Brown Essay 2024-25

Brown Essay 2024-25

How Many Essays Does Brown University Require?

When considering how to write the Brown supplemental essays, the first step is knowing how many Brown essays to write. There are seven Brown supplemental essays that all first-year students need to submit. Four of those essays have a word limit of 250. The others are very short answer questions ranging from 3 to 100 words depending on the Brown essay prompt. 

Additionally, if you are applying to the Brown Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), you’ll need to answer two more Brown supplemental essays. That means PLME students will submit a total of nine Brown supplemental essays.

Students interested in the Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program will need to write an additional Brown essay as well. In total, Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program applicants will write eight Brown supplemental essays. 

All Brown University applicants must also submit the Common App personal statement, choosing from one of the seven Common App essay prompts. This article doesn’t cover the personal statement, but there are plenty of resources to help you write it.

Additionally, keep in mind that Brown is no longer a test-optional university. So, in addition to your essays, you’ll need to factor in taking standardized tests when considering your “how to get into Brown” plan and application timeline. 

Brown Essay Prompts

With so many Brown supplemental essays, you should stay organized and be prepared to write your best Brown essay for every prompt. So before we get into how to write the Brown supplemental essays, let’s take a look at the prompts. 

This may seem like a lot of Brown University supplemental essays. However, keep in mind that they aren’t required for all students. Additionally, a few of the Brown essay prompts have lower word counts. 

Now, let’s break down each Brown essay prompt so you understand how to write the Brown supplemental essays. 

Brown Essay #1: Open Curriculum Essay

This Brown essay is an interesting take on a traditional academic interest essay. You may also see this referred to as a “why this school” or “why this major” essay. Let’s review the prompt for the first Brown essay: 

Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore broadly while also diving deeply into their academic pursuits. Tell us about any academic interests that excite you, and how you might pursue them at Brown. (200-250 words)

In order to write your best Brown Open Curriculum essay example, you’ll need to hone in on your academic interests. Do you know what you want to major in? If so, now’s the time to reflect on why that area has sparked your interest. 

If you’re not absolutely certain of your potential major, that’s all right. But, you’ll still need to get specific on an academic subject area of interest in this Brown Open Curriculum essay example. Did you love your high school English class because it helped you hone your creative writing skills? Well, you might explore that interest in this Brown essay. 

Whatever academic topic you choose to explore, be sure to mention why it excites you. Therefore, choose something that you are truly passionate about. Additionally, you should do some research on Brown-specific opportunities. The Brown Open Curriculum is a unique opportunity to customize your learning experience. Specify what courses and opportunities you will take advantage of as a Brown student. Remember, this Brown Open Curriculum essay example is in large part a “why Brown” essay, just with an academic twist. 

What Is Brown Open Curriculum?

In order to best respond to the first Brown essay prompt, you’ll need to understand the Brown Open Curriculum. This is a unique approach that allows students to take control of their education. Indeed, the hope is that in doing so, students become critical, creative thinkers who can rise to a challenge. These are just a couple of valuable professional and life skills the Brown Open Curriculum promotes in its students. 

But, what exactly is the Brown Open Curriculum? Well, unlike most other schools, Brown allows its students to completely personalize their studies. While other schools have set core courses, Brown students have the freedom and flexibility to adjust their courses to their academic interests and future career goals. 

With the Brown Open Curriculum, students will customize their major as they explore a variety of disciplines that catch their interest. This freedom can be challenging; however, that is the allure of the Brown Open Curriculum. It challenges students to be creative and take risks in order to gain the most from their undergraduate education. 

Brown Essay #2 : Three Words

The second Brown essay that we’re going to take a look at is one of the very short answer questions. And, when we say very short, we mean it! This Brown essay has the lowest word count at just three words. 

What three words best describe you?

While you may be relieved that one of the seven required Brown University essays is just three words, it doesn’t necessarily make the prompt easier. You’ll need to brainstorm to get the best three words possible. 

When considering what words to list, think about the rest of your application. You don’t want to use an adjective that is obvious from having read your extracurricular list. For example, if you have included four years of art camp, avoid “artistic,” as admission already knows that. 

Think of specific, unique words that will add value to your overall application and candidate profile. For example, you might consider words like “affectionate,” “resourceful,” or “brave.” Remember, consider words that truly describe you, but that won’t have been obvious from the rest of your application. Also consider how the words complement or contrast each other. Maybe you have some contradictions in your personality — what three words could highlight those in a compelling way? 

Brown Essay #3 : Why Brown in a Sentence

The third Brown essay prompt we’re going to look at is another very short answer question. This Brown essay has a word limit of 50. 

