How to Get Into Brown: The Ultimate Guide to Standing Out

By Kenneth C. Zirkel

Brown University is one of the most distinctive schools in the Ivy League due to the high degree of intellectual freedom it prioritizes. If you’re asking how to get into Brown, you probably already know it’s highly selective. Which means you need to go beyond admissions statistics. Brown seeks students who are curious, self-motivated, and “narratively aligned” (admissions jargon for students who match with the school’s values and goals) with its open, exploratory culture.

This guide will show you how to stand out using the Morganelli Method (you might have heard us refer to this method as the PAGE framework), which helps students build powerful college narratives from the ground up. It’s our college admissions framework here at Ivy Tutors Network, developed by Director of College Admissions, John Morganelli. We’ll also walk you through who would be a good fit for Brown. Because if you’re looking to get into an Ivy League school, finding the right academic and cultural fit is the first step.

Let’s dive in with some basics about Brown.

By Carol M. Highsmith

Where Is Brown University Located?

Brown is located in Providence, Rhode Island which is known for being artsy and walkable. The campus is nestled on College Hill (they really stretched their imaginations naming this one, we know) and is adjacent to RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), which gives Brown added artistic flair.

What Is Brown Known For?

Brown is best known for its Open Curriculum, which allows students to craft their own academic paths. It has no general education requirements and no core curriculum which is rare in higher education. This environment fosters academic risk-taking, interdisciplinary exploration, and authentic intellectual curiosity.

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Signature Strengths at Brown

• Neuroscience. One of the most popular and competitive majors. Brown is a national leader in interdisciplinary brain science research.
• Public Health. Home to the School of Public Health, which offers undergraduate courses and research opportunities - rare among Ivies.
• Literary Arts. Brown’s creative writing and comparative literature programs are nationally renowned for experimental and non-traditional approaches.
• Computer Science. Highly competitive and increasingly popular, with access to unique interdisciplinary work via the Center for Computational Molecular Biology.
• Modern Culture and Media. A blend of media studies, cultural theory, and film. Distinct from typical communications programs; extremely niche but well-respected.
• Applied Mathematics. Frequently paired with economics or biology; attracts high-level problem solvers and researchers.
• Egyptology / Middle Eastern Studies. Unusually strong due to Brown’s commitment to underrepresented academic fields.

Brown is also part of the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program, a five-year program allowing students to pursue a BA from Brown and a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. It is extremely selective and best suited for students with a strong portfolio and intellectual breadth.

Who Does Brown Look For?

There’s a misconception (or perhaps a fear) among many students that the Ivies are looking for perfect students. We’d argue they’re all looking for students who align with their goals for the university. In Brown's case, this means seeking purposeful students. Some of the characteristics that make up Brown’s wish list include:

• Narrative thinkers who can connect their experiences to a broader ethos.
• Independent learners who thrive in freedom and ambiguity.
• Curious questioners who pursue ideas across disciplines.
• Socially aware changemakers who link learning to community impact.

Tip from John: Your application should show forward thinking. Brown isn’t looking for a list of what you’ve done; they want to know why it matters to you and where it’s going to take you next.

Who Would Not Thrive at Brown?

While Brown offers unmatched academic freedom, it’s not for everyone.

You may struggle at Brown if you:

• Need clear academic structure or external accountability (Brown has no required classes or general ed requirements).
• Crave a pre-professional or direct pipeline into business or finance (Brown lacks a business school).
• Prefer traditional, hierarchical classroom dynamics - Brown is very collaborative and often non-graded (many students take courses Pass/Fail).
• Want a rigid campus culture focused on prestige or competition (Brown culture favors community and cooperation).

In short, students who require guardrails or external structure may find the freedom overwhelming. Brown works best for self-directed, intrinsically motivated learners who see college as a place to experiment, question, and build bridges between disciplines.

How Is Brown Different from Other Ivy League Schools?

Brown stands apart in several key ways that influence admissions strategy:

1. Open Curriculum (No General Ed Requirements)

Unlike Columbia (Core Curriculum) or Princeton (distribution requirements), Brown lets students build their own course of study. This favors students who can articulate an independent academic direction.

Application Implication: You must show that you’ll thrive in this freedom. Your application needs to demonstrate self-motivation, planning, and curiosity across disciplines.

2. Narrative-Friendly Environment

Brown is one of the most narrative-sensitive Ivies. The admissions team prioritizes the ethos of the application, or how all components work together to express a compelling identity and intellectual trajectory.

Morganelli Alignment: This is ideal for the Morganelli Method, which builds toward a cohesive story. Brown values students who ask great questions more than those with perfect answers.

3. Progressive, Creative, and Socially Engaged Culture

Brown’s campus culture is often described as “liberal,” “experimental,” and “student-led.” It's not as careerist as Penn, as tradition-bound as Princeton, or as STEM-intensive as Columbia or Cornell.

Application Implication: Brown favors authenticity over polish. A quirky, reflective personal statement often lands better than a resume-styled essay.

4. Less Focus on Prestige-Driven Metrics

While Brown is still highly selective (~5% acceptance rate), it places slightly less emphasis on “trophy achievements” and more on narrative resonance and alignment with institutional culture.

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What Are the Most Competitive Majors at Brown?

Certain majors at Brown attract more applicants and are considered more selective.

