<p>As a prospective double major in some combination of mathematics, computer science, and physics, I have to write the major-specific essay:
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<p>But as a Brown undergraduate applicant, I must also write the academic interest essay:
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<p>How should I handle writing two essays with such similar prompts?</p>
<p>Interesting problem, especially because you want to do a double major.</p>
<p>I’d approach it by splitting up the two. For the Brown-wide one, can you elucidate what you mean by “some combination of” in terms of your specific interest? Like, is your interest developing simulation of quantum-level physics (just out of the air, I’m not sure of your interest)?</p>
<p>For the specific one, they tell you to indicate factors in particular, I am thinking outside of school.</p>
<p>You could also go with “unsure” in that you want a double major with different elements in it , and write about “modes of thought”.</p>
<p>Here’s what I did:
For the general Brown essay, I wrote about what I find fascinating about my major conceptually. I didn’t write about any experiences I’d had involving my major, but just why the study of that subject is so interesting to me. Also, since I want to double-major, I explained the link between my two majors and how the study of one improves my study of the other. For the major/program-specific essays, I wrote about actual experiences I’d had involving my intended major (ie, internships). </p>
<p>Grr. These two prompts have been asked together for several years, and every year students post your question in this forum. If you can figure out how to search, you might find the threads that address it. I don’t understand why Brown continues to ask these two incredibly similar questions, but obviously there’s some rationale behind it.</p>
<p>It does say, “feel free to elaborate on one of your previous responses.” I assume that they are giving you an opportunity to spent more than 150 words to answer the question. So write one answer and then just write more in the second one. Just try not to repeat yourself too much.</p>
<p>Here’s the distinction I see. The general one asks you why you are “drawn” to your area of interest. To me, that means “What about this subject intrigues you? What pulls you into studying this?” The specific essays asks about “factors” and “experiences.” These, to me, mean more tangible things. That sounds more like “What have you done related to your major and why did you like it?” </p>