In one sentence, Why Brown?

While the first Brown essay was a spin on the “why major” and “why this school” essay, this Brown essay prompt is very clearly a “why this school” essay. However, it does give it a slight twist by only allotting applicants one sentence and 50 words. 

If you’ve written any other “why this school” essays, you may be feeling overwhelmed by the task of answering in so few words. However, you’ll just need to be concise with your response. First, consider why you are applying to Brown. What specific course, resource, or professor makes you want to attend? Focus on just one factor, since you have limited space. Therefore, choose the one that interests you most and shares more information about yourself with admissions. 

In this essay, refrain from mentioning the Brown Open Curriculum. You want to get more specific than that in order to set you apart from other candidates. Most students are excited to take advantage of the Brown Open Curriculum — what else is there that has drawn you to Brown? 

Brown Essay #4: Extracurricular Essay

This Brown essay is another classic among college applications. However, you only have 100 words to answer this Brown essay. 

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

This Brown essay gives you the opportunity to expand on an extracurricular activity you’ve listed, or mention a less conventional activity that didn’t fit into another section of the application. If you decide to expand on a club, sport, or volunteer experience that you’ve already mentioned, you’ll need to add new information. 

The key to this Brown essay is the extracurricular activity’s meaning, and why you want to share it with admissions. What impact has it made on your life, or how has it allowed you to impact others? How will that impact influence your path going forward, including your presence at Brown?

You may have already written a similar essay for other college applications. You can certainly reuse the topic or even parts of that essay. However, in this Brown essay, you have very few words — less than the typical extracurricular activity essay. So, you’ll need to make this essay much more concise. 

Brown Essay #5: Community Essay

We’re going to head back to the longer Brown University supplemental essays. This next Brown essay is another traditional topic that you’ve likely seen in other college applications. 

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.

This Brown essay asks you to reflect upon your upbringing, background, and lived experiences. This is a favorite among colleges because it has applicants share what they would bring to the campus community. You might consider talking about identity, community, interests, family culture, or any lived experiences that have informed how you navigate the world. This Brown essay prompt leaves it pretty open to interpretation. As long as you show how the aspect you choose to write on will impact what you’ll contribute to campus, then you’re good!

However, be sure to answer all parts of this Brown essay prompt. Once you know what you’d like to focus on, you’ll need to share how it “inspired or challenged you.” Show not tell is a good technique to use here, and in all of your college essays. Set the scene with descriptive language that hooks the reader. Your writing should evoke feelings. Ideally, the reader will feel the challenge or inspiration with each word. Anecdotes will help to show the aspect of your background that you wish to highlight. Since you have 250 words, use them!

Don’t forget to tie things together by clearly stating how this aspect will lead to your contributions to the Brown community. What unique perspective, qualities, or skills will you now be able to share with your peers? How might it affect your daily conversations or interactions? Overall, why will you benefit the campus community?

Brown Essay #6: Joy

The Brown supplemental essays do a good job of varying between essay favorites and unique prompts. This next Brown essay is a little outside of the norm. 

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.

While it may not be a classic, this Brown essay serves to share more about yourself with admissions, which is the main goal of all of the Brown supplemental essays. Indeed, this Brown essay is a unique opportunity to fill in any gaps in your application or share something meaningful and unique to you. 

The key to this essay is to be genuine and authentic. Don’t try to think of a topic you believe will impress admissions. Take the time to reflect on what brings you genuine joy in your life. This is an opportunity to show that you are passionate and curious. 

For example, you might share your love of coffee. Maybe you try a different type of coffee or a new coffee shop every weekend. The journey of finding your favorite is a never ending mission. However, the key to this Brown essay is making sure your passion is evident. So, if we hone in on the coffee example, you’d want your reader to feel the excitement in seeking out new places, and maybe even feel the anticipation building throughout the week as you await your weekend adventure. 

This Brown essay allows you to talk about something ordinary or extraordinary. So, you should certainly be able to think of something. Just remember, be authentic and passionate when writing. Choosing a topic that truly brings you joy will allow you to write your best version of this essay. 

How to Write the Brown Essays

We’ve looked at how to approach each Brown essay, but there are some general tips you can follow with all of the Brown supplemental essays. 

Choose a meaningful topic.

Be genuine and authentic when brainstorming possible topics for the Brown supplemental essays. Don’t focus solely on impressing admissions; you want to actually choose a topic that is meaningful to you. When choosing among various ideas, you might ask yourself, “which topic am I most excited to write about?”

Add new information to your application. 

