I’ve been reading a lot of posts on effective “Why Brown?” essays and the responses have just added to my confusion… How are you supposed to offer a unique perspective on why you want to go to Brown, why that reason keeps with your personality, and how you can contribute to the university in 100 words? I spent half an hour paring my response about the open curriculum/intellectual student body and why that’s important to me down to the word limit, and I’ve already had to sacrifice some points to make it all fit. And now reading the forums I feel it’s super generic… Could past applicants offer some perspective on this?
This is going to be very unhelpful, but: just say why you’re applying. Be honest. The adcoms have seen basically every reason there is. You shouldn’t be trying to come up with something no one has ever said before. Put your energy into presenting your genuine reasons in the most eloquent, well-phrased way you can.
Good luck.
Is this one of the threads you read that confused you? If not, it’s very good: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/1705515-some-help-with-why-this-school.html#latest
Over the years it has become a bit tiresome to see this made up self image of Brown as a haven for uniquely inquisitive and quirky “intellectuals” who have a passion for questioning the status quo. It is also just faintly self important and specious. Strikes me that Brown somehow got on the path of having this reputation, and ever since the students have decided that this is their unique profile…JUST BECAUSE they are at Brown. It is certainly easier to claim such an intangible attribute by fiat rather than prove distinction in some measurable “hard” attribute. It is arbitrary in the sense that these students are NO different than similarly qualified students at dozens of other liberal leaning institutions. Brown does have the pass/fail thing going for it, but that does nothing to lend support to this self anointed image of unique intellectual activism and energy. Time to diversify this game and start claiming some other “unique” distinction. The “Why Brown” Essay is a special indulgence in this vainglorious self awarded title of uber intellectualism by the Admissions Committee since it tacitly invites students to wallow in ever more excessive ways of proving why they are suited to such a hotbed of fiery intellectualism and restless engagement of gravely important issues!
Students at Brown are no different than those of similar high caliber at many other liberal schools. Basically, those that get seduced by this dubious self image of Brown are at risk of frittering away a splendid opportunity by engaging in vacuous “intellectualism” for 4 years and end up moving back to the proverbial Mom’s Basement or hanker after a job as a Barista at Starbucks. I happen to know a few such stalwarts.
@oliver007, you realize that Brown isn’t the only school to have a “Why ____?” question, and that it’s actually fairly common as a way for competitive schools to ensure that applicants are applying for reasons beyond prestige… right? I don’t mean to sound snarky, but, “The “Why Brown” Essay is a special indulgence in this vainglorious self awarded title of uber intellectualism by the Admissions Committee since it tacitly invites students to wallow in ever more excessive ways of proving why they are suited to such a hotbed of fiery intellectualism and restless engagement of gravely important issues!” is… not really an accurate statement, unless you honestly think that adcoms across the US have nothing better to do than read extra essays to boost their egos and their pride in their employers.
SpringAwake, your point is well made. Mine was less well made. Perhaps I should have focused on the essays applicants are required to write in response to the “Prompts”, rather than the “why Brown” essay. I became familiar with the admissions process when two nephews and a niece all applied and got into Brown. For example, the “what don’t you know” prompt invites disingenuous, made up, and clever sounding responses designed to grab attention, and does not for most applicants offer any credible insight into who they really are or what they really believe. The prompt itself appears to me to be the result of a highly self conscious attempt to make Brown seem “different”, and seeking to discover students who may be uniquely suited to the equally unique style of learning and inquiry at Brown. I do not believe this to be the case at all. The student body at Brown is similar to that at other top schools, except for being more liberal and having pass/fail options. Having attended three Commencements at Brown, I saw a special effort by student orators to highlight their classmates’ fealty to the “intellectual” and “rebellious” mandate that they felt being at Brown had obligated them to. It all sounded a bit strained and “try hard”. It lost credibility with each repetition, sounding more and more like a programmed mantra .Where is the evidence that after a few decades of awarding itself the mantle of this unique style of intellectualism Brown has produced graduates that statistically have separated themselves from graduates of similar high ranking liberal schools in the realm of “changing the world”?
Brown is an excellent school. I merely caution impressionable young people that adopting the profile of an idealistic intellectual by default may ill suit most of them in the real world after Brown. Have seen it happen.
