How to Get Into Brown: What Actually Works

Acceptance Rate: 5.65%

Brown University received 42,765 applications for the Class of 2029 and admitted 2,418 students, resulting in an acceptance rate of just 5.65%. This makes Brown one of the most selective universities in the world. With fewer than 6 spots available for every 100 applicants, getting into Brown is extraordinarily competitive, even for students with perfect grades and near-perfect test scores. The gap between Early Decision acceptance (17.9%) and Regular Decision acceptance (4%) is the largest in years, meaning your application timing strategy matters significantly. However, the underlying reality remains the same: Brown rejects the vast majority of its applicants, including many valedictorians with exceptional credentials. Understanding that acceptance is never guaranteed, regardless of how strong your profile appears, should motivate you to present an application that goes far beyond the numbers.

Average SAT: 1540

Average ACT: 35

The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 1510 and 1560 on the SAT, placing them in the 99th percentile of test-takers nationally. For the ACT, admitted students scored between 34 and 35. Brown required standardized test scores starting with the Class of 2029, ending its period of test-optional admissions. If you're submitting scores in the ranges above, you're positioned competitively. However, submitting a score significantly below these ranges puts you at a disadvantage from the start. The reality is that standardized test scores are just one component of Brown's evaluation, but they serve as an initial filter. Strong essays, recommendations, and extracurricular involvement can potentially compensate for slightly lower test scores, but you still need to demonstrate academic readiness through your submitted score.

Average Unweighted GPA: ~3.9

Brown does not officially publish the average admitted GPA, but based on comprehensive data from recent admissions cycles, students who gain admission typically have near-perfect GPAs. Approximately 95% of admitted students to the Class of 2029 were in the top 10% of their high school class, and 98% were in the top 25%. This means that nearly all admitted students earned almost exclusively A grades throughout high school, particularly in rigorous courses like AP, IB, and honors classes. Brown looks at your grades in context, understanding that different high schools offer different levels of rigor. However, the expectation is clear: you should take the most challenging curriculum available to you and excel in it. The university understands that struggling slightly in an AP course demonstrates more intellectual courage than earning straight A's in standard classes, but even that struggle should result in solid grades.

What truly distinguishes successful Brown applicants is their demonstrated intellectual curiosity and self-directed learning. Brown's admissions team looks for students who have taken initiative to explore their academic interests independently, without being prompted or required to do so. This might mean reading books beyond what your classes require, pursuing independent research projects, teaching yourself programming languages, or diving deep into topics that genuinely fascinate you. The key is showing that you have genuine intellectual passion, not manufactured interest. For instance, rather than simply listing that you're interested in economics, show how you've explored economics through real-world application, perhaps by analyzing economic trends in your community, reading economic theory independently, or applying economic concepts to solve problems you've encountered. Admissions officers want to see evidence that you think deeply about complex ideas and that you're willing to challenge yourself intellectually even when no one is grading you.

Successful Brown applicants typically demonstrate sustained commitment and meaningful impact in a small number of extracurricular activities rather than spreading themselves thin across many clubs and organizations. Brown specifically looks for evidence that you haven't just participated in activities, but that you've initiated change, assumed leadership, or created something new. This might mean founding a new organization, launching a community service project, securing funding for an initiative, mentoring younger students, or becoming recognized as exceptionally skilled in a niche area. What matters is showing depth and demonstrable impact over time. The admissions officers want to understand not just what activities appear on your list, but how you've contributed meaningfully to your school or community. If you've been involved in something for multiple years and gradually taken on more responsibility, that tells a powerful story about your character and leadership capacity. Additionally, Brown values students who are curious and intellectually engaged outside of their concentrated areas, so if you're also exploring across disciplines through your course selections or personal interests, that demonstrates the kind of self-directed exploration Brown's Open Curriculum rewards.

Beyond academics and extracurriculars, Brown seeks applicants who possess strong character and personal integrity. The admissions committee evaluates your intellectual humility, ethical reasoning, openness to different perspectives, and genuine care for others. They want to understand what drives you as a person, what challenges have shaped your perspective, and how you engage with people who think differently than you do. Your teacher recommendations play a crucial role here, as they provide insight into how you interact in classroom settings, whether you contribute thoughtfully to discussions, how you handle setbacks, and whether you demonstrate empathy and respect for your peers. Brown's holistic review process emphasizes that you are not just an academic profile, but a person who will contribute to a diverse campus community. Evidence of resilience, adaptability, genuine curiosity about others' experiences, and a commitment to service or civic engagement strengthens your overall application significantly. Character qualities matter tremendously at Brown, particularly because the university values a collaborative, intellectually curious community rather than a cutthroat competitive environment.

