asks a lot of their students, and they offer a lot in return. The acceptance rate is a mere 5%, so it’s also really hard to get into. In this post, we’ll give you a guide to what Brown looks for in international applicants, so you have the best chance possible of making Brown your home.
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What is Brown looking for in International Students?
Brown keeps things simple for international students. “International applicants,” they say, “adhere to the same requirements, standards and deadlines as all students.” There isn’t a different application, so you’ll be asked the same questions and held to the same expectations as all other applicants. But they also know that different schools have different access and processes, so if there are things that are asked on the application that are not applicable to your school in any part of the application you, or the school official filling out a form, should leave it blank.
But there is obviously more to applying to Brown than simply how to fill out a form, so let’s break it down.
Courses + Grades
The admission officers at Brown are really good at their jobs, and they have a deep understanding of different international school systems and exams. So, they’ll know what they are looking at when they review your application. There are some things that they look for in particular no matter where you live or what school system you are in.
Most importantly, they want to see a comprehensive course list that covers all major subjects (history, literature, science, math, and social studies) across all four years, plus they want to see that you pursued the subjects you are most interested in as intensively as you can. If those opportunities aren’t available in your school, they like to see that you have pursued opportunities outside of what is immediately available. These could include summer programs, university courses, or even accredited online classes.
International students can also apply to Brown|RISD Dual Degree (BRDD) program and the Liberal Medical Education (PLME) programs. If these are programs you are interested in, that interest should show up in the courses you are taking. The PLME program is immensely competitive, but it’s also an amazing option for international students who want to become doctors, as it can be extremely difficult for international students to continue on to medical school in the United States without it being a pre-planned program. So, you need to get the best grades you can in the hardest classes you have access to, as Brown seeks out “students who present evidence of academic ability and a genuine interest in learning.”
When you ask teachers for recommendations, look at what you want to study at Brown and what you’ve studied in school, and where you’ve performed best. These three things should help you triangulate teachers who can speak to who you are as a student and as a person, and how much of an asset you’d be at Brown. Don’t worry if the teacher can’t write your recommendation in English, though, as long as a school official can translate the recommendation. Brown requires recommendations be submitted in English, but if a teacher is most comfortable writing in their native language, they can have the recommendation translated by a school official. If the letter is translated, both the original and the translation should be submitted together.
Extracurriculars
What you do outside of the classroom is really important to Brown. They want to see you engaging with your school and broader community in ways that broaden your perspective, challenge your assumptions, build upon your talents, and encourage you to find new skills. They know that many international schools have activity options (or lack thereof) that look different from many US-based schools, just as there is a broad spectrum of opportunities available to students in the United States. What Brown cares about most, though, is seeing you pursuing a passion as far as you can. That may mean starting a club or community group, or working with an existing nonprofit. They also know that many students have to or choose to work in high school, and they want to know about that too. Job experiences build important skill-sets, and that’s something to be celebrated, not hidden.
Standardized Tests
Many international exam systems operate on a different schedule from the US system, so when it comes to systems such as the British A-Levels they rely on the predicted results, “as provided by your school officials.” They are trusting that your actual results will “reasonably match” the predictions, and they “reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission in the event that actual results do not meet the predictions.”
But then there are THE tests — the SAT and ACT are notorious in college admissions and among the students who take them. Brown is currently test-optional as of early 2024, but that policy could change. Given that the policy could change, and that 81% of students enrolled as first years in the fall of 2022 submitted an SAT or ACT, we highly recommend that international students submit standardized test scores. Most students who go to Brown submit a test score, so let that work in your favor. Aim for an SAT Composite score over 1530 or an ACT Composite of 35 or more.
Brown does not currently require that international applicants submit the results of an English proficiency test, like the TOEFL, but they do “highly recommend” it. They’ll accept results from the TOEFL, IELTS, and the Duolingo English Test, but Brown must receive the official results from the test provider.
Final Thoughts
Brown was previously “need-aware” for international applicants, so they did take requests for financial aid into consideration when reviewing an application. But — BIG NEWS — they changed this policy for the 2024-2025 admission cycle (Class of 2029), and from 2024 forward they will review international students using a need-blind process. If you are admitted from 2024 forward, they will review your application using a need-blind process and they will meet 100% of “demonstrated financial need” if you are admitted. Students from sub-Saharan African countries also have access to a program called the Advancing Africa Scholarship, which they will be automatically considered for upon application.
If you are considering applying to Brown from outside of the United States, the number one thing to remember is passion. Brown wants to see students who are deeply passionate, and who seek excellence in what they care about. That doesn’t mean they don’t also expect to see top scores in everything else, but they want to feel your passion and they want you to help them see how that passion will grow at and contribute to Brown.
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