@oliver007, yeah, I think that’s a fair point about Brown’s marketing. There definitely is a stereotype of students here being quirky intellects, but from what I’ve seen, that isn’t really true – not to say that there AREN’T quirky intellects, but, well, it’s a school. It’s got a mix of students, like any other. But it’s a positive image, so I guess it makes sense to push it as a marketing ploy.
I’m still not sure what you mean about the prompts, though. When I applied last year, the prompts were:
-Why Brown?
-Write about the place you come from.
-Write about a community you’re part of.
-What do you want to concentrate in, and why?
Nothing unusual. Not like UChicago levels of out-there or anything (no offense to UChicago; I totally respect anyone who undertakes their prompts :P).
I don’t even know if it’s fair to say that Brown actually promotes this image anyway. I never once heard in my 4 years at Brown people talk about Brown the way non Brown students talk about Brown on CC.
Whether or not the individual students are palpably different from those at other schools, it’s indisputable that the philosophies of the Brown curriculum permeate throughout the school and create a unique ethos that similar caliber institutions simply don’t have. Certainly debatable whether or not it’s actually “better” but in my interactions in medical school and graduate school with my classmates who come from all the peer schools and beyond, it’s clear that their undergraduate life and environment were different from mine.
And are we really going to use commencement addresses as the measuring stick here? Commencements - at all schools - are by definition meant to be pompous self-congratulatory and inflating affairs. Your critique is akin to being upset that the best man’s wedding toast doesn’t remind everyone that 50% of marriages end in divorce and that he really can’t know that the two people are meant for each other.
That being said, Brown commencement is still the best university commencement out there.
I really dislike this notion that Brown has “quirky” students, and I’ve expressed that sentiment before. I had to search for it, but here’s what I wrote earlier this year when someone asked me why I don’t think Brown is “quirky”:
I also don’t think Brown markets itself or promotes itself as quirky.
As for the application – the essay prompts have changed in the last few years. The “what don’t you know” prompt is gone.
I have not gotten the same reaction to commencement speakers as oliver has.
IwannabeBrown…I certainly respect your views as a Brown grad. My perceptions about this whole notion of Brown being different in an idiosyncratic and non-conformist/rebelliously intellectual way evolved spontaneously by accretion, based upon recurring themes I encountered. I certainly made no effort to analyze Brown and come to this conclusion. As for my Commencement experience, I must insist that there was sound basis for my impressions. Not a single student orator failed to weave into his/her speech some reference to this unique Brown attribute, and it often appeared quite laboured and contrived…a “duty” that had to be met. I practically groaned when these orators harped on this theme constantly. It got to the point that one could anticipate the build up in the narrative to where the speaker could recount prevailing over daunting situations BECAUSE he/she had the benefit of this mysterious “Brown” quality. It seemed that the orators felt obligated to recognize this, and crafted portions of their speeches around the necessity of working this theme in. There is ample evidence that this theme thrives because it is consciously (if tacitly) nurtured, celebrated, and expressed when there is an opportunity. During the speeches I began to have the feeling of…OK, here it comes…wait…wait…boom…there it is…to thunderous applause!
It is redundant to say that Brown is a great school. I am struck, however, by the collision of this conceit with reality after college…to the detriment of a few Brown grads whom I know, or about whom I hear from my nephews.
I do agree that the Commencement was fun…for the first seven hours or so!
Geez, stop with the thesaurus. “evolved spontaneously by accretion” What the heck does that even mean?
I’ve listened to several commencement speakers, and, again, do not have the same reaction as you do.
fireandrain…I respect your different viewpoint. Also, try Googling when perplexed.
I guess my first question is whether it is redundant to say that Brown is a great school, as you posted, or whether this is a conceit–as you also said in the next sentence.
Second question is that you know a few Brown grads, and your nephews have contacted you to tell you about a few others, whose lives or careers after Brown have been diminished by the Open Curriculum? Is that correct?
OK. But I could just as easily come here as a Brown poster boy and say I know a few Brown grads, and my nieces have told me about a few others, whose lives took off due to their Brown experiences. I don’t see how these small-sample anecdotes, that are easy to type and impossible to verify, advance the conversation though. Is the issue now balanced because my anecdote is equal and opposite to yours?
That’s not the type of reasoning and informed discourse that my time at Brown has led me to respect.
Finally, you said Brown has a “made up self image” and “reputation” as a "haven for uniquely inquisitive and quirky “intellectuals” ". Another poster thoughtfully expressed different views about Brown’s reputation and characteristics for quirkiness. Is it fair to conclude that the lack of response to those views means tacit acceptance?