The Brown University supplemental essays are an opportunity to share more about yourself with admissions. Take a look at your application as a whole when considering how to write the Brown supplemental essays. What personality trait, skill, interest, passion, or value isn’t seen in any other part of your application? Use every Brown essay to highlight a new part of yourself. 

Write, edit, rewrite, and proofread. 

This is a cycle that you will likely repeat various times when writing the Brown University supplemental essays. You have seven Brown supplemental essays to write as well as the Common App essay. With so many essays to complete, give yourself plenty of time to edit. Enlist the help of a family member, friend, or teacher. Your Brown University supplemental essays should be not only interesting, but also impeccably written. Make sure there are no spelling or grammar errors that could distract admissions when reading your final draft. 

Additional Essay Requirements

There are additional Brown essay requirements when applying to certain programs. If you intend to apply to the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), you’ll need to write two additional Brown PLME essays. Of the two, one has a limit of 500 words and the other 250. 

Other programs may require additional Brown supplemental essays. For example, the Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program also has an additional Brown essay requirement. The Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program is a five-year program in which students earn a BA from Brown University and a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). This program is meant for ambitious students hoping to expand both their academic and artistic skills and knowledge. Students will need to write a 650 word essay explaining their interest in this unique program. 

Reading a Brown open curriculum essay example can help when writing the Brown University supplemental essays. However, there are also plenty of Brown supplemental essays examples for these specific programs. If you’re wondering how to get into Brown, specifically the the PLME or Brown|RISD Dual Degree program, then read this essay guide. 

What Is Brown PLME?

PLME is an eight-year program that allows students to graduate with a Bachelor’s and M.D.. Essentially, it combines an undergraduate education with a medical school education, accelerating the process. Therefore, you’ll not only be admitted to Brown, but also to the Warren Alpert Medical School. So if you’re set on medical school, then Brown PLME is an excellent option. However, this program is highly selective, so these Brown PLME essays need to be outstanding. 

Check out the PLME website for more information on applying. Additionally, read our PLME overview article to better understand the program. Next, we’ll take a look at the Brown PLME essays for those interested in the program. 

What Are The Brown PLME Essays?

The Brown University acceptance rate is extremely competitive— the PLME program even more so. Needless to say, your Brown PLME essays are extremely important to your overall application. 

Here are the prompts for the Brown PLME essays:

PLME applicants will need to respond to these prompts in addition to the first-year Brown supplemental essays. In the end, PLME applicants will write a total of nine Brown supplemental essays. 

The first of the PLME essays is essentially another “why major” essay. You’ve likely seen it before. The second prompt actually gives you the choice between two prompts. However, both center around the impact you’ll make in your future field of medicine. 

Now that we know the prompts, let’s look at how to approach the Brown PLME essays. 

How To Write The Brown PLME Essays

PLME is an extremely selective and prestigious program. In addition to having excellent grades and extracurriculars, you’ll also need excellent Brown PLME essays. Even then, admission isn’t guaranteed. However, writing the best Brown PLME essays possible will only help your application as a whole.

Let’s take a look at how to write each of the Brown PLME essays. 

Responding to 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)

For this Brown essay, applicants will first need to reflect on why they want to go into medicine. You can use anecdotes to display what first sparked your interest. It is a good idea to show that this isn’t a whim. You might demonstrate how you first found the interest, and how it’s been a constant ever since. Committing to a career in medicine is a large undertaking; you need to show that you are seriously passionate about it!

The second part of this Brown essay asks, “why PLME?” What about this program will allow you to meet your future goals, both personal and professional? Be specific about opportunities only offered at PLME. Obviously, it is an accelerated program; therefore, you should mention another unique quality that has sparked your interest to differentiate yourself from others. Is there a specific research opportunity, professor, or concentration that will allow you to reach your future goals in medicine?

Responding to 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): 

• 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?

For the second of the Brown PLME essays, you have the choice between two prompts. However, both essentially ask about your future in medicine. Choose to respond to the prompt that most excites you to write about. If you’re unsure of which prompt to write on, brainstorm various topics on both. From that list, choose the most meaningful item. 

If you decide to respond to the first option, you’ll need to consider your future goals in medicine. Be careful not to repeat information from the first PLME essay. You should add new information that admissions hasn’t yet seen. You might consider mentioning a specific problem. Your essay would then go on to explain how you’d want to fix it. But, the issue should be specific and personal to you. Stray away from general and cliché topics — the more niche, the better. 

