<p>I am a rising senior and am beginning to be interested in Brown. While researching Brown, I found that they put a lot of importance on the level of an applicant’s interest. So i was wondering what kind of things a student should do to show interest in Brown.</p>
<p>On the contrary, I was told that Brown doesn’t track interest. With that said, it likely wouldn’t hurt if you do a bit of research and e-mail a professor or two in a department in which you’re interested to ask some questions.</p>
<p>Well on the college board website, level of applicant’s interest was rated as very important, taking priority over things such as recommendations and essays. You may be right, i am just calling from one source i have read. So if someone who is more knowledgable on brown admissions could give some clarity and advice.</p>
<p>I have been an alumni interviewer at Brown in the past. I’ve never been asked to rate the applicant’s interest level, but I am asked to rate how knowledgeable the applicant is about Brown. Personally, I’d say that the way you show interest is to a)demonstrate that you have thoroughly researched what the “Brown experience” is and b) can cogently explain why Brown is a good fit for your particular talents and interests. </p>
<p>I’m on the West Coast, and we definitely try to interview every applicant. If you can’t get to campus yourself, I’d definitely recommend doing that as a way to show interest.</p>
<p>As someone who has been interviewing students for about 30 years, I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about Brown admissions.</p>
<p>It is true that Brown does not track interest by keeping records on who visits the campus. So Uroogla is correct there. But it is true that in the common data form Brown completes, interest is highly rated.</p>
<p>By interest, I think Brown means two things. </p>
<p>First, it hopes to glean from your essays that your interest in going to Brown is sincere. So the more specific and personal your essays are, the better. If you talk to a professor, mention that in your essay (i.e., saying something like “I spoke to Kurt Teichert of the environmental studies department and learned that the way the department uses the local community for research fits the type of efforts I do now in HS and want to do when I get to Brown” – and be even more specific than that). In other words – do a lot of research, get to know about Brown more than just the superficial “I like the new curriculum because I never have to take French again” and convey that in your essays – that shows interest.</p>
<p>Second, Brown is looking for fit. For example, because there is no core curriculum or distribution requirements, students have to be self-reliant and active in pursuing academics. Brown isn’t for everyone, and part of your job is to convince them that you can succeed there – and contribute to and enrich the community.</p>
<p>While Brown does not track visits, if you live close by and don’t visit, and that comes up in your alumni interview – that’s not a good thing. If, in your alumni interview, you say that you don’t know what the new curriculum is – that’s not a good thing. </p>
<p>So, in addition to the essays, the alumni interview is another good way to demonstrate interest.</p>
<p>All this said – there will be plenty of students who express a lot of interest who will not get in, and some extraordinarily strong students who might have shown indifference and even told an alumni interviewer that Harvard is their first choice who will get in. With an 11% acceptance rate, Brown can afford to be pretty picky.</p>
<p>So its understandable that i dont take a campus visit being from Florida i assume. Would you advise me to simply tour Brown’s website to learn more, or are there better, more in depth views i can gain elsewhere?</p>
<p>Also, im not sure whether as a candidate i will be competitive at Browm. My main concern is my GPA which is a 3.5/4. This includes every AP my school offers alongside all honors courses where AP’s aren’t available. Next year i am taking the remaining 5 AP’s my school offers and hope this shows the rigor Brown hopes for. My ACT score is a 29, which falls in the middle 50th percentile, but i know with my GPA that i’ll need a higher score which I’m hoping to get in June, a 31 or a 32 hopefully. </p>
<p>Any advice to help strengthen myself as an applicant would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Personally I believe your ACT and GPA are too low. If one of the two was too low it would be one thing. The fact that both are not too competitive says something to the admissions office. Being at Brown I can say this: the kids who were admitted on a fluke love Brown, but they suffer in terms of grades. One of my best friends who I truly love has a lot of difficulty handling her classes. I sometimes wonder if accepting such students is a benefit for them or a disaster. Consistently getting low grades has a an impact on one’s morale. That said, you may be a wonderfully smart candidate who was simply “lazy” or “bored” in HS and I think such students can sometimes get through the admissions office. It really depends on your other qualities. Good luck!</p>
<p>apply early decision and write a killer essay.</p>
<p>When you “tour” the website, go in-depth – look at departments you are interested in, read faculty bios, etc. Same with extracurriculars. Look at past threads here, ask questions here. If you have questions, email profs at Brown. Read back issues of the Brown Daily Herald and get an email subscription starting in the fall. </p>
<p>If your school ranks, and your rank is not in the top tenth, then xmobile has a good point. </p>
<p>Only apply ED if either you don’t need any financial aid or if your family income is so low that you are guaranteed to get a good package.</p>
<p>Thanks. I am hesitant to apply ED because of its binding policy and am concerned with financial aid. I dont want to be contracted and put my family in enormous debt. And the other thing is that i am not positive Brown would be my first choice although i know that if it is, i should apply ED.</p>
<p>As for my GPA and ACT scores, i am hoping they will both go up before the admissions process begins. My senior year grades should be good and even if it doesnt bring up my GPA, it will show Brown i am still working and especially with my rigor of schedule. Thanks though</p>