Your response was not respectful, oliver. I’m not an idiot and managed to score quite high on the SAT back in the dark ages when I took it. However, I am a professional writer and know how to write so people understand, which mainly means avoiding the thesaurus and phrases like “evolved spontaneously by accretion.”
OP, you don’t need to offer a “unique” perspective. You do need to just understand what it is the college offers you and you offer it. Some of that can be simple, that’s ok. Don’t confuse Brown with other schools (“I want to be in a big city”) and be careful you don’t gush over something that can be found anywhere, like study abroad. If you feel you and Brown are truly a match, you’ve done the work to figure that out, go ahead and say that. Try not to be generic (“You have my major” or “I want to be challenged and you’re a top school.”) It doesn’t seem thoughtful.
As for oliver, clearly he misses what Brown is about. Fortunately for his young relatives, they got it. His superficial “perceptions” are what we try to get any kid to avoid, when answering any college’s “Why Us?”
Like @fenwaypark says, it’s unfortunate to hear that your nephews and their friends found the open curriculum a detriment. My med school classmates (10% of my med school’s class went to Brown), my MD/PhD classmates (there have been several Brown alumni in my program with me), my close friends from Brown (most of whom are also doctors now, but I also am in regular contact with several T14 educated lawyers, many wharton/sloan/stanford etc MBA grads, UC berkeley/Harvard/WUSTL PhDs, wall street bankers, big 4 consultants, fullbright winners, and one middle school mathematics department chair) not only enjoyed the open curriculum, but feel that the Brown experience specifically led to their current success, and that they wouldn’t be where they are now if it weren’t for the open curriculum.
Even I will admit that I can’t know for certain (although I do think it’s true) that if I had gone somewhere else that I wouldn’t be where I am right now, but many of my (and my friend’s) current colleagues couldn’t wait to get out of their undergraduate school whereas many of us wouldn’t hesitate to have the opportunity to be 18 again with 4 years ahead of Brown ahead of us. In fact, for the first couple months in my med school class it was sort of a joke to make fun of the Brown alumni because we were so abundant, and as soon as we encountered each other, the Brown gushing would begin. When two alumni from any school other than Duke met each other, the reaction was palpably different. We even lobbied with one of our professors to take an exam early so that we could make it to campus dance that year. Brown isn’t the only school that does commencement on memorial day weekend, but no one else was trying to take a med school final earlier to make it back to their alma mater for a non reunion year.
Even though we’ve moved on, I actually don’t understand the issue with the “what don’t you know” prompt and actually don’t think it’s about what you think it’s about. I’m not the one who came up with the prompt nor was I in the meeting where it happened to maybe I’m totally wrong here, but the classics concentrator in me sees an obvious reference to Plato’s Apology where Socrates recounts an interaction with another man about how much they each know. Socrates readily acknowledges his limitations while the other man does less so. Socrates argues that knowing and acknowledging your limitations, rather than pretending to know everything is a sign that Socrates is in fact wiser than this other man. In fact, we see this idea play out in modern psychology with the Dunning-Kruger effect where people with less knowledge actually believe they are better at something than people with more knowledge of that skill because the less knowledgeable can’t acknowledge the things they don’t know.
As an application essay, I see multiple ways for it to be an effective tool. There are lots of things that a 17 year old doesn’t know, so it will be very telling what a student chooses to discuss, both because of the topic at hand and also because of whatever topics they chose not to discuss. Secondly, I assume many essays will explore why the writer doesn’t know this thing. Here again we can learn about the applicant because there are many different reasons as to why someone won’t know something - which do they choose to discuss and which do they choose to leave out? Thirdly, I would certainly include in such an essay for myself a section about how I plan to remedy this - and in particular, how Brown is going to help me turn this “thing I don’t know” into “thing I do know.” I don’t see how this essay invites any more disingenuousness than any other essay would. Even just “tell me about yourself” still invites everything you find problematic with “what don’t you know.” This isn’t even a college thing. There’s a reason such a comic exists and it isn’t about college admissions: http://www.smbc-comics.com/?id=3454#comic
Who knows why it was removed? Maybe you’re right oliver, and that’s why it was scrapped, or maybe it was some other reason entirely.
