The Impact of a Brown Education

Many Ivy Tutors Network students are interested in - or fully committed to - an Ivy League education. To facilitate each student’s exploration of the right school fit, we’re doing a series of blogs looking at how to get into each of the eight schools, and pairing them with an interview from an alumnus of that school. This series will expand to include Top 25 schools and HBCUs. If what you’re hearing sparks interest, we encourage you to speak with your guidance counselor or one of our college admissions counselors to work on an admissions strategy.

Find the partner piece, How to Get Into Brown: The Ultimate Guide to Standing Out, here.

Interview with Rusty Howson: The Life-Long Impact of Going to Brown

Justin: Let’s dive in. Were there any specific courses or professors at Brown that directly influenced your career path?

Rusty: Yes. I worked with a professor in the Ecology and Evolution department—a small, tight-knit group. The way they approached learning was transformative for me. It wasn't about memorizing facts for an exam; it was about curiosity and critical thinking. We'd discuss research and debate interpretations of data. That process opened my mind and pushed me toward graduate school in biochemistry at UCSF.

Justin: So it activated a kind of curiosity-driven learning process?

Rusty: Exactly. More than a skill, it was a mindset. That spirit of inquiry has shaped my entire life. It led me from biochemistry to welding to teaching. I love the steep part of the learning curve. That's my happy place.

Justin: Did the Brown alumni network help in your career?

Rusty: Not formally, but socially and professionally, yes. Many of my classmates ended up in San Francisco. One of my close friends from Brown was already at UCSF, which influenced me to apply. And one of my old friends recently transitioned into teaching, and he's been a resource for me in making the same shift.

Justin: Was there a specific research project or mentor that stands out?

Rusty: My undergrad thesis was in an evolutionary biology lab, but the project itself was on seagulls—completely outside the lab's main focus. My advisor let me run with it. I collected specimens from a landfill in Rhode Island and even from Alcatraz. It was a wild experience, but incredibly empowering. I was doing real research as a 20-year-old.

Justin: That's an incredible story. Shifting gears, did anything at Brown change your worldview or personal values?

Rusty: Definitely. I became aware of my own privilege. The discussions around need-blind admissions really opened my eyes. I had come from a very sheltered, private school background. College was a wake-up call to the broader world.

Justin: Were there any personal challenges you had to overcome during college?

Rusty: I had a serious relationship that ended and really affected me. My grades suffered—I failed organic chemistry the first time. It was a tough emotional period, but I learned how to balance academics and life. The second time I took the class, I got an A.

Justin: How would you compare Brown to other schools, like UCSF or schools friends attended?

Rusty: Brown’s open curriculum is very unique. It gave me freedom to explore. I took neuropharmacology, art history, even a grad-level comparative literature course. That freedom was uncomfortable at times, but ultimately really rewarding. It taught me to think across disciplines.

Justin: Has that spirit of open-ended inquiry stayed with you?

Rusty: Absolutely. I have a PhD in biochemistry and now I teach high school art and engineering. That curiosity, that willingness to dive into new subjects, has shaped my whole life. I know how to learn and how to seek out people and resources. I'm not confined to one path.

Justin: That’s really powerful. Any final thoughts?

Rusty: Just that I feel lucky. I went to Brown for all the wrong reasons—rankings, counselor recommendations—but it turned out to be the exact right place for me. Not getting into Stanford was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. Brown encouraged me to grow in ways I never anticipated.

Justin: Thank you, Rusty. This has been such a meaningful conversation.

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