The second prompt asks applicants to dive into their background and how it relates to what they’ll bring to the medical field. You might use an anecdote to set the scene. No matter what you choose to write about from your background, just be sure to relate it back to your future in medicine. It should be clear how this lived experience has affected you and your perspective on medicine. 

5 Tips on Crafting Outstanding Brown Essays

We’ve given you plenty of information on how to write the Brown supplemental essays, but let’s review it all with five tips on how to write the Brown University supplemental essays. 

5 Brown Essay Tips

1. Start early.

There are seven Brown University supplemental essays for all first-year students. If you’re applying to the PLME or Brown|RISD Dual Degree Program, you will have additional Brown University supplemental essays. Ideally, start writing your essays the summer before your application deadline. 

2. Research and get specific.

The best Brown Open Curriculum essay example, or any Brown supplemental essays examples, are very specific. Many read as though the writer could only be speaking about Brown. By that, we mean they use specific examples of opportunities only found at Brown. Mention courses, programs, clubs, or faculty only found at Brown that are of interest to you. 

3. Be genuine and authentic.

No generic Brown Open Curriculum essay example will impress admissions. You’ll need to do some reflection about what’s truly important to you. What experiences or personality traits are integral to who you are? Understanding who you are and where you came from will be vital to writing an outstanding Brown Open Curriculum essay example — or any outstanding Brown essay.

4. Share anecdotes and be descriptive.

The Brown University supplemental essays invite students to share personal experiences. The stories you share need to be relevant to the prompt. For example, a Brown Open Curriculum essay example might discuss varied interests and how someone pursues them, showing a love of learning widely. Of course, you would do this through stories. Just stating facts won’t impress anyone! Take the reader on a journey with an interesting narrative. 

5. Check your grammar and spelling.

Editing and revising is a vital part of the writing process. You’ll notice that in every successful Brown Open Curriculum essay there are no grammar and spelling errors. These types of mistakes will distract the reader from the essay. Make sure your essays are grammatically and mechanically impeccable. Ask others to take a look and help you catch any mistakes. You should also read your essay aloud to listen for any clunky phrasing or typos. 

For even more tips on writing exceptional Brown supplemental essays examples, check out this article of 39 essay tips. These tips come directly from admissions officers. Applying them to any Brown Open Curriculum essay example or Brown supplemental essays examples will help in making your Brown application stand out!

Brown Essay- Where to Turn for Help

Being prepared is essential when it comes to tackling the Brown University supplemental essays. The Brown University acceptance rate and Brown University ranking make it an incredibly competitive school. That means gaining admissions won’t be easy. When considering how to get into Brown, CollegeAdvisor has plenty of resources to guide you through the process.

Reading Brown supplemental essays examples or a Brown Open Curriculum essay example can help you get started in the writing process. Check out our guide on Brown essay examples and why they worked. You’ll be able to see a well done Brown Open Curriculum essay example as well as others. 

In addition to reading a successful Brown Open Curriculum essay example (or many!), you can also check out a previous Brown essay guide here. We also have this Brown supplemental essays guide from previous years. While the prompts won’t be exactly the same, much of the advice is broadly applicable. Reading these guides will give you valuable information on writing your best essays, and essentially on how to get into Brown!

You can also watch some of our webinars on Brown. This webinar talks all about how to get into Brown, and what it’s like when you’re a student there! For an even more in-depth look into what it’s like to attend Brown, watch this Brown University Panel. And, if you’re ready to imagine yourself on campus, long after you’ve aced your “how to get into Brown” plan, go on this virtual college tour. 

Brown Supplemental Essay – Takeaways

Devising a plan for how to get into Brown is no easy task. With Brown University ranking high consistently, you’ll need to craft an exceptional Brown application. The Brown essays will play a crucial role in sharing valuable information about yourself with admissions. 

When approaching these essays, remember that no cliché or generic Brown Open Curriculum essay example will impress admissions. As such, choosing the best topic for each prompt is an important part of getting started. You’ll notice that every successful Brown Open Curriculum essay is unique to the student. Therefore, you won’t be able to simply mimic other essay examples. Use them as inspiration to write your own. To write your best essays, you’ll need to do some reflection on your interests, values, skills, and personality traits. How will they play into your future at Brown?

After reading this essay guide, we hope you feel better prepared to tackle the many Brown essays! If you feel like you need personalized help, reach out to our team of expert advisors. We’ve helped thousands of students and families through the college admissions process. Our expert advisors can help you craft your best Brown application and stay on track with your Brown essays. Maximize your admissions odds so that you can start visualizing your first year on Brown’s campus — long after acing your Brown application!

This article was written by Sarah Kaminski. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.