I too have heard the speeches at 5 commencements, and have generally enjoyed them. I love the student speeches because I’d rather hear from graduates than some random famous person. The couple that I haven’t enjoyed weren’t for any of the reasons you stated, but rather because I felt the speaker spoke from a place of “let me tell you what you all need to know” as though they were some authority compared to their classmates rather than the more common “here is what I have learned in my 4 years at Brown.”
I guess at this point I’m a little confused as to what your issue actually is: Is it that Brown is not actually in any way different from any other elite university? Is it just that Brown talks too much about how different it is? Is it that the difference between Brown and other universities is in fact detrimental, and not a positive as Brown portrays? Please clarify.
@iwannabe_brown: off topic I guess, but your post (#15) brings to mind two things I often think about in my own life. The first is my high school yearbook quote – not sure where it originated, and yes, I know I could probably google it – which was “The older I become the more I realize how little I know.” Maybe it was that attitude that got me into Brown. Who knows? The second thing it reminded me of was a law school classmate who said, after a very hard single question exam, that it was ‘easy.’ I immediately knew that he was in trouble since, as your post suggests, his lack of knowledge made him think he was an ‘expert’ in the subject, totally missing the more subtle, and most important, nuances in the question.
As far as the OP’s question, and subsequent posts, I agree with a prior poster that I don’t think Brown has ever intentionally set itself up as being a place for quirky intellectuals. I think that that reputation has grown externally. Whatever a ‘quirky, intellectual’ is, Brown is certainly a good place for them because, in my view, the ‘quirkiness’ of their intellect is, almost by definition, the fact that they would not follow a well-beaten, and therefore consistent with a requirements-laden program, path. That doesn’t mean that Brown only accepts these oddballs, but it would inevitably lead to there being more of them at Brown than elsewhere (or so it seems to me). That could certainly be noticeable and notable and lead to a reputation, whether self-created or not. But it’s not reflective of the entire student body, as many have noted. Completely separate and apart from that, Brown is a top-notch academic environment, with a purposeful focus on undergraduate education. The result is a pool of spectacularly qualified applicants and a student body that brings both a lot of intellectual horsepower and curiosity in a very successful mix of personalities that, with the wise choices of the Brown Admissions Department, works very well leading to great success, much happiness and continued high applicant numbers. So, “Why Brown”? Not really a complicated question, in my view. They want to know why you are a good fit for Brown. If your answer fits their needs, within the context of a diverse student body, then your answer will help. If not, then maybe Brown is not the place for you (it is not the place for everyone) and if your answer hurts your chances, that could be a good thing.
I love this university and have always thought I should have accepted the offer there instead of Stanford. But anyway, Brown gets its quirky image in part because it accepts a student body that is hard to peg. And that is a good thing. Every high school I am familiar with finds entrance to Brown to be more of a mystery than other schools. Try to get to the bottom of why you like it more than other schools. If the Open Curriculum is a selling point for you instead of stating that out right, figure out why it is and describe that character trait of yours. I believe Brown will recognize you as a fit if there is one.
Perhaps you should keep it simple? When you look at the Ivies, each school is distinct. Some obvious measures are liberal/conservative, preppy, rural/city, open curriculum, competitiveness, etc. There are many other less obvious measures. When you visit a campus, you see how it feels to you.
For example, some people hate the open curriculum. Others like it. Consider the contrast with U of Chicago’s curriculum. It’s really a personal question. Some love the idea of UofC’s rounded approach. Other’s hate the idea of someone telling them what they should take. Now this is hardly fair, but it is your opinion. There are a great many schools out there. You should be able to winnow the list down to say eight or so ‘reaches’ that you would love to attend based on your own opinions. Visit schools in person and on the web. Make some choices and in your essay tell then why you would love to go their school.
Like any group, there are expectations that go past official terms of engagement. OP asked a common question and the thread went so quickly off track to one person’s perceptions of the school, formed based on just a little experience with it. If it hadn’t been such a quick hijack, I doubt many would pay attention.
So, when responses include alums, some who stayed quite involved, of course the issue is the superficiality, as well as the delivery. There were some odd claims made, then the shift to the CA prompts. Any of us can be on the short end, when our "tude slips.
Btw, even if a college supp doesn’t specifically ask “Why Us?,” they are still trying to get a read, through other questions on both the app and supp, how you match, what you even perceive that match to be, whether you did the leg work to figure that out. Hope OP got something helpful.