My Chance of Admission to Brown

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>Brown is my DREAM school. I’m applying early decision and hope to get in. It’s quite nerve wracking when you know that the time for applying to colleges is right around the corner. Cornell University and New York University round off my top three college choices. I would love to be admitted to Cornell University and New York University, but I’ll be SOOOO much happier if I get into Brown. Here are the statistics:</p>

<p>High School Statistics
-State: New Jersey
-Environment: Urban (my city is considered to be the sixth borough of New York)
-Type: Public School
EXTREMELY competitive.
Ranked #1 in the state, #30 in the country.
Sends students off to the Ivy League yearly.</p>

<p>My Statistics:
Junior, Class of 2009
Age/Gender: 17 year old male
Ethnicity: Asian American/Pacific Islander <a href=“whatever.%20same%20****,%20lol”>Filipino</a>
GPA: A- <a href=“90/100”>3.5</a>
ACT: 30
Percentile: Top 45% (And yes, that’s with the A average – the school is VERY competitive.)
SAT Reasoning: Umm, SOOOO not taking that ****. I’m horrible at it. (1790 PSAT) BAAAD!
SAT Subject Tests to Take: Spanish, Literature, Intermediate Algebra</p>

<p>Classes:
Freshman Year - English 1 Honors, Algebra 1 Honors, Spanish 1 Honors, World History & Culture Honors, Biology Honors, Intro to Art, Vocal Music, Health Education 1, Physical Education 1</p>

<p>Sophomore Year
English 2 Honors, Geometry Honors, Spanish 2 Honors, US History 1 Honors Advanced, Life Studies, Chemistry Honors, CAP, Geoscience Honors, Health Education 2, Physical Education 2</p>

<p>Junior Year
English 3 Honors, Shakespeare’s Major Works, Applied Journalism, Algebra II Honors, Spanish 3 Honors, AP US History 2, AP European History, Physics Honors, Health Education 3, Physical Education 3</p>

<p>Senior Year
AP English Literature & Composition, AP Statistics, AP Spanish 4, Anatomy & Physiology Honors, AP Art History, Fine Arts, Ceramics, Health Education 4, Physical Education 4</p>

<p>Extracurricular:
Costume Director: Cymbeline (Shakespearean Play)
Art Director: Drama Club
Art Director: Stratford High (Play) (Performed at New Jersey City University)
Art Director: The Awakening Project (Suicide Prevention Club)
Editor in Chief: The highly amusing School Comic Book
Editor in Chief: School Newspaper
Editor in Chief: School’s Sports/Health&Fitness Magazine
Editor in Chief: School’s Anti-Smoking Magazine
Editor in Chief: Newsletter
Editor in Chief: Yearbook
Fashion Model for School Talent Show
Member of: REBEL (Anti-Smoking Club), Spanish Language Club, Student Council, Shakespeare Festival
Founding President of the Yoga Club</p>

<p>(I think you can see that my extracurricular is geared towards the art/fashion/english/theater/language sort of niche.)</p>

<p>Volunteer Work:
Bellevue Hospital
New York Presbyterian Hospital
New York Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell Medical Center
Salvation Army
United Services Organization</p>

<p>Passions/Uniqueness:
I am a striving fashion editor/fashion designer/diplomat.
Meaning that I’m into journalism, fashion and languages/cultures. (lol) I can speak English, Tagalog and Spanish. </p>

<p>This is what kind of sets me apart:</p>

<p>I interned at the local newspaper in the editorial department as an editorial assistant. I started doing menial tasks and worked my way up. I now have my own column named after me and I write my column weekly. I’ve written actual reports for the newspaper and one of my stories made front cover.</p>

<p>I also interned in the art department at the newspaper, breaking the “barriers” between the two departments. </p>

<p>I am also going to be working at the celebrity magazine, Life&Style Weekly magazine in the fashion department, starting in the summer and hopefully throughout the year.</p>

<p>I have my own clothing line, and am looking to start making a collection this summer as well. I am aiming to get some experience in the fashion industry by interning at a fashion company this summer, or during my senior year.</p>

<p>I am a photographer by hobby. </p>

<p>I am looking to double-major in:
International Relations & Individualized Major or
Literatures and Cultures in English & Individualized Major.</p>

<p>The Individualized Major would be Apparel Design, being constructed by courses at both Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design, only not as intensive as the Apparel Design course at RISD. Brown is perfect in the sense that I get a solid liberal education from a well-renowned school, and am able to cross-register courses at RISD, to possibly create my own major.</p>

<p>What are my chances, guys?</p>

2

<p>Get that ACT score up. It's really lagging and you don't want to have that overshadow all of the amazing things you have done. Also, there is absolutely no need to take SAT subject tests if you submit the ACT. I didn't include any of my SAT II scores and was accepted. Other than that, you are competitive and have just as good of a shot as anyone else. Brown has an extremely amazing applicant pool so there really aren't any guarantees. Good luck! Applying ED will certainly help you!</p>