Essays are rated as "very important" in Brown's admissions process, placing them alongside GPA, rigor of coursework, standardized test scores, recommendations, and extracurricular activities. Your essays are often what separates a merely strong applicant from a truly exceptional one, which is why many perfectly credentialed students with near-perfect academics are rejected while students with slightly lower grades but compelling essays gain admission. Essays are your primary opportunity to let admissions officers hear your authentic voice and understand how you think. They reveal your intellectual curiosity, your values, your perspective on the world, and whether you're genuinely excited about Brown's unique educational philosophy. Through your essays, you can demonstrate self-awareness, the ability to reflect deeply on your experiences, and your fit with Brown's distinctive culture and Open Curriculum.

You should check out the how to write the Brown supplemental essays article to see details on how to write the Brown essays.

When writing your Brown essays, focus on genuine intellectual passion rather than what you think admissions officers want to hear. In your essay about academic interests and the Open Curriculum, avoid simply listing subjects you find interesting. Instead, show the story of how your curiosity developed through specific experiences. Tell admissions officers about moments when you became fascinated by an idea, describe the questions that keep you up at night, and explain how you've pursued deeper understanding on your own initiative. Connect your interests across disciplines; show how concepts from one field illuminate ideas from another. Brown particularly values students who can articulate how their seemingly disparate interests fit together through interdisciplinary thinking. Be specific about which Brown courses, professors, research centers, or programs align with your interests, demonstrating that you've genuinely researched the university. Go beyond surface-level name-dropping by explaining concretely what you hope to gain from taking specific courses or working with particular faculty members. Your essay should convey excitement not just about your academic interests, but about the freedom and flexibility of Brown's Open Curriculum and how you would use that freedom responsibly and creatively.

Your other essays should reveal deeper aspects of your identity, background, and character. In your essay about what inspired or challenged you growing up, don't simply describe an event or circumstance; instead, explain how that experience shaped your values, perspective, or goals. Show how aspects of your background have equipped you with unique insights or perspectives that you'll bring to Brown's community. Similarly, in your essay about what brings you joy, don't just list activities you enjoy. Instead, reflect on what your choice of joy reveals about your character and priorities. These essays should work together with your academic interest essay to paint a coherent picture of who you are: a curious, intellectually engaged person with specific passions, grounded values, and the self-awareness to understand your own motivations and growth. Authenticity resonates far more powerfully than polish. Admissions officers can tell when you're trying too hard to impress them, so focus on revealing genuine aspects of yourself instead. Show moments where you didn't have all the answers but stayed curious anyway, or times when you challenged your own assumptions. This kind of intellectual honesty and vulnerability demonstrates maturity and self-reflection that admissions officers find compelling.

Rigorously challenge yourself academically throughout all four years of high school by taking the most demanding courses available to you. Aim to take at least four to five AP or IB courses per year across different disciplines if your school offers them. Focus especially on taking rigorous courses in math, science, English, history, and foreign language, as these demonstrate a well-rounded commitment to academic excellence. Brown prefers seeing a B in an AP course to an A in a standard class, so don't shy away from difficulty. What matters is that you've genuinely pushed yourself and learned from challenging material, even if your grades weren't quite perfect. Maintain strong, consistent grades throughout your entire high school career, including senior year, as this demonstrates commitment and intellectual growth rather than a one-year spike. Secure strong letters of recommendation from teachers who know you well and can speak to your intellectual abilities, character, curiosity, and work ethic. Choose teachers from rigorous courses who can provide specific examples of how you've engaged in class, contributed meaningfully to discussions, asked insightful questions, or overcome academic challenges. Your recommendations should convey not just that you're smart and hardworking, but that you're intellectually curious, collaborative, and intellectually honest. A recommendation that describes how you changed a classroom conversation or helped peers think more deeply about an idea will carry far more weight than generic praise about your academic abilities.