I was deferred ED. I sent in a LOCI recently.
ACT (breakdown, superscore) : 34C (36E 33M 31R 34S) 30W (32 single)
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.79
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): none
AP (place score in parenthesis): 4 on Lang and APES (self studied; school doesn’t offer APs)
Senior Year Course Load: full rigor all years
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): none
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): freerunning (highest ranked athlete), chair on International Olympic Committee for Freerunning, piano, jazz band (pianist and vibraphonist), photography club (president), improv team (team captain), astronomy club (vice president)
Job/Work Experience: coach for freerunning (paid, over a year), internship with city newspaper, internship with environmental science company
Volunteer/Community service: Heal the Bay, Tree People, volunteer to teach freerunning to the disadvantaged (free lessons)
Summer Activities: community service, work, internships
Essays: original; CA essay about freerunning and how it has satiated my curiosity. Brown supplements were good too, but maybe not very original.
Teacher Recommendation: Honors Environmental Science teacher: 10/10. Honors World History teacher/ Cross Country coach: 10/10.
Counselor Rec: 9/10 – she spoke about freerunning in my rec
Additional Rec: none
Interview: went REALLY well. We spoke for over an hour and a half
Supplementary Material (portfolio, etc.): sent in a short story, photography supplement, and a freerunning video
Other:
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: public charter
Ethnicity: white
Gender: male
Income Bracket: 250,000+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none
Note: Brown looks at highest ACT subsections.
Bump again.
Also forgot to mention that I was student body president in 9th grade, a representative in 10th and 11th, and am senior leadership president now.
So, you really play up freerunning, which is definitely good and unique, but maybe slightly weakened by the fact that there’s no immediate appeal to adcoms, at least that I can think of, to having a freerunner at brown. Definitely unique, and definitely a major plus, but not a “perfect” unique activity, if you get what I’m saying. As I’m sure you’re well aware, brown has a low deferral acceptance rate, but I don’t see any readily apparent weakness in your application, aside from a lack of substantial diversity in activities beyond freerunning. I’d say you’ve got around a 40% chance of being accepted, which is definitely what I’d consider a good chance, although maybe slightly below likely. Good luck.
@Lehnsherr thanks! Yeah, I totally get what you’re saying. Last year, Brown’s deferral to accept rare was around the same as its RD acceptance rate.
@Lehnsherr but I also think Brown likes bringing diversity to the school through ECs which I could do. I also talked about how freerunning allowed me to explore which I think is something Brown likes. Who knows… only time will tell.
@ap012199 Yeah, that’s very possible. It’s definitely something that will set you apart, you just have to hope it gets you above, too.
Your profile is amazing! I’m a bit surprised that you got deferred, but you never know what colleges are looking for these days. Honestly, I would say you have just a good as chance as anyone to get in during the RD round, but I would also say not to get your hopes up, since there are so many more applicants in the pool now. Regardless, I know you’re going to end up at a great school.
I know the last sentence of that previous paragraph is probably not what you want to here, but it’s true! You have amazing stats and are going to get several great offers from many schools other than (and hopefully including) Brown.
Hmmm, I think you have a decent shot at it! Of course, college admissions at schools like Brown are competitive, even for the top applicants with 4.0s and great test grades. You seem to fall into the category, so despite the deferral, I think you could have a chance at being accepted. Good luck!
I do still think you stand a good chance! I believe that Brown is also a lot about perceived fit, which might explain why you got deferred in spite of being very strong on paper. Even if it’s not Brown, you should have a lot of great options! 
Best of luck! Chance me back?
Any ideas for ways to bolster my application? I already sent in a LOCI (as mentioned) and uploaded my short story after the deferral. I was thinking about getting another LOR, but it would have probably just talked about my performance in class which other teachers have already spoken to.
You have a decent shot, but it’s tough to get in after being deferred.
@ap012199 As much as it may suck to hear this, I don’t think much is in your hands at this point. It’s up to Brown. It’s really hard but try to have faith.
I was also rejected from Pomona EDII; do you guys think this is a bad sign for Brown and my other schools like Harvard, Tufts and WashU? I feel like if I didn’t get into Pomona I won’t get into Brown/Harvard, but I don’t know if my situation is as simple as that. I am also a CA resident which possibly hurt my chances (ever so slightly).
I don’t think being rejected from Pomona sheds any light on where you may be accepted or rejected. My older son was deferred from brown ED, but accepted the same week from uchicago EA, then he was accepted RD by Penn, Brown and WUSTL, rejected by Cornell and Dartmouth and wait listed by JHU. Who knows why some schools wanted him and others didn’t?
Younger son was deferred by brown ED and deferred by umichigan EA, but accepted to tufts ED2, WUSTL early as a merit finalist, USC as a full merit finalist, and then also accepted by Michigan and even into UCLA out of state even though he had pulled his application after he was accepted to tufts. He applied to tufts ed2 bc he thought the deferrals from brown and Michigan didn’t bode well for his RD schools, or getting into either brown or Michigan RD. Never in a million years did he expect not only to be accepted to WUSTL and USC but also to be a merit finalist. He’s a junior now at tufts and it’s been an amazing experience for him. Even though he had the GPA during his freshman year of college (and a 2260 SAT score), he didn’t want to apply to transfer to brown, his original first choice. He had fallen in love with Tufts…his professors, friends, ECs, location, just everything. There’s a good chance that wherever you land, you’ll feel the same way. Hold tight, you’ll know your acceptances soon.
@RenaissanceMom wow, thanks so much for that elaborate and informative comment! Decisions come soon, and WashU scholarship finalists are notified on Wednesday!
Good luck to you! If you land at either brown, where my older son attended, or tufts, I can tell you that my kids love(d) their experiences at these schools. And their friends landed at a wide range of schools and they’ve all been happy. Once you get there, give it all you’ve got. Much of your college experience is in your own hands.
@RenaissanceMom was there anything in particular that you think helped your eldest son in being accepted to Brown after being deferred?