Hey, does anyone know how to do essays such as the “Why Brown” essays? I’ve been told to include specific courses and professors and so on but I’m not really sure. Can anyone help me out?
I second that. While I didn’t talk about any specific courses, I talked about the feeling that I had while on the tour and the specific offerings that I would take advantage of at Brown.
Did you visit? My D wrote about a specific item that came up on tour and then some general features that make it a great fit for her.
Talk abut the open curiculum
Thank you so much! However, I didn’t go on any tours so I’ll just write something about their campuses I guess.
Thank you for the suggestion!
No, I didn’t visit so I don’t know much about the campus lol
Just remember the essay is about you - they already know all the great things about Brown.
DON’T TALK ABOUT THE OPEN CURRICULUM!!! good god that’s a sure fire way to sound generic and forced and get one step closer to the reject pile… I would wager that upwards of half the applicants mention it, 99% of them unsuccessfully. Brown knows it has an open curriculum. You don’t need to remind them. Be more specific than that. Talk about the classes that YOU like. Mention specific areas of study that interest you without using the words “open curriculum.”
@Senior2016M I start out by saying that the classes and open curriculum obviously sold me (in one sentence) but then I go onto say that it was just this feeling I had that attached me to Brown, which is what I speak about for the rest of the response. Do you think it’s ok if I mention the open curriculum in that way?
@ap012199 I would really aim to avoid it if it were me. I know people have been successful in mentioning in, but it’s just a terribly generic and overused answer to their question. I would restructure it and focus on intellectual curiosity and how Brown goes hand and hand with that, rather than saying “obviously the open curriculum etc. etc.” Your first sentence has to GRAB them, and what you’ve described just won’t.
“Generic” is when you tell a college you want them because they’re tops, offer your major, will ensure a bright future, etc. Or when you mention the beauty, the proverbial “ivy covered walls” and nothing that shows you know the school, what it offers, what distinguishes it from others. I.e., what you say could apply to ten other top colleges. Not when you mention an academic policy.
But you still have to be wise and remember, it’s what you show, not just what you tell. You can’t just be vague about the open curriculum and how much you want it, if nothing else in your app/supp shows you do explore, go beyond narrow interests or requirements. Think about it.
ps.“I go onto say that it was just this feeling I had that attached me to Brown” That’s where you want to be careful. Same “feeling” you could tell other colleges? The Why Us is where you match yourself, subtly, and help them see your understanding.
I can’t emphasize this enough – there is no one “right” way to answer this essay question. You need to find YOUR voice, write an essay that is individual to you.
I’ve seen examples of some really good “why xx college” essays, and for each one I thought – wow, what a great idea, I never would have thought to write that. And that’s the point - you need to write your own take on it. If there’s a professor or a program that appeals to you, then sure, talk about that. If there’s an exciting way you’re planning on taking advantage of the open curriculum, then sure, talk about that.
@lookingforward could I pm you my response for some light feedback?
Do you like writing? I know that one requirement at brown is to take 3 writing courses or something along those lines but the writing courses can be specific to your major (like if you are going for engineering you can take one geared towards that). So maybe try to talk about that because I know Brown places an emphasis on the ability to write well.
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