3

<p>your stats actually look very similar (well, as similar as can be) to mine last year. Of course, I had another leg up: my father was a legacy. But I think you have at least a good shot- don't expect to be a shoe-in, but my scores were lower as well and I made it (to my surprise). I think Brown, out of all the schools I applied to, was the only one that really looked at ME, not at my application- so give it a shot. I couldn't say much since I don't know how competitive your school is (I'm guessing very much) but write a really good essay and I think you will have a decent shot.</p>

<p>btw, how can you be Editor in Chief for the newspaper <em>and</em> yearbook <em>and</em> like ten other things!! wow.</p>

4

<p>One of my D's friends is Filipino so she was considered a URM as an under-represented group and it seemed to help her get into a very good school (although she didn't apply to Brown). So I would be sure to note that on the ethnicity part and write in Filipino if needed.</p>

5

<p>You have a shot at those schools, but certainly there are no shoo ins as you are considered "local". Your choices get most of their apps from the greater NYC area, and there are ever so many great students from tough high schools. </p>

<p>In your case, your high school GC would be likely to give you the most realistic evaluation of your chances since your school does have kids regularly going to such schools. How do you compare with the kids who have been accepted to Brown and your other choices? I can tell you that our school does have kids accepted to Brown with your stats, and I can tell you that there are some schools that are highly unlikely reaches with your stats from our school. So history can play a role in the adcom's decision.</p>

<p>Whatever the answer is from your GC, you need to start looking for some safety schools. All three of your schools are very competitive. The safety schools are the most difficult to select, and you need to get a few on your list. Anyone can name drop schools that are well known. To get some good fits that are less known and less selective is the tough part of putting together a good college list.</p>

6

<p>oh my, it's almost as looking at myself. for my own sake I do believe you have a relatively good chance in getting in :)
maybe we'll meet next year ;p</p>

7

<p>to xmobile: what score do you think I should try to get it up to? And I need to take the SAT IIs because they're required for the colleges I'm applying to (Cornell's Human Ecology School and NYU) ... The SAT IIs are mandatory for certain colleges even with the ACT, which sucks. Are you attending Brown now?</p>

<p>to ^hilly^: Yeah, I'm like, mad self-conscious about my scores. I feel like they're not good enough. I'm so paranoid. I'm just hoping they'll look at ME lol -- not only my scores. I mean, the reason why I want to attend Brown so much is that it's a college that knows that learning isn't solely about the grades and the results -- which is how learning SHOULD be (not a business to market yourself for admission). It's about the learning process and the interest level, etc. etc. And I wasn't editor-in-chief of all of that at the same time.. no possible way. I was editor-in-chief at different times of the year... not all at once... lol. And I don't have a legacy :[. I'll be a second generation college student.. my sister graduated in may with a b.s. in biology from rutgers.</p>

<p>dsultemeier: I don't know whether listing down my ethnicity will help... Do you happen to know what the percentage or ratio of Filipinos are attending Brown is?</p>

<p>cptofthehouse: My GC is clueless. She's really idiotic. I'm going through the college process basically all by myself. The people who did get into Brown, however, had similar statistics to mine -- being that they think extremely different and had great extracurricular activities, volunteer work, etc. Their scores weren't perfect and neither were their GPAs. I think that Brown doesn't put a heavy emphasis on GPA as much as the other ivies. One girl who got in was admitted Guaranteed Transfer and had similar stats... She had a 92 GPA though and a 30 on the ACT. But I really didn't see the essence of Brown in her, to tell you the truth. I have safety schools of course (Penn State, Boston U, Rutgers) but the chances are, if I don't get into one of my top three schools, I'm most likely taking the year off and returning September 2010. (YES, I'M GOING BACK and I won't lose the will to pursue my college degree.) lol</p>

<p>flid: Lol, hey flid. I just wanted to know how we were alike. Just curious. Maybe we will see each other. haha. :]</p>

8

<p>well, i may be biased, but i do think Brown takes more propriety in things other than scores; i've seen numerous examples (myself being one). well, where you lack in legacy or scores you may be able to make up in, say, your ethnicity (not sure if that is an advantage or not, but I know Brown likes diversity...) or different background or non-traditional outlook. anyway, i think you have a very good shot- not a guarentee- i don't think there is anything you can do to be sure to get in- there isn't much else you can do, besides retake a test or two, but show the best sides of yourself and just try your best with optimism- and considering how similar your interests seem to mine, i will be hoping to see you next year :)</p>

9

<p>Oh, I'm not saying you will be rejected flat out because of your score...however, it is slightly lower than most applicants and you don't want something like that hurting an otherwise wonderful application. I would say getting it to a 32 or 33 would keep you in a safe range. Also, I had to take SAT IIs for other colleges I applied to, as well. However, I <em>did not</em> sent them to Brown (even though they were relatively fine 800, 730, 710, 670). If your ACT is good it's rly just unnecessary, I think.</p>

10

<p>immerbrioman: though I am an international, I too go to an extremely competitive high school, have an A average (90% freshman, 93% junior, thank god I only have three years of high school). My SAT would be quite equal to your ACT. Ofcourse my ECs are different because I probably just couldn't do those things in my country, our options are quite limited here. oh, and I am a photographer :D fortunately there will be very few (or rather no) people from Estonia applying to US universities, especially to an "unknown" university like brown.</p>