Most Competitive:

• Neuroscience
• Computer Science
• Economics
• Public Health
• Psychology
• International Relations

These majors combine popularity with high applicant quality. Applicants targeting these programs must present a strategic narrative (learn more about how to do that here).

The Morganelli Method often recommends choosing what we call a “strategic alternative major”. In other words, if an adjacent major aligns with your story and interests, choosing a slightly less crowded path can give you an edge.

Strategic Alternatives at Brown:

• Anthropology
• Public Policy
• Linguistics
• Science, Technology & Society
• Education Studies

Academic Criteria for Admission

While narrative is crucial for Brown admissions, they’re still an Ivy and they’re still looking for students with exceptional academics. To be competitive at Brown, students typically need:

• SAT: 1500+ or ACT: 34+
• Top 10% of class
• Depth in 1–2 academic areas, not just breadth
• A personalized research question that ties together past work and future interests

Unique Components of the Brown Application

In addition to the Common App or Coalition App, Brown has several distinctive application features that reflect its values of creativity, voice, and autonomy.

The Brown Video Portfolio (Optional but Powerful)

Brown offers applicants the chance to submit a two-minute video introduction as an optional supplement. This is not a performance video or a résumé recap. Instead, it’s a chance to show who you are in your own words, on your own terms.

Prompt:

“We invite you to submit a 2-minute personal video. While we do not expect a professionally produced video, we encourage you to be thoughtful in what you choose to share. The content is much more important than the quality of video production.”

Due to the unique nature of this application component, we’ve written an entire blog post on doing it successfully. Find our expert recommendations here.

Supplemental Essays

Brown requires three supplemental essays (as of the most recent cycle):

1. Brown’s Open Curriculum – Why does this model appeal to you, and how will you use it?
2. Academic Interest – What are your intellectual interests, and how did they develop?
3. Community Engagement – How will you contribute to the Brown community?

These are not generic prompts. They’re asking you to demonstrate self-awareness, intellectual direction, and a relational mindset (what you’ll give, not just what you’ll get).

Additional Information Section

This is where IVY applicants often place:

• Research deliverables
• Information-sharing pieces (op-eds, infographics, advocacy links)
• Local investigations or personal projects that don’t fit elsewhere

Brown reads this section closely, especially for students with nonlinear stories or interdisciplinary academic interests, which means you absolutely don’t want to skip it. Use it to your strategic advantage.

PLME and Brown-RISD Programs

Brown offers two high competitive programs even more unique than its already one-of-a-kind learning format. These are PLME (Program in Liberal Medical Education), Brown’s highly competitive 8-year combined BA/MD track, and Brown-RISD Dual Degree, a 5-year dual program between Brown and RISD.

If you’re choosing one of these programs, you’ll need to write additional essays specific to each program. To be successful, they’ll need to demonstrate:

• A deep understanding of the program structure
• A long-term vision (especially for PLME)
• A connection between art and academics in unique ways (for RISD)

Each program has extremely low acceptance rates (under 5%) and requires portfolio-level storytelling and a clear “why this program” rationale.

The Morganelli Method: How to Get Into Brown

The Morganelli Method is a proven admissions framework built on two core pillars: application narrative and ethos. Every part of your application should support a consistent story of who you are, what you believe, and how you’ll contribute intellectually.

Here’s how to leverage it to get into Brown:

1. Determine College Type and Major

Almost all students at Brown apply through the College of Arts and Sciences, so your narrative must reflect a liberal arts orientation whether your passion is in biology or media theory.

2. Develop a Research Question

Brown values the question more than the answer.

“The development of the question is the most important part… it illustrates the student’s ability to identify community issues, investigate them, and share findings meaningfully.”

Example:

“How can local food systems in coastal cities adapt to climate change without displacing low-income communities?”

This question can pull in environmental science, public policy, and equity - ideal for Brown’s interdisciplinary values.

3. Engage Locally and Create Deliverables

Conduct local research or initiatives and turn them into tangible outputs (think blog posts, op-eds, etc). At Ivy Tutors Network we call these deliverables, and they can be anything that demonstrates both initiative and impact.

4. Use the PAGE Framework

This is the backbone of your application narrative:

• Perspective – What belief defines you?
• Activity – What have you done to prove it?
• (Academic) Goal – What do you want to study?
• Ethos – What’s the story your application tells?

A good application to any elite university will use each of these pieces to build a compelling application. (And if it sounds intimidating, we have expert mentors who can help).

How to Stand Out at Brown

Here’s the formula we’d recommend, using the Morganelli Method as your guide.

• Craft a Research Question that’s grounded in lived experience or local investigation.
• Build a Narrative Portfolio through in-school and out-of-school engagement.
• Choose a Strategic Major. Not just one you love, but one that strengthens your narrative (though to be clear: we’re not telling you to pick something you wouldn’t enjoy).
• Tell a Story that’s authentic, interdisciplinary, and community-connected.

Final Thoughts

If you’re trying to figure out how to get into Brown, think about building a story: one that feels both personal and aligned with Brown’s values of freedom, curiosity, and contribution.

Brown is for students who aren’t afraid to ask “what if?” and who see education as a tool for transformation in their personal lives and the public sphere. If that’s you, you’re already on the right path.

If you’d like more support, schedule a free consultation with our college admissions team today, or dig into our research mentorship program specifically designed for students looking to showcase their intellectual curiosity.