How much of an influence does being a Rhode Island resident and first generation college student have on my application to Brown? I have a 3.73 UW GPA and 31 ACT, and decent extracurriculars.
Being a first generation college student is significantly more important than being a RI resident. In a holistic admissions process, one appears as a significant disadvantage, the other does not.
That being said, having a 3.73 and a 31 puts decently below the accepted average, and “decent” extracurriculars probably wouldn’t make up for it. Most admitted students have a 3.8+ and a 32 ACT. Your ACT and GPAs certainly won’t keep you out, but you have to have something else in your application to make up for it.
The acceptance rate for Rhode Islanders is double the overall acceptance rate. Although I suspect some of those acceptances go to faculty kids, legacies and private school kids. And Brown is very committed to accepting first-gen students. So you do have two hooks going for you – and if you are a underrepresented minority, another one. That 31 ACT is excellent for an applicant with your profile.
I’m not saying you’ll get in. Just that you sound like an attractive candidate.
For Brown there have been some very good results reported here for that combo. Even very low gpa/scores compared to average. Not to give you unrealistic expectations. It could make a difference if there is URM status or socioeconomic disadvantage more.
@fireandrain @BrownParent My parents are divorced and I live with my mom who makes less than 35k if that helps too? Ahh that makes me so happy that I am “an attractive candidate”
Not doubting you, but would you be willing to share a link to this information if it is publicly disclosed. If it is not publicly disclosed, how did you get it?
fenway, I’m sending you a PM. Trust me, I’ve heard it from a very legitimate source.
@fireandrain I’m interested in knowing as well where you heard this…
OK, so it is inside information, not publicly available (until you published it here), and we will have to trust you.
What you are telling us is that, for example, for the Class of 2018 where the overall acceptance rate was 8.6%, Rhode Islanders were accepted at a rate of about 17.2%…just slightly below the ED acceptance rate of 18.8%
No, it is not inside information. Did you read my private message?
I have not read it yet. Would you be upset if I read it and disclosed the contents here if I thought it might be useful? If so, I will not read it.
Anyway, it is not inside information, so I guess it is public. Where can interested people find this type of information on our own?
No, you absolutely cannot disclose the contents here, and if you read the message you would understand why. There is a reason I sent it as a private message, and you should respect that.
It is not inside information. One time I heard it, I was in the presence of more than 100 people. Is there some reason why you insist on doubting me? Why you delight in questioning and disagreeing with much of what I say? What is your connection to Brown, anyway?
I am not doubting you. Nowhere is that stated or suggested. I asked if the data you posted was inside information or public. You said it was not inside information, and I asked where interested people could find the information publicly. (OP also asked for the source of the information, and I do not think he or she is doubting you)
I have not read your private message, so don’t be concerned about that.
What does it matter to you what my connection to Brown is? I can make every point I want to without referring to my alma mater or my DS or DD or my parents or my grandparents or my well-connected friends. People here don’t pull rank based on connections or longevity, do they?
If I state an opinion, I think others are entitled to ask what the opinion is based on.
If I state something as fact, I think others are entitled to ask me the source.
But I realize others may feel differently.
Your connection to Brown is relevant to the students who post here desperate for good advice. I’m upfront about my connection to Brown, as are many of the other posters. Students can judge my comments based on the 30+ years of experience I’ve had as an interviewer, as an alum and as a parent of a student, and as someone who’s been on College Confidential for a very long time and seen many admissions cycles. I’ve attended workshops for Brown alumni with admissions officers, and that’s where most of my information comes from. If you are a freshman in high school whose knowledge of Brown and admissions is based on watching Gilmore Girls and listening to friends who are seniors – I think that’s a relevant fact.
It’s not a question of “pulling rank.” You seem a little paranoid about that. I don’t rank higher than you. I may have more experience and knowledge than you, though. Although there’s no way for me to judge that.
I don’t know. Just to cite a recent example, I think the information I gave about sibling legacy was factual and well-received, even though I did not talk about myself or my kids or my friends. If I did, would anyone out there have believed me more?
All we asked for is the source of the data about the acceptance rate for RI students, which you said is not based on inside information.
I am sure you are the most knowledgeable…and it definitely appears you are the most experienced… poster on the entire forum. We all respect you greatly for that!
In the meantime, anyone, please feel free to challenge my facts anytime. If I can’t source them I should not post them. As for my opinions, I will be happy to disclose what they are based on. If you think my opinions are not justified, please challenge them!!
Back to the topic, do you have acceptance stats for states other than Rhode Island to share?
Here is a quote from William Fitzsimmons, Harvard Dean of Admissions, which may be relevant.
Caveats: Because it applies to Harvard does not necessarily mean it would apply to Brown. And the quote is six years old.
Interesting that he speaks about the tip for Boston or Cambridge students first, and then lumps in Massachusetts and the rest of New England.
I know that Penn feels the same way about Pennsylvania and Philly applicants. I’m pretty sure that it is the same idea every where. I know of many students who have come from my high school and have been rejected from every ivy except Brown.
My younger son’s public high school in New York is a huge feeder to Cornell, and less so to Columbia. Cornell typically accepts around 50% of the high school’s applicants. I think it’s probably for the same reasons stated by Harvard head of admission. And like the Harvard applicants, those admitted are worthy applicants.
Am I confusing @fenwaypark with someone else? I thought he/she was a regular poster in the Brown forum. How do you not recognize that name, @fireandrain?
And for the record - I absolutely judge people’s comments based on who they are in relation to the topic. The person could always be lying on the other end but I definitely think it’s a factor in someone’s credibility.
No, I don’t think it’s pulling rank; it’s just that if someone is frequently providing (or challenging) advice, it’s sort of customary and helpful to provide a little background and context. If the question of connection or experience is repeatedly evaded, I just assume the poster has no connection or firsthand experience or knowledge, and is simply relaying information he or she has gleaned from the internet.
Our state’s (not RI) Brown adcom knew exactly how our state performed historically relative to Brown’s overall acceptance rate and freely shared that information to a full lecture hall of perspective applicants.