<p>I didn’t actively mean to exclude it, but I wrote my “why brown” and “why this major” supplements with no mention of the open curriculum, though of course it it one of the draws for me. Should I find a way to mention it somehow, or is it already talked about so often in other people’s essays that it wouldn’t hurt me if I didn’t talk about it? Thanks!</p>
<p>I don’t work in admissions, so I can’t speak with 100% authority, but from everything I know from doing alumni interviews for Brown for 25 years and my contacts with admissions, I think you are quite safe not mentioning the open curriculum. I know my daughter didn’t mention it anywhere in her application, and she got in. </p>
<p>Okay, thanks!</p>
<p>I mentioned it in mine (albeit very briefly) and got in. So I think either way you go won’t make a big difference. Although I don’t think it should be the main focus of any essay. I am only speaking from my own personal decision so I of course defer to fireandrain.</p>
<p>I don’t have a clue. Just going from general knowledge about Brown and what I think is logic.</p>
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<li><p>I hope Brown Admissions does not have a litmus test for things such as mentioning or not mentioning Open Curriculum (or any other particular things).</p></li>
<li><p>In general I think it is not instructive to say “My kid did A and got in” or “I didn’t do B and got in” and conclude that A is good or B is bad…if A and B are specific details about the application. ( If A=submitting the application, and B=calling the Dean of Admission an idiot, well of course that is not what I am talking about, but I think you can get my point)</p></li>
<li><p>From loads of anecdotal evidence, Brown (and most top schools) are keenly interested in “fit”. Fit at Brown means, in significant part, being able to navigate and thrive without distribution requirements or a mandated core. I hope it does not matter so much to Brown Admissions whether an applicant types the specific words “Open Curriculum”, as it matters whether the applicant gives an overall impression of his/her propensity to be comfortable and succeed in an environment characterized by an open curriculum.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>In the google hangout video in which two admissions officers answered some questions they said that it was definitely fine to include that. But bear in mind that they also said that the “Why Brown” essay is extremely important to determine the fit, like some have already said above. </p>
I don’t think so. For you or anyone else though. if you do mention the open curriculum, don’t just name drop it in there though. What about the open curriculum specifically ties in to you and why you want to go to Brown. As fenway says, it’s not about whether or not you mention it but whether or not you and Brown are a good fit. If you can explain it in other ways, fantastic. If you need to use the open curriculum, go for it, but make sure you’re actually explaining why it matters.
It’s something that the college is known for, so a lot of people are going to mention it. And for good reason. What you need to do is take a deep, well-reasoned, highly intellectual and creative spin on why it is important to you (if that